1. LESSON THREE

2. TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
YOUR STARTER
‘Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel,
Which smoked with bloody execution…’
(Act 1, Scene 2)
At the beginning of each lesson, we will be looking at a different quotation from Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ and analysing it in detail.
However, there is an extra challenge. I want to see how many quotations you can remember. That means that at the beginning of every lesson, we will see if you can recall the previous lessons’ quotation. Let’s begin!
Not sure where to start? Look at the words/phrases in bold.
‘Disdaining fortune’
could perhaps imply that Macbeth’s bravery is so strong that he fights against fate and luck with success.
TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
Can I read, understand and respond to texts?
Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance?
Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

3. YOUR TASK
New vocabulary!
EXTENSION!
How is Macbeth’s outward appearance different from reality? Find quotations.
MACBETH: The service and the loyalty I owe, In doing it, pays itself. Your highness' part Is to receive our duties; and our duties Are to your throne and state children and servants, Which do but what they should, by doing every thing Safe toward your love and honour.
MACBETH: [Aside] The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires: The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be, Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.
A fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine.
Looking at these two speeches, what do you think is emerging as Macbeth’s fatal flaw?
When Macbeth enters the scene, it is immediately after Duncan expresses his dismay over being betrayed by the former Thane of Cawdor, saying he was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust.
How is this an example of dramatic irony?
Why does Shakespeare have Macbeth enter after this statement?
TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
Can I read, understand and respond to texts?
Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance?
Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

4. Housewives and Mothers TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
YOUR TASK: THE ROLE OF WOMEN
In Act 1, Scene 5, we are introduced to another major character: Lady Macbeth. Before we look at her character in more detail, let’s consider the role of women.
Read the information on ‘The Role of Women’ sheet that has been sorted under the following headings:
Patriarchal Society
Housewives and Mothers
Professional Women
Marriage
Sum up each heading in two sentences at the bottom of the sheet. Then, in your books, write down the expectations of Lady Macbeth that a contemporary audience would have based on the information you have read.
Lexical field of violence
TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
Can I read, understand and respond to texts?
Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance?
Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

5. TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
YOUR TASK: LADY MACBETH
In Act 1, Scene 5, we are introduced to another major character: Lady Macbeth. Look at the words/phrases below that appear in her second soliloquy. What can we infer about her character?
What do these words suggest about Lady Macbeth’s character and her intentions? How do you think this goes against the tradition role of women? What lexical field do these words belong to?
blood
gall
remorse
knife
fatal
dark
hell
murdering
Lexical field of violence
mortal
TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
Can I read, understand and respond to texts?
Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance?
Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

6. TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
MINI TASKS: LADY MACBETH’S FIRST SPEECH
What is Lady Macbeth’s view of her husband? Find a quotation that supports your ideas and explain its significance.
Why do you think it is important for the audience to see Lady Macbeth by herself before her husband returns?
Look at the end of the speech. What kind of character is Lady Macbeth really? How does she challenge the conventions of the role of women?
EXTRA CHALLENGE: How do you think a contemporary audience would feel about ‘fate’ and ‘witchcraft’ being so inexplicably intertwined?
TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
Can I read, understand and respond to texts?
Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance?
Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

7. TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
YOUR TASK: LADY MACBETH’S SECOND SPEECH
‘Unsex me HERE’
Complete the analysis grids. Work your way down the ‘Increasing Challenge’ activities. Answer as notes and annotations on your sheet. Be prepared to share your ideas.
TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
Can I read, understand and respond to texts?
Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance?
Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

8. TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
CONSIDER THIS
What links can you make between the story of the serpent in the Adam and Eve story and ‘Macbeth’?
Original Sin
The concept of Original Sin refers generally to the Christian belief in the universal nature of sin. Sin came to the world after Adam and Eve’s behaviour in the Garden of Eden, and Christians believe that ever since that time, all people are born sinful.
Because sin is something we are born with and carry throughout our lives, the only way we can be free of sin is through living good and well-behaved lives.
Christianity would have been far more important in the Jacobean era, and the idea of ‘original sin’ living within us – and being the fault of a woman – would have been common.
Having read Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy, who do you think is more full of ‘original sin’? Macbeth or Lady Macbeth?
Adam and Eve story in folder if needed
TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
Can I read, understand and respond to texts?
Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance?
Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

9. What can you say about this quotation? TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
TO FINISH: DISCUSS
Think of THREE adjectives to describe Lady Macbeth.
How is Lady Macbeth similar to the witches at this point?
How do you think Shakespeare wants the audience to react to Lady Macbeth? Why?
Without looking, can you remember the quotation we discussed at the beginning of the lesson?
‘Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel,
Which smoked with bloody execution…’
(Act 1, Scene 2)
What can you say about this quotation?
TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
Can I read, understand and respond to texts?
Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance?
Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

11. ALTERNATIVE SOLILOQUY TASK

12. TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
YOUR TASK
1. Read through the soliloquy on your own and put a small ? at the end of any lines that you do not understand
(It does not matter if there is a ? next to every line!)
2. Circle one word that stands out to you. Look at the ‘Unfamiliar Words’ slide to help you with any words you are unsure of.
BREAK IT UP!
Circle the 6 parts:
‘The raven…. battlements.
‘Come,….cruelty!’
‘Make thick…and it!’
‘Come…mischief!’
‘Come,…hell’
‘That…hold!’
Put a cross through any question mark if you now understand the line.
Sit in your pair
Put a cross through any question mark if you now understand the line
Still lost?
In your pair, translate the soliloquy.
Do not try to change every word, get the gist of what she is saying and rephrase it in modern English.
TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS:
Can I read, understand and respond to texts?
Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance?
Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

13. UNFAMILIAR WORDS Direst: The weather forecast for this summer is dire.
dreadful or terrible consequences
Compunctious: Robin Hood had no compunction about stealing from the rich.
A strong uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt
Fell: He was felled by the assassin's bullet
To cut, knock down or kill
Gall: I was galled I didn’t win the game.
Bitterness of feeling
Pall: There was a pall of smoke over the city.
A covering that darkens or obscures
Dunnest:
A dark and gloomy colour