Analysing a scene in the build-up of 'Macbeth' | English

Starter quiz

What is a protagonist?
- an ongoing disagreement or argument
- a central idea that the writer intends the audience to engage deeply with
- the leading character or one of the major characters in a narrative ✓
How does Macbeth react to the witches' prophecies?
- They spark an interest in him; could he be the king? ✓
- He doesn't think they are real - they are a figment of his imagination.
- He is jealous of Banquo because he wants his own sons to be kings.
Order these events.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  The three witches plan to meet Macbeth on the heath.
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  The witches meet Macbeth and Banquo on the heath.
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  The witches predict that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and then the king.
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Macbeth is told he has been made Thane of Cawdor.
What is a theme?
- a central idea that the writer intends the audience to engage deeply with ✓
- the leading character or one of the major characters in a narrative
- a conclusion drawn from information and evidence in a text
What does Macbeth do before he rides home with King Duncan?
- He returns to see the witches on the heath and he asks them to leave him alone.
- He writes to his wife 'Lady Macbeth' to tell her about the witches' prophecies. ✓
- He does nothing and he tries to forget about the witches.
Match each character trait of Macbeth to the correct piece of evidence from the play.
- determined
  
  ⇔
  
  always thinking of how he can get what he desires ✓
- guilty
  
  ⇔
  
  he tries to stop himself having evil thoughts ✓
- brave
  
  ⇔
  
  not afraid of the witches ✓

Exit quiz

Macbeth has gone back to his home in Inverness. Who is staying with him and Lady Macbeth?
- the three witches
- Duncan and his men ✓
- Banquo and his sons
Act I, Scene vii starts with a soliloquy from Macbeth. What is a soliloquy?
- a feeling of excitement or nervousness
- stage directions that tell the actors what to do
- a speech in a play where the character speaks to himself or herself ✓
Why does Macbeth have an internal conflict?
- He can't decide whether to kill King Duncan or not. ✓
- He can't decide whether to tell Lady Macbeth about the witches' predictions.
- He can't decide whether to tell Duncan what the witches told him and Banquo.
How would you describe Lady Macbeth?
- kind
- ruthless ✓
- manipulative ✓
- gentle
- motherly
What reasons are there for Macbeth not to kill Duncan?
- He wants to be loyal. ✓
- He wants to please Lady Macbeth.
- He is ambitious.
- He has just been made Thane of Cawdor by King Duncan. ✓
How does the end of Act I leave the audience in suspense?
- They have just seen Duncan being killed!
- They don't know what will happen next. Will Macbeth kill Duncan, or won't he? ✓
- They are scared of the witches.

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

A play script is the written form of a play.
Audiences can draw inferences and make conclusions about a character based on their words, expressions and actions.
Vocabulary can be generated to precisely describe a scene for the reader.
Shakespearean characters often experience internal conflict.
Macbeth's decision making is influenced by his wife and his desire for power.

Common misconception

Pupils might find the concept of 'manipulation' difficult to understand.

You could provide pupils with a context that they might understand, for example, imagine a friend doesn't want to take someone else's packed lunch, but you want them to. How could you manipulate them? What could you say to convince them?

Keywords

Soliloquy - a speech in a play where the character speaks to himself or herself
Internal conflict - a struggle within a person's mind over a problem or question
Suspense - the feeling of excitement or nervousness that you have when you are waiting for something to happen
Manipulate - to control something or someone to your advantage, often unfairly or dishonestly