Starter quiz
- How is a soliloquy different to a monologue?
- it always rhymes
- it is not said to another character, but it is spoken to oneself ✓
- it is an argument between two characters
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- Shakespeare mainly writes his plays in which of these?
- Latin
- braille
- blank verse ✓
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- Iambic pentameter follow which rules?
- Each line has ten or eleven words.
- Each line has ten or eleven syllables. ✓
- There are 5 stressed syllables and 5 unstressed syllables. ✓
- Each line starts with the same letter.
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- What is a sonnet?
- a type of poem written in iambic pentameter that also rhymes ✓
- a monolgue in a play
- a type of stage direction in a playscript
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- When might a character deliver a soliloquy?
- when they are talking to another character and want to tell them something
- when they have a dilemma ✓
- when they are experiencing strong emotions such as shock ✓
- when they have just woken up
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- Which of these adjectives would you use to describe Lady Macbeth?
- ruthless ✓
- rational
- gentle
- manipulative ✓
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Exit quiz
- Which of these sentences are written in the first person perspective?
- I cannot do it! ✓
- He is in turmoil.
- We would be mad to consider such a thing. ✓
- You should be careful.
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- What internal conflict is Macbeth facing?
- He does not know whether to tell Lady Macbeth about the witches' prophecies.
- He does not know whether to tell King Duncan that Lady Macbeth is a traitor.
- He does not know whether to kill King Duncan or not. ✓
- He does not know if he should return home or not.
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- Which of the following is a rhetorical question?
- How could I do this? ✓
- Is he asleep yet?
- Do you think he is suspicious of me?
- What am I thinking? ✓
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- Which of the following words might Shakespeare have used in his plays?
- hiya
- thine ✓
- whence ✓
- cool
- hast ✓
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- Which of the following is an exclamatory sentence?
- How awful!
- What terrible guilt I feel! ✓
- What an important night!
- How terrible to think these thoughts! ✓
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- What happens after Macbeth decides that he will not kill King Duncan?
- Lady Macbeth congratulates him on his decision.
- Lady Macbeth convinces him to kill King Duncan. ✓
- Macbeth has a visualisation of a dagger that he sees as a sign. ✓
- Macbeth tells King Duncan to leave immediately for his life is in danger.
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Macbeth is a highly conflicted character.
- A soliloquy occurs when a character voices their thoughts and feelings aloud.
- Soliloquies are written from the first person perspective.
- The opening of this soliloquy outlines Macbeth's dilemma.
- The character's confusion can be illustrated through the use of rhetorical questions and exclamations.
Common misconception
Pupils could get carried away with using Shakespearean style language and use it too frequently, taking away from them showing their understanding of the character of Macbeth.
Use your shared writing section to exemplify only using a few words or phrases to give it a 'Shakespearean feel'. Remind pupils that we still want to include different sentence types to achieve text flow.
Keywords
Soliloquy - an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play
First person perspective - the 'I/we' perspective
Internal conflict - a struggle within a person's mind over a problem or question
Rhetorical question - a question asked to the reader that does not expect an answer
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