The presentation of the witches in Act 1, Scene 3 of ‘Macbeth’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how the witches disrupt the natural order in Act 1, Scene 3 of 'Macbeth'
Key learning points
- Jacobean men believed that women had a duty or obligation to them
- Jacobean society was intensely hierarchical
- The witches' masculine appearance could suggest that they can manipulate the natural order of the world
- A single paragraph outline could contain a topic sentence, a concluding sentence and bullet pointed supporting detail
Keywords
Jacobean - When James I was King of England (1603-1624), the people he ruled over were called Jacobeans.
Status quo - The status quo is the term for accepted standards and rules by which a community lives.
Hierarchical - A system of ranking whereby things are ordered (with some being above, and some below) is described as hierarchical.
Natural order - The natural order is the idea each person has an assigned and unchangeable place in the hierarchy.
Masculine - Qualities or appearances conventionally attributed to boys or men can be described as masculine.
Common misconception
The witches are presented in one way; any new interpretation supersedes the one before.
The witches are presented as supernatural, women, masculine and genderless. Paragraphs can explore all these; rely on LC2 to draw this out.
Teacher tip
When exploring Macbeth's immediate responses to the witches, consider dwelling on the utility of knowing single word quotations.
Equipment
You need access to a copy of 'Macbeth' by William Shakespeare.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.When 'Macbeth' was first performed, who was the monarch of England?
Q2.Which of the following help to illustrate the witches' power in Act 1 of 'Macbeth'?
Q3.Match the words to their definitions.
A character who is not accepted by society.
Someone who does not accept rules or standards.
Someone who accepts rules or standards.
Qualities seen as characteristic to women and girls.
Q4.In 'Macbeth', which of the following are examples of disorder in the natural world?
Q5.In James I's book 'Daemonology', he outlines why it is more likely that women will be witches. What reason does he give for this?
Q6.In 'Macbeth', do the Macbeths have any children?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In 'Macbeth', which of the following threatens the natural order?
Q2.The is the term for accepted standards and rules by which a community lives.
Q3.'Macbeth' is set in 11th century Scotland but what is the most precise term for the play's first audiences?
Q4.In 'Macbeth', who does Macbeth see as an immediate threat following the witches' prophecies?
Q5.What is the purpose of supporting detail in a single paragraph outline?
Q6.In 'Macbeth', Banquo twice describes Macbeth as being by the witches' prophecies.
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: The presentation of the witches in Act 1, Scene 3 of ‘Macbeth’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: The presentation of the witches in Act 1, Scene 3 of ‘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 4 English lessons from the Macbeth: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.