your children can be referred to as your offspring

a hamartia is a character’s fatal flaw.

bloodlust is an uncontrollable desire to kill or harm others

a façade is a deceptive outer appearance

'Macbeth': masculinity as Macbeth's hamartia

English

In 'Macbeth: a tragic hero', pupils become more critical of Macbeth, analysing the role he plays in his own downfall. In 'Macbeth & masculinity: the struggle for power', pupils explore how Macbeth's insecurity surrounding his masculinity is his hamartia.

In this unit, pupils analyse the importance of masculinity to Macbeth's downfall. They first explore the role of kingship, the importance of the chivalric code, Macbeth's lack of heir, and the feminine influences on him. Finally, they write nuanced responses about masculinity as Macbeth's hamartia.

Shakespeare: second deep dive

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Arguably, Macbeth's {{}} is the insecurities he feels regarding his lack of patrilineal line in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.

Macbeth's hubris, {{}} and susceptibility to external pressure are, arguably, all a result of his insecurities in 'Macbeth'.

You have a nuanced understanding of how the text is used as a construct.

You use an evaluative thesis to 'hang' your argument on.

You show a general understanding of plot, character and theme.

You understand the conventional interpretations of the text.

Select the criteria below which you would expect to see in a response with deeper analysis.

It highlights how Macbeth's rejects emotion in favour hyper-masculinity.

It highlights how Macbeth is not a real man.

It highlights how a true men balance emotion and courage, which Macbeth lacks.

In Act 4, Sc3 of 'Macbeth', Macduff shows his grief. Why does this make him a foil to Macbeth?

In a patriarchal society, they are punished for rejecting gender norms.

They are judged more harshly because it was stricter in Jacobean times.

There was greater emphasis placed on the importance of patrilineal lines.

They do not act as a man and woman should in those days.

In Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', it can be argued that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are victims of the society they live in. Which answers below which best justify this argument?

it allows him to be manipulated by both his wife and the witches.

it causes bloodlust and creates his ambitious nature.

it drives him to use bloodlust and hubris as a façade to hide his true feelings.

Pick the response that uses keywords with the greatest success. Arguably, Macbeth's hamartia is his crippling insecurities surrounding his lack of patrilineal line as...

What are Macbeth's greatest character flaws in 'Macbeth'?

A character who is a construct, designed to highlight contrasting qualities in another character, is called a {{}}.

Which of the following characters is **not** a foil to Macbeth in 'Macbeth'?

Banquo is murdered and his ghost appears at the banquet.

After the witches' second prophecies, Macbeth has Macduff's family murdered.

Starting with the first, put the following events into the chronological order they appear in 'Macbeth'.

Hamartia is a desire to commit terrible crimes.

Macbeth's hubris is his desire to please his wife.

By allowing himself to be manipulated, Macbeth is showing his hubris.

In believing he cannot be defeated, Macbeth shows hubris.

Which of the sentences below is correctly using the term hubris?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Adult supervision recommended

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

'Macbeth': masculinity as Macbeth's hamartia

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

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