Lesson 1

Guilt
LQ: How is guilt presented in the play?

Starter: In pairs, come up with a list of three ways/quotations that guilt

is shown in the play.

Guilt
 Guilt
Look at the potential essay questions you have been given. Both
discuss guilt.

You are always given an extract, you your question essentially comes in
two parts. You must discuss both the extract and the play as a whole.
This means you must be familiar with key extracts from the play.
• Annotate the techniques used to show guilt in both extracts
• Work in pairs to comment on Shakespeare’s word choices
• Discuss characterisation in the extract
 Look at the underlined words/phrases
How do they show the characters feel guilt?

W
ov hy d
er oe
wi s h
th e
qu wa
ick nt
l y? t h
is

He says he should
protect Duncan not be
the one who stabs him!
What does this show
about his feelings?
 Class Discussion
1. After annotating in pairs, which exam question is the more
desirable question? Vote as a class
2. Which exam question had more language techniques to
explore in the extract?
3. For the theme of guilt, would you rather focus on Macbeth
or Lady Macbeth? Vote as a class
4. Feedback – why do you believe this?
 Plenary
Look at the model PEALs you have been given.

They are different levels from the mark scheme (levels 1-6 on the mark
scheme).

Which one of your models has stronger AO2?

• Highlight the AO2 in the models
• Explain which one was stronger and why.
 PEAL 1
Macbeth shows he struggles with his guilty conscience
when he is explains he ‘should against his murderer
shut the door not bear the knife myself’. This shows
Macbeth understands he should not be killing Duncan,
he should be protecting him by shutting the door on
anyone who would hurt him. This shows the reader that
Macbeth knows what is right, but still makes the wrong
decision to kill the king. The audience at the time
would be very shocked because the King was meant to
be chosen by God so Macbeth goes against God.
PEAL 2
Lady Macbeth shows she feels guilt because she says
her hands will ‘ne’er be clean’. In the play, bloody hands
symbolise guilt. Lady Macbeth believes her hands will
always look bloody because she did the wrong thing and
helped Macbeth to kill Duncan. This shows Lady
Macbeth as a guilty character, but the audience
already hate her because she was happy to kill the king
before. The king was chosen by God and the audience
would believe this makes her an evil character who
deserves to feel guilty and upset.
PEAL 1
Macbeth shows he struggles with his guilty conscience
when he is explains he ‘should against his murderer
shut the door not bear the knife myself’. This shows
Macbeth understands he should not be killing Duncan,
he should be protecting him by shutting the door on
anyone who would hurt him. This shows the reader that
Macbeth knows what is right, but still makes the wrong
decision to kill the king. The audience at the time
would be very shocked because the King was meant to
be chosen by God so Macbeth goes against God.
PEAL 2
Lady Macbeth shows she feels guilt because she says
her hands will ‘ne’er be clean’. In the play, bloody hands
symbolise guilt. Lady Macbeth believes her hands will
always look bloody because she did the wrong thing and
helped Macbeth to kill Duncan. This shows Lady
Macbeth as a guilty character, but the audience
already hate her because she was happy to kill the king
before. The king was chosen by God and the audience
would believe this makes her an evil character who
deserves to feel guilty and upset.
 PEAL 1
Macbeth shows he struggles with his guilty conscience
when he is explains he ‘should against his murderer shut
the door not bear the knife myself’. Which shows Macbeth
understands the loyalty he should have towards Duncan as
a ‘kinsman and subject’. Shakespeare purposely used this
contrast between what he wants to do and what he will do
to show that Macbeth is able to tell the difference
between right and wrong and has a moral code, but he still
considers the sin of regicide. Shakespeare points out that
as his ‘kinsman’ he also has family loyalty to Duncan which
is incredibly shocking for the audience as he betrays both
his cousin and his King.
PEAL 2
Lady Macbeth is presented as a character who struggles
with guilt when she hallucinates and flashbacks to the
past. She repeats phrases she once said to Macbeth at the
start of the play to convince him to murder Duncan. She
shows her guilt because she can’t stop thinking about her
past actions. This is especially shocking to a Jacobean
audience because she was happy to commit regicide at the
start of the play. Her guilt now probably reflects the idea
that regicide was the highest sin that could be committed
due to the Divine Right of Kings. Lady Macbeth has finally
realised she will always be sinful after such a horrible act.
PEAL 1
Macbeth shows he struggles with his guilty conscience
when he is explains he ‘should against his murderer shut
the door not bear the knife myself’. Which shows Macbeth
understands the loyalty he should have towards Duncan as
a ‘kinsman and subject’. Shakespeare purposely used this
contrast between what he wants to do and what he will do
to show that Macbeth is able to tell the difference
between right and wrong and has a moral code, but he still
considers the sin of regicide. Shakespeare points out that
as his ‘kinsman’ he also has family loyalty to Duncan which
is incredibly shocking for the audience as he betrays both
his cousin and his King.
PEAL 2
Lady Macbeth is presented as a character who struggles
with guilt when she hallucinates and flashbacks to the
past. She repeats phrases she once said to Macbeth at the
start of the play to convince him to murder Duncan. She
shows her guilt because she can’t stop thinking about her
past actions. This is especially shocking to a Jacobean
audience because she was happy to commit regicide at the
start of the play. Her guilt now probably reflects the idea
that regicide was the highest sin that could be committed
due to the Divine Right of Kings. Lady Macbeth has finally
realised she will always be sinful after such a horrible act.
 PEAL 1
Macbeth clearly struggles with his conscience and morality
through the use of the soliloquy to present his thoughts about
killing Duncan and the decision to commit the act of regicide
despite the fact that ‘his virtues will plead like angels’ against
his death. In order to commit this act of regicide, Macbeth
must betray his God and his King, the chosen one. Therefore,
Shakespeare presents Macbeth’s battle as a holy battle, hence
the references to angels, and one that is deeply rooted in the
Christian belief in the Divine Right of Kings in Jacobean
England. Duncan, as the monarch, should have been protected
by his subjects, but Macbeth clearly wrestles with the
decision to murder him and commit regicide.
PEAL 2
Lady Macbeth is presented as a character who feels the guilt
of her murder and the shame of what she did. She uses the
adjective ‘murky’ to describe ‘hell’ which could be a symbolic
representation of her journey into evil. Yet, by using this
adjective she suggests the path was not as clear as she
believed it would be. Some could argue this shows her shame
as she follows a path to evil without fully understanding it.
This is developed as she seems to be stuck in a flashback,
repeating her old words to Macbeth and reliving her moments
of shame again, but these haunt her. Structurally, she was
once suggesting a ‘little water’ would ‘clear’ them of their
‘deed’, but now she is constantly washing out a ‘spot’, thus
suggesting she is ashamed of her earlier act of regicide, but
can’t escape it.
PEAL 1
Macbeth clearly struggles with his conscience and morality
through the use of the soliloquy to present his thoughts about
killing Duncan and the decision to commit the act of regicide
despite the fact that ‘his virtues will plead like angels’ against
his death. In order to commit this act of regicide, Macbeth
must betray his God and his King, the chosen one. Therefore,
Shakespeare presents Macbeth’s battle as a holy battle, hence
the references to angels, and one that is deeply rooted in the
Christian belief in the Divine Right of Kings in Jacobean
England. Duncan, as the monarch, should have been protected
by his subjects, but Macbeth clearly wrestles with the
decision to murder him and commit regicide.
PEAL 2
Lady Macbeth is presented as a character who feels the guilt
of her murder and the shame of what she did. She uses the
adjective ‘murky’ to describe ‘hell’ which could be a symbolic
representation of her journey into evil. Yet, by using this
adjective she suggests the path was not as clear as she
believed it would be. Some could argue this shows her shame
as she follows a path to evil without fully understanding it.
This is developed as she seems to be stuck in a flashback,
repeating her old words to Macbeth and reliving her moments
of shame again, but these haunt her. Structurally, she was
once suggesting a ‘little water’ would ‘clear’ them of their
‘deed’, but now she is constantly washing out a ‘spot’, thus
suggesting she is ashamed of her earlier act of regicide, but
can’t escape it.
Lesson 2

Ambition
LQ: How is the theme of ambition presented in the play?

Starter: In pairs, come up with a list of three ways/quotations that

ambition is shown in the play.

Ambition
 Lines of Argument
A line of argument at the start of each essay can help you to structure your essay properly.

With a line of argument that discusses the message of the writer, you can consistently link
back to this message so you don’t wander off topic.
This will get you AO1 marks as you will link to the question.

Write a line of argument for the question below. Include:

• Shakespeare’s message/his intended meaning
• The characters you think show ambition in the play
• How the characters are important
Remember: this is an introduction – no quotations!
 Approaching the Essay Question
Look at the extract you have been given.
1. Annotate how ambition is shown in your extract. Look at
key techniques/adjectives/phrases. (10 minutes in pairs)

2. Your line of argument has already been written. Begin

writing your PEALs about the extract and how ambition is
presented in the extract. Write at least two. (20 minutes in
silence)
 Plenary
Plan the rest of your essay.
• How does Lady Macbeth present ambition?
• Who do you think was the more ambitious person in that marriage?
• Banquo also had ambitions when he discovered his sons would be
kings, but he doesn’t act on them like Macbeth does, why is this
important?
• What other events show ambition in a good/bad light?

Summarise (no quotations) three more points you could make about
ambition.
Lesson 3

Themes
LQ: How are different themes presented in the play?

Starter: Apart from guilt and ambition, what other themes are
presented in the play?

Themes
 Presentation and Feedback
You will be put in new pairs and given an essay to plan.

You MUST complete all four boxes.

You SHOULD add in subject terminology.

You will be expected to present your ideas to the class.

What techniques are used in the extract and what do they show about the theme? What is your line of argument?

What other key quotations in the play present this What events in the play present this theme?
theme?
What techniques are used in the extract and what do they show about the theme? What is your line of argument?

What other key quotations in the play present this What events in the play present this theme?
theme?
What techniques are used in the extract and what do they show about the theme? What is your line of argument?

What other key quotations in the play present this What events in the play present this theme?
theme?
What techniques are used in the extract and what do they show about the theme? What is your line of argument?

What other key quotations in the play present this What events in the play present this theme?
theme?
What techniques are used in the extract and what do they show about the theme? What is your line of argument?

What other key quotations in the play present this What events in the play present this theme?
theme?
 Plenary
In your books, summarise Shakespeare’s main message about your
theme.

• You should do this in full sentences

• You should explain which characters present this theme
• You should summarise your main ideas in a few sentences
Lesson 4

Presenting
LQ: How are themes shown through different extracts?

Starter: The groups who had the same extracts will present 1 or 2
boxes each (depending on the amount of groups).

Highlight the most vital pieces of information that you

believe need to be presented from each box.
 Presenting
As people are presenting, complete your tables.
Theme Important quotations Important textual Shakespeare’s message
for this theme references (events in about this theme
the play) that relate to
this theme

Masculinity

Witchcraft and the

supernatural
The relationship
between Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth
Bravery

Leadership
 Theme Important quotations for this theme Important textual references (events in the play) that Shakespeare’s message about this theme
relate to this theme

Masculinity

Witchcraft
and the
supernatural

The
relationship
between
Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth

Bravery

Leadership
 Plenary
Rank your themes.
Which one is the most negatively portrayed in your opinion?
Which one is second?
Third?
Come up with the top three negative themes. You must be able to
justify your choices.
1.
2.
3.