'Macbeth': exploring Macbeth's death in Act 5
I can use different parts of the play to justify my opinions of Macbeth.
'Macbeth': exploring Macbeth's death in Act 5
I can use different parts of the play to justify my opinions of Macbeth.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Some may argue that Macbeth shows remorse before his death
- Others may argue Macbeth’s death is a consequence of his hubris
- Audiences may feel differently about Macbeth’s death
- Tracking ideas across a text help create a more thorough analysis
- Discourse markers are useful when tracking ideas
Keywords
Noble - If you have fine personal qualities or high moral principles, you may be described as noble.
Chivalric code - The chivalric code was a set of standards for knights to follow.
Remorseful - If you are remorseful you are sorry for what you have done.
Defiant - Someone who shows open resistance or disobedience could be described as being defiant.
Futility - Futility means pointlessness or uselessness.
Common misconception
All audiences will feel the same about Macbeth's death.
Remind pupils that the joy of literature is exploring different responses to the same text. Use LC1 to identify these differences.
To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: 'Macbeth': exploring Macbeth's death in Act 5, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: 'Macbeth': exploring Macbeth's death in Act 5, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 english lessons from the Macbeth: A Tragic Hero unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended