Exploring the motif of sleep in 'Macbeth'
I can analyse the motif of sleep in regards to Macbeth's guilt.
Exploring the motif of sleep in 'Macbeth'
I can analyse the motif of sleep in regards to Macbeth's guilt.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Sleep is a motif in 'Macbeth' associated with innocence.
- Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth suffer with lack of sleep (insomnia) and nightmares.
- Insomnia is associated with guilt in the play.
- Insomnia might be considered a punishment that either God or the conscience inflicts.
- We can use discourse markers to help us trace different uses of a motif across a text.
Keywords
Insomnia - difficulty falling or staying asleep
Repressed - describes a feeling that you do not express
Manifestation - an object that embodies something abstract
Assuage - make an unpleasant feeling less intense
Common misconception
Students may be familiar with the function of sleep, but less aware of the symbolism and connotations.
Whilst sleep is vital for healing and serves a restorative function, it also symbolises innocence and vulnerability.
To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: Exploring the motif of sleep in 'Macbeth', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: Exploring the motif of sleep in '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: the role of guilt unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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