Understanding themes, characters and plot in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Shakespeare demonstrates key themes through character and plot action.
Key learning points
- The play ‘Macbeth’ is a tragedy set in Scotland during the medieval period.
- A theme is a central idea that the writer intends the audience to engage deeply with.
- The key themes in ‘Macbeth’ are ambition, power, manipulation, betrayal and guilt.
- The plot tells of Macbeth, a Scottish general, and his bid to kill others in order to become the King of Scotland.
Keywords
Theme - a central idea that the writer intends the audience to engage deeply with
Play - a dramatic work originally intended for the stage
General - a senior officer in an army
Monarch - a ruler who holds supreme and hereditary power over a state or territory, often referred to as a king or queen
Common misconception
'Macbeth' solely depicts the triumph of evil.
Shakespeare depicts the intricacies of the human condition and the multifaceted motivations behind characters' actions.
Teacher tip
Look closely at different book covers and theatre posters depicting 'Macbeth'. Draw out some themes from the images and discuss what can be inferred about the themes, characters and plot.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? Shakespeare's works often have recurring ideas or concepts.
Q2.What abstract noun would best fit the blank in the following sentence? 'Macbeth’s overwhelming desire for __________ leads him to commit terrible acts.'
Q3.What is the year of William Shakespeare's birth?
Q4.Where did William Shakespeare spend most of his professional career?
Q5.Which monarch was ruling England during most of Shakespeare's lifetime?
Q6.What was the Globe Theatre mainly used for?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What adjectives are appropriate to describe the character of Macbeth?
Q2.How does Macbeth feel after the death of Duncan?
Q3.What are the causes of Macbeth’s tragic downfall?
Q4.What is the prophecy that drives Macbeth to kill Duncan?
Q5.Order the key themes as they unfold in 'Macbeth' in chronological order.
Q6.Match the key events to their brief descriptions.
Macbeth becomes fixated on becoming king.
Macbeth attempts to eliminate threats to his reign.
Lady Macbeth begins to suffer from guilt-induced madness.
Macbeth is ultimately killed by Macduff.
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Understanding themes, characters and plot in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Understanding themes, characters and plot in Shakespeare's '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.