Character Sketch

Purpose: To explore how we can bring characters to life from

Shakespeares Macbeth, using character details, literary techniques, and

our understanding of the play.

Essential Questions:
How can we understand, appreciate, and make meaning from Macbeth?
How can we bring characters to life from scripts?
How can we learn from actors process to bring characters to life?

Instructions:

Choosing one character from Macbeth, create a convincing and vibrant

character sketch that demonstrates your understanding of character
complexity.
Your character sketch must demonstrate your:
o Understanding of character (roles, relationships, motivations,
attitudes, values, tragic flaw, personality traits)
o

Ability to interpret and identify figurative language to explain how

imagery contributes to characterization

Understanding of key events in the play relevant to your character

Format:

You may choose from ONE of the following options to communicate your
character sketch. Note: You may choose to either modernize your character, or
to keep the character in its 17th century form.
o Option 1: Imagine a conversation between two actors trying to bring
their characters to life. Describe the interaction. Record yourself
discussing how you would bring your character to life with another
actor (student partner). Your discussion must focus on the items
mentioned in the Process
o

Option 2: Imagine a conversation between Shakespeare and his

actors as they prepare to bring their characters to life. What questions
would you ask Shakespeare if he was your director? Your discussion
must focus on the items mentioned in the Process

Option 3: Imagine you are an actor preparing to play a character from

Macbeth. Create an actors portfolio or scrap book that is a collection
of your character research, character design, visualizations, and notes
that demonstrates how you will bring your character to life on stage.

Option 4: Combine the required items of the Process to create a

character sketch your own design that follows the guidelines in the
Process section. Please speak to your teacher for approval for your
idea.

Process
Follow the below steps to create your character
sketch
Step 1: Choosing your Character and Scene Focus

Choose a character

Choose a scene from Macbeth that demonstrates an important theme

as well as your characters tragic flaw

Identify and explain the scenes theme

Examples of themes can include (but are not limited to):

Unchecked ambition

Violence

Natural vs. Unnatural/Supernatural

Self-determined future vs determined by others,

Gender roles

Order vs. chaos

BONUS: Photocopy a section of the text, and write the subtext of the
scene between/beside the lines (what is your character thinking but
cannot say?)

Step 2: Character Research

Demonstrate your understanding of the characters story and tragic flaw by

researching your characters background. Use Uta Hagen's "Nine Questions"
(see attached)
Ensure to cite your sources in a bibliography

Step 3: Visualization

Create a visual that demonstrates your understanding of the character,

theme, and tragic flaw
The visual must include details about how your character would look
(costume, makeup, and an explanation of your choices)
Cite any visuals you use in your bibliography

Step 4: Dialogue

Create a short internal dialogue/soliloquy that explores your chosen theme

and your characters tragic flaw
Capture your characters thoughts, feelings, motivations, values, and struggle

Step 5: Final Product

Combine Steps 1-4 in a product that demonstrates your understanding of

character in the format of your chosen Option

Your product must include

Required Item Checklist
Your internal dialogue/soliloquy
Evidence of your character research
(refer to Uta Hagens Nine
Questions)
At least two quotes from the play
that are relevant to your character
and demonstrate the characters
individuality
At least two examples of literary
techniques (paradox, imagery, etc)
One reference to your characters
tragic flaw
At least one reference/conversation
with other characters that shows
the nature of their relationship
A visual representation of the
character and what they would
wear (costume, make up, etc.)
A visual representation of the
setting
A reference/representation of at
least one major theme from the
play (chaos vs order, unchecked
ambition, Violence, Natural vs
Unnatural/Supernatural, Selfdetermined future vs determined
by others, Gender roles, etc).

Included?

Step 6: Explanation and Self-Assessment

In a short paragraph, explain why you feel that your character sketch best
captures the traits of your character.
Respond to the following questions:
o How can we understand, appreciate, and make meaning from
Macbeth?
o How can we bring characters to life from scripts?

o How can we learn from actors process to bring characters to life?

Referring to the rubric, explain how you feel you did on your project. Use
specific examples from your work to support your self-assessment.

Step 6: Submit your work by Thursday, March 19, 20

Character Development Worksheet (Adapted from Uta Hagen's "Nine Questions")

Uta Hagen, a well-known German-born American actress and drama teacher, who taught acting at the Herbert
Berghof Studio in New York, developed the following questions for actors to define and develop the characters they
portray. In the research phase of your writing, use these questions, adapted from, Uta Hagens Nine Questions to
clearly define the character of your avatar with as many specific details as possible.
#

Questions

Who is your character?

Question Details

What time is it?

Where is your
character?

Name, nickname, alias

Age, date and place of birth
Relatives, key relationships,
enemies
Likes, dislikes, favorites, hobbies
Fears
Skills, education, career
Opinions, morality, ethics, beliefs,
religion
Origins
Sociological influences
Appearance/physical traits:
height, weight, measurements, hair
color, hair length, hairstyle, eye
color, jewelry, tattoos/marks, etc.
(guiding thoughts)
Words, language, style of speech
Century
Season
Year, Day, Minute, Significance of
Time
Country
City
Neighborhood
Home

Answers to the Nine Questions

and Detailed Notes

4
5
6
7

What surrounds your

character?
What are your
characters given
circumstances?
What are your
characters
relationships?
What does your
character want?

What is in your
characters way?

What does your

character have to do to
get what he/she wants?

Room
Area of room
Animate and inanimate objectscomplete details of environment
Past, present, future of all of the
events

Relation to total events, other

characters, and to things

Character's wants and needs

Character's motivations
The immediate and main objective
Obstacles which prevent character
from getting his/her wants and
needs
The action(s): physical and verbal,
also-action verbs

Adapted and Retrieved from https://www.google.ca/url?

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Innovate/Create (Competency)

I produce little to no work

I rarely and superficially

interpret the play to

demonstrate understanding
of character
I take little to no risks in

performing tasks or problem

solving that shows a
superficial creative approach
to problem solving.

I produce basic work

I basically and partially

interpret the play to

demonstrate understanding
of character
I take unsuitable risks in

performing tasks or problem

solving that shows a basic
creative approach to
problem solving.

I produce simplistic work.

I adequately and practically

interpret the play to

demonstrate sufficient
understanding of character
I take risks with uncertainty

performing tasks that shows an

adequately creative approach
to problem solving.

I produce considered work.

I competently and thoughtfully

interpret the play to
demonstrate better
understanding of character
I take well-intended risks in

performing tasks that show

innovative approaches to
problem solving.

I produce refined work.

I skillfully and meaningfully

interpret the play to

demonstrate deeper
understanding of character.
I take important risks in
performing tasks that shows
a creative approach to
problem solving.

I produce sophisticated,
innovative and original wor
I insightfully and effectively
interpret the play to
demonstrate a richer
understanding of character
I take substantial risks in
performing tasks that show
innovate approach to probl
solving.

Exploration (English Language Arts Outcome)

I unsuccessfully explore my

ideas about the topic, the

play, and characterization
by superficially considering
the significance of
complexities, subtleties and
ambiguities about the topic
My understanding is little

enhanced by superficially
exploring and comparing the
complexity of personality
traits, roles, relationships,
motivations, attitudes, and
values of characters with
little to none of my own
experiences

I simplistically explore my

ideas about the topic, the

play, and characterization
by basically considering the
significance of complexities,
subtleties and ambiguities
about the topic

My understanding is
somewhat enhanced by
partially exploring and
comparing the complexity of
personality traits, roles,
relationships, motivations,
attitudes, and values of
characters with my own
experiences simplistically

I adequately explore my ideas

about the topic, the play, and

characterization by generally
considering the significance of
complexities, subtleties and
ambiguities about the topic
My understanding is enhanced by

sufficiently exploring and

comparing the complexity of
personality traits, roles,
relationships, motivations,
attitudes, and values of
characters with my own
experiences generally

I have an incomplete,

superficial and flawed

understanding of the play
and can paraphrase little to
no key messages from the
play

I superficially or minimally
interpret and explain how
figurative language, imagery,
symbol and allusions
contribute to creation of
atmosphere, theme,
characterization and
meaning in the play

I have a general, predictable

and basic understanding of
the play and can
simplistically paraphrase
key messages from the play
I partially interpret and

explain how figurative

language, imagery, symbol
and allusions contribute to
creation of atmosphere,
theme, characterization and
meaning in the play

I have an adequate, relevant and

acceptable understanding of
the play and can sufficiently
paraphrase key messages from
the play
I sufficiently interpret and explain
how figurative language,
imagery, symbol and allusions
contribute to creation of
atmosphere, theme,
characterization and meaning
in the play

I competently explore my ideas

about the topic, the play, and
characterization by
specifically considering the
significance of complexities,
subtleties and ambiguities
about the topic
My understanding is enhanced
by thoughtfully exploring and
comparing the complexity of
personality traits, roles,
relationships, motivations,
attitudes, and values of
characters with my own
experiences specifically

I skillfully explore my ideas

about the topic, the play,

and characterization by
capably considering the
significance of complexities,
subtleties and ambiguities
about the topic

My understanding is enhanced
by meaningfully exploring
and comparing the
complexity of personality
traits, roles, relationships,
motivations, attitudes, and
values of characters with
my own experiences in
detail

I effectively explore my ideas

about the topic, the play, a
characterization by insight
considering the significanc
complexities, subtleties an
ambiguities about the topic
My understanding is substan
enhanced by exploring and
comparing the complexity
personality traits, roles,
relationships, motivations,
attitudes, and values of
characters with my own
experiences in depth

I have a detailed, meaningful

and substantial
understanding of the play
and can effectively
paraphrase key messages
from the play

I skillfully interpret and

explain how figurative
language, imagery, symbol
and allusions contribute to
creation of atmosphere,
theme, characterization and
meaning in the play

I have a thorough, perceptive

and sophisticated
understanding of the play a
can effectively paraphrase
messages from the play
I insightfully interpret and ex
how figurative language,
imagery, symbol and allusi
contribute to creation of
atmosphere, theme,
characterization and mean
in the play

Comprehension (English Language Arts Outcome)

I have a specific, thoughtful and

appropriate understanding of
the play and can competently
paraphrase key messages
from the play
I thoughtfully interpret and

explain how figurative

language, imagery, symbol
and allusions contribute to
creation of atmosphere,
theme, characterization and
meaning in the play