Assignment 1             250-300 WORDS

Prior to completing this discussion, you will need to read Shakespeare’s Macbeth from Appendix B of the Journey into Literature.

Macbeth is often considered one of literature’s greatest tragedies, not only because of Macbeth’s tragic fall from grace, but because of how the play relates to human nature and the conflicts inherent in human nature. Think of what kinds of conflicts you saw in Macbeth. Consider what literary techniques helped convey the conflict.

• Identify a conflict that you see present in Macbeth (please refer to the list of conflicts).
• Respond to one of the following and provide specific textual examples:
• Describe a key conflict in the play and how it corresponds to a character’s development.
• Describe two key literary techniques and elements of drama that aid in developing the conflict.
• Explain how the conflict identified in the play relates to human nature and the human condition.

Assignment 2                        250-300 WORDS

In order to complete this discussion, you will need to read Sharon E. Cooper’s Mistaken Identity: A Ten Minute Play from Chapter 14 of Journey into Literature.

In the “Tragedy” discussion this week, you explored the function of conflict in a tragedy and how the conflict is enhanced by certain literary elements and techniques. In this discussion activity, you will focus on comedy. Reflect on Mistaken Identity: A Ten Minute Play. This is a modern comedy that centers on the quest for love and understanding. Consider whether/how the function of the conflict in this play and the way the literary elements and techniques enhance the conflict is different from what we studied in Macbeth.

• Identify a conflict that you see present in Mistaken Identity: A Ten Minute Play (please refer to the list of conflicts)
• Respond to one of the following, providing examples or quotations from the play to illustrate your ideas:
• Describe a key conflict in the play and how it corresponds to a character’s development.
• Describe two key literary techniques and elements and techniques of drama that aid in developing the conflict.
• Explain how and why the conflict in this comedy is different from and/or similar to the conflict explored in tragedy.