William Shakespeare’s:

OBJ: to understand how Shakespeare creates the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

StarterCan you match up the word with its correct

definition?

Stage directions What the character says

Dialogue What the character does

Action notes telling an actor how to look, move and behave

Stage directions, Dialogue, Action!

Can you match up the word with its correct definition?

Stage directions What the character says

Dialogue What the character does

Action notes telling an actor how to look, move and behave

MacbethRead the captain’s report of the battle in I,ii. What

words/phrases are used to describe Macbeth?

Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches. You will be given one of the questions below. Listen out for the answer and put you hand up when you think you hear it!

1. What is Macbeth told by the witches?

2. What do the witches say to Banquo?

3. What does Macbeth ask the witches in this scene?

4. How does Macbeth feel after the events of I, iii?

5. What is Banquo’s reaction to the witches?

6. What news is delivered by Ross?

7. What are the reactions of Macbeth, Banquo and Ross

to the news?

Act I, scene iii.

So fair and foul a day I have not

seen

Inner thoughts Look at how Macbeth and Banquo are presented to the audience in this scene. Find quotations from I, iii then

explain what is revealed about their characters through the dialogue.

Quotation Character

What is revealed

Speak, if you can: what are you?

Macbeth Macbeth is curious and wants to speak with the witches. His use of commands and questions suggests an authoritive character

I neither beg nor fear/Your favours nor your hate

Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor….

• The witches were right with their first prediction for Macbeth. But they also said he will be King.

Today’s Horoscope:

Today's upbeat energy brings a celebratory mood. It's only natural to feel some fear at the choices you are making but now it's up to you to chart the course of your life. Don't be burdened by other people's issues, as you are a free agent with the talent to carve out your own future.

1.What do you think this means?2.How many different outcomes could this

horoscope point to?

• Teacher note: at this point, it is worth discussing our reactions to horoscopes etc. It is fun to buy some fortune cookies and hand them out, read out and discuss how we feel about the predictions. Have we ever had a horoscope come true? Do we only remember them when they happen to come true? Are we still interested in fortune telling? Will Macbeth be thinking about what the witches have said still?

Shakespeare’s character creation

• Shakespeare has presented Macbeth as…….

• Therefore, I think his reactions to the witches will be………

• I don’t/do think he

wants/doesn’t want

to be King

because….

HIGHER LEVEL: use quotations to prove your points.

• Teacher note: the following two slides have notes to explain the red highlighted parts that are key to both characters.

Macbeth’s letter

LADY MACBETH

(reading) “They met me in the day of success, and I have learned by the perfectest report they have more in them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to question them further, they made themselves air, into which they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it came missives from the king, who all-hailed me 'Thane of Cawdor,' by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time with 'Hail, king that shalt be!' This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou might’st not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell.”

Lady Macbeth’s responseGlamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be

What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature;

It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness

To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great,

Art not without ambition, but without

The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly,

That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false,

And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou'ld’st have, great Glamis,

That which cries, “Thus thou must do,” if thou have it,

And that which rather thou dost fear to do,

Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither,

That I may pour my spirits in thine ear

And chastise with the valor of my tongue

All that impedes thee from the golden round,

Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem

To have thee crowned withal.

Exit SERVANT

The raven himself is hoarse

That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan

Under my battlements. Come, you spirits

That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,

And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full

Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood.

Stop up the access and passage to remorse,

That no compunctious visitings of nature

Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between

The effect and it! Come to my woman’s breasts,

And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring ministers,

Wherever in your sightless substances

You wait on nature’s mischief. Come, thick night,

And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,

That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,

Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark

To cry “Hold, hold!”

Lady MacbethWhat is your first impression of Lady Macbeth

from Act I, scene V?

Lady Macbeth

• Act I, scene VII: find a quotation that shows Lady Macbeth persuading her husband by:

• Flattery• Calling Macbeth coward• Questioning his manhood• Reassurance

Macbeth

• Act I, scene VII: find a quotation that shows Macbeth:

• Speaking well of Duncan• Suggesting violence isn’t the answer• Worried he will be found out• Decided on the plan

The MurderWhat are the arguments for and against killing

Duncan?We should murder Duncan

because…We should not murder Duncan

because…

Language and vocabulary

Deception

What other themes are there in ‘Macbeth’ so far?

Theme

Complete the summary of Act One by filling in the gapsThe story so far

Macbeth and his friend _____ are returning from a battle with the _______ where they have just secured a victory for King ______ when they come across three _____. The _____ tell Macbeth that he will become Thane of _____ and _____ of Scotland and say to Banquo that his _____ will be the future kings of Scotland. Almost immediately, the first _____ is fulfilled when Macbeth is rewarded for his _____ in battle with the title Thane of _____. Macbeth sends a _____ to his wife about the witches predictions. She is excited by the prospect of becoming ____ and decides to persuade Macbeth to ____ Duncan when he returns home so that they can take over the throne.Duncan is invited to _____ castle where Macbeth and his wife plan to _____ him.

Complete the summary of Act One by filling in the gapsThe story so far

Macbeth and his friend Banquo are returning from a battle with the Norwegians where they have just secured a victory for King Duncan when they come across three witches. The witches tell Macbeth that he will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland and say to Banquo that his children will be the future kings of Scotland. Almost immediately, the first prediction is fulfilled when Macbeth is rewarded for his bravery in battle with the title Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth sends a letter to his wife about the witches predictions. She is excited by the prospect of becoming queen and decides to persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan when he returns home so that they can take over the throne.Duncan is invited to Macbeth’s castle where Macbeth and his wife plan to murder him.