Act 5

• Engels
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• GCSE

Lesson objectives 

Macbeth act 5 the final scenes 

Investigating the last scenes and the final outcome

Act 5 scene 1  

Characterisation: 

1.What do you think Lady Macbeth writes on the paper mentioned by her gentlewoman. p. 83 lines  3-7? 

Themes and issues: 

2.What does this scene contribute to the topic of kingship? 

3.What does the doctor say in his final speech pg 85 line 63-71, which adds to our understanding of Scotland under Macbeth’s rule? How do his words contribute to the topic of order and nature? 

Order and structure: 

4.To what events earlier in the play do Lady Macbeth’s speeches and actions refer? 

Act 5 scene 1  

Complete this table in your exercise book. 

Act 5 scene 1  

Act 5  scene 2

Language: 

1.What does the clothing imagery in pg 87 line 15-22 tell us about the Thanes’ opinions of Macbeth’s control of his kingdom? What about his fitness to bear the great title of King? 

2.How do these clothing images contribute to the theme of kingship? 

3.What two different images do Caithness and Lennox use in their final speeches ll. 26-31? How effective is each image in showing what role they still have to play for Scotland? 

4.In what way do Caithness and Lennox’s images contribute to the topic of order and nature? 

 

Act 5  scene 3

Characterisation: 

1.What does Macbeth’s treatment of his servants reveal about his state of mind? What effect do the prophecies have on Macbeth’s mood and attitude? 

2.What does Macbeth regret in pg 89 line 22-28? Do you feel sympathy for him? 

Structure and form: 

3.What do Macbeth’s instructions to Seyton add to the play. Would it have been different if he only spoke straight to the doctor? 

Language: 

4.The imagery of medicine pg 89 line 41 - 48 is continued here that the lords started in scene 2. How does Macbeth use the imagery? 

 

Act 5  scene 5

Language: 

1.pg 92 line 17 " She should have died hereafter;/There would have been a time for such a word. Amongst others, there are three possible interpretations:  A) there was a time when I could have responded to such news B) the word would have to be spoken at some time C) there would have been a better time for such news. Which one fits here according to your understanding of the text? Why? 

Characterisation: 

2.In Macbeth’s soliloquy, pg 92 line 16-27, what is now Macbeth’s view on life? 

Themes and topics 

3.Pg 93 line 42-45 Macbeth begins to doubt ‘th’ equivocation of the fiend’. How does that relate to the double meaning theme of the play? 

Act 5  scene 5 

Act 5  scene 5 

Act 5  scene 8 & 9 

Characterisation: 

1.What is Macbeth’s opinion by now of the Witches? What is his view of dying? Find appropriate quotes. 

 Scene 9 

Theme and topics 

1.In what ways does Siward’s reaction to his son’s death contribute to our understanding of what it is to be a man in this play? 

2.How does the topic of nature and order come to light in Malcolm’s final speech?

3. What clues are there  in Malcolm's final speech which show that Shakespeare used this speech to flatter James the 1st to gain his support.