New
New
Year 5

Planning and writing the closing thoughts of Macbeth's soliloquy

I can plan and write the closing thoughts of Macbeth’s soliloquy.

New
New
Year 5

Planning and writing the closing thoughts of Macbeth's soliloquy

I can plan and write the closing thoughts of Macbeth’s soliloquy.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Macbeth is a highly conflicted character whose confusion can be shown through the use of rhetorical questions.
  2. A soliloquy is written from the first person perspective.
  3. Soliloquies can feature figurative language.
  4. Writers can use non-finite clauses to create text flow in their writing.
  5. This section of the soliloquy is when Macbeth sees a dagger, which he sees as another sign to kill King Duncan.

Common misconception

Pupils might spend too long drawing in Task A, which is not the point of the task.

You could set a one-minute timer for pupils to draw. You could also model sketching a dagger yourself so that they see that it does not need to be perfect.

Keywords

  • Soliloquy - an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play

  • Rhetorical question - a question asked to the reader that does not expect an answer

  • Figurative language - the use of simile, metaphor and personification to create vivid imagery

  • Non-finite clause - a type of subordinate clause that can start with a verb in the progressive tense

For more teaching support with non-finite clauses, please see our Year 5 grammar unit 'Five sentence types'.
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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a soliloquy?
a conversation between two characters
a type of poem that is sung in a play
Correct answer: a character speaking their thoughts aloud in a play
Q2.
In Macbeth's soliloquy, he has thought of the reasons against and for killing Duncan. What happens at the end of the soliloquy?
Correct answer: He sees a visualisation of a dagger, which he sees as a sign to kill Duncan.
He decides he cannot go through with murder.
Lady Macbeth arrives and convinces him not to kill Duncan.
Q3.
Which word in this sentence is a 'modal verb'? Lady Macbeth will never forgive me if I do not act now.
Correct answer: will
never
forgive
if
act
Q4.
Which of the following are subordinating conjunctions?
but
Correct answer: before
Correct answer: when
and
the
Q5.
Which of the following sentences are adverbial complex sentences?
Correct answer: After committing this crime, I might never be able to forgive myself.
Correct answer: I must act at once before it is too late.
I know what I must do.
When should I head to Duncan's chamber?
Correct answer: I will go tonight when Duncan is sleeping.
Q6.
Which of these sentences are written in the first person perspective?
Correct answer: Do my eyes deceive me?
He walked towards the dagger.
You must act now!
Correct answer: I will do the deed.

6 Questions

Q1.
How does Macbeth's soliloquy end?
Macbeth decides he cannot go through with killing Duncan.
Correct answer: Macbeth sees the dagger as a final sign and he decides to kill Duncan.
Macbeth is still in turmoil and he cannot decide what to do.
Q2.
Match the figurative language type to the correct example.
Correct Answer:metaphor,the dagger is a silent predator

the dagger is a silent predator

Correct Answer:simile,the blade flickers before me like a flame

the blade flickers before me like a flame

Correct Answer:personification,these thoughts harass me day and night

these thoughts harass me day and night

Q3.
What is true of a non-finite clause?
it is a type of main clause
Correct answer: it is a type of subordinate clause
Correct answer: it can start with a progressive tense verb with an -ing suffix
Correct answer: it does not make complete sense on its own
it makes complete sense on its own
Q4.
Which of the following are non-finite clauses?
Correct answer: Flooding my mind,
, which cannot be real,
as I remembered
Correct answer: , leading me to my destiny
No!
Q5.
Put these events in chronological order in Macbeth's soliloquy.
1 - Macbeth decides that he cannot kill Duncan.
2 - Macbeth persuades himself to kill Duncan.
3 - Macbeth sees the dagger.
4 - Macbeth decides to kill Duncan.
Q6.
How do you think Shakespeare wanted the audience to feel at the end of Act I?
relaxed
Correct answer: in suspense
relieved