Hamartia is a fatal flaw a character holds.

Anagnorisis is when a character notices the true nature of their own circumstances.

Peripeteia is part of a play when there are a sudden change in circumstances.

A hierarchy is a system in which people or things are put at various levels or ranks according to their importance.

Catharsis is the process of releasing strong emotions in a way that helps you to understand those emotions.

'Macbeth': the play as a Shakespearean tragedy

English

'Macbeth': exploring Macbeth as the tragic hero

‘Macbeth’: the witches’ prophecies in Act 1, Scene 3

'Macbeth' Act 2 Scene 1: the dagger hallucination

'Macbeth': exploring the theme of internal conflict

'Macbeth': exploring Macbeth's death in Act 5

'Macbeth': an analysis of Macbeth as a tragic hero

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 '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 this unit, pupils analyse how Macbeth is presented as a tragic hero. They first deepen their understanding of Shakespearean tragedy and tragic heroes, and then use this knowledge to analyse key scenes from the play. Finally, they prepare an essay on how Macbeth is presented as a tragic hero.

Shakespeare: first deep dive

Hubris is an extreme and unreasonable sense of pride in yourself.

Someone who is determined to do what they want and refuses to change their mind can be described as being stubborn.

If you disregard something you ignore it, and refuse to let it influence you.

If a feeling is very obvious or very strong it can be described as being palpable.

To be perturbed means to be disturbed by an idea, showing concern.

Someone who shows great interest in an idea is intrigued.

If you are receptive to an idea, you are willing to listen to it and perhaps take it on board.

If you are culpable of a crime, you are guilty or responsible.

If you are easily influenced by a particular idea or person, you could be described as being susceptible.

The experience of seeing, hearing, feeling, or smelling something that does not exist is called a hallucination.

A soliloquy is a speech in a play that the character speaks to themself or to the audience, rather than to the other characters.

Subsequent means when something comes after something else or a result of something else.

Some who feels tormented is experiencing severe physical or mental suffereing.

If something is deteriorating it is becoming progressively worse.

When a relationship is described as being estranged it is means there is no longer closeness between the couple.

A situation that is paradoxical is self contradictory or made up of two opposite elements.

If you have fine personal qualities or high moral principles, you may be described as noble.

The chivalric code was a set of standards for knights to follow.

If you are remorseful you are sorry for what you have done.

Someone who shows open resistance or disobedience could be described as being defiant.

Futility means pointlessness or uselessness.

A timeless piece of literature remains eternally relevant, unaffected by the passage of time.

A ruthless despot is a ruler with absolute power who exercises tyranny over others.

A transformative experience is capable of bringing about significant and profound change or improvement.

The highest or climactic point, marking the end of a process or event, is the culmination.

In storytelling, an archetype is a universally recognised and typical example.

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Shakespeare: first deep dive

Macbeth: A Tragic Hero

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