Mr. Sudol
11/17/14- 11/18/14 (Days 46 - 47)
LESSON PLAN (JR): MACBETH, ACT 2
OBJECTIVE: To explore the literary concepts of foreshadowing, comic relief, and entendre/innuendo as they
occur in Macbeth, act 2.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS ADDRESSED: RL.11-12.1-6, 10; RI.11-12.4, 7; W.11-12.1(All), 2(All),
3(All), 4, 5, 10, 11(All); SL.11-12.1 (A, C, D), 2, 4, 6; L.11-12.1-6 (All)
PRAYER
COLLEECTION/DISTRIBUTION OF PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENTS
DISCUSSION/ACTIVITY
11/17
The teacher will explain the following literary concepts via direct instruction while projecting the following text on
the screen at the front of the class while touching on elements of Macbeth to which each concept pertains.
Foreshadowing: When events in a story suggest future events or outcomes in that story. The key here is the word
“suggest”; events that directly explain what will occur later are not considered to foreshadow those events. For
example, which of the following items represents “foreshadowing”?
 Example 1: The day a character in a story dies in a car accident is marked by a fierce storm early in the day.
 Example 2: A fortune teller predicts that a man will win the lottery and he does.
Question: Would the predictions of the Weird Sisters be considered “foreshadowing”? Why or why not?
Comic Relief: When the story’s author introduces humor into it, either to relieve the dramatic tension of that story
or to provide contrast to that same dramatic tension. Comic relief may be achieved either by a comedic character
(i.e.: The Nurse and her servant Peter from Romeo & Juliet or Jar Jar Binks from the most recent Star Wars
trilogy) or a comedic event (such as a businessman falling off his chair during tense business negotiations).
Entendre/Innuendo: A figure of speech somewhat like a pun, entendre occurs in a spoken phrase that may have
two or more meanings in context. The author may create entendre by way of innuendo: the inclusion of certain
words and phrases in a speech whose true meaning may only be understood by those with prior knowledge of it.
Entendre and innuendo are often used as a means of creating comic relief in a story and frequently involve sexual
references. Examples:
 Many commercials for Overstock.com feature double entendres, as an attractive woman talks about the "O"
and "Big O", which could reference the website itself, but clearly call to mind the word orgasm, which is often
called the "O" or the "Big O".
 Entendre & innuendo also figure prominently in Act 1, Scene 5 of Shakespeare’s Rmoeo & Juliet; while the
outward meaning of the couple’s conversation in this scene has to do with methods of praying, the underlying
meaning of their conversation is a flirtatious discussion regarding how best to kiss.
In the remainder of the period, students will read Macbeth’s famous “Dagger Speech” (Act 2, Scene 1) and answer
the following questions:
 Does Macbeth actually “see” a dagger in his mind’s eye or is he just speaking metaphorically?
 Why does Macbeth experience this vision of the dagger? Is it created by his conscience or his tragic flaw (or
both)? As such, is Macbeth a willing participant in Duncan’s murder, or is he taking this time to wrestle with
his conscience?

Toward the end of this speech, a bell rings signifying Duncan’s death knell. Macbeth hopes openly that
Duncan doesn’t hear it – is it because he doesn’t want Duncan to discover him, or because he wants Duncan not
to be aware of the pain his death will bring?
11/18
Students will answer the following discussion questions, especially with regard to the Porter’s speech (Act 2,
Scene 3).
Discussion Questions:
Foreshadowing: What events in Act 2 of Macbeth constitute the concept of “foreshadowing”? In answering this
question, you must:
1. Provide specific examples from the act referenced by line,
2. Explain how your example represents the concept of foreshadowing, and
3. Explain what your example foreshadows per se.
Comic Relief: How and in what ways does the Porter’s speech in Act 2, Scene 3 of the play provide comic relief?
In answering this question, you must:
1. Provide specific examples from this scene referenced by line,
2. Explain how your example represents the concept of comic relief, and
3. How your example relieves the tension of the play given its placement in the events of the play up to this point.
Entendre/Innuendo: What entendres and/or innuendo does the Porter’s speech in Act 2, Scene 3 of the play
contain? In answering this question, you must:
1. Provide specific examples from this scene referenced by line,
2. Explain how your example represents the concept(s) of entendre/innuendo, and
3. Explain both the “literal” and the “hidden” meanings of the Porter’s speech in your example.
HOMEWORK
 11/17: Essay:
o Write a “mini-fiction” that demonstrates the concept of foreshadowing (include at least two
significant events; the first of which foreshadows the second), OR
o Describe an example of comic relief you have seen in a story from popular entertainment (movies,
TV, etc.), then explain why this constitutes an example of comic relief. Remember, you can choose
to describe either an event or a character within the story you have chosen, OR
o Write a statement that contains a double entendre and/or innuendo, then explain both the “literal”
and the “hidden” meanings of this statement. Try not to be overly vulgar in your statement.
 11/18: Read Macbeth act 3.