The Characters of Macbeth
Lesson Plan
Video: 15 minutes
Lesson: 35 minutes
Pre-viewing
• :00 Warm-up: Review the major plot events and characters of Macbeth.
2 minutes
• :02 Pre-test: Ask the students which characters in the play they like and which they don’t like. What are their reasons?
Go over the learning objectives.
4 minutes
Viewing
• :06 Playing Video: Hand out the Viewing Guide. Go over Viewing Questions and expectations. Tell the students to
answer the questions while watching the program. Don’t hesitate to stop the program and review if the students
seem confused.
15 minutes
Post-viewing
• :21 Question & Answer Session: Ask the class the Viewing Questions. See if any parts of the program were difficult or
confusing for the students. Ask a few questions to check their understanding of the key topics.
5 minutes
Sample Questions
1. What do the witches do in the play?
2. Who says, “The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now?” Why?
3. Why does Macduff help lead an army against Macbeth?
Handouts
• :26 Practicing Material: Hand out the Worksheet and give the class 6-8 minutes to complete it. Students are allowed to
use their Viewing Guides. Monitor the students’ progress, helping where needed. Go over Worksheet as a class.
10 minutes
• :36 Applying Material: Hand out the Activity and go over the instructions. Encourage students to think of their own
criteria and judge the effectiveness of the chart. Allow them 6-8 minutes to do the activity, so that there’s time left over
for discussion.
12 minutes
• :48 Wrap-up: Briefly sum up what has been covered in class by prompting students to list the main points covered.
Assign any homework.
2 minutes
Viewing Questions Answer Key
1. How does Banquo feel about the witches? he’s “wigged out” by them
2. Why does Shakespeare give such fine poetry to Macbeth? to show that he did have some humanity at some point
3. How do Lady Macduff and her son die? they die trying to protect each other
Teacher Notes:
The Characters of Macbeth
Teacher’s Reference Guide
Video: 15 minutes
Lesson: 35 minutes
Learning Objectives
At the end of the module, students will be able to:
• describe the major characters of Macbeth
• attribute the major quotations of the characters of Macbeth
• explain the story functions of the characters of Macbeth
• evaluate character development
Materials
• Video: the witches, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, the Macduffs; 15 minutes
• Viewing Guide: the Witches, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, the Macduffs; 3 Viewing Questions
• Worksheet: character actions, quotes, character functions
• Activity: Character Chart
• Check Your Knowledge: matching, quotes, short answer; 50 points
Background
Students should be familiar with the major plot events and characters of Macbeth.
Preparation
None required.
Extension
Have the students draw up a chart similar to the one in the Activity and add three new sets of characters: one from
another Shakespeare play and two from modern movies of the students’ choice. Once all the characters are plotted, ask
them to decide which characters they like best. Are they the same as the “best” characters? What were their reasons for
liking the characters, other than their actions and emotions? Do they think the chart is too simplistic? How would they
make a better chart, or can a graph ever capture a character of a play?
The Characters of Macbeth
Viewing Guide
The Three Witches
• they set up the atmosphere & mood in the opening
scene: “fair is foul and foul is fair”
• function is to give predictions of the future
~ these predictions cause a chain reaction of
emotions in Macbeth
~ they do not cause Macbeth to murder King
Duncan––they just foresee the murder
~ Macbeth is still responsible for his actions
• Macbeth hears what he wants to hear (their
encouragement, not their warnings)
MACBETH: “Speak, if you can: what are you?”
1ST WITCH: “All, hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane
of Glamis!
2ND WITCH: “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane
of Cawdor!”
3RD WITCH: “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King
hereafter!’
BANQUO: “Good sir, why do you start, and seem to
fear things that do sound so fair?
I.iii
--------------------2ND WITCH: “By the pricking of my thumbs,
something wicked this way comes: Open, locks,
whoever knocks.”
IV.i
Lady Macbeth
• ambitious, savage woman
• goads her husband into killing the king
• she doesn’t have the strength to kill someone; she
can only drive her husband to do it
• she suffers terrible guilt for her role in the murder
• she goes crazy and commits suicide
“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!”
I.v
Macbeth
• ambitious man
• reflective, intelligent, even sensitive in a way
• divided between his moral side and his corrupt,
ambitious side
• the poetry of his speech shows the humanity he has,
which he loses over the course of the play
• realizes that, in order to become evil and become king,
he can’t know his true self
• he is an empty shell of a man by Act V; all he has left is
his resolve to fight to the bitter end
“He’s here in double trust: first, as I am his kinsman and
his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host,
who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear
the knife myself...
...I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only
vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself, and falls on th’
other…”
I.vii
“To know my deed, ‘twere best not know myself.”
II.ii
“My way of life is fall’n into the sear, the yellow leaf, and
that which should accompany old age, as honor, love,
obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have; but
in their stead, curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honor,
breath, which the poor heart would fain deny, and
dare not.”
V.iii
The Macduffs
• Macduff is the Thane of Fife
• loyal to Scotland and the slain king Duncan
• he has a good relationship with his family
• his wife and son are killed by agents of Macbeth
• returns to Scotland to avenge his family’s
murder and rid Scotland of Macbeth
• Macduff functions as Macbeth’s antagonist
“O nation miserable! With an untitled tyrant bloodysceptered, when shalt thou see thy wholesome days again,
since that the truest issue of thy throne by his own
interdiction stands accurs’d, and does blaspheme his
breed? ...O my breast, thy hope ends here!” – Macduff
IV.iii
“Yet here’s a spot. Out, damn’d spot! out I say! One—
two—why, then ‘tis time to do’t. Hell is murky. Fie, my
lord, fie, a soldier, and afeard?
...Yet who would have thought the old man to have so
much blood in him?”
V.i
Viewing Questions
1. How does Banquo feel about the witches?
“The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now?
What, will these hands ne’er be clean?” V.i
3. How do Lady Macduff and her son die?
2. Why does Shakespeare give such fine poetry to Macbeth?
The Characters of Macbeth
Worksheet
A. Macbeth’s Many Moods
Macbeth experiences many different emotional states during the play. As the audience, we hear his soliloquies and can understand
his state of mind. Match each scene below to his emotional state of mind.
________ 1. (I.3) Macbeth hears the witches’ first set of prophesies.
A. demanding and desperate
________ 2. (I.7) Macbeth considers murdering Duncan.
B. excited
________ 3. (II.1) Macbeth goes off to kill Duncan.
C. empty; bleak, but resolved
________ 4. (II.2) Macbeth talks to Lady Macbeth after murdering Duncan.
D. filling himself with “dark”
courage
________ 5. (IV.1) Macbeth visits the witches for more prophesies.
E. conflicted
________ 6. (V.3) Macbeth prepares for Macduff’s advancing army.
F. hiding from his sense of guilt
B. Get into Character
True or false.
1. The three witches cause Macbeth to murder Duncan.
______________________
2. In the beginning, Macbeth is torn between his moral side
and his corrupt, ambitious side.
______________________
3. Macduff leads an army against Macbeth so he can become
king of Scotland.
______________________
4. Lady Macbeth is so heartless she doesn’t feel any guilt for
Duncan’s murder.
______________________
5. Macbeth realizes that, in order to commit evil acts, he must
know himself absolutely.
______________________
6. Macduff is blindly loyal to Malcolm.
______________________
7. In Act IV, the witches seek out Macbeth to give him more
prophecies.
______________________
8. Lady Macbeth is more talk than action.
______________________
The Characters of Macbeth
Worksheet
C. Who Said That?
Write the name of the character (or characters) who says each of the lines below.
1. “Fair is foul and foul is fair.”
______________________
2. “To know my deed, t’were best not know myself.”
______________________
3. “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.”
______________________
4. “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!”
______________________
5. “O nation miserable! With an untitled tyrant bloody-sceptered, when shalt thou
see thy wholesome days again?”
______________________
6. “Yet here’s a spot...Out, damned spot! Out I say!”
______________________
The Characters of Macbeth
Worksheet
Answer Key
A. Macbeth’s Many Moods
Macbeth experiences many different emotional states during the play. As the audience, we hear his soliloquies and can understand
his state of mind. Match each scene below to his emotional state of mind.
B
E
D
F
1.
2.
3.
4.
(I.3)
(I.7)
(II.1)
(II.2)
Macbeth hears the witches’ first set of prophesies.
Macbeth considers murdering Duncan.
Macbeth goes off to kill Duncan.
Macbeth talks to Lady Macbeth after murdering Duncan.
A
C
5. (IV.1) Macbeth visits the witches for more prophesies.
6. (V.3) Macbeth prepares for Macduff’s advancing army.
A.
B.
C.
D.
demanding and desperate
excited
empty; bleak, but resolved
filling himself with ‘dark’
courage
E. conflicted
F. hiding from his sense of guilt
B. Get into Character
True or false.
1. The three witches cause Macbeth to murder Duncan.
2. In the beginning, Macbeth is torn between his moral
side and his corrupt, ambitious side.
3. Macduff leads an army against Macbeth so he can
become king of Scotland.
4. Lady Macbeth is so heartless she doesn’t feel any guilt for
Duncan’s murder.
5. Macbeth realizes that, in order to commit evil acts, he must
know himself absolutely.
6. Macduff is blindly loyal to Malcolm.
7. In Act IV, the witches seek out Macbeth to give him more prophecies.
8. Lady Macbeth is more talk than action.
False
True
False
False
False
False
False
True
C. Who Said That?
Write the name of the character (or characters) who says each of the lines below.
1. “Fair is foul and foul is fair.”
2. “To know my deed, t’were best not know myself.”
3. “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.”
4. “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!”
5. “O nation miserable! With an untitled tyrant bloody-sceptered, when shalt thou
see thy wholesome days again?”
6. “Yet here’s a spot...Out, damned spot! Out I say!”
the Witches
Macbeth
the Witches
Lady Macbeth
Macduff
Lady Macbeth
The Characters of Macbeth
Activity
What’s My Motivation?
Despite its reputation as an unlucky play, actors love to perform Macbeth. Why? Because it’s filled with great roles!
Characters have great lines, swirls of emotion, and enough action to swamp the stage in blood.
For our purposes, let’s say that actors express themselves in two ways: Action and Emotion. If a character is welldeveloped and well-motivated, there should be lots of action and lots of emotion for the actor to use.
Example!
Let’s say you have a messenger character. He
runs across the stage (does a deed – 1 point)
and breathlessly delivers his news (informs – 1
point). His Action score is 2.
He delivers his news proudly (pride – 1 point)
but feels bad (guilt – 1 point) that he didn’t
fight in the battle. His Emotion score is 2.
Then the king dismisses him and that’s the end
of his role. Bye bye! Don’t forget to write!
Our messenger gets a whopping (2,2). Yeah!
What a part! Who wants to play this character?
Using our four main characters (Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Macduff, and the Witches) give one point for any actions or
emotions they have in one scene of the play. Use your Viewing Guides and look over the characters actions, roles,
quotes, and conflicts. Add up the points and plot the characters’ position on the graph. See how great (or not great) their
roles are.
ACTIONS
POINTS
1. Character attacks or defends
______________________
2. Character informs or deceives
______________________
3. Character asks or demands
______________________
4. Character makes a plan or does a deed
______________________
5. ____________________________________________
(make your own!)
______________________
EMOTIONS
1. Character shows love or hatred
______________________
2. Character shows fear or anticipation
______________________
3. Character shows pride or guilt
______________________
4. Character shows happiness or sorrow
______________________
5. ____________________________________________
(make your own!)
______________________
The Characters of Macbeth
Activity
Now what do you think of the characters in Macbeth? Which roles are more interesting to perform? Why?
The Characters of Macbeth
Check Your Knowledge
Total Score
/ 50
A. What Do I Do Around Here?
Write the name of the character or characters who fulfill each story function below. Characters can appear more than once.
(2 points each)
1. Act as contrasts to the Macbeths
___________________________
2. Divided between his morality and his corrupt ambition
___________________________
3. Set the opening mood
___________________________
4. Functions as Macbeth’s antagonist
___________________________
5. Spurs Macbeth to overcome his doubts
___________________________
6. Provide information that causes chain reactions in Macbeth’s actions
___________________________
B. Can I Quote You on That?
Write the name of the character(s) that says each of the lines below. (3 points each)
1. “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.”
___________________________
2. “He’s here in double trust: first, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
strong both against the deed.”
___________________________
3. “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition,
which o’erleaps itself, and falls on th’ other...”
___________________________
4. “Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear things that do sound so fair?”
___________________________
5. “The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now? What will these hands
ne’er be clean?”
___________________________
6. “O nation miserable! With an untitled tyrant bloody-sceptered, when shalt
thou see thy wholesome days again?”
___________________________
The Characters of Macbeth
Check Your Knowledge
C. And, the Supporting Cast
Write a short answer that describes each character’s personality. (5 points each)
1. Macbeth
2. Lady Macbeth
3. the Witches
4. Macduff
The Characters of Macbeth
Check Your Knowledge
Answer Key
Total Score
/ 50
A. What Do I Do Around Here?
Write the name of the character or characters who fulfill each story function below. Characters can appear more than once
(2 points each)
1. Act as contrasts to the Macbeths
2. Divided between his morality and his corrupt ambition
3. Set the opening mood
4. Functions as Macbeth’s antagonist
5. Spurs Macbeth to overcome his doubts
6. Provide information that causes chain reactions in Macbeth’s actions
the Macduffs
Macbeth
the Witches
Macduff
Lady Macbeth
the Witches
B. Can I Quote You on That?
Write the name of the character(s) that says each of the lines below. (3 points each)
1. “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.”
the Witches
2. “He’s here in double trust: first, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
strong both against the deed.”
Macbeth
3. “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition,
which o’erleaps itself, and falls on th’ other...”
Macbeth
4. “Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear things that do sound so fair?”
Banquo
5. “The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now? What will these hands
ne’er be clean?”
Lady Macbeth
6. “O nation miserable! With an untitled tyrant bloody-sceptered, when shalt
thou see thy wholesome days again?”
Macduff
C. Do I Know You?
Write a short answer that describes each character’s personality. (5 points each)
Sample Answers
1. Macbeth
Macbeth is an ambitious, intelligent, conflicted man who chooses to abandon his humanity to become king.
2. Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is scheming and savage. She pushes Macbeth to murder Duncan, then goes crazy with guilt.
3. the Witches
The Witches are creepy, evil beings who give Macbeth prophecies and riddles to tempt him into action.
4. Macduff
Macduff is a loyal, good man. He wants to avenge the deaths of his family by killing Macbeth.