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Year 10 - English

The presentation of 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 the witches disrupt the natural order in Act 1, Scene 3 of 'Macbeth'.

Key Notes

  • Jacobean men believed that women had a duty or obligation to them
  • Jacobean society was intensely hierarchical
  • The witches' masculine appearance could suggest that they can manipulate the natural order of the world
  • A single paragraph outline could contain a topic sentence, a concluding sentence and bullet pointed supporting detail

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Jacobean: When James I was King of England (1603-1624), the people he ruled over were called Jacobeans.
  • Status quo: The status quo is the term for accepted standards and rules by which a community lives.
  • Hierarchical: A system of ranking whereby things are ordered (with some being above, and some below) is described as hierarchical.
  • Natural order: The natural order is the idea each person has an assigned and unchangeable place in the hierarchy.
  • Masculine: Qualities or appearances conventionally attributed to boys or men can be described as masculine.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The witches are presented in one way; any new interpretation supersedes the one before.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Jacobean men believed that women had a duty or obligation to them. Jacobean society was intensely hierarchical.

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

When James I was King of England (1603-1624), the people he ruled over were called Jacobeans.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: The witches are presented in one way; any new interpretation supersedes the one before. Correction: The witches are presented as supernatural, women, masculine and genderless. Paragraphs can explore all these; rely on LC2 to draw this out.

More Lessons In This Unit

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