Starter quiz
- In Act 1 of 'Macbeth', who is King of Scotland in the world of the play?
- Macduff.
- Banquo.
- Duncan. ✓
- Macbeth.
- Malcolm.
-
- Match the first seven scenes of 'Macbeth' to their plot points.
- Act 1, Scene 1⇔The witches prepare to meet Macbeth. ✓
- Act 1, Scene 2⇔An account of Macbeth's bravery in battle; Macbeth promoted. ✓
- Act 1, Scene 3⇔The witches give the prophecies. ✓
- Act 1, Scene 4⇔Previous Thane of Cawdor killed. ✓
- Act 1, Scene 5⇔Lady Macbeth hears of the prophecies. ✓
- Act 1, Scene 6 and 7⇔Lady Macbeth welcomes Duncan then goads Macbeth to regicide. ✓
- In Act 1, Scene 5 of 'Macbeth', Lady Macbeth asks 'spirits' to fill her with 'cruelty' and 'stop up the access and passage to...'
- 'remorse' ✓
- In Act 1 of 'Macbeth', why is Macbeth conflicted about committing regicide?
- He's not sure if it will please Lady Macbeth.
- He feels loyal to King Duncan. ✓
- He knows the witches will do it for him.
- He desires the crown, but isn't sure that's a good enough reason to kill Duncan. ✓
- He's worried he will be found out. ✓
-
- In Act 1 of 'Macbeth', in what ways does Shakespeare suggest that King Duncan is a good king?
- He promotes those who are loyal to him. ✓
- His subjects fight for him. ✓
- Macbeth describes him as 'meek'. ✓
- He forgives the Thane of Cawdor for his treachery.
- He prepares for Scotland's future by saying Malcolm is his heir. ✓
-
- At the end of Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth', after Lady Macbeth has emasculated Macbeth, Macbeth resolves to commit regicide, stating, 'I am settled, and bend up...to this ______ feat'.
- 'terrible' ✓
Exit quiz
- Match the scenes from Act 2 of 'Macbeth' to their plot points
- Act 2, Scene 1 Part 1⇔Banquo and Fleance meet in the pitch black. ✓
- Act 2, Scene 1 Part 2⇔Macbeth pretends he hasn’t thought about the witches. ✓
- Act 2, Scene 1 Part 3⇔Macbeth hallucinates a dagger. ✓
- Act 2, Scene 2⇔Macbeth regrets regicide; Lady Macbeth frames the guards. ✓
- The ______ Right of Kings is the belief that a monarch is chosen by God; the belief that a monarch is God’s representative on Earth.
- 'Divine' ✓
- After committing the regicide in Act 2 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth is worried that he will no longer be able to say '...'
- 'Amen' ✓
- In Act 2 of 'Macbeth', what reason does Lady Macbeth give for not committing the regicide herself?
- In the end, she was too scared.
- She wants Macbeth to do it to prove his love for her.
- She never intended to - it was always going to be Macbeth.
- She had to entertain Duncan for the evening.
- Duncan looked too like her father. ✓
-
- In 'Macbeth', what does blood symbolise in the play?
- Madness.
- Guilt. ✓
- Oceans.
- Foreshadowing.
- Metaphor.
-
- In Act 2, Scene 2 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth worries 'Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand?' How does Lady Macbeth reply?
- 'Was the hope drunk Wherein you dressed yourself?'
- 'A little water clears us of this deed'. ✓
- 'dearest partner of greatness'.
- 'look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't'.
- 'yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full of the milk of human kindness'.
-
Worksheet
Loading worksheet ...
Presentation
Loading presentation ...
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- The Divine Right of Kings is the belief that a monarch is chosen by God; that a monarch is God’s representative on Earth
- Macbeth hallucinates a dagger before he commits regicide
- After the regicide, Macbeth worries he will no longer be able to pray or sleep
- Whilst Macbeth is preoccupied with the blood on his hands, Lady Macbeth is not
- Blood is a symbol for feelings of guilt in ‘Macbeth’
Common misconception
Macbeth actually sees a dagger.
Shakespeare signals the dagger is a hallucination, and that Macbeth is aware it is a hallucination too: 'a dagger of the mind'.
Keywords
Regicide - If you kill your monarch, you commit the crime of regicide.
The divine right of kings - The Divine Right of Kings is the belief that a monarch is chosen by God; the belief that a monarch is God’s representative on Earth.
Jacobeans - When James I was King of England (1603-1624), the people he ruled over were called Jacobeans.
Hallucination - A hallucination is when you see, smell, taste, touch or hear something that appears to be real, but is only in your mind.
Symbol - If something is a symbol, it represents or expresses an idea. In 'Macbeth', blood is a symbol of guilt.
+