Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Back to Study HubBrowse Year 10 English Guides

Year 10 - English

The witches in Act 1, Scene 3 of 'Macbeth'

Macbeth: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils read and analyse 'Macbeth' by focusing on the role of Lady Macbeth in the tragedy. They start by reading the full play, before moving on to a close analysis of key characters and themes. They then zoom in on Lady Macbeth and develop an essay on her as a Machiaevellian villain.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain how language has been used to describe the witches in Act 1, Scene 3 of 'Macbeth'.

Key Notes

  • The witches could be interpreted as being presented as genderless
  • The witches' non-conformity to gender roles seems to confuse Macbeth and Banquo
  • The witches could be interpreted as unnatural, threatening outsiders
  • The witches' behaviour would subvert a Jacobean audience's expectations of femininity
  • The theme of the unnatural is first introduced

Vocabulary To Learn

  • outsider: Being an outsider is an important idea, particularly to Shakespeare. An outsider is a character who is not accepted by society.
  • genderless: In the context of 'Macbeth', the witches are genderless characters: they neither present nor behave in a way this society expects of women.
  • conform: If you conform, you accept rules or standards.
  • subvert: If you are subversive you don't accept rules or standards.
  • femininity: Femininity refers to qualities which are seen as characteristic of women or girls.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The witches are presented solely as women, threatening women but women nonetheless.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

The witches could be interpreted as being presented as genderless. The witches' non-conformity to gender roles seems to confuse Macbeth and Banquo.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'outsider'

Being an outsider is an important idea, particularly to Shakespeare. An outsider is a character who is not accepted by society.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: The witches are presented solely as women, threatening women but women nonetheless. Correction: Look at the language in Act 1, Scene 3: Banquo and Macbeth see the witches as unnatural, not just strange women.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 10 English guide library.