Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 11
AQA

‘Macbeth’: exploring King Duncan and leadership

I can compare Macbeth and Duncan to explore ideas about leadership.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 11
AQA

‘Macbeth’: exploring King Duncan and leadership

I can compare Macbeth and Duncan to explore ideas about leadership.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
View new resources
arrow-right

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The motif of nature is used to create a nurturing relationship between Duncan and Macbeth.
  2. A good leader nurtures and grows others.
  3. Malcolm is the rightful heir to the throne.
  4. Duncan is used as a foil to Macbeth.
  5. Duncan, and his narrative arc, is used as a warning against defying the natural order.

Keywords

  • Motif - a recurring image or idea in a text is called a motif

  • Nurturing - if you are nurturing you want to care for and protect someone while they are growing

  • Foil - a foil is a character who contrasts with another to highlight their differences

  • Heir - an heir is someone who inherits money, property or a title after a person’s death

  • Natural order - the natural order is the belief that there is a natural way the world is ordered, with laws and rules that should be followed

Common misconception

Pupils often fail to consider the symbolic importance of Duncan and, in particular, Malcolm in the play.

Ask pupils what the moral message of the play would be if Malcolm did not end the play as king.


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: ‘Macbeth’: exploring King Duncan and leadership, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

When explaining the concept of a construct, prepare other examples from texts pupils have read and understood.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

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

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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

Skip lesson video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Which monarch did William Shakespeare write 'Macbeth' for?
Queen Elizabeth I
Mary, Queen of Scots
Correct answer: King James I/ King James VI
Q2.
Who is King Duncan's oldest son and the heir to the throne in 'Macbeth'?
Correct Answer: Malcolm
Q3.
Who betrays King Duncan before the start of the play in 'Macbeth'?
Correct answer: The Thane of Cawdor
The Thane of Fife
Macbeth
Q4.
Which language device is used in the quotation: "nobleness, like stars, shall shine on all deservers"?
Correct answer: simile
metaphor
pathetic fallacy
imperative
Q5.
Starting with the first, put these events from 'Macbeth' into the order they occur.
1 - The audience is introduced to the witches.
2 - King Duncan hears that the rebel, the Thane of Cawdor, has been captured.
3 - Macbeth and Banquo hear the witches' prophecies.
4 - Macbeth begins to get excited about becoming the king.
5 - Duncan meets with Macbeth and makes him Thane of Cawdor.
6 - Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth, telling her about the prophecies.
Q6.
Which of the following words describe the act of killing a king?
homicide
remicide
Correct answer: regicide

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Who did King James I succeed on the English throne?
Correct Answer: Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth I, Elizabeth the first
Q2.
In Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', which of the following is a commonality between Macbeth and Duncan's leadership styles?
They are both generous leaders.
They are both loyal to their subjects.
Correct answer: They both use violence to protect their crown.
They are both paranoid.
Q3.
Match the quotations said by King Duncan (Act 1, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth') to a possible inference.
Correct Answer:"I have begun to plant thee",Duncan has given Macbeth an opportunity to grow.
tick

Duncan has given Macbeth an opportunity to grow.

Correct Answer:"I will labour",Duncan will work hard to support Macbeth.
tick

Duncan will work hard to support Macbeth.

Correct Answer:"Like stars, shall shine",Duncan wants to see Macbeth succeed.
tick

Duncan wants to see Macbeth succeed.

Q4.
Which event in 'Macbeth' best acts as a warning against defying the natural order?
Macbeth killing King Duncan
Correct answer: Macbeth's death and Malcolm's ascension to the throne
King Duncan rewarding a disloyal Macbeth
Q5.
Which of the following is the definition of a 'construct'?
Correct answer: a character which has been deliberately crafted for a specific reason
a character who contrasts with another character to illustrate differences
a secondary character who aids in developing the plot
the opposite of a protagonist
Q6.
Select the ways in which Duncan acts as a foil to Macbeth in 'Macbeth'.
Duncan's death allows Macbeth to become king.
Correct answer: Duncan uses violence to preserve the status quo, Macbeth uses for personal gain.
Correct answer: Duncan's generosity with power illustrates Macbeth's selfishness.
Macbeth plots Duncan's death, illustrating he is power-hungry.