The chivalric code was a set of standards for knights to follow. The chivalric code is explored in lots of old stories, poems and songs.

If you weaponise something, you exploit a value someone cares about in order to harm them.

If you have honour, you care about doing what is right. You are honest and have integrity.

Your values are your beliefs, ideals that are important to you.

If you undermine someone, you make them feel less confident.

How does Lady Macbeth undermine Macbeth in Act 1 of 'Macbeth'?

English

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 'Othello', pupils explore the role that Desdemona played in her husband's downfall. In 'Macbeth: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian Villain', pupils analyse the impact of Lady Macbeth's manipulation.

Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain

Depiction or discussion of distress or humiliation e.g. bullying.

Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

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

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction or discussion of sexual or domestic abuse or violence, including  threats of or the aftermath of.

Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

According to the chivalric code, knights should be loyal to which of the following?

In Act 1, Scene 2 of 'Macbeth', the Sergeant says of Macbeth, 'Brave Macbeth, well he {{ }} that name'.

In Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth', Lady Macbeth undermines Macbeth asking, 'Art thou {{ }} To be the same in thine own act and valour As thou art in desire?'

he knows becoming King will make him even more honourable.

he uses his soliloquy to tell Lady Macbeth why he won't commit regicide.

he initially doesn't want to kill King Duncan.

Lady Macbeth weaponises it to her own advantage.

In 'Macbeth', the chivalric code is important to Macbeth so...

"screw your courage to the sticking place"

"I have bought Golden opinions from all sorts of people"

"What beast was't, then, That made you break this enterprise to me?"

"Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and valour As...in desire?"

Which quotations from Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth' connects Macbeth's courage and bravery to the regicide?

1.7 ends with Macbeth showing a 'false face' to Duncan, not an honest one.

1.7 ends with Macbeth loyal to Lady Macbeth's ignoble ambition.

1.7 ends with Macbeth loyal to his own ambitions.

1.7 ends with Macbeth prepared to defend his King.

1.7 ends with Macbeth lying to Lady Macbeth to appease her.

By the end of Act 1, Scene 7, how has Lady Macbeth distorted Macbeth's values?

The witches call him this to inflate his ego.

His peers call him this in response to his military prowess.

Lady Macbeth calls him this to undermine him.

Macbeth becomes King and his subjects have to call him this.

Why does 'Macbeth' begin with Macbeth being called 'valiant', 'brave', 'worthy' and 'noble'?

He helped defeat the traitor, the Thane of Cawdor.

Because Duncan wants him to be next in line for the throne.

He asks for a promotion following the battle.

In Act 1 of 'Macbeth', why is Macbeth promoted?

He kills King Duncan whilst he is defenceless and asleep.

He kills Duncan to achieve the throne, not for noble reasons.

He wants to kill Duncan, he didn't want to kill on the battlefield.

He kills enemies on the battlefield, not his King.

King Duncan is not a good soldier, so it was not an equal match.

In 'Macbeth', why is Macbeth praised for murder on the battlefield but not for his murder of King Duncan? 

"Leave all the rest [the regicide] to me"

"If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well If were done quickly"

"We shall proceed no further in this business"

After his soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth', what does Macbeth tell Lady Macbeth?

She calls him "Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor!"

She worries that he is "too full o' the milk of human kindness".

She tells him to leave the plotting to her.

She suggests he is a coward because he doesn't want to kill King Duncan.

How does Lady Macbeth undermine Macbeth in Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth'?

Lady Macbeth knows Macbeth intimately. What does she see as his character flaws? 

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

Adult supervision required

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

How does Lady Macbeth undermine Macbeth in Act 1 of 'Macbeth'?

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

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