Starter quiz
- Who is the only character to not have an heir at the start of the play?
- King Duncan
- Macbeth ✓
- Banquo
- Macduff
-
- A recurring idea in a piece of literature is called a ______?
- 'motif' ✓
- Which language device does Shakespeare use when Macbeth calls his crown a 'fruitless crown?'
- Simile
- Metaphor ✓
- Sibilance
-
- What does 'barren' mean? Select two definitions.
- Bleak or lifeless ✓
- Hot and dry
- Too poor to produce much or any vegetation ✓
- Lush and green
- An ideal place for growing vegetation
-
- What does 'patriarchy' mean?
- A social system is which positions of privilege are predominantly held by men. ✓
- A social system which prioritises the needs of the rich.
- A social system which prioritises the needs of the monarchy.
-
- Why is Macbeth paranoid about Banquo's prophecy? Select the best inference from the answers below.
- Macbeth is worried Banquo will betray him.
- Macbeth is worried Banquo will betray him to enable his son to become king. ✓
- Macbeth wants his own son to be king.
-
Exit quiz
- The list below are some of the references to the motif of nature that occur in 'Macbeth'. Starting with the first, put them into chronological order.
- 1⇔King Duncan says he has 'begun to plant thee' to Macbeth and Banquo.
- 2⇔Banquo declares he be 'the root and father of many kings'.
- 3⇔Macbeth laments his 'fruitless crown' and 'barren scepter'.
- 4⇔Macbeth sees an apparition of a child wearing a crown, holding a tree.
- 5⇔Birnam Wood moves towards the castle, prophesying Macbeth's death.
- Match the clauses about 'Macbeth' to make three logical inferences.
- Macbeth fears Banquo,⇔namely, he worries his son will take his throne. ✓
- Macbeth has no male heir,⇔therefore he fears the finite nature of his power. ✓
- Macbeth is ruthless,⇔contrastingly Banquo seems secure in his patrilineal line. ✓
- What does a patrilineal society mean?
- A society where titles are passed down from parents to children.
- A society built by men and controlled by men.
- A society where titles are passed down through male descendants. ✓
-
- Which of the following is not part of the success criteria for a topic sentence?
- Use of markers to indicate which part of the play is being analysed.
- A brief context of the scene.
- A focus on the writer and their intentions.
- A clear focus on your argument.
- An embedded quotation. ✓
-
- 'In a patrilineal society, Macbeth's lack of male heir reminds him of his finite power.' Which sentence below best paraphrases this argument about 'Macbeth'?
- Without a male heir, Macbeth is aware his titles and power will die with him. ✓
- Macbeth worries that Banquo's son will take his crown.
- Macbeth is jealous that others have male heirs and he does not.
- Macbeth's lack of patrilineage drives his ambitious behaviour.
-
- In 'Macbeth', what does the "apparition of the child holding the tree" mean to Macbeth? Select the best responses.
- It is a cruel reminder of Macbeth's lack of patrilineal line. ✓
- It reminds Macbeth of the children he did not have.
- Perhaps the branch represents Macbeth's family tree, which dies out with him. ✓
- It represents Fleance, Banquo's son, who will eventually become king.
-
Worksheet
Loading worksheet ...
Presentation
Loading presentation ...
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Both Jacobean and 11th Century Gaelic societies were patriarchal and based on hereditary power.
- Macbeth is surrounded by men who have male heirs.
- Macbeth's lack of patrilineage could have resulted in insecurities around his masculinity.
- His insecurities could fuel his ambitious nature.
- The witches' prophecies about Banquo highlight the finite nature of Macbeth's power.
Common misconception
Pupils assume Macbeth and his wife have never had children.
Remind pupils about Lady Macbeth's "I have given suck" (1.7). Explore the idea that the Macbeths may have had a child die in infancy.
Keywords
Patrilineal - a patrilineal society bases lineage or ancestry from the male descendants
Hereditary - hereditary means the passing on of traits (or titles and rights) from parents to their children
Insecurities - if you are uncertain or unsure about yourself, you can be described as having insecurities
Masculinity - masculinity is the qualities regarded as characteristic of men and boys
Patriarchal - a patriarchal society is one created for, and controlled by, men
+