If you have fine personal qualities or high moral principles, you may be described as noble.

The chivalric code was a set of standards for knights to follow.

If you are remorseful you are sorry for what you have done.

Someone who shows open resistance or disobedience could be described as being defiant.

Futility means pointlessness or uselessness.

'Macbeth': exploring Macbeth's death in Act 5

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

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Which discourse markers are useful for signposting an idea from the start of a text? Select **all** that apply.

Which discourse markers are useful for signposting an idea from the end of a text? Select **all** that apply.

Which word, meaning open resistance or disobedience, could be used in this sentence: "Macbeth dies in battle, {{}}, determined to fight until the end."?

Which word, beginning with 'f', could be used in this sentence: In his soliloquy in Act 5, Scene 5 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth laments the {{}} of his relentless pursuit of power"?

Macbeth is determined to fight until the end.

Macbeth has learnt a lesson from his misdeeds.

Macbeth is hubristic and ignores the witches' warnings.

Read the following quotation from 'Macbeth': "I'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hack'd." (Act 5, Scene 3). What could you infer about Macbeth from this quotation? Select **all** that apply.

Macbeth recognises the futility of his power.

Macbeth's hamartia is his desire for power.

Read the following quotation from 'Macbeth': "tale told by an idiot [...] signifying nothing." (Act 5, Scene 5). What could you infer about Macbeth from this quotation? Select **all** that apply.

In 'Macbeth', what ultimately causes Macbeth's death?

In 'Macbeth', who kills Macbeth in Act 5?

"Noble" suggests a tragic or accidental death.

"Noble" signifies an honourable or virtuous death.

"Noble" means dying in a royal or regal manner.

What does 'noble' mean in this sentence: "Arguably, Macbeth dies a noble death"? 

"Tracking" refers to continuously searching for errors in the theme.

"Tracking" involves identifying different themes within the text.

"Tracking" means following or analysing a theme's development.

What does tracking mean in this sentence: "We are tracking a theme across a text"? 

In 'Macbeth', what does Macbeth believe makes him invincible in Act 5 of the play?

What are the three apparitions that the witches conjure in Act 4 of "Macbeth"?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision recommended

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

'Macbeth': exploring Macbeth's death in Act 5

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

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