Lesson video

Welcome back.

My name is Mrs. McGowan.

We have been learning all about William Shakespeare's "Macbeth." In this lesson, we are going to meet Lady Macbeth.

We're going to use drama activities to explore her character and look at the impact she has on the story.

So if we're all ready, let's begin.

In this lesson, you're going to need some space to work in, making sure the area is nice and safe and nothing's in your way.

You'll also need a pen and some paper.

So let's have a look what we'll be doing during the lesson.

We start the lesson by recapping the story.

We'll then move on to a still image and movement activity.

This will be followed by introducing the character of Lady Macbeth.

We'll then move on to thought-tracking Lady Macbeth.

We'll end the session by creating and performing a soliloquy.

Let's look at the key words we'll be using in the lesson.

Still image is a frozen picture.

We can create these in drama using our face and bodies to show meaning.

Ambitious means showing a strong desire and determination to succeed.

A soliloquy is a speech that an actor gives when he or she is alone on stage, which allows the audience to hear the character's inner thoughts.

"Macbeth" is a play by William Shakespeare.

Set in Scotland, Macbeth begins as a brave and loyal general to King Duncan.

After a victory in a battle, Macbeth meets three witches.

The three witches make prophecies that Beth will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland.

Macbeth soon realises the witches' first prophecy has come true when he is told the King has named him as the new Thane of Cawdor.

As King Duncan announces Malcolm, his eldest son, as heir to the throne, Macbeth notes to himself that Malcolm now stands between him and the crown.

And now it's time for a first question.

Who does King Duncan name as the heir to the throne? Is it Macbeth, Banquo, Malcolm, or Macduff? That's right, King Duncan names Malcolm as heir to the throne.

Malcolm is King Duncan's eldest son.

Let's start this activity by looking at these words.

Ambitious, strong, worried, wicked, and persuasive.

In this activity, you are going to come up with a still image that you think best represents that word.

You can choose to show this how you like.

For each individual word, you will produce a still image.

We will then link each still image by movement to some music I've created.

Have a look now at me demonstrating this activity and then it will be your turn.

Now it's your turn.

Have a look again at the list of words.

If you like, pause the video while you have a think about how you can represent each word.

When you're ready, get yourself in position and start when you hear the music.

Fantastic, well done.

I bet your still images were super and I wonder which one you enjoyed the most.

Okay, it's to move on to the next activity.

We move over now to Macbeth's home, Dunsinane Castle, where we're introduced to the character Lady Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most famous characters.

She is a strong female who we will see has a huge impact on the story.

Lady Macbeth, at the beginning of the scene, is reading a letter sent from her husband Macbeth.

Macbeth tells her all about the witches and the prophecies they made.

Listen and read along to the lines taken from Act 1, Scene 5.

Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be what thou art promised.

Yet do I fear thy nature; it is too full of the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way.

Thou wouldst be great; art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it.

Pause the video now and read back over the lines.

Now this speech is a really famous speech in "Macbeth." Lady Macbeth fears her husband is too kind to commit murder.

Let's see what else she says.

The raven himself is hoarse that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan under my battlements.

Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty.

Pause the video now and read back over the lines.

Before Macbeth delivers this second part of the speech, she has learned that King Duncan is coming to Dunsinane Castle that very night.

Now she sees this as her chance.

She calls on the supernatural to make her more cruel so that she can fulfil her plan.

She wants to rid herself of her feminine side so she can become more ruthless.

In this part of the speech, we learn Lady Macbeth will do whatever it takes to help Macbeth become King.

We also learn that she is the driving force behind him.

And now it's time for another question.

Lady Macbeth thinks her husband, Macbeth, should murder King Duncan, true or false? That's right, the answer is true.

Lady Macbeth plans the murder of King Duncan and is prepared to do whatever it takes to help her husband become King.

Let's think about Lady Macbeth's thoughts and feelings now.

In this activity, we are going to speak aloud her thoughts.

I will show you an example of this and then it will be your turn.

I think my husband would make the most wonderful King.

I wonder how the crown would look upon his head.

I can see this is not going to be easy.

He won't take kindly to the idea of murdering his King.

I worry he won't go through with it.

Now it's your turn.

Use these sentence starters to help you think of the thoughts of Lady Macbeth.

Try and think of as many as you can.

Pause the video now and come back and join me when you finished.

How did you get on? Did you enjoy the activity? I bet you had lots of wonderful ideas.

Well, we're going to use these ideas to help us in our next activity, so let's get started.

In this activity, we are going to create and perform a soliloquy by Lady Macbeth.

This is going to be in your own words.

I'm really excited for this.

I know you're going to come up with some fantastic ideas and work.

So let's look at the activity in more detail so you know what to do.

Let's create and perform a soliloquy.

Put it in your own words and perform.

Think about how Lady Macbeth is feeling and what she will say.

Use your ideas in the thought-tracking activity to help you here.

When performing in role, think about adding in movement.

For example, entering the room and reading a letter from Macbeth.

Think about the pace, which is the speed, and volume of how you will speak.

Think about adding dramatic pauses and think about emphasising any important words.

I'll demonstrate this activity for you now.

The witches said you'd become Thane of Cawdor came true.

They also say you'll become King of Scotland.

Oh, Macbeth.

How glorious this would be, but I feel you're too kind.

How can I help my husband become King? Spirits, rid me of my female qualities so I may help my husband.

Make me crueller.

Macbeth, I will help you carry out this plan.

We will do it together.

So now it's time for you to have a go at this activity.

Pause the video, write down your ideas and then perform as Lady Macbeth.

Come back when you're finished.

Good luck.

Well done, fantastic.

How did it feel to perform as one of Shakespeare's most powerful characters? I bet you were brilliant.

Sadly, that is the end of the lesson now; however, join me next time where we'll find out whether Macbeth committed murder or not.

It's a lesson not to be missed.

If you'd like to share your work on Twitter, perhaps you could show me performing your soliloquy, I would love to see it.

But remember to ask a parent or a carer to help you with this.

That's it for me for now.

We'll see you next time.