Year 5 - English
Generating vocabulary for the opening of 'Macbeth'
Shakespeare's 'Macbeth': narrative and soliloquy writing
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils have their first taste of Shakespearean play scripts. They analyse the witches' prologue of this iconic play as a starting point for writing a narrative opening. Pupils investigate the central character, writing a soliloquy based on Macbeth's famous dagger monologue.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to generate vocabulary that precisely describes a setting, using most of the senses.
Key Notes
- Writing is most successful when it is planned.
- Vocabulary can be generated to precisely set the atmosphere for a scene.
- Expanded noun phrases can be used to describe a noun vividly.
- Expanded noun phrases can be stretched with 'that' or 'with' to add further detail to a description.
- Describing what can be seen, heard, felt and smelt helps readers visualise the scene.
Vocabulary To Learn
- adjective: describes a noun
- noun: a naming word for people, places or things
- setting: where the narrative takes place
- senses: the physical abilities of sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may describe the setting solely based on what can be seen.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Writing is most successful when it is planned. Vocabulary can be generated to precisely set the atmosphere for a scene.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'adjective'
describes a noun.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may describe the setting solely based on what can be seen. Correction: Teach pupils to use more than just one of their senses to create a more detailed description. Provide additional support, for example playing eerie sounds of the wind howling for them to hear or bringing in a gnarled piece of wood for them to feel.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Analysing a scene in the build-up of 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Analysing the main character in 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Exploring characters and setting in the opening scene of 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Identifying the features of a soliloquy Study Guide
- Peer editing a soliloquy based on 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Peer editing the opening of a narrative based on 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Performing a soliloquy in character as Macbeth Study Guide
- Planning and writing the 'against' section of Macbeth's soliloquy Study Guide
- Planning and writing the 'for' section of Macbeth's soliloquy Study Guide
- Planning and writing the closing thoughts of Macbeth's soliloquy Study Guide
- Planning part one of the opening of 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Planning part two of the opening of 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Understanding the context of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Understanding themes, characters and plot in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Writing part one of the opening of 'Macbeth' Study Guide
- Writing part two of the opening of 'Macbeth' Study Guide
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