Starter quiz
- In 'Macbeth' what is the witches' prophecy for Banquo?
- Banquo will become Thane of Fife.
- Banquo will become Thane of Cawdor.
- Banquo will become king.
- Banquo's son will become Thane of Cawdor.
- Banquo's son will become king. ✓
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- Which of the statements below best describes Macbeth's initial reaction to the witches' prophecies in 'Macbeth'?
- Macbeth is disgusted by their prophecies.
- Macbeth is intrigued by their prophecies. ✓
- Macbeth is afraid of their prophecies.
- Macbeth is extremely excited by their prophecies.
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- In 'Macbeth' when Banquo says the witches are 'instruments of darkness', what language device is Shakespeare using?
- 'Metaphor' ✓
- An 'aside' is a stage direction, but what does it mean?
- It tells the actor which side of the stage to stand on.
- It is intentional and deliberate speech for the audience's ears only. ✓
- The actor should be off-stage, only their voice should be heard.
- A monologue where a character explains their internal thoughts and feelings.
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- Match the character from 'Macbeth' to the fate they suffer.
- King Duncan⇔is killed in his sleep by Macbeth ✓
- Banquo⇔is murdered by assassins, on the instruction of Macbeth ✓
- Fleance, Banquo's son,⇔escapes from the murderers sent by Macbeth ✓
- Macbeth⇔is murdered in a violent battle by Macduff ✓
- Select the best inferences about the significance of Banquo's ghost in 'Macbeth'.
- Banquo's ghost represents Macbeth's guilt. ✓
- Banquo's ghost shows Banquo will never forgive Macbeth.
- Banquo's ghost further isolates Macbeth from his wife. ✓
- Banquo's ghost is a reminder that the supernatural is real.
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Exit quiz
- The four values of the chivalric code are, honour, honesty, valour and ______.
- 'loyalty' ✓
- Starting with the first, put the three steps of an excellent introduction in order.
- 1⇔A powerful statement about the text as a whole.
- 2⇔Focus on the key words in the question.
- 3⇔Introduce a specific argument via your thesis statement.
- Which of the quotations below are from Banquo's reaction to the witches' prophecies in 'Macbeth'?
- "'Tis strange" ✓
- "The instruments of darkness" ✓
- "As happy prologues to the swelling act"
- "Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair?"
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- What does 'fervour' mean?
- An intense feeling or emotion. ✓
- A feeling of doubt or unease.
- A catastrophic reaction.
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- Select the ways in which Banquo is used as a construct in 'Macbeth'.
- Banquo acts as a foil to Macbeth. ✓
- The consequences of Banquo's murder act as a warning against disloyalty. ✓
- Banquo represents King James I.
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- Select the best inferences about the importance of Banquo in 'Macbeth'.
- The prophecy about Banquo's son is a catalyst for Macbeth's paranoia. ✓
- Banquo is a honest and loyal servant of King Duncan.
- Banquo's death is cruel and undeserved.
- Banquo's ghost drives Macbeth to isolate himself, furthering his downfall. ✓
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Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Banquo acts a foil to Macbeth because his loyalty outweighs his ambition.
- Banquo's son, Fleance, acts as a stark reminder of Macbeth's own lack of heir.
- King James I was believed to be a direct ancestor of the real Banquo.
- Shakespeare uses Macbeth's relationship with Banquo to warn against disobeying the natural order.
- Fleance's survival can be viewed as a reward for Banquo's loyalty.
Common misconception
Banquo's main purpose in the play is to act as a foil, highlighting Macbeth's treachery.
Explore the purpose of Fleance, by asking pupils how they think events would have unfolded if Fleance had been killed too.
Keywords
Chivalric code - the chivalric code is an informal code of conduct that many men agreed to live by. It included honour, honesty and loyalty
Aside - an aside is a stage direction where dialogue is intentionally delivered to be heard by the audience, but not the other characters on stage
Scepticism - people show scepticism when they doubt the truth of something
Fervour - fervour means intense or passionate feeling.
Apocalyptic - if something is described as apocalyptic it is catastrophic as it is being compared to the end of the world
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