1. English Lecture:Macbeth Monday 20th February 2017

2. English Lecture: ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare
Aims and Objectives:
To clarify the requirements and expectations of Paper One: Shakespeare.
To identify the key elements of Paper One.
To explore ways in which to prepare effectively for the exam.

3. What’s it all about?
Here at Glenmoor and Winton Academies we recognise how difficult it can be to support your son/daughter in preparing for their exams. English Breakdown Students will complete exams in English Language and English Literature. The exams will be a culmination of work completed in Year 10 and that studied in Year 11. The examination based upon ‘Macbeth’ forms part of their English Literature qualification.

4. English Literature: Paper One – Shakespeare and the C19th Novel
The Exam
English Literature: Paper One – Shakespeare and the C19th Novel
What’s assessed?
Shakespeare and the 19th century novel
Shakespeare Plays (Macbeth)
The C19th Novel (J&H)
How is it assessed?
written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
64 marks
40% of GCSE
Questions
SECTION A: Shakespeare
students will answer one question on their play of choice (Macbeth). They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole.
SECTION B: C19th Novel
students will answer one question on their novel of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write about the novel as a whole.

5. SECTION A: Shakespeare
Students will be responding to an extract question based on ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare.
A copy of the full text can be found here:
macbeth.htm
We strongly advise students to purchase their own copy of the text to use in lessons and to support with revision.

6. SECTION A: Shakespeare
The paper is ‘closed book’ – this means that students will not have access to a copy of the play during the exam. Students will therefore need to recall plot, character and theme details as well as key quotations from memory.
Students will be given an extract and a corresponding question. The extract should be used as a ‘starting point and students will need to engage with the play as a whole.

7. SECTION A: Exemplar Question
The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements. 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. Make thick my blood. Stop up the access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between The effect and it! Come to my woman’s breasts, And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring ministers, Wherever in your sightless substances You wait on nature’s mischief. Come, thick night, And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark To cry “Hold, hold!”
Read the following extract from Act 1, Scene 5 of Macbeth and then answer the question that follows.
At this point in the play Lady Macbeth is speaking. She has just finished reading Macbeth’s letter.
Starting with this speech, explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as being ambitious
Write about:
• How Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth in this speech
• How Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth in the play as a whole.

8. ‘Macbeth’ - Overview

9. ‘Macbeth’ – What’s the plot?
A bloodthirsty tale of ambition, and the evils we will go to in order to get what we want.
Macbeth plots and kills to become king
As soon as he is crowned, we watch as his world fall apart around him.
The play is considered very unlucky - actors shouldn't even say the word 'Macbeth' if they aren't on the stage performing it.
People talk about 'The Scottish play', or 'The Comedy of Glamis', or even just 'The Play'. Because of this, the play was cursed - legend has it that an actor died on the opening night, and lots of others have died since.

10. ‘Macbeth’ – What’s the plot?
1. On a dark, stormy Scottish night, three witches plot to meet Macbeth on his way home from battle.
2. Macbeth fought bravely.
Macbeth and his friend Banquo meet the witches.
Three predictions: Cawdor, King, Banquo’s children kings
3. Lady Macbeth is afraid her husband is too weak-willed to fulfil his destiny.
She decides they must kill King Duncan.
4. Macbeth murders the king and smears the drunken bodyguards with blood to frame them.
5. Macbeth is crowned King of Scotland – and has his friend Banquo killed.
At his coronation feast Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost and is terrified.

11. ‘Macbeth’ – What’s the plot?
6. Macbeth meets the witches again, and they give him three messages.
Macduff, No man borne, Great Birnam Wood
7. Macbeth has Macduff’s family murdererd
8. Lady Macbeth feels guilty. She begins to walk and talk in her sleep
9. Macduff gathers his army near Birnam Wood.
Macbeth is not worried. He is confident of the witches’ predictions
10. Macduff kills Macbeth, returning the crown to its rightful owner, Malcolm.

12. ‘Macbeth’ – Who are the main characters?
Macbeth – Thane of Glamis. Brave and valiant soldier  Tragic hero
Lady Macbeth – powerful, persuasive, manipulative
Banquo – Macbeth’s close friend, soldier, wise
King Duncan – a strong, well-liked ruler, highly respected
The Three Witches – mysterious, influential, powerful
Macduff – Lord who first finds murdered Duncan; eventually kills Macbeth
The Murderers – Macbeth’s henchmen
Malcolm – Duncan’s son. Initially flees Scotland

13. ‘Macbeth’ – Who are the main characters?
Macbeth – brave and valiant soldier
However, the prophecies of the witches have a powerful effect on him.
Easily persuaded to agree to murder Duncan
Often appears weak - he starts to have visions, he asks lots of questions, he cannot make a decision and never really seems sure of himself.
Later in the play he appears to be more in control and less reliant on his wife
‘O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman’ – Duncan
‘Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more’ – Macbeth
‘We will proceed no further in this business’ – Macbeth
Is this a dagger I see before me? … Come, let me clutch thee’ – Macbeth

14. ‘Macbeth’ – Who are the main characters?
Lady Macbeth – powerful and manipulative
Calculating – “Look innocent” but be a “serpent”
Controlling – “Are you not a man?”
Lack of remorse – “Give me the daggers”
Powerful – “Speak not” and “go at once”
Becomes mentally unwell – “Out damned spot!”
Unfeminine – “Unsex me here”

15. ‘Macbeth’ – What’s the significance of the context?
First performed in 1606
The Globe Theatre
Common and real fear of witches and witchcraft
King James – ‘Daemonologie’ and North Berwick witch trials
The Gunpower Plot 1605 – treason and regicide
Propaganda to exonerate Shakespeare
Role of women in Jacobean England: patriarchal society and misogyny

16. ‘Macbeth’ – What are the main themes?
Good and Evil
Appearance vs. Reality
Ambition and the Abuse of Power
Violence

17. ‘Macbeth’ – What are the main themes?
Good and Evil
“Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it”
Appearance vs. Reality
“False face must hide what the false heart doth know”
Ambition and the Abuse of Power
“Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires”
Violence
“Is this a dagger I see before me?”

18. Where to find more? There’s an extensive array of revision guides out there – here’s our favourites…
Macbeth : York Notes for GCSE (9-1)
CGP GCSE English Text Guide: Macbeth (Complete text also available)
Macbeth York Notes GCSE Workbook Grades 9-1 Book

19. Where to find more? There’s an extensive array of revision guides out there – here’s our favourites…
Just a note
If you are buying revision guides then ensure that they are designed to meet the requirements of the NEW specification – first exam 2017, for the grade 9-1 course

20. Something a little extra?
There are many film adaptations of Macbeth however this version was produced in 2015 and is a little more ‘interesting’ than others. It is well worth a watch and can be purchased from Amazon: Fassbender/dp/B0162TO706 Some slightly older adaptations can also be viewed for free on Youtube:

21. What can you do at home?
Stock up on popcorn! Really easy! If you haven’t got the time to read the play in its entirety then how about putting the film on, stocking up on the popcorn and watching as a family – it will have all the family gripped, I promise!

22. What can you do at home?
Get yourself online! There are an array of amazing resources on the internet that you can work through together and the BBC is the best place to start (learner guides, video clips and tests). A simple Google search of the text will also bring up a whole array of materials – see your mock exam manifesto for more details.

23. What can you do at home?
Flashcards – everywhere!!!! Throw everything you know down on paper! Post-its stuck on the fridge, bedroom doors, in the bathroom… A great idea is to get hold of some cheap lining paper and cover it in key quotes/notes and display in a prominent place.

24. What can you do at home?
Get visual
Work together to turn key quotes into pictures –emojiis are a great way to do this.
Ideally have these on display around the house as a constant visual reminder – you could even pop them in a frame!

25. What can you do at home?
Quizzes Turn the poems into a quiz – read a line or two from a cluster poem but miss out a few key words. It’s their job to remember what the words are.

26. What can you do at home?
Turn Dad into Macbeth – or Lady Macbeth! You will need to know the play really well and a great way to do this is to read it at home as a script with different family members taking on roles.

27. What can you do at home?
Get EVERYONE involved! Have a go at explaining the play to someone that has no idea about it, they could be: Granny, Grandad, your little sister, the neighbour… It will help you to consolidate the central ideas of the play and you could always get them to relay the info back to you to check they’re paying attention!

28. What can you do at home?
Who am I? A great game for young and old – and you’ll have to know the characters. Pop the names of each character down on a post- it and stick it to each person’s forehead. The person with the post-it note on their head then needs to guess who they are through a series of questions and answers - the more cryptic the better!

29. cbarrett@glenmoorandwinton.org.uk jsirodcar@glenmoorandwinton.org.uk
Any questions?