New
New
Year 5

Performing a soliloquy in character as Macbeth

I can perform my soliloquy in character as Macbeth.

New
New
Year 5

Performing a soliloquy in character as Macbeth

I can perform my soliloquy in character as Macbeth.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A soliloquy shows the audience how a character is feeling at a key point in the play.
  2. The way the character is feeling must be carefully thought about before a performance.
  3. Performing a soliloquy requires the performer to use clear diction and expression to bring the words to life.
  4. Performing requires the performer to use facial expressions and body movements to bring the soliloquy to life.

Keywords

  • Performance - the act of presenting or reciting in front of an audience, using voice, gestures and expression

  • Diction - the enunciation of words

  • Facial expressions - a form of non-verbal communication communicated via the face to convey a range of emotions

  • Expression - bringing words to life to engage a listener

Common misconception

Pupils may feel they can simply read out their soliloquies.

Explicitly model the difference between reading and performing. You could also find some clips of actors performing in a Shakespeare play and discuss why their performance was strong and how that helped us to understand how the character is feeling.

During the teacher performances in LC1, first read the soliloquy loudly with clear diction, but stand completely still, using no expression in your voice. Then perform the soliloquy again, this time with lots of expression, facial expressions and body language.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Why are soliloquies particularly useful in plays?
They help to set the atmosphere.
They include stage directions.
Correct answer: They allow the audience to know what a character is feeling at a certain point.
Q2.
What helps Macbeth to make his decision to kill Duncan at the end of the soliloquy?
Correct answer: He sees a dagger which he thinks is another sign.
Duncan is rude to him.
Banquo tells him he should kill Duncan.
The witches visit him again.
Q3.
How does Act I end?
Macbeth kills Duncan.
Correct answer: Duncan's murder has been planned, but it has not been carried out.
Lady Macbeth kills Duncan.
Macbeth decides he cannot kill Duncan.
Q4.
How do you think the audience are left feeling at the end of Act I?
Correct answer: in suspense
relaxed
relieved
Q5.
What type of clause is this? 'drawing me in'
Correct answer: a non-finite clause
a relative clause
an adverbial clause
a main clause
Q6.
Which of these verbs could be used in a non-finite clause?
will invite
invites
Correct answer: inviting

6 Questions

Q1.
What is diction?
facial expressions
body movements
Correct answer: the enunciation of words
Q2.
How can we show how a character is feeling in a performance?
Correct answer: by using facial expressions
by using diction
Correct answer: by using expression in our voices
by speaking very quietly
Q3.
How is Macbeth feeling when he delivers this soliloquy?
Correct answer: torn
tranquil
excited
bored
Q4.
When we speak with expression, we...
read every word in the same way.
Correct answer: bring the words to life and try to engage our listener.
try to sound like a robot.
have to be standing up.
Q5.
To be a supportive partner, we should...
tell our partner all the things they did wrong only.
not watch their performance.
Correct answer: give feedback on what our partner did well and how they could improve even more.
Correct answer: watch and listen to their performance.
Q6.
How would you identify a soliloquy if you saw one in a play?
Correct answer: when I saw an actor give a long speech to themselves not other characters
when I saw an actor having an argument
when I saw an actor acting like they were very upset