When Elizabeth I died, she left no direct heir to the throne. Her cousin James VI of Scotland
succeeded her. His reign was under constant threat, so Shakespeare wrote the play to
remind the audience of the loyalty that should be shown to the legal king. Here we have
one of the major themes of the play: the idea of kingship and what makes for a good and
sound ruler. Macbeth also examines the role and responsibilities of the king.
When reading the play you should be aware that Shakespeare also intended to highlight
the strong points of the new king. Banquo (portrayed as a good man in the play) was an
ancestor of James I. In addition, the new king was also something of an expert on the
supernatural, having even written a book about it. The idea of sin and redemption is
important in the play. Elizabeth's own father, Henry VIII, had changed the religion of the
country, substituting the Church of England for the Roman Catholic faith.
If James I was to be a successful king, he
had to have the respect and loyalty of the
people. Macbeth encourages the audience
to watch and consider what can happen if a
tyrant takes over as ruler of a country.
Elizabethans and Jacobeans believed in the
absolute power of the monarchy: the Divine
Right of Kings that claimed the monarch to
be God's chosen man for the role. This,
together with the idea of legal succession to
the throne, is a very important theme in the
appearance
vs
reality
Kingship
ambition
(“fair is foul and foul is fair”)
order
and
disorder
guilt and
conscience
evil
violence
and
tyranny
THE OPENING SCENE OF MACBETH
The story of Macbeth takes place
in Scotland around 1000 years
ago. Macbeth was a successful
Lord (clan leader) and an even
more successful soldier. The
story does not begin however
with Macbeth on stage, but
rather, with three witches.
A key image in this play concerns disturbances in the natural
world, unnatural acts. Images of this kind occur throughout
the play. The witches are one of them. Make a note of them
as they occur.
ACT 1 SCENE 1
A DESOLATE PLACE
Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches
First Witch When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
Second Witch When the hurly-burly's done,
When the battle's lost, and
won.
Third Witch That will be ere the set of sun.
First Witch Where the place?
Second Witch Upon the heath.
Third Witch There to meet with Macbeth.
First Witch I come, Graymalkin!
Second Witch Paddock calls.
Third Witch Anon.
ALL Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
Exeunt
THIS SCENE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE...
Creates atmosphere
 Introduces the supernatural in the form of the
witches
 Refers to the main character- Macbeth
 Mentions current events in Scotland
 Introduces a key theme- ‘fair is foul and foul is
fair’

1. Describe the weather conditions.
2. What kind of atmosphere do the above conjure?
3. What kind of events does it lead the audience to
expect?
4. Briefly summarise the witches’ intentions.
5. The witches speak in riddles. What do you think is
meant byi) “When the battle’s lost and won”
ii) “Fair is foul and foul is fair”
6. The witches mention Macbeth. Why is this
surprising?
ACT 1 SCENES 2 AND 3
Read scenes 2 and 3.
 Here we see Macbeth returning victorious from
a battle. He walks with Banquo, another Lord of
Scotland.

NOTE: pay particular attention to Macbeth’s
opening line
Copyright2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk
In lines 1-30 the first witch tells the others about a spell she has cast on
someone who has wronged her in the past.
What impression do you gain from this part of the scene?
Choose at least 3 words from the bank below and find a quotation from
the scene to support your choices.
Scheming
Confused
Malicious
Powerful
Generous
Evil
Unforgiving
Dangerous
Selfish
Cunning
United
Pitiful
Wise
Malevolent
Copyright2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk
ACT 1 SCENE 4
Read Scene 4. In Scene 4 we see another
contrasting scene as it presents a picture of
Royal order and justice.
 Scene 4 is full of DRAMATIC IRONY as we see
the former Thane of Cawdor as a traitor will the
new Thane of Cawdor turn out to be a traitor
too?

DEF: dramatic irony: irony that occurs when the meaning of the
situation is understood by the audience but not by the
characters in the play.
Act 1.4: Key Quotes

“The service and the loyalty I owe, / In doing it,
pays itself.”
Act 1.4

Macbeth’s words here reveal his capability to
project illusion to Duncan. The audience know
that in his innermost thoughts he has
considered killing Duncan.
ACT 1 SCENES 1-4
Now you have read the first four scenes of
‘Macbeth’ you should begin a character profile
on the title character.
 Complete the following mind map with
quotations from the first four scenes. Two have
already been completed for you.

BRAVE:
“For brave Macbeth – well
he deserves that name-”
Captain: 1, s. 2
VALIANT:
AMBITIOUS:
NOBLE:
Macbeth
HAS A CONSCIENCE:
CONSPIRATOR:
WORTHY:
“If good, why do I yield to that
suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my
hair...”
Macbeth: 1, s. 3
ACT 1 SCENE 5
Read Scene 5
 Lady Macbeth appears for the first time in this
scene.
 She immediately appears committed to strive for
Macbeth’s greater glory. She knows him well- he is
too kind and lacks the ruthless ability to achieve
his ambition. She does not. The ruthlessness must
come from her and this is demonstrated through
her dramatic soliloquy.


DEF: soliloquy- (usually long) dramatic speech intended to give
the illusion of unspoken reflections. Shakespeare uses
soliloquy to reveal a character’s true thoughts.
ACT 1 SCENE 6
Read Scene 6
 Duncan’s arrival in scene 6 is laden with
DRAMATIC IRONY. Lady Macbeth appears
gracious and loyal but we remember her advice
to Macbeth earlier.

ACT 1 SCENE 7
Read Scene 7
 Scene seven is a key scene in ‘Macbeth’ as it
provides a significant turning point in the play
for many of its characters. In this scene Lady
Macbeth attempts to persuade Macbeth to
murder Duncan. It is commonly known as:
The Persuasion Scene


You should read carefully and take notes as you
do so. It is a scene of upmost importance.
ACT 1 SCENE 7: THE PERSUASION SCENE
STAGE 1

Macbeth’s soliloquy at the start of the scene is
one of the most powerful and revealing in the
whole play. During it, his anguish is revealed to
the audience. Respect/admiration for Macbeth
is high as his speech demonstrates his
essentially honourable and worthy nature.

In pairs, using your own words, explain the
reasons Macbeth offers as to why he should
not kill Duncan.
ACT 1 SCENE 7: THE PERSUASION SCENE
STAGE 2: LADY MACBETH ENTERS
Lady Macbeth uses a number of methods, such
as moral blackmail, to persuade her husband
to go through with the murder. Find lines which
mean something like:
1. You will do this if you love me.
2. You’re not a real man if you don’t do this.
3. If I had sworn to do something I would carry it
out, however bad.
4. If you keep your courage up, we will succeed.

LADY MACBETH MIND MAP
DOMINANT
MOCKING
LADY
MACBETH
RUTHLESS
LOYAL
AMBITIOUS
ACT 1 S. 7: THE PERSUASION SCENE
STAGE 3: MACBETH TRIES WEAKLY TO DEFEND HIMSELF
Macbeth tries weakly to defend himself.
 Find a quotation to prove this.

Lady Macbeth now makes a horrific statement
of how cruel she would have been and how
cruel Macbeth should be.
 Find a quotation to prove this


Her deliberate contrast of gentle and cruelty is
intended to shock Macbeth.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
ACT 1 S. 7
Analysis of Act 1 Scene 7. (at least 250 words)
 Briefly explain what happens prior to the scene.
 Briefly explain what happens in the scene.
 How do the characters develop in the scene?
 What themes are present?
 What dramatic techniques does Shakespeare
use?
ACT 2 SCENE 1
THE ONE WITH ALL THE BLOOD
ACT 2. 1: KEY POINTS
The Dramatic Tension is Beginning to Increase:
Banquo cannot sleep. Quote
 The weather adds to the tense atmosphere. Quote
 Banquo provides a contrast to Macbeth- he’s open and honest
about his thoughts on the witches.
 Macbeth’s soliloquy demonstrates he is nervous and anxious
about what he is going to do. Quote Analyse
 Macbeth associates himself with evil and becomes nature’s
enemy. Quote
 Rhyming couplets heighten the audience’s sense of
anticipation. Quote

Act 2 Scene 2- The Murder Scene
Stage 1- The Murder itself
1. What dramatic purpose is served by the murder taking place
off stage?
2. How has Lady Macbeth prepared the way for Macbeth?
3. What 3 things show she is not altogether a heartless monster?
Think about what she says and how she acts.
Answers:
1. Increases the tension, leaves the murder to the audience’s
imagination and allows us to witness Lady Macbeth’s
reactions.
2. Drugged the guards and left the door s open.
3. She couldn’t kill the king because he looked like her father, she
Act 2 Scene 2- The Murder Scene
Stage 2- LM assumes calm when M appears
However her conversation reveals her concealed horror and terror.
Show how the tension is revealed through what they say and
how the speak:
1.
2.
3.
Answers:
1. Short sentences
2. Questions
3. Abbreviated words- straight to the point.
Act 2 Scene 2- The Murder Scene
Stage 3- Macbeth’s reaction to the murder
1. Read Macbeth’s description of the murder. In what 2
ways is it clear that the occurrences of the murder have
deeply affected him?
2. What does this show about his character?
3. LM asks, “What do you mean?” What does this suggest
about the difference between the two of them?
Answers:
1. He can’t sleep and he can’t say Amen
2. He has a conscience
3. She has no guilt
Act 2 Scene 2- The Murder Scene
Stage 4- The differences intensify
Find quotations to show the differences in attitude between
LM and M with regard to the following:
1. Noises heard or imagined
2. Blood on M’s hand
Answers:
1. Macbeth imagines noises whereas Lady Macbeth hears
only real things. Any appropriate quotations.
2. M- to wash his hands of blood he will need to put them in
the ocean and he will turn the ocean red. LM- only a little
water will be required for her to clean her hands.
Any appropriate quotations.
Act 2 Scene 2- The Murder Scene
Key Notes:
• Tension mounts
• The murder is committed off stage therefore sounds
become important.
• Lady Macbeth is on stage and anxious.
• M is full of grief and remorse. He is highly agitated.
• LM’s practical nature is evident in this scene. Give 3
examples.
• Give an example of gentleness towards her husband.
• What effect does the knocking on the gate have on the
two characters/
• What do Macbeth’s final words suggest?
LADY MACBETH MIND MAP
DOMINANT
MOCKING
LADY
MACBETH
RUTHLESS
LOYAL
AMBITIOUS
Act 3 Scene 4 The Banquet Scene
Cloze Exercise
Macbeth, awaiting the murderers’ news, and
aware that he has ordered the death of
……… and ………, welcomes the guests to
the banquet. The murderer comes in. His
news is that ……….……………………………
…………………
Lady Macbeth chides Macbeth for not taking
part in the merriment: “My royal ……………
…………………………”
Act 3.4 The Banquet Scene: Plot
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Macbeth says he wishes that Banquo was present.
What then happens?
How does Lady Macbeth explain this outburst?
Having calmed him down, LM prompts M to rejoin the
company. He proposes a toast to all present and to
Banquo. What happens?
The other guests go out. Who arouses Macbeth’s
suspicions now? Why?
What further sign is there of Macbeth’s decline into evil
regarding Macduff?
Act 3.4 The Banquet Scene: Plot

Answers:
1.
Banquo’s ghost appears and sits in Macbeth’s seat.
Macbeth becomes hysterical.
An affliction he has suffered from since his youth.
Banquo’s ghost appears and Macbeth speaks directly to
him.
Macduff for not turning up at the feast and seeing
Macbeth crowned.
Spies in his house.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Act 3.4: Key Points
Key turning point as it marks the start of his decline
 Beginning of banquet- Macbeth achieved full limit and
splendour of the power he has and is ever going to
achieve.
 Murder of Banquo produces catastrophic consequences.
 Ghost literally usurps Macbeth’s throne.
 Macbeth declines to revisit the witches. His own decline
then begins.
 We have seen the rise of Macbeth we now see the fall.
 Represents the idea of crime and consequence.

Act 3.4: Homework Assignment
Analysis of Act 1 Scene 7. (at least 250 words)
 Briefly
explain what happens prior to this scene
 Briefly explain what happens in the scene
 Analyse fully, the importance of the scene in terms of:
characterisation (and changes in character); theme (are
any key themes revealed or developed); and dramatic
techniques.
 Why is this scene important in terms of the
relationship between M and LM.
Act 5 Scene 1- Key Scene
The Sleepwalking Scene
 In
this scene some of the horrific deeds for
which Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have been
responsible come to torture her during the
night.
 When was the last time you saw LM??
 Read Act 5.1
Sleepwalking Scene- Key Note
 LM’s
sleepwalking scene highlights the fact that
she is consumed by guilt
 perhaps she is not as ruthless as she previously
appeared
 Highlights the theme of duplicity- Her carefully
contrived mask has slipped.
 She re-enacts the first murder, the consequences.
 Madness, guilt and despair.
The Sleepwalking Scene

The conversation between the doctor and the
gentlewoman prepares the audience for the entrance of
Lady Macbeth. Explain how.
1.
2.
Answers
1. They talk of her sleepwalking and her unusual activities.
2. The gentlewoman says that nobody would believe her if
she told of what LM was saying so she has summoned
someone else.
The Sleepwalking Scene- Understanding
1.
2.
3.
4.
Before Duncan’s murder Lady Macbeth called
upon the powers of darkness to assist her. (“Come
thick night…”) How does she react to darkness
now?
She previously scolded Macbeth for fearing eternal
damnation. Quote from this scene to show how
her attitude has changed.
What does the doctor suggest about LM’s illness?
Why do you think that he ‘dare not speak’?
The Sleepwalking Scene- Understanding

1.
2.
3.
4.
Answers
LM is now constantly in need of light.
“hell is murky”
The doctor suggests LM’s illness is psychological.
The doctor dares not speak in case he is murdered
by Macbeth.
The Sleepwalking Scene- Analysis
 Most of
this scene is written in PROSE as
opposed to BLANK VERSE like most of the
play.
Why do you think this is?
Recap Definitions

Blank Verse: lines are unrhymed but have a rhythm (iambic
pentameter).
If you are unsure if a passage is in blank verse or in prose,
READ IT ALOUD. Is there are pattern? Still unsure?- look for
the following visual clue: the first letter of every line is
capitalised.

Blank verse will never be used when a character is mad- it is too
regular. It is often used to show ‘refinement’ in a character.
Many of Shakespeare's most famous speeches are written in
blank verse: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's plotting
Recap Definitions
 Prose:
refers to ordinary speech with no regular pattern
of accentual rhythm. If you are unsure if a passage is in
prose or in blank verse, look for the following visual clue:
a long passage in prose is typically looks like an ordinary
paragraph.

Prose is used when characters are reading letters, by
characters who are apparently mad, in scenes of everyday
life and in low comedy.
So…the question again.
 Most of
this scene is written in PROSE as
opposed to BLANK VERSE like most of the play.
Why do you think this is?
 It
shows LM is turning mad and symbolises her
fall from grace.
The Sleepwalking Scene- LM

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Find a quote from LM which brings to mind the
following:
Chiding Macbeth for cowardice
The signal for murdering Duncan
The murder of Duncan
The porter scene- knocking at the gate
The murder of Banquo
Macbeth’s hysterical outburst at the banquet
The murder of Macduff’s family
The Sleepwalking Scene- LM

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Answers:
‘ a soldier and afeard’
‘one, two; why then tis time to do’t’
‘Who would of thought / to have so much blood in him’
‘there’s a knocking at the gate’
‘He cannot come out of his grave’
‘No more o’ that, my lord, no more o’ that; you mar with
this starting.’
‘The thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now?’
Sleepwalking Scene- LM development

1.
2.
3.

On previous occasions LM made the following
remarks:
‘If he do bleed…’ (Act 2.2.)
‘A little water clears us of this deed.’ (2.2)
‘What’s done is done.’ (3.2)
Write down comments from this scene which shows
how her attitude has changed.
Sleepwalking Scene- LM development

Answers
1.
Who would have through the old man to have so
much blood in him.’
‘Out damned spot’
‘ ‘Here’s the perfume of the blood still: all the
perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little
hand.’
2.
3.
Lady Macbeth- character development
 Look back
to the spider graph you completed
earlier for LM. Construct another graph to show
how LM has changed.
Act 5.3
The description of Macbeth is parallel to the picture of
his wife in the previous scene. Macbeth’s conduct/speech
has become wild and enraged. He is full of
contradictions; defiant, bold, yet afraid.
 Find a quotation to prove this


Macbeth then loses his temper with his servant. What
does this suggest about his state of mind?
Act 5.3
 In
his soliloquy Macbeth reveals his inner
pessimism for his future. It is also full of pity and
sadness.
 Find a
quotation to show Shakespeare using an
effective metaphor to show how Macbeth enters
the final stage of his life.
Act 5.3
 Furthermore Macbeth
realises that he is disliked
and feels regret for what he has become. Find a
quotation to prove this.
 This soliloquy will have an effect on the audienceredeeming Macbeth as a tragic hero.
 He cannot be wholly admired but he cannot be
dismissed as purely evil. However he acknowledges
his weaknesses evoking some degree of sympathy.
 All he has left is fighting spirit.
Act 5.5- Key Points
 By
this stage Macbeth is desperate- his troops are
deserting him giving a sense of his failing power.
 News of LM’s death makes his isolation complete.
 His soliloquy eloquently considers the pointlessness
of life.
 The audience cannot fail to be moved by the
prospect of Macbeth’s loneliness and isolation
despite his wickedness.
 This establishes M as a tragic hero.
Act 5.5- Imagery
 Shakespeare uses
powerful imagery in M’s
speech.
 Find an example of imagery and explain why it
is effective
 In a master dramatic stroke, Shakespeare makes
the prophecies crumble for Macbeth.
 Explain how.
Act 5.6-9
 The
end comes quickly with a series of short dramatic
scenes leading to M’s death, in scene 8, at the hands
of Macduff.
 Again the prophecies crumble. Explain how.
 M realises that the witches say one thing and mean
another. What key theme does this again reveal?
 Despite this M, the tragic hero, is a warrior at the
end. Find a quotation to prove this.
 However the audience knows that there can be no
other outcome- M must die and the play ends on a
note of harmony and new hope for a future peace.
Group Challenge
Who do you consider to be to blame
for Macbeth’s downfall?
Group Challenge
In groups you are going to decide who
is the most to blame for Macbeth’s
downfall. You will then work
together to compile an argument to
support your choice, which you will
present to the rest of the class.
The Challenge ‘Chunked’
 Discuss
Macbeth’s downfall and decide upon the
character that is most to blame.
 Discuss and record the reasons for your choice.
You should have at least 6 main points.
 Find evidence from the text to support your
points.
 Create a list of 3 statements in defence of the other
characters.
Task Roles
Recorder
Time
Keeper
Materials manager
Facilitator
Team Representative
Expectations
By the end of the lesson you should have:
 Decided upon the character most to blame.
 Have discussed and recorded you main points of argument
 Sourced quotations to support your points.
By the end of the two lessons you should have:
 Completed all your discussion work and recorded your
responses.
 Presented your findings to the class
 Have gained a thorough understanding of the influences
on Macbeth’s character and their consequences.