a conclusion The conclusion restates the ideas from the thesis and summarizes some of the main points from the essay The conclusion's Haw to Enclude an Essa final thought often considers additional implications for the essay or gives the reader something to ponder further Begin your conclusion with a recap of the thesis and a brief summary of the most important or strongest arguments Leave readers with a final thought that puts the essay in a larger context or considers its wider implications In This Book In this book you will read summaries of works each followed by an analysis Critical thinking sections will give you a chance to consider other theses and questions about the work Did you agree with the author's analysis What other questions are raised by the thesis and its arguments You can also see other directions the author could have pursued to analyze the work Then in the Analyze It section in the final pages of this book you will have an opportunity to create your own analysis paper 10
The Antihero in Literature The antihero is a main character in a literary work who is not heroic Although most antiheroes are unlikeable or even despicable they stop short of being outright villains because the reader sympathizes with them and roots for them Also unlike traditional heroes and villains antiheroes tend to be realistic complex characters who are morally ambiguous that is neither all good nor all bad Whereas heroes uphold the values of society Look for the Guides antiheroes often rebel against these values acting in ways society believes they should not They are often outsiders and rebels alienated and outcast For this reason Throughout the chapters that analyze the works thesis statements have been highlighted The box next to the thesis helps explain what questions are being raised about the work Supporting arguments have also been highlighted The boxes next to the arguments help explain how these points support the thesis The conclusions are also accompanied by explanatory boxes Look for these guides throughout each analysis they are often figures of protest and social criticism and may be used to explore human psychology or challenge traditional notions of
AN OVERVIEW OF Macbeth illiam Shakespeare wrote the tragedy Macbeth around the year 1606 A tragedy is a play in which a hero of high status experiences a downfall often caused by a tragic flaw such as pride or ambition Shakespeare's tragedies are perhaps the most famous in the English language The English playwright penned at least ten tragedies including Romeo and Juliet Hamlet Othello King Lear and Macbeth Macbeth's tragic hero is Macbeth a Scottish nobleman who murders the king of Scotland so he can take the king s place as ruler Macbeth's wife Lady Macbeth is often seen as an antihero She pushes her husband to commit the murder making her another tragic hero 12
While not the main character in Macbeth Lady Macbeth plays a crucial role in the play's events 13
