If you are skilled in the art of rhetoric, it means you speak persuasively and eloquently.

Desperation is a state of being in distress or despair. Being in this state can make you act impulsively.

If you emasculate someone, you deprive them of their masculine role or identity.

If you are ruthless, you act without mercy.

Imagery is language that creates a vivid mental image.

Lady Macbeth’s character development across Act 1 of ‘Macbeth’

English

In 'Macbeth: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian Villain', pupils focus on the role that Lady Macbeth plays in the downfall of her husband. In 'Macbeth: A Tragic Hero', pupils become more critical of Macbeth's own decisions, evaluating whether he could be considered a tragic hero.

In 'Othello', pupils explore the role that Desdemona played in her husband's downfall. In 'Macbeth: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian Villain', pupils analyse the impact of Lady Macbeth's manipulation.

In this unit, pupils read and analyse 'Macbeth' by focusing on the role of Lady Macbeth in the tragedy. They start by reading the full play, before moving on to a close analysis of key characters and themes. They then zoom in on Lady Macbeth and develop an essay on her as a Machiaevellian villain.

Shakespeare: first reading

Depiction or discussion of distress or humiliation e.g. bullying.

Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

Depiction or discussion of sexual or domestic abuse or violence, including  threats of or the aftermath of.

Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

Depiction or discussion of sex or sexual body parts, including sex education.

Depiction or discussion of sexual content

In Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth', how could Lady Macbeth's dialogue be characterised?

What could characterise Lady Macbeth's change from Act 1, Scene 5 of 'Macbeth' to Act 1, Scene 7?

In 'Macbeth', Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth, 'When you durst do it [regicide], then you were a {{ }}'.

Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth, '[I] know How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck'd my nipple from its boneless gums and {{ }} its brains out.'

'When you durst do it, then you were a man.'

'Was the hope drunk Wherein you dress'd yourself?'

'do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness'

Which quotation is the strongest example of the emotional blackmail Lady Macbeth uses to suggest she doubts Macbeth's constancy in Act 1 of 'Macbeth'?

Macbeth's soliloquy, in which he determines he doesn't want to kill King Duncan.

Lady Macbeth focuses on emasculating Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth reveals her own violent capabilities, and her constancy to Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth lays forth exactly how they will kill King Duncan.

Macbeth resolves that he will commit regicide.

Starting at the beginning, place Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth' in the correct order.

To give Lady Macbeth time to kill King Duncan off stage.

To reveal the plot to commit regicide to the audience: Macbeth goes through it.

To reveal the depths of Macbeth's hesitancy.

To give King Duncan time to go to sleep so Macbeth can kill him.

To reveal Macbeth's feelings towards Lady Macbeth.

In Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth has a soliloquy. What could be argued is its purpose? 

He's come up with his own plan for killing Duncan, rather than adhering to hers.

He didn't tell her he had been promoted to the Thane of Cawdor.

He didn't tell her that King Duncan was staying at their home for the night.

He accuses her of being drunk when she came up with the plan for killing Duncan.

He tells her he doesn't want to continue plotting against Duncan.

In Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth', why is Lady Macbeth initially angry with Macbeth?

Bullet points of all the evidence you will use in an essay.

A chronological list of all your topic sentences in note form.

Bullets points of the supporting evidence for your topic sentence.

What information does a single paragraph outline contain that can support extended writing?

God selected the monarch. Thus, to challenge the monarch was to challenge God.

James I made a law decreeing that it was the most serious crime.

Jacobeans adhered to a strict hierarchy with the monarch at the top.

Monarchs were thought to have supernatural powers.

Monarchs were compassionate to their subjects: killing them was deemed cruel.

'Macbeth' is a story about regicide. For Shakespeare's Jacobean audience, why was regicide one of the most serious crimes you could commit?

In 'Macbeth', Shakespeare uses Act 1 to show that Lady Macbeth knows Macbeth very well. Which lines of dialogue best show this intimacy?

Lady Macbeth knows Duncan is already dead, and greets her husband accordingly.

Lady Macbeth is most pleased about his being promoted to Thane of Cawdor.

Lady Macbeth is already manipulating her husband by targeting his ambition.

Lady Macbeth anticipates Macbeth's ascension to the throne.

Lady Macbeth is proud of his achievement in battle and hails his bravery.

When Lady Macbeth first sees Macbeth in Act 1, she greets him with, 'Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor! Greater than both by the all-hail hereafter!' What are valid inferences about this greeting?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

Depiction or discussion of sexual content

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Lady Macbeth’s character development across Act 1 of ‘Macbeth’

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.