Starter quiz
- Why are soliloquies particularly useful in plays?
- They help to set the atmosphere.
- They include stage directions.
- They allow the audience to know what a character is feeling at a certain point. ✓
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- What helps Macbeth to make his decision to kill Duncan at the end of the soliloquy?
- He sees a dagger which he thinks is another sign. ✓
- Duncan is rude to him.
- Banquo tells him he should kill Duncan.
- The witches visit him again.
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- How does Act I end?
- Macbeth kills Duncan.
- Duncan's murder has been planned, but it has not been carried out. ✓
- Lady Macbeth kills Duncan.
- Macbeth decides he cannot kill Duncan.
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- How do you think the audience are left feeling at the end of Act I?
- in suspense ✓
- relaxed
- relieved
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- What type of clause is this? 'drawing me in'
- a non-finite clause ✓
- a relative clause
- an adverbial clause
- a main clause
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- Which of these verbs could be used in a non-finite clause?
- will invite
- invites
- inviting ✓
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Exit quiz
- What is diction?
- facial expressions
- body movements
- the enunciation of words ✓
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- How can we show how a character is feeling in a performance?
- by using facial expressions ✓
- by using diction
- by using expression in our voices ✓
- by speaking very quietly
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- How is Macbeth feeling when he delivers this soliloquy?
- torn ✓
- tranquil
- excited
- bored
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- When we speak with expression, we...
- read every word in the same way.
- bring the words to life and try to engage our listener. ✓
- try to sound like a robot.
- have to be standing up.
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- To be a supportive partner, we should...
- tell our partner all the things they did wrong only.
- not watch their performance.
- give feedback on what our partner did well and how they could improve even more. ✓
- watch and listen to their performance. ✓
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- How would you identify a soliloquy if you saw one in a play?
- when I saw an actor give a long speech to themselves not other characters ✓
- when I saw an actor having an argument
- when I saw an actor acting like they were very upset
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- A soliloquy shows the audience how a character is feeling at a key point in the play.
- The way the character is feeling must be carefully thought about before a performance.
- Performing a soliloquy requires the performer to use clear diction and expression to bring the words to life.
- Performing requires the performer to use facial expressions and body movements to bring the soliloquy to life.
Common misconception
Pupils may feel they can simply read out their soliloquies.
Explicitly model the difference between reading and performing. You could also find some clips of actors performing in a Shakespeare play and discuss why their performance was strong and how that helped us to understand how the character is feeling.
Keywords
Performance - the act of presenting or reciting in front of an audience, using voice, gestures and expression
Diction - the enunciation of words
Facial expressions - a form of non-verbal communication communicated via the face to convey a range of emotions
Expression - bringing words to life to engage a listener
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