4. Macbeth - Villain or victim?

• New lesson editor
• English
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)
• GCSE

Introduction

An interactive lesson on Macbeth - the character. Inviting students to consider whether he is a victim or a villain, and introduce the concept of 'tragic hero'.

 Macbeth: Villain or tragic hero?

GCSE English Literature

Welcome to this lesson!

• Analyse Macbeth’s character development throughout the play.

• Understand the themes of ambition, power, and guilt as they relate to Macbeth.

• Encourage critical thinking and collaborative learning through interactive activities.

• Develop your ability to use textual evidence to support your interpretations.

Lesson Aims

The lesson objectives page.

Starter: Find an image of a character from books, movies or plays that you think is a 'tragic hero'

 Think of a character from books, movies or plays that you think is a 'tragic hero'

This could generate great discussion including anything from Darth Vader to The Great Gatsby!!!

Based on the characters you submitted on the last slide, what are the key qualities that make a tragic hero?

A word cloud bringing all the ideas together.

In the next activities we are going to use evidence from the play to consider if Macbeth is a tragic hero

Each group is going to make a character timeline - for each scene answer these questions:

Group Activity

1. Macbeth’s thoughts and emotions at that point in the play.

2. His actions and motivations.

3. How his character has changed from earlier scenes.

This slide sets up the next activity.

Group Activity

1. Macbeth’s thoughts and emotions at that point in the play.

2. His actions and motivations.

3. How his character has changed from earlier scenes.

10

minute

00

second

+30 s

You can of course adjust the timer here to suit your learners!

A1 S1

A1 S3

A3 S4

A5 S5

Enter your group's feedback here

Reminder

1.Macbeth’s thoughts and emotions at that point in the play.

2. His actions and motivations.

3. How his character has changed from earlier scenes.

A word cloud with categories to get all the information on the b0ard. Either get the whole class to deliver virtual feedback at the same time or go through group by group or question by question.

What does this quote reveal about Macbeth’s character at that moment? How does the quote relate to the themes of ambition, power, or guilt?

"Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?" Identify what the quote reveals about Macbeth’s character at that moment.

How does the quote relate to the themes of ambition, power or guilt?

Extended answer analysis.

What does this quote reveal about Macbeth’s character at that moment? How does the quote relate to the themes of ambition, power, or guilt?

"I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er." What does this quote reveal about Macbeth’s character at that moment? How does the quote relate to the themes of ambition, power or guilt?

What does this quote reveal about Macbeth’s character at that moment? How does the quote relate to the themes of ambition, power, or guilt?

"Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow..." What does this quote reveal about Macbeth’s character at that moment? How does the quote relate to the themes of ambition, power, or guilt?

Find more quotations that you think would be useful in shedding light on Macbeth's ambition, lust for power, or guilt

These could be from just the scenes from the group work earlier or the whole play depending on ability level.

The class will be split into two.

One half will argue that Macbeth is a victim of fate, the other he is a villain responsible for his own downfall.

You have five minutes to prepare your argument

 

 DEBATE

Debate activity.

Group 1:

 Macbeth is a victim of fate

Group 2:

a villain responsible for his own downfall.

 

5

minute

00

second

+30 s

 DEBATE

Each group will now present their argument.

 DEBATE

Macbeth: Villain or Victim?

1

VICTIM OF FATE

2

RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OWN DOWNFALL

3

BOTH

So is Macbeth a villain or victim?

A poll to round off the debate activity,.

Based on your response to the poll, Write a PEEL sentence that explains how Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a villain, victim or both

5

minute

00

second

+30 s

Based on your response to the poll, write a PEEL sentence that explains how Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a villain, victim or both

Extended answer open question.

Write down something new you've learned today.

Exit ticket time!

What do you want to know more about from today's lesson?

How confident do you feel writing about Macbeth as a tragic hero?

How confident do you feel writing about Macbeth as a tragic hero?

A learning check poll to round off the lesson.