Hamartia is a fatal flaw a character holds.

Anagnorisis is when a character notices the true nature of their own circumstances.

Peripeteia is part of a play when there are a sudden change in circumstances.

A hierarchy is a system in which people or things are put at various levels or ranks according to their importance.

Catharsis is the process of releasing strong emotions in a way that helps you to understand those emotions.

'Macbeth': the play as a Shakespearean tragedy

English

In 'Macbeth: A Tragic Hero', pupils become more critical of Macbeth, analysing the role he plays in his own downfall. In 'Macbeth & Masculinity: The Struggle for Power', pupils explore how Macbeth's insecurity surrounding his masculinity is his hamartia.

In 'Macbeth: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian Villain', pupils focus on the role that Lady Macbeth plays in the downfall of her husband. In 'Macbeth: A Tragic Hero', pupils become more critical of Macbeth's own decisions, evaluating whether he could be considered a tragic hero.

In this unit, pupils analyse how Macbeth is presented as a tragic hero. They first deepen their understanding of Shakespearean tragedy and tragic heroes, and then use this knowledge to analyse key scenes from the play. Finally, they prepare an essay on how Macbeth is presented as a tragic hero.

Shakespeare: first deep dive

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of violence or fighting, including threats of violence or the aftermath of violence.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Place Freytag's structure in the order you would expect them to appear in a drama.

Which of the following words means "the turning point of the play"?

the unravelling or final outcome of the drama

Match Freytag's structure to the definitition

Macbeth's murder of King Duncan is arguably an example of ...

Macbeth hallucinates seeing Banquo's ghost - a symbol of his guilt

Macbeth is intrigued by the witches prophecies

Macbeth revisits the witches to hear more prophecies

Which events in the play are examples of Macbeth displaying the characteristic of anagnorisis?

In 'Macbeth', what was the name of the king who Macbeth and his wife plotted the murder of?

In 'Macbeth', how many times does Macbeth hear prophecies from the witches?

Which of the following characters does **not** die in 'Macbeth'?

Macbeth and Banquo hear the witches' prophecies.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plot the murder of Duncan.

Macbeth orders murderers to kill Banquo and his son.

Macbeth hears more prophecies from the witches.

Macbeth is killed during battle by Macduff.

Place the following events in the order they occur in 'Macbeth'.

Which word means Lady Macbeth made Macbeth feel like less of a man?

Which adjective, starting with M, means scheming and cunning? It can be used to describe Lady Macbeth. The word is derived from the name of an Italian philosopher.

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of serious crime

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

'Macbeth': the play as a Shakespearean tragedy

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.