Starter quiz
- Which monarch did William Shakespeare write 'Macbeth' for?
- Queen Elizabeth I
- Mary, Queen of Scots
- King James I/ King James VI ✓
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- Who is King Duncan's oldest son and the heir to the throne in 'Macbeth'?
- 'Malcolm' ✓
- Who betrays King Duncan before the start of the play in 'Macbeth'?
- The Thane of Cawdor ✓
- The Thane of Fife
- Macbeth
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- Which language device is used in the quotation: "nobleness, like stars, shall shine on all deservers"?
- simile ✓
- metaphor
- pathetic fallacy
- imperative
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- Starting with the first, put these events from 'Macbeth' into the order they occur.
- 1⇔The audience is introduced to the witches.
- 2⇔King Duncan hears that the rebel, the Thane of Cawdor, has been captured.
- 3⇔Macbeth and Banquo hear the witches' prophecies.
- 4⇔Macbeth begins to get excited about becoming the king.
- 5⇔Duncan meets with Macbeth and makes him Thane of Cawdor.
- 6⇔Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth, telling her about the prophecies.
- Which of the following words describe the act of killing a king?
- homicide
- remicide
- regicide ✓
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Exit quiz
- Who did King James I succeed on the English throne?
- 'Queen Elizabeth I' ✓
- In Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', which of the following is a commonality between Macbeth and Duncan's leadership styles?
- They are both generous leaders.
- They are both loyal to their subjects.
- They both use violence to protect their crown. ✓
- They are both paranoid.
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- Match the quotations said by King Duncan (Act 1, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth') to a possible inference.
- "I have begun to plant thee"⇔Duncan has given Macbeth an opportunity to grow. ✓
- "I will labour"⇔Duncan will work hard to support Macbeth. ✓
- "Like stars, shall shine"⇔Duncan wants to see Macbeth succeed. ✓
- Which event in 'Macbeth' best acts as a warning against defying the natural order?
- Macbeth killing King Duncan
- Macbeth's death and Malcolm's ascension to the throne ✓
- King Duncan rewarding a disloyal Macbeth
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- Which of the following is the definition of a 'construct'?
- a character which has been deliberately crafted for a specific reason ✓
- a character who contrasts with another character to illustrate differences
- a secondary character who aids in developing the plot
- the opposite of a protagonist
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- Select the ways in which Duncan acts as a foil to Macbeth in 'Macbeth'.
- Duncan's death allows Macbeth to become king.
- Duncan uses violence to preserve the status quo, Macbeth uses for personal gain. ✓
- Duncan's generosity with power illustrates Macbeth's selfishness. ✓
- Macbeth plots Duncan's death, illustrating he is power-hungry.
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- The motif of nature is used to create a nurturing relationship between Duncan and Macbeth.
- A good leader nurtures and grows others.
- Malcolm is the rightful heir to the throne.
- Duncan is used as a foil to Macbeth.
- Duncan, and his narrative arc, is used as a warning against defying the natural order.
Common misconception
Pupils often fail to consider the symbolic importance of Duncan and, in particular, Malcolm in the play.
Ask pupils what the moral message of the play would be if Malcolm did not end the play as king.
Keywords
Motif - a recurring image or idea in a text is called a motif
Nurturing - if you are nurturing you want to care for and protect someone while they are growing
Foil - a foil is a character who contrasts with another to highlight their differences
Heir - an heir is someone who inherits money, property or a title after a person’s death
Natural order - the natural order is the belief that there is a natural way the world is ordered, with laws and rules that should be followed
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