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

Can you match up the word with its correct definition? Starter 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

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

Macbeth Read the captain’s report of the battle in I,ii. What words/phrases are used to describe Macbeth?

So fair and foul a day I have not seen Act I, scene iii. 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! What is Macbeth told by the witches? What do the witches say to Banquo? What does Macbeth ask the witches in this scene? How does Macbeth feel after the events of I, iii? What is Banquo’s reaction to the witches? What news is delivered by Ross? What are the reactions of Macbeth, Banquo and Ross to the news? 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. What do you think this means? 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.” “they have more in them than mortal knowledge”: does it sound like he believes them? Is frightened of their knowledge? “they made themselves….”: A frightening sight, and an audience of the day would truly fear witchcraft. “the king who hailed…”: He was made Thane of Cawdor, which the witches said would happen. “time with ‘hail, king that shalt be!”: they also said he would be King. “Lay it to thy heart”: keep what I have written a secret.

Lady Macbeth’s response Glamis 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. “shalt be what thou art promised”: right from the beginning, she has decided he has been ‘promised’ this and it will happen. Promised by who? “I fear thy nature….”: she worries macbeth is too loyal and kind to overthrow the king. “wouldst not play false…..”: you have ambition, but you don’t want to gain power by wrongful doings, you are a good man. “Hie thee hither….”: come on home, so I can talk you into doing what needs to be done. She is manipulative from the start? “fate and metaphysical aid doth….”: fate and the supernatural seem to want this for you, it is fate for you to be king.

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!” Fatal: suggesting that Duncan will die tonight. Spirits: calls upon spirits to help her – link with the supernatural. Unsex me: make me more like a man and fill me with the ability to be cruel. Language she uses to ask the spirits is negative and murderous.

What 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 Murder What are the arguments for and against killing Duncan? We should murder Duncan because… We should not murder Duncan because…

Language and vocabulary

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

Theme

Complete the summary of Act One by filling in the gaps The story so far Complete the summary of Act One by filling in the gaps 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 gaps The story so far Complete the summary of Act One by filling in the gaps 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.