Act 1

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5,6

Lesson objectives 

HLE feedback 

Act 1 

Opening scene of Macbeth staging 

scansion and rhythm in Macbeth 

Use of asides in the play and characterisation of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

Act 1 scene i

How do we see the topics of deceit and equivocation in this opening scene?

Shakespeare always opens his plays with a commoner/commoners who give  the audience background information. He sets up the audience's understanding of Macbeth and Banquo's characters and informs us of the position of Duncan as king and the dangers that threaten Scotland. 

Act 1 scene ii

The Captain 

Answer these questions in your exercise book. Think about the imagery used in the Captain's description that show that

a) the battle was in the balance;

b) Macdonwald was wicked;

c) luck, or fortune is always changing;

The Captain 

The Captain 

Witch 1 

Witch 2 

Witch 3 

Macbeth 

Banquo 

Ross 

Angus 

Reading Act 1 scene iii

Scansion - the action of scanning a line of verse to determine its rhythm.

Blank verse - iambic pentameter unrhymed

iamb = a foot which is one unstressed and one stressed syllable

Pentameter = 5 feet in one line.

Act 1 scene iii

I myself have all the other- 

And the very ports they blow, 

All the quarters that they know

I' the shipman's card.

I'll drain him dry as hay!

Sleep shall neither night nor day 

Hang upon his penthouse lid;

He shall live a man forbid. 

Weary sev'n-nights nine times nine, 

Shall he dwindle, peak and pine. 

Though his bark cannot be lost, 

Yet it shall be tempest -tossed! 

Look what I have. 

1. What does the Witches'  proposed spell against the sailor tell us abut how they might treat Macbeth? Why would you think that?

2. How would you describe the rhythm and rhyme scheme of the Witch's curse. 

3. Make your own curse in the same rhythm and rhyme scheme. Curse a person or thing that you felt had worked against you. 

Rhyming couplets 

not blank verse 

Lesson objectives 

See me in this lesson if your HLE feedback asks you to do so

Exploration of the witches and their representations

Insight into King Duncan's opinions Act 1 s iv

Exploration of Lady Macbeth and her relationship to Macbeth in Act 1 s v 

Equivocation - 

Equivocation: way of speaking that is intentionally not clear and is confusing to other people, especially to hide the truth, or something said in this way

Cambridge online dictionary 

Find four quotes that highlight this topic in Act 1 scene iii

Equivocation and asides

"Lesser than Macbeth, and greater" 

"Not so happy, yet much happier" 

"Thou shalt het kings, though thou be none"

" imperfect speakers!" 

" that shalt be King hereafter!" 

"so foul and fair a day I have not seen" 

"cannot be ill - cannot be good" 

"and nothing is 

But what is not" 

Highlight Macbeth's asides from the moment he is given the news of his new title "Thane of Cawdor" 

Performance: 

Banquo 

Public Macbeth 

Private Macbeth 

Witches? Why witches 

James 1st was considered to be a descendent of Banquo's line. 

James was not particularly popular (Catholic upbringing)

 

He was obsessed with witches and had written a book called Daemonologie published in 1597

He described witches as having beards.

What did James 1st say about witches in his book Daemonologie ?

He believed they could control the weather and affect crops and livestock, but could not directly kill people. 

He believed they could fly.  

He believed they had supernatural power because they had traded their soul with the devil and got in exchange a familiar spirit or demon. This was usually in the form of an animal such as a cat, bird or reptile. 

He thought that water rejected witches. Therefore, witches were ducked on a ducking stool. If they sunk they were not witches, but would drown and if they floated, they would be hung. 

From the UK Parliament website 

Act 1 scene iii

Watch the three interpretations of the witches. Take notes. 

Notice how they are portrayed. Are they comedic, horrific, worrisome, sinister or another adjective? 

How would you design a staged interpretation of the witches so that it had relevance for a modern audience? 

Act 1 scene iv

1. Why was the former Thane of Cawdor executed?

2. What effect does Shakespeare create by having Macbeth and Banquo enter just as the King and Thanes are discussing the execution of the former Thane of Cawdor?

3. What announcement does the King make to everyone present and what is Macbeth’s reaction?

4. In his last speech in this scene, what does Macbeth reveal?

Performing and watching. Answer the questions in your exercise book. Always add quotes to support your answers

Duncan 

Malcolm

Macbeth 

Banquo 

Act 1 scene iv

Suggested answers 

1. The former Thane of Cawdor betrayed his King and country by assisting the attempted invasion. He was executed for treason; ' Franky he confessed his treasons.' 

2. The well-timed entrance of Macbeth and Banquo creates dramatic and visual irony. Macbeth-having already contemplated murdering Duncan—enters just as Duncan is lamenting the inability to read a man’s inner thoughts and see disloyalty before it is too late; There's no art/To find the mind's construction in the face.' 

3. King Duncan announces that his son Malcolm is Prince of Cumberland, which means that he is heir to the Scottish throne. Macbeth feels cheated. He thought, given the witches’ prediction, the promise of ‘something greater’ that he would be named heir to the throne. Now he must somehow ‘o’erleap’ being the legitimately named heir-or give up his ambition to be king. 

Act 1 scene iv

Suggested answers 

4. In his last speech, which is an aside, Macbeth is again entertaining some evil thought; ‘my black and deep desires. Presumably this is murdering Duncan. Yet he again decides against it; ‘let that be, which the eye fears, when it is done, to see’. 

Lesson objectives 

See me in this lesson if your HLE feedback asks you to do so

Insight into King Duncan's opinions Act 1 s iv

Exploration of Lady Macbeth and her relationship to Macbeth in Act 1 s v 

Act 1 scene v

1.What is the purpose of the letter?

2. What do we learn about Macbeth from Lady Macbeth’s reaction to the letter?

3. What do we learn about Lady Macbeth from her reaction to the letter?

4. Does Lady Macbeth fear Macbeth will not be king if he does not murder Duncan?

5. How does the news about King Duncan’s expected arrival affect her? What is she planning?

6. Why does Lady Macbeth pray to be unsexed?

7. What does Shakespeare establish in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s first exchange when Macbeth arrives home?

 

Performing and watching. Answer the questions in your exercise book. Always add quotes to support your answers

Duncan 

Malcolm

Macbeth 

Banquo 

Act 1 scene v

Watch two examples of Lady Macbeth's soliloquies in 

1. Which do you prefer and why? 

2. Describe the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth use quotes to support your ideas.

Performing and watching. Answer the questions in your exercise book. Always add quotes to support your answers

Act 1 scene v

"My dearest partner of greatness"

" greatness is promised thee" 

Macbeth: " My dearest love"

1. What does Lady Macbeth fear about her husband's character? Do you think that this fear is justified, from what you have seen so far? 

Performing and watching. Answer the questions in your exercise book. Always add quotes to support your answers

Dramatic Irony 

What is dramatic irony? What does it mean?

Reading Act 1 scene 6 

King Duncan 

Banquo 

Lady Macbeth 

Dramatic Irony 

1. How does Lady Macbeth greet King Duncan? Is she sincere? 

2. What does King Duncan say of Macbeth? 

Dramatic Irony 

At the beginning of scene 6 King Duncan says: 

" The castle hath a pleasant seat. The air

Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself

Unto our gentle senses" 

How is this an example of dramatic irony? Explain

Lesson objectives 

HLE support, structure and example

Macbeth homework check Macbeth's considerations 

Lady Macbeth's power of persuasion, words, delivery and actions 

Macbeth's soliloquy 

Make a T-table in your exercise book.  

Read Macbeth's soliloquy in scene 7 and watch it. 

List all the reasons that Macbeth gives for killing the King and those he gives against killing the King.

It seems that he is not 100% behind the idea of killing the King. 

What will change his mind? 

Check your homework 

Lady Macbeth's persuasion 

Groups of three read together Act 1 scene 7 

discuss these questions:  

1. What is Lady Macbeth saying? 

2. Why is she saying it? What effect does she think her words will have on Macbeth?

3. If Lady Macbeth was speaking in modern English, what would she be saying? 

4. What is she trying to make Macbeth feel? 

5. Why would her words have an impact on Macbeth? 

6. What actions might go with the words? 

7. What are the most important words? 

Lady Macbeth's persuasion 

Write your answers in your exercise book during the music : 

1. What is Lady Macbeth saying? 

2. Why is she saying it? What effect does she think her words will have on Macbeth?

3. If Lady Macbeth was speaking in modern English, what would she be saying? 

4. What is she trying to make Macbeth feel? 

5. Why would her words have an impact on Macbeth? 

6. What actions might go with the words? 

7. What are the most important words? 

Music: bensound.com

License code: XT4DNAQWMFGMYGWX

Lady Macbeth's persuasion 

In your groups of 3 one is Macbeth. The person playing Macbeth sits on a chair the other two stand. Those standing label themselves A and B. Their job is to persuade Macbeth to do the deed. A will speak Shakespeare's words and B will speak the modern equivalent. They may persuade with their actions, but cannot touch Macbeth. Macbeth can only answer " I dare to do all the may become a man." He can say this whenever he feels the need to. If Macbeth is fully persuaded, he will stand up. His response is influenced by Lady Macbeth's attitude, he may feel angry, nervous, sulky, frightened or something else in response to her behaviour. 

Persuasion 

Did any Macbeths stand up?

What persuaded you? 

How would you recommend Lady Macbeth to deliver these lines in order to get maximum compliance? 

Lady Macbeth's persuasion 

Tactic	Example	Effectiveness
Flattery
Accusing Macbeth of cowardice	"And live like a coward in thine own esteem,/ Letting I dare not wait upon 'I would,'/ Like the poor cat i'the adage?"	Here Lady Macbeth is referring to a proverb in which a cat wanted to catch fish but didn't want to get its paw wet. It is effective because Lady Macbeth is suggesting Macbeth won't be able to have self-respect if he doesn't commit the murder.
Questioning Macbeth's Manhood
Reassurance
Emphasising her own determination

Complete this table in your exercise book. 

Homework for Thursday 

Watch and read Act 2 

Watch in digital theatre plus a production of Macbeth act 2. Read the text.