Macbeth Essay Exam: Honors
Essay Choices for Macbeth:
1. Write an essay in which you trace the changes in Macbeth’s character from the beginning of the play to the end. You may instead
choose to analyze the changes in Lady Macbeth throughout the play.
2. In any piece of literature, the characters themselves can be used as symbols. Choose one of the characters from Macbeth and
analyze how Shakespeare uses this character as a literary device.
3. Shakespeare’s plays are considered “timeless” because, despite the fact that they were written over four hundred years ago, their
themes and characters continue to be relevant to a modern audience. Defend this popular belief as it applies to Macbeth.
4. Analyze one of the major themes of Macbeth: desire for power, belief in the luck and the supernatural, an internal wickedness in
all people, the triumph of good over evil, the evil that is hidden in the hearts of righteous men, or any other themes you see in the
play.
5. At the end of the play, Macbeth is punished for his crimes and the rightful heir becomes king. Why then is this play a tragedy?
6. Who is the strongest character in the play? Make a choice and defend it.
7. Who is the weakest character in the play? Make a choice and defend it.
Scoring Rubric for Exam:
Understanding: accuracy of
content / level in which the
student shows
comprehension of play/goes
beyond summary to the
analytical level /avoids vague
generalities
Use of textual evidence:
quotes from the novel are
meaningfully connected to
the student’s thesis / well
chosen / avoids quote
dumping/ quote connected
to thesis statement
Conventions: well
organized/ few grammatical
/ punctuation errors / word
choice is appropriate for a
formal paper (no contractions
or slang) / written in the
literary present tense /quotes
embedded and cited properly
Student Name: _________
APB
BB
APB
BB
APB
BB
Block: ______________
A= 14-15
P = 11-13
B= 9-10
BB= 0-8
A= 14-15
P = 11-13
B= 9-10
BB= 0-8
A= 14-15
P = 11-13
B= 9-10
BB= 0-8
Grade: _____ / 45
Macbeth Essay Exam: Honors