New
New
Year 5

Understanding the context of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'

I understand who William Shakespeare was and know some of the key features of his literary style.

New
New
Year 5

Understanding the context of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'

I understand who William Shakespeare was and know some of the key features of his literary style.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. William Shakespeare was a renowned English playwright, poet and actor.
  2. Shakespeare lived from 1564 to 1616.
  3. Shakespeare's plays were written at a time when the theatre was an important form of entertainment.
  4. Shakespeare wrote at least 39 plays that can broadly be grouped into tragedies, comedies and historical plays.
  5. Shakespeare's plays centre around complex themes and intricate plot structures.

Keywords

  • Playwright - a person who writes plays

  • Theatre - a form of art that involves live performances by actors on a stage in front of an audience

  • Play - a dramatic work originally intended for the stage

  • Monarch - a ruler who holds supreme and hereditary power over a state or territory, often referred to as a king or queen

Common misconception

Shakespeare's plays are too difficult to understand or inaccessible due to the language used.

Many of Shakespeare's themes, emotions and characters resonate universally across time.

Explore abridged versions of Shakespeare's plays, read the synopsis of his plays and watch videos about William Shakespeare to further support pupil's knowledge.
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.
What is a playwright?
costume designer
music composer
Correct answer: writer of plays
lighting technician
Q2.
What is a play as a literary form?
a piece of writing focused on poetry and sonnets
a narrative story with illustrations
a collection of essays and reports
Correct answer: a dramatic work written for performance on stage
Q3.
What is an important aspect of acting on stage?
Correct answer: script memorisation and character portrayal
solo performances without interaction
improvisation and making words up
reading a speech from a piece of paper
Q4.
Why was William Shakespeare popular during his era?
for his expertise in space exploration
for his innovations in industrial technology
Correct answer: for his mastery of language and poetic expressions
Q5.
True or false? William Shakespeare's works continue to be studied, performed and adapted across the globe.
Correct Answer: true, True
Q6.
Match the text types to example sentences that you might find in them.
Correct Answer:non-chronological report,William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon.

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Correct Answer:Shakespearean play,To be or not to be: that is the question.

To be or not to be: that is the question.

Correct Answer:narrative,The sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow.

The sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow.

Correct Answer:diary entry,Today was the BEST day of my life!

Today was the BEST day of my life!

6 Questions

Q1.
William Shakespeare is a famous what?
painter and sculptor
Correct answer: playwright and poet
classical pianist
mathematician
Q2.
How many plays has William Shakespeare written?
Correct answer: at least 39
less than 20
approximately 29
between 10 and 20
Q3.
Put these significant events in order of chronology.
1 - William Shakespeare was born 1564.
2 - ‘Macbeth’ was written in 1606.
3 - William Shakespeare died 1616.
4 - ‘The Great Fire of London’ occurred in 1666.
Q4.
Which of the following is true about plays in Shakespeare's time?
Correct answer: Men were allowed to portray women's roles in plays on stage.
Women were allowed to portray men’s roles in plays on stage.
Women were sometimes allowed to portray boy's roles in plays on stage.
Men were only allowed to portray men's roles in plays on stage.
Q5.
Which of the following is a play about a tragedy depicting the rise and fall of a Scottish general?
Romeo and Juliet
Correct answer: Macbeth
Twelfth Night
Q6.
Match the title of the play to their descriptions.
Correct Answer:Romeo and Juliet,a love story of two young lovers from feuding families

a love story of two young lovers from feuding families

Correct Answer:Macbeth ,the rise and fall of a Scottish general

the rise and fall of a Scottish general

Correct Answer:Twelfth Night,a comedy with mistaken identities, love triangles and humour

a comedy with mistaken identities, love triangles and humour