Year 11 - English
'Macbeth': the importance of kingship
Macbeth and masculinity: the struggle for power
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils analyse the importance of masculinity to Macbeth's downfall. They first explore the role of kingship, the importance of the chivalric code, Macbeth's lack of heir, and the feminine influences on him. Finally, they write nuanced responses about masculinity as Macbeth's hamartia.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to write in a clear and concise manner about the role of kingship in 'Macbeth'.
Key Notes
- King Duncan is based on a historical figure, although Shakespeare made his Duncan a more sympathetic figure.
- Shakespeare uses Duncan as a construct, acting as a poignant warning against regicide.
- Embedded quotations and noun appositives support make writing clear and succinct.
- Modal verbs and tentative adverbs indicate that not all inferences are commonly held.
Vocabulary To Learn
- civil war: a civil war is a war that is fought between citizens of the same country
- to usurp: to usurp means to take a position of power illegally or by force
- usurper: a usurper is someone who takes power illegally or by force
- poignant: something that makes people feel sadness or regret can be described as poignant
- treacherous: someone who is treacherous is guilty of betrayal or deception
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils often get mixed up between a noun appositive and a relative clause.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
King Duncan is based on a historical figure, although Shakespeare made his Duncan a more sympathetic figure. Shakespeare uses Duncan as a construct, acting as a poignant warning against regicide.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'civil war'
a civil war is a war that is fought between citizens of the same country.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils often get mixed up between a noun appositive and a relative clause. Correction: The relative pronoun 'who' could lead to pupils trying to add too much extra detail about a character, a noun appositive encourages brevity.
More Lessons In This Unit
- 'Macbeth': exploring Banquo and the chivalric code Study Guide
- 'Macbeth': exploring King Duncan and leadership Study Guide
- 'Macbeth': exploring the external feminine influences in the play Study Guide
- 'Macbeth': masculinity as Macbeth's hamartia Study Guide
- 'Macbeth': understanding the significance of a lack of a male heir Study Guide
- 'Macbeth': writing nuanced responses about the role of masculinity in the play Study Guide
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