‘Macbeth’: exploring King Duncan and leadership
I can compare Macbeth and Duncan to explore ideas about leadership.
‘Macbeth’: exploring King Duncan and leadership
I can compare Macbeth and Duncan to explore ideas about leadership.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The motif of nature is used to create a nurturing relationship between Duncan and Macbeth.
- A good leader nurtures and grows others.
- Malcolm is the rightful heir to the throne.
- Duncan is used as a foil to Macbeth.
- 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...
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.
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 and masculinity: the struggle for power 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 sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
Duncan has given Macbeth an opportunity to grow.
Duncan will work hard to support Macbeth.
Duncan wants to see Macbeth succeed.