Writing an analytical essay about Lady Macbeth as a Machiavel in ‘Macbeth’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write a well-structured and convincing analytical essay about how far Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain.
Key learning points
- An introduction can start with a general statement about the text
- This can be followed by a more specific statement about the focus of the question, and finally your thesis
- A conclusion can move from a specific statement about the text to a more general statement at its continued relevance
- Analysis of writer’s methods and/or context helps develop a paragraph
Keywords
Machiavellian - Machiavellian is an adjective. It describes someone who gets what they want in cunning, ruthless and immoral ways.
Thesis - A thesis is an argument, a powerful idea that you state at the beginning of an essay and prove throughout your essay.
Embedded quotation - An embedded quotation puts a quotation inside your own sentence. For example: Lady Macbeth wants to be filled with ‘direst cruelty’.
Methods - Methods are techniques a writer uses. These encompass everything: language, form, structure and characterisation.
Context - Context concerns the circumstances in which a text was written; context helps us to understand the writer’s intentions further.
Common misconception
Analysis can only include a language focus, especially single word analysis.
You should analyse a range of writer's methods; this analysis should support your thesis or topic sentence.
Teacher tip
Consider how much time you would like students to write for, and plan the lesson backwards from there.
Equipment
You need access to a copy of William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A key attribute of a Machiavellian villain is their ability to control others. What means does Lady Macbeth use to control Macbeth in 'Macbeth'?
Q2.Why might some argue that, in 'Macbeth', Lady Macbeth is a Machiavellian villain?
Q3.A is an argument, a powerful idea that you state at the beginning of an essay and prove throughout your essay.
Q4.Match the parts of the single paragraph outline to their function.
outline your overarching argument for the whole essay
outline the main argument of your paragraph
summarise your argument; focus on the writer's intentions
evidence from the text that supports your topic sentence
Q5.In 1.5 of 'Macbeth', Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth to "look like the innocent flower, But be the under't'".
Q6.Which of these statements, taken from essays about 'Macbeth', best embeds a quotation?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Writers use methods in their work to convey their messages. You should explore these methods in essays. Which of the following count as a writer's methods?
Q2.Imagine an essay question which asks you to explore Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain in 'Macbeth'. What would serve as the most relevant context for this essay?
Q3.Which of the statements, taken from essays about 'Macbeth', best embeds a quotation?
Q4.Which of the statements, taken from essays about 'Macbeth', do not successfully embed a quotation?
Q5.When writing an analytical essay, what should an introduction include?
Q6.When writing an analytical essay, what should a conclusion include?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Writing an analytical essay about Lady Macbeth as a Machiavel in ‘Macbeth’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Writing an analytical essay about Lady Macbeth as a Machiavel 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: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.