Exploring the opening of ‘Macbeth’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore the opening scene of ‘Macbeth’, focusing on Shakespeare’s use of foreboding.
Key learning points
- The opening scene is used to foreshadow events later in the play
- The supernatural is an important theme in the play
- The witches being in the opening scene illustrates their importance to the plot
Keywords
Familiar - When used as a noun, a familiar is a term which refers to a witch’s demon.
Foreboding - If something is foreboding, it gives the impression that something bad is going to happen.
Staging - Staging is how a play is presented on stage. Staging is influenced by stage directions and directorial decisions.
Pathetic fallacy - Pathetic fallacy is the use of weather to reflect the mood and tone of characters and their situation.
Ominous - If something is ominous, it give the impression that something bad is going to happen.
Common misconception
The first scene is an exciting spectacle but not important to the rest of the play.
Despite its length, this scene grounds us in the atmosphere and main themes of the play.
Teacher tip
Spend time on the second CfU of Learning Cycle 2 to draw out this scene's importance, and how the themes it sets up are developed in the play.
Equipment
You need access to a copy of William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What type of text is 'Macbeth'?
Q2.What is 'Macbeth's' genre?
Q3.Who murders King Duncan in 'Macbeth'?
Q4.In 'Macbeth', the witches tell Macbeth things about his future. What are these called?
Q5.What supernatural event occurs in Act 3 of 'Macbeth'?
Q6.Starting with the first event, sort the plot points of 'Macbeth' into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In 'Macbeth', how many times do the witches appear?
Q2.What word best describes the atmosphere in Act 1, Scene 1 of 'Macbeth'?
Q3.Which of these was not a common Jacobean belief about witches?
Q4.What is the name of the device which sees the weather reflect the mood or tone of events and/or characters?
Q5.Shakespeare's witches common Jacobean beliefs about witches.
Q6.Which quotation from Act 1, Scene 1 of 'Macbeth' begins Shakespeare's exploration of the theme of appearances versus reality?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Exploring the opening of ‘Macbeth’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Exploring the opening 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.