Performing a soliloquy in character as Macbeth
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can perform my soliloquy in character as Macbeth.
Key learning points
- A soliloquy shows the audience how a character is feeling at a key point in the play.
- The way the character is feeling must be carefully thought about before a performance.
- Performing a soliloquy requires the performer to use clear diction and expression to bring the words to life.
- Performing requires the performer to use facial expressions and body movements to bring the soliloquy to life.
Keywords
Performance - the act of presenting or reciting in front of an audience, using voice, gestures and expression
Diction - the enunciation of words
Facial expressions - a form of non-verbal communication communicated via the face to convey a range of emotions
Expression - bringing words to life to engage a listener
Common misconception
Pupils may feel they can simply read out their soliloquies.
Explicitly model the difference between reading and performing. You could also find some clips of actors performing in a Shakespeare play and discuss why their performance was strong and how that helped us to understand how the character is feeling.
Teacher tip
During the teacher performances in LC1, first read the soliloquy loudly with clear diction, but stand completely still, using no expression in your voice. Then perform the soliloquy again, this time with lots of expression, facial expressions and body language.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Why are soliloquies particularly useful in plays?
Q2.What helps Macbeth to make his decision to kill Duncan at the end of the soliloquy?
Q3.How does Act I end?
Q4.How do you think the audience are left feeling at the end of Act I?
Q5.What type of clause is this? 'drawing me in'
Q6.Which of these verbs could be used in a non-finite clause?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is diction?
Q2.How can we show how a character is feeling in a performance?
Q3.How is Macbeth feeling when he delivers this soliloquy?
Q4.When we speak with expression, we...
Q5.To be a supportive partner, we should...
Q6.How would you identify a soliloquy if you saw one in a play?
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Performing a soliloquy in character as Macbeth, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Performing a soliloquy in character as Macbeth, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the Shakespeare's 'Macbeth': narrative and soliloquy writing unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.