English A Midterm Essay Prompt

Compare/Contrast Essay        ___/40

In literary terms, what is a tragedy? What is a tragic hero? Define these terms and discuss how both Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Miller’s Death of a Salesman fit within the tragedy genre and how Macbeth as a character and Willy Loman both fulfill the tragic hero archetype.

Refer to the rubric for planning ideas/directions:

·        Paragraph #1: Name which literary works, authors, and characters you are going to discuss.  Define tragedy and tragic hero. (5 points)

·        Paragraph #2: Discuss Macbeth in Macbeth.  Discuss how the play is a tragedy and Macbeth is a tragic hero. Give at least four specific reasons for your definition. (10 points)

·        Paragraph #3: Discuss Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman.  Discuss how the play is a tragedy and Willy is a tragic hero. Give at least four specific reasons for your definition. (10 points)

·        Paragraph #4: Give and overview of how the stories of Macbeth and Willy Loman are similar and different.  Discuss what the authors’ purposes were for both characters—what point(s) are Shakespeare and Miller making about human nature by writing about tragic heroes? (10 points)

·        **5 points for overall readability (organization and editing)