If you have ambition, you have desire and determination to achieve success.

If you kill your monarch, you commit the crime of regicide.

‘Macbeth’ was first performed in 1606 when James I was King of England (1603-1624). The people he ruled were called Jacobeans.

A prophecy is a prediction of what might happen in the future.

Thane is an old Scottish term for a noble warrior. In ‘Macbeth’, Macbeth is Thane of Glamis at the start of the play.

'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 1, Scenes 1-4

English

'Macbeth': An exploration of Act 1, Scenes 5 to 7

'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2

'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 2, Scenes 3 and 4

'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 3, Scenes 1 to 3

'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 3, Scenes 4 to 6

'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 4, Scenes 1 to 3

'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 5, Scenes 1 to 5

'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 5, Scenes 6 to 9

Exploring the opening of ‘Macbeth’

The witches in Act 1, Scene 3 of ‘Macbeth’

The presentation of the witches in Act 1, Scene 3 of ‘Macbeth’

The presentation of Lady Macbeth in Act 1, Scene 5 of ‘Macbeth’

The relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 1, Scene 7 of ‘Macbeth’

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

How does Lady Macbeth undermine Macbeth in Act 1 of 'Macbeth'?

Exploring the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 1, ‘Macbeth’

Exploring Act 2, Scene 2 of ‘Macbeth’: characterisation and foreshadowing

Exploring the presentation of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 3 of ‘Macbeth’

Act 3, Scene 4, ‘Macbeth’: Macbeth’s fears, and Lady Macbeth’s diminishing power

Lady Macbeth's feelings of guilt in ‘Macbeth’

Lady Macbeth's role in the downfall of Macbeth in 'Macbeth'

Evaluating the character of Lady Macbeth in ‘Macbeth’

Planning an analytical essay about Lady Macbeth in ‘Macbeth’

Writing an analytical essay about Lady Macbeth as a Machiavel in ‘Macbeth’

‘Macbeth’: exploring evidence and including context in an essay on Lady Macbeth

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

A patriarchal society is one in which men are in charge.

If you deceive someone, you make them believe something that is not true - often for personal gain.

If you goad someone, you provoke them into doing something.

Femininity refers to qualities which are seen as characteristic of women or girls.

The Divine Right of Kings is the belief that a monarch is chosen by God; the belief that a monarch is God’s representative on Earth.

When James I was King of England (1603-1624), the people he ruled over were called Jacobeans.

A hallucination is when you see, smell, taste, touch or hear something that appears to be real, but is only in your mind.

If something is a symbol, it represents or expresses an idea. In 'Macbeth', blood is a symbol of guilt.

A porter is employed to carry the bags of passengers or guests.

If you equivocate, you speak in an ambiguous way that allows you to conceal the truth.

The Gunpowder Plot was a failed attempt to kill King James I in 1605.

Setting is the location where an event takes place. In literature, setting can tell us something about the story or characters.

A legacy is something that is passed on following someone’s death. This could be money, property or a title.

If something is barren, it is unproductive or infertile - cannot produce offspring or children.

A sceptre is a long stick made of metal. A sceptre is an object which is given to monarchs. It is meant to be a symbol of their power.

A metaphor is a literary device which describes something by comparing it to something else.

A scorpion is a small creature with eight legs and a tail filled with poison that can sting you.

When a monarch (King or Queen) reigns over a country, it means they rule that country.

A tyrant is someone who uses their power in an unjust way.

If your power or status is illegitimate, it is not legal or valid.

A monarch’s court is made up of loyal and noble followers (subjects). It is the centre of power.

If something is precarious, it is insecure or unstable.

If you are malevolent, you want to do harm to others.

Something stable is secure or solid. It is the opposite of something precarious.

If someone is invincible, they can’t be defeated or killed.

Guilt is an emotion you feel when you have done something bad. Guilt makes you feel worried and unhappy.

If something is a symbol, it represents or expresses an idea. In 'Macbeth', sleep is a symbol of innocence.

If you are isolated from others, you are apart from them. You are alone.

Camouflage is a disguise used by soldiers to help them blend into their surroundings. This means the enemy won’t see them approach.

A caesarean section (c-section) is a surgical procedure whereby a baby is delivered through an incision (cut) in the mother’s stomach.

Themes are the main ideas that a writer wants to explore. An important theme in ‘Macbeth’ is ambition.

A coward describes someone who lacks bravery, or is extremely afraid of danger or pain.

When used as a noun, a familiar is a term which refers to  a witch’s demon.

If something is foreboding, it gives the impression that  something bad is going to happen.

Staging is how a play is presented on stage. Staging is  influenced by stage directions and directorial decisions.

Pathetic fallacy is the use of weather to reflect the  mood and tone of characters and their situation.

If something is ominous, it give the impression that  something bad is going to happen.

Being an outsider is an important idea, particularly to Shakespeare. An outsider is a character who is not accepted by society.

In the context of ‘Macbeth’, the witches are genderless characters: they neither present nor behave in a way this society expects of women.

If you conform, you accept rules or standards.

If you are subversive you don’t accept rules or standards.

The status quo is the term for accepted standards and rules by which a community lives.

A system of ranking whereby things are ordered (with some being above, and some below) is described as hierarchical.

The natural order is the idea each person has an assigned and unchangeable place in the hierarchy.

Qualities or appearances conventionally attributed to boys or men can be described as masculine.

If you are ambitious, you are determined to succeed in an area of aspect of your life.

Deception is the means by which you lead someone to believe something that is not true.

To be chaste can mean not having any sexual desire or intentions.

If you are unwavering, you don't stop until you complete something. You are determined.

Plotting is when, in secret, you plan to do something bad.

Being in a state of hesitancy means being in a state of uncertainty.

If you emasculate someone, you undermine their masculine identity or role.

Manipulation is when you use tactics to control or influence another person, often for personal gain.

Emotional blackmail is a way of getting what you want. It involves making threats or demands, and is damaging to the victim.

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.

The chivalric code was a set of standards for knights to follow. The chivalric code is explored in lots of old stories, poems and songs.

If you weaponise something, you exploit a value someone cares about in order to harm them.

If you have honour, you care about doing what is right. You are honest and have integrity.

Your values are your beliefs, ideals that are important to you.

If you undermine someone, you make them feel less confident.

If you are dutiful, you fulfil your duty. You do this with obedience and devotion.

If you are conventional, you follow accepted norms or standards.

If you are unconventional, you do not follow accepted norms or standards.

If something diminishes, it reduces in importance.

A demise sees the end of something that was previously considered powerful.

Guilt is an emotion you feel when you have done something bad to someone else. Guilt makes you feel worried and unhappy.

Foreshadowing is a literary device. It gives the reader or audience a hint or indication of what might happen later in the story.

If you are vulnerable, you are in a position where you could be hurt easily.

If a scene or character parallels another, it means they are similar in some way. The slight differences will help us notice something new.

If a scene or character mirrors another, it reflects what has come before. The slight differences will help us notice something new.

When you personify something, you give something non-human human characteristics.

Humanity is the quality that people possess which makes them kind, compassionate and connected to their fellow humans.

Appearance versus reality is an important theme in literature. If how things appear is different to reality, there is disorder.

If your power is legitimate, it is legal and valid.

In Christianity, salvation means you are delivered from sin and its consequences. The opposite of salvation is damnation.

If something is a symbol, it represents or expressed an idea. In 'Macbeth', blood is a symbol of guilt.

If language echoes previous language in a text, it means it is similar. The slight differences help us notice something new.

A character's downfall is when they lose their power or status.

A character’s hamartia is their fatal flaw: a weakness or fault in their personality that leads to their downfall.

If you have an excess of something, you have more than is necessary.

To have hubris means to have excessive pride or self-confidence.

If you are a revolutionary, you do something that rebels against the status quo.

The status quo is the term for the accepted standards and rules by which a community lives.

Misogyny is the dislike of women; misogynists are prejudiced against women.

Machiavellian is an adjective. It describes someone who gets what they want in cunning, ruthless and immoral ways.

A thesis is an argument, a powerful idea that you state at the beginning of an essay and prove throughout your essay.

A topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph. It states the paragraph’s main idea.

Your thesis should be overarching: it should be an idea that is supported by the whole text, not just one moment from the text.

Judicious is a synonym for wise, well-chosen, sensible.

An embedded quotation puts a quotation inside your own sentence. For example: Lady Macbeth wants to be filled with ‘direst cruelty’.

Methods are techniques a writer uses. These encompass everything: language, form, structure and characterisation.

Context concerns the circumstances in which a text was written; context helps us to understand the writer’s intentions further.

Shakespeare: first reading

Macbeth: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain

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Shakespeare: first reading

Macbeth: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain

Choose a lesson (26)