Exploring the motif of light in 'Macbeth'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore the significance of the motif of light in 'Macbeth'.
Key learning points
- In 'Macbeth', Shakespeare repeatedly uses the motif of light alongside the themes of innocence, guilt and sin.
- Macbeth initially wants darkness to conceal his sin from God, demonstrating his guilt.
- Shakespeare uses light imagery to describe the macrocosm, suggesting the wider repercussions of Macbeth's guilt.
- As the play progresses, Macbeth's alignment with darkness may show his moral compass becoming tainted.
- The light imagery associated with the murder of Banquo could represent the murder of innocence.
Keywords
Microcosm - a society or place that has the same characteristics with something larger than it
Macrocosm - the whole of a complex structure, especially the world or the universe
Dunnest - thickest, murkiest
Tainted - contaminate or pollute something
Common misconception
Light is only referenced and significant in Macbeth's 'Stars, hide your fires' soliloquy taken from Act 1, Scene 4.
If we look closely at what could be considered 'minor' scenes in the play, we can begin to build a clear and nuanced idea of the motif of light throughout.
Teacher tip
Learning Cycle 2 offers a good opportunity to comment on the structure of the play. You can consider how the motif of light has developed over the course of the play and how this links to Macbeth's change in character.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is regicide?
Q2.What did Jacobeans believe about regicide?
Q3.In Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', why does Macbeth decide to have Banquo murdered?
Q4.What is a moral compass?
Q5.Which sentence uses the word 'tainted' correctly?
Q6.How is Banquo used as a device in 'Macbeth'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1."Stars hide your fires, Let not light see my black and deep desires." This quote from Act 1, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth' could reflect ...
Q2.Across Act 1, Scene 4 and 5 of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth …
Q3.During the Jacobean era, what did people believe about society?
Q4.What is significant about the Old Man’s description of the world in Act 2, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth'?
Q5.By Act 3, Scene 2 of 'Macbeth', how has Macbeth’s relationship with darkness and light changed?
Q6.As Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' progresses, darkness comes to reflect …
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Exploring the motif of light in 'Macbeth', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Exploring the motif of light 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.