Unit 2: The whole story
Assessment focus: A02, A03
Suggested number of lessons: 1-2
Resources:
Outcomes:
Resource sheet 3: Macbeth minimalised
Resource sheet 4: Character confetti
 To embed the basic plot lines of the play,
and the key characters
 To begin to get a sense of the relative effect
on the action of individual characters
►Initial work
This set of lessons can be used as an introduction and/or as revision of the key events and
action of the play. Resource sheets 3(a) to (d): Macbeth minimalised give a basic
overview of the play in synopsis form. Distribute the sheets, and ask students to read the
summary carefully, keeping the play close at hand to check the cast list.
▲ Activity 1: One initial way of embedding the action is to use different coloured pens or
pencils for each individual character – red for Macbeth, blue for Lady Macbeth etc., to
trace their appearances in scenes. Students highlight the names as they appear. This
breaks up the summary, and also gives a visual guide to the individual narratives of each
character, and their influence on the play’s events.
►Focused work
The tasks below will help students embed the key events before they discuss issues in the
play at greater depth.
▲ Activity 2: In pairs, ask students to work through these short tasks, giving ten minutes
maximum to each:

Retelling: Student A starts retelling the story of the play while student B has the
summary to hand. If student A falters, makes a mistake or omits a piece of key
information, student B hands the summary over and continues the retelling.

I, Macbeth: Student A takes on the role of Macbeth and retells the story from his
perspective. Student B acts as interviewer, using the summary to help with his/her
questions. The interview might begin, for example:
Student B:
So, how did this murderous business all start?
Student A: Well, I was coming back from this battle with my close friend Banquo
when we met these strange women, like witches…
Student B:
What did they say?

Character confetti: Using the cards cut out from Resource Sheet 4: Character
confetti one pair picks a card from the mixed pile, and has to say:
 who the character is
 how they contribute to the action (ie. what they do/have done to them)
 rank their importance to the events from 1 (low) to 10 (high)
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▲ Activity 3: Ask a series of questions to the whole class, testing their knowledge of the
main events of the play. If this is before you begin in-depth study of the play, focus on the
main events and characters. If you are using this unit for revision, ask more detailed
questions – for example: Which English king does Malcolm reside with when planning his
attack on Macbeth?
 Aim High
Many students will prefer to discover the story of the play for themselves; in this case, the
activities mentioned here, as suggested, would act as a revision exercise, rather than as
an introduction to the play. One issue worth raising with more able students is the idea of
unresolved stories. Two questions left open at the end of the play, that students might like
to consider, are:

What happens to Donaldbain, the king’s younger son?

What happens to Lennox and Ross, two of the lords who appear, originally, to be
loyal to Macbeth?
 Moving On
As a follow-up, ask students to take a copy of Resource Sheet 3 and add short, succinct
titles to each of the scenes. These can act as useful aides-memoires in remembering the
key events.
 Check the web
There are many summarised versions of the play on the web. A good summary can be
found at www.absoluteshakespeare.com
Summary of key learning
 The characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth propel the action of the play, at least in the
early scenes, but external events, and ‘fate’, play a large role.
 Other characters have varying influence on the events of the play, but some minor
characters – Ross for example – should also not be overlooked.
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Resource Sheet 3(a):
Macbeth minimalised
Acts 1 & 2
ACT 1 SCENE 1
ACT 1 SCENE 2
The witches on the heath await Macbeth once
the battle has finished
The battle, and Macbeth & Banquo’s heroics,
are reported to Duncan, who proclaims
Macbeth the new Thane of Cawdor
ACT 1 SCENE 3
ACT 1 SCENE 4
Back on the heath, Banquo & Macbeth meet
the witches who hail them as kings, and
Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor, a prophecy
proved true by the arrival of Ross sent by King
Duncan
At Forres, Duncan welcomes Macbeth and
thanks him for his deeds. Malcolm is
announced as heir to the throne. Duncan says
he’ll stay at Macbeth’s castle
ACT 1 SCENE 5
ACT 1 SCENE 6
Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth
revealing what has happened, and immediately
starts plotting. Macbeth arrives and she reveals
her plans
Duncan and his court arrive at Macbeth’s
castle, commenting on how pleasant it seems
ACT 1 SCENE 7
ACT 2 SCENE 1
Macbeth expresses his doubts about the
murder they are about to commit, but Lady
Macbeth taunts him, and persuades him to
continue with their agreed plans
Banquo and his son, Fleance, prepare for the
night. Macbeth tests out Banquo but he refuses
to commit himself. Macbeth, alone, sees a
ghostly dagger as he moves towards Duncan’s
bedchamber
ACT 2 SCENE 2
ACT 2 SCENE 3
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth meet following the
murder of Duncan. Macbeth has mistakenly
brought the daggers from the scene of the
crime, so Lady Macbeth is forced to return
them and smear blood on the servants she has
drugged
A porter lets in Macduff the next morning; he
goes to wake the king, but discovers him
murdered. Macbeth kills the servants in feigned
anger. The king’s sons, Malcolm & Donaldbain,
agree to flee for their own safety
ACT 2 SCENE 4
An old man and Ross discuss the events of the
night and the strange behaviour of various
creatures. Macduff appears, revealing that
Macbeth is likely to be crowned king, although
Macduff won’t attend the coronation
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Resource Sheet 3(b):
Macbeth minimalised
Acts 3 & 4
ACT 3 SCENE 1
ACT 3 SCENE 2
Banquo speaks of his suspicions of
Macbeth, who appears and questions him
about his plans. Macbeth arranges for him
to be killed after meeting with two
murderers
Macbeth & Lady Macbeth meet. Macbeth is still in a
highly anxious state despite his wife’s calming
words. He does not tell her what he has planned for
Banquo
ACT 3 SCENE 3
ACT 3 SCENE 4
The two murderers, plus a mysterious third,
ambush Banquo and kill him, but his son
Fleance escapes
At Forres Macbeth welcomes the lords to a
banquet. The murderers arrive and tell him Banquo
is dead, but Fleance has escaped. Macbeth sees
the ghost of the dead Banquo at the table and is
driven into a sort of fit. Lady Macbeth desperately
tries to cover for him, but the feast is ruined
ACT 3 SCENE 5
ACT 3 SCENE 6
Queen of the witches, Hecate, summons
the three witches and speaks of meeting
Macbeth again
Lennox and another Lord sum up the action so far
and suggest that suspicions now fall on Macbeth
for the murders, but no one is yet ready to speak
openly. Malcolm is reported to be in England, and
Macduff on his way, to raise an army against
Macbeth
ACT 4 SCENE 1
ACT 4 SCENE 2
Macbeth meets with the three witches
again. They tell him he can’t be harmed by
someone ‘of woman born’ nor until Birnam
Wood comes to Macbeth’s castle,
Dunsinane. Macbeth believes himself safe
as a result. They show him a vision of the
future in which Banquo’s descendants
become kings of Scotland. The witches
also warn Macbeth about Macduff, whose
family he resolves to kill
Lady Macduff speaks with Ross about her
husband. He leaves and she is left alone with her
children until a messenger arrives to warn her of
imminent danger. It is too late, however, and
murderers arrive and kill her son before pursuing
her off stage
ACT 4 SCENE 3
Macduff meets with Malcolm in England to
persuade him to take up arms against
Macbeth. Initially, Malcolm seems reluctant
and suggests he would make a worse king
than Macbeth. This is simply a way of
testing Macduff’s loyalty, however. Ross
then arrives and eventually tells Macduff of
the murder of his wife and children. They
leave to return to Scotland for revenge
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Resource Sheet 3(c):
Macbeth minimalised
Act5
ACT 5 SCENE 1
ACT 5 SCENE 2
A doctor and gentlewoman observe Lady
Macbeth sleepwalking, clearly in distress over
the events she has witnessed and the crimes
she has committed
Various lords and soldiers are on their way to
meet up with Malcolm and the English army.
We learn that Macbeth is very much isolated in
his castle
ACT 5 SCENE 3
ACT 5 SCENE 4
The doctor reports Lady Macbeth’s condition to
Macbeth. Macbeth himself prepares for battle,
and gives out orders, seemingly safe in the
knowledge that he cannot be killed
Malcolm orders his men to cut down branches
of trees from Birnam Wood to disguise the
numbers he has
ACT 5 SCENE 5
ACT 5 SCENE 6
Macbeth continues to organise the defence of
Dunsinane. The death of his wife is reported to
him and he reflects on his own existence. A
messenger then arrives and reports that
Birnam Wood is, indeed, moving
A brief scene as Malcolm and Siward, an
English general, organise their battle plan
ACT 5 SCENE 7
ACT 5 SCENE 8
Siward’s son finds Macbeth, but is slain by him.
Macduff enters the castle, and Malcolm is told
the battle is almost won
Macduff finally tracks Macbeth down. Macbeth
initially refuses to fight him, but Macduff reveals
he wasn’t ‘born of woman’ as he was ‘untimely
ripped’ from his mother’s stomach. Macduff
kills Macbeth
ACT 5 SCENE 9
Ross reports to Siward that his son is dead and
that Macduff is missing. Macduff then enters
with Macbeth’s severed head, and proclaims
Malcolm king of Scotland. Malcolm closes the
play by inviting everyone to see him crowned at
Scone
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Resource Sheet 4:
Character confetti
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
Duncan
Macduff
Malcolm
Lady Macduff
Banquo
Fleance
Ross
Lennox
Seyton
Old Siward
Siward’s son
Witches
Captain
Porter
Donaldbain
Doctor
Gentlewoman
(Lady Macbeth’s
attendant)
Murderers
Old Man
Menteith
Caithness
Angus
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