Starter quiz
- In 'Macbeth', why does Macbeth want to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance?
- Banquo openly doesn't support Macbeth's reign.
- The witches' prophesy that Banquo will be king.
- The witches tell Macbeth, 'Beware Banquo'.
- The witches' prophesy that Banquo's children will be kings. ✓
- Lady Macbeth goads him into it.
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- In 'Macbeth', Duncan and Macbeth are very different types of monarchs. Match Macbeth's qualities as King, and Duncan's qualities as King.
- Macbeth⇔An illegitimate monarch - his authority is not valid. ✓
- Macbeth⇔A monarch who kills his subjects. ✓
- Macbeth⇔A monarch who is fearful and paranoid. ✓
- Duncan⇔A monarch who promotes his subjects when deserved. ✓
- Duncan⇔A meek and virtuous monarch. ✓
- Duncan⇔A legitimate monarch - his authority over Scotland is valid. ✓
- In Act 1 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth is praised and promoted. Why?
- He asks for a promotion and it is granted because of his abilities in battle.
- He steals the Thane of Cawdor's title.
- He is promoted by Duncan following his prowess on the battlefield. ✓
- The Scottish Thanes consider him as a good contender for the throne.
- Lady Macbeth manipulates Duncan into promoting her husband.
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- In Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth', which quotation best shows how Lady Macbeth emasculates her husband?
- 'I have given suck, and know How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me'
- 'look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't'
- 'Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it'
- 'yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness'
- 'When you durst do it, then you were a man' ✓
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- Which quotations from Act 1 of 'Macbeth' best shows the close relationship the Macbeths have?
- 'of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen'
- 'dearest partner of greatness' ✓
- 'my dearest love' ✓
- 'be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed'
- 'Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it' ✓
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- In Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth has a long soliloquy in which he contemplates regicide. Why is he hesitant about committing this act?
- He is worried he will go to hell.
- He is worried everyone will find out it was him. ✓
- He knows there is no reason to commit the regicide apart from his ambition. ✓
- He realises there will be consequences to his actions. ✓
- He values Duncan as a good monarch. ✓
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Exit quiz
- In Act 3, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth', who can see Banquo's Ghost?
- everyone at the feast
- Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
- Macbeth ✓
- Lady Macbeth
- Macbeth and the murderers
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- Starting with the first plot point, order the events of Act 3, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth'.
- 1⇔Macbeth welcomes his subjects for a feast.
- 2⇔Macbeth has a private conversation with murderers about Banquo and Fleance.
- 3⇔The murderers reveal that Fleance escaped. He is distressed.
- 4⇔Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost as the feast begins. He is distressed.
- 5⇔Lady Macbeth emasculates Macbeth to make him stop shouting and trembling.
- 6⇔Lady Macbeth sends everyone away from the feast because she can't calm Macbeth.
- 7⇔Macbeth resolves to go and see the witches.
- In Act 3, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth resolves to go and see the witches. Why could this decision be seen as a turning point for Macbeth's grip on power?
- It reveals Macbeth's complete isolation - he trusts no-one but the witches. ✓
- Lady Macbeth suggests he should go, showing she is powerful, not him.
- The witches are evil and untrustworthy, not people a monarch should trust. ✓
- The witches are going to reveal he will lose his power.
- He says he sees them when his guests are there, revealing his illegitimacy.
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- In 3.4 of 'Macbeth', Lady Macbeth emasculates Macbeth when he is visibly distressed seeing Banquo's ghost. She exclaims, '______ itself!' at his behaviour.
- 'shame' ✓
- Which adjectives best describe Lady Macbeth's language in Act 3, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth'?
- effective
- diminishing
- legitimate
- emasculating ✓
- blunt ✓
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- In Act 3, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth', how do we know that Lady Macbeth's emasculating language is ineffective in modifying Macbeth's behaviour?
- He has to send their guests away from the feast.
- She has to send their guests away from the feast. ✓
- She isn't able to convince him to kill Banquo's ghost.
- He continues to fear Banquo's ghost until he disappears. ✓
- She doesn't help him come to any decisions; instead he seeks the witches. ✓
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Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Act 3, Scene 4 sees the Macbeths hold an important feast
- Macbeth sees Banquo's Ghost
- As in earlier scenes, Lady Macbeth could be interpreted as trying to emasculate her husband
- However, Macbeth appears less susceptible to her emasculation
- Lady Macbeth appears to lose control over her husband
Common misconception
Banquo's ghost is definitely a figment of Macbeth's imagination.
It's up to directors whether Banquo's ghost should appear on stage; an actor could play this part, or Macbeth could be scared of nothing.
Keywords
Appearance versus reality - Appearance versus reality is an important theme in literature. If how things appear is different to reality, there is disorder.
Emasculate - If you emasculate someone, you deprive them of their masculine role or identity.
Legitimate - If your power is legitimate, it is legal and valid.
Diminishes - If something diminishes, it reduces in importance.
Blunt - If your speech is blunt, it is direct.
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