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Year 11
AQA

'Macbeth': exploring Macbeth's death in Act 5

I can use different parts of the play to justify my opinions of Macbeth.

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Year 11
AQA

'Macbeth': exploring Macbeth's death in Act 5

I can use different parts of the play to justify my opinions of Macbeth.

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Share activities with pupils
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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Some may argue that Macbeth shows remorse before his death
  2. Others may argue Macbeth’s death is a consequence of his hubris
  3. Audiences may feel differently about Macbeth’s death
  4. Tracking ideas across a text help create a more thorough analysis
  5. 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 get your pupils to explore different responses to Macbeth's death, ask pupils on a scale of 1-10 how much they thought Macbeth had learnt from the error of his ways before his death.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

You will need access to a copy of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' for this lesson.

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'Macbeth', what ultimately causes Macbeth's death?
Correct answer: He is killed in a duel.
He dies by suicide, consumed by guilt.
He is poisoned.
Q2.
In 'Macbeth', who kills Macbeth in Act 5?
Correct Answer: Macduff, Macduff., macduff
Q3.
What does 'noble' mean in this sentence: "Arguably, Macbeth dies a noble death"?
"Noble" suggests a tragic or accidental death.
Correct answer: "Noble" signifies an honourable or virtuous death.
"Noble" means dying in a royal or regal manner.
Q4.
What does tracking mean in this sentence: "We are tracking a theme across a text"?
"Tracking" refers to continuously searching for errors in the theme.
"Tracking" involves identifying different themes within the text.
Correct answer: "Tracking" means following or analysing a theme's development.
Q5.
In 'Macbeth', what does Macbeth believe makes him invincible in Act 5 of the play?
Correct answer: The witches' prophecy
His armour
His possession of the crown
Q6.
What are the three apparitions that the witches conjure in Act 4 of "Macbeth"?
Correct answer: Banquo's ghost, a crown, a bloody child.
Macduff, a storm, an owl.
A dagger, Banquo's ghost, Macduff.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which discourse markers are useful for signposting an idea from the start of a text? Select all that apply.
Correct answer: firstly
additionally
Correct answer: initially
ultimately
Q2.
Which discourse markers are useful for signposting an idea from the end of a text? Select all that apply.
Correct answer: finally
Correct answer: consequently
furthermore
also
Q3.
Which word, meaning open resistance or disobedience, could be used in this sentence: "Macbeth dies in battle, , determined to fight until the end."?
Correct Answer: defiant, defiant.
Q4.
Which word, beginning with 'f', could be used in this sentence: In his soliloquy in Act 5, Scene 5 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth laments the of his relentless pursuit of power"?
Correct Answer: futility, Futility., Futility.
Q5.
Read the following quotation from 'Macbeth': "I'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hack'd." (Act 5, Scene 3). What could you infer about Macbeth from this quotation? Select all that apply.
Correct answer: Macbeth is determined to fight until the end.
Macbeth has learnt a lesson from his misdeeds.
Correct answer: Macbeth is hubristic and ignores the witches' warnings.
Macbeth is remorseful.
Q6.
Read the following quotation from 'Macbeth': "tale told by an idiot [...] signifying nothing." (Act 5, Scene 5). What could you infer about Macbeth from this quotation? Select all that apply.
Macbeth is a defiant character.
Correct answer: Macbeth recognises the futility of his power.
Correct answer: Macbeth is remorseful.
Macbeth's hamartia is his desire for power.