Starter quiz
- Which sentence uses the word 'usurp' correctly?
- Lady Macbeth usurps Macbeth's masculinity.
- Macbeth wants to usurp the throne. ✓
- Banquo usurps Macbeth's mind.
-
- What is Macbeth's reaction to hearing the prophecy that he will become king in Act 1, Scene 3 of 'Macbeth'?
- He is calm because he knows fate will run its course.
- He is sceptical as he is unsure whether to trust the witches.
- His mind rushes to thoughts of regicide. ✓
-
- What time period was 'Macbeth' set in?
- Jacobean era
- Elizabethan era
- Medieval Scotland ✓
-
- What era was 'Macbeth' performed in?
- Jacobean era ✓
- Elizabethan era
- Edwardian era
-
- What is the Divine Right of Kings?
- the belief that the king was chosen by God ✓
- the belief that the king was undefeatable
- a plot in which people tried to overthrow the government in 1605
-
- What was the Gunpowder plot?
- a plan created to blow up the Houses of Parliament and assassinate King James I ✓
- a system for declaring war
- the belief that the king had the same authority as God
- an annual celebration with fireworks
-
Exit quiz
- Why is Banquo alarmed at Macbeth's reaction to the prophecy that he will become king in Act 1, Scene 3 of 'Macbeth'?
- Macbeth openly talks of regicide.
- Mabeth seems scared despite receiving good news. ✓
- Macbeth seems to worship the witches.
-
- Why might Macbeth feel guilty in Act 1, Scene 3 of 'Macbeth'?
- because he killed the previous King of Scotland
- because he knows he will have to betray his wife
- because he entertains treacherous thoughts ✓
-
- In 'Macbeth', what could Macbeth's "seated heart" symbolise?
- his ambition
- his conscience ✓
- his reputation
-
- What may help you to form a nuanced, critical understanding of a text?
- using short quotes in analysis
- exploring a scene through an alternative lens ✓
- considering the significance of a character's presentation ✓
- considering a conventional viewpoint
-
- By committing regicide, what does Macbeth violate in the play 'Macbeth'?
- the Divine Right of Kings ✓
- loyalty to his wife
- the warrior's code of conduct
-
- What could Shakespeare's intention be in presenting Macbeth's guilt so early on in 'Macbeth'?
- to warn the audience not to contemplate violating moral boundaries ✓
- to show the power someone can receive when aligning with the supernatural
- to expose the Divine Right of Kings as meaningless
-
Worksheet
Loading worksheet ...
Presentation
Loading presentation ...
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Macbeth's initial reaction to the witches' prophecies could reflect his guilt at contemplating regicide.
- Shakespeare may depict Macbeth's overwhelming sense of guilt because he was violating two important codes of conduct.
- Macbeth's soliloquy can be interpreted through a lens of guilt, offering an interesting alternative interpretation.
- Nuanced, critical understanding of texts include alternative interpretations and consideration of a writer's intentions.
Common misconception
Guilt is only observable in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth after the murder of King Duncan.
We can look at early scenes in the play through the lens of guilt since Shakespeare has a clear motive for centering the play on guilt.
Keywords
Usurp - take a position of power illegally or by force
Violate - break or act against something
Treachery - betrayal of trust
+