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Year 11
AQA

'Macbeth': the importance of kingship

I can write in a clear and concise manner about the role of kingship in 'Macbeth'.

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Year 11
AQA

'Macbeth': the importance of kingship

I can write in a clear and concise manner about the role of kingship in 'Macbeth'.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. King Duncan is based on a historical figure, although Shakespeare made his Duncan a more sympathetic figure.
  2. Shakespeare uses Duncan as a construct, acting as a poignant warning against regicide.
  3. Embedded quotations and noun appositives support make writing clear and succinct.
  4. Modal verbs and tentative adverbs indicate that not all inferences are commonly held.

Keywords

  • Civil war - a civil war is a war that is fought between citizens of the same country

  • To usurp - to usurp means to take a position of power illegally or by force

  • Usurper - a usurper is someone who takes power illegally or by force

  • Poignant - something that makes people feel sadness or regret can be described as poignant

  • Treacherous - someone who is treacherous is guilty of betrayal or deception

Common misconception

Pupils often get mixed up between a noun appositive and a relative clause.

The relative pronoun 'who' could lead to pupils trying to add too much extra detail about a character, a noun appositive encourages brevity.


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: 'Macbeth': the importance of kingship, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

When reading the model answer in Task B, draw pupils' attention to inferences about Duncan that may not have already been covered in the lesson. E.g. "Duncan acts decisively to protect the status quo."
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

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

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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

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Select the adverbs from the list below.
Correct answer: arguably
argumentative
domineering
Correct answer: quickly
Correct answer: perhaps
Q2.
Which of the following conjunctions should not be used to compare differences between characters?
Correct answer: likewise
whilst
whereas
Q3.
Select the synonyms for treacherous?
trustworthy
Correct answer: deceitful
Correct answer: duplicitous
faithful
Q4.
In 'Macbeth', how was King Duncan murdered?
In a battle with Macbeth.
Correct answer: Macbeth kills him in his sleep.
Macbeth pays two murderers to kill him.
Macbeth pays two murderes to kill him in his sleep.
Lady Macbeth kills him in his sleep.
Q5.
In 'Macbeth', why was Lady Macbeth unable to murder King Duncan herself? Select the best response.
Lady Macbeth felt guilty.
Correct answer: Lady Macbeth felt guilty because a sleeping Duncan reminded her of her father.
She is a woman and women were not expected to murder.
She was too afraid of getting caught.
Q6.
Select the most complex inference below about the significance of Malcolm ending the play 'Machbeth' as king.
Malcolm is the rightful heir.
The Divine Right of Kings demands Malcolm is the rightful heir.
Correct answer: Malcolm's ascension is a warning against defying the natural and divine order.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Select the sentence which has most effectively embedded a quotation.
Macbeth become a cruel and violent tyrant: 'dead butcher.'
Correct answer: Macbeth is known as a 'dead butcher' in death, illustrating his violent nature.
Macbeth's violent nature is illustrated when Shakespeare says, 'dead butcher.'
Q2.
Select the sentence which uses a noun appositives.
Correct answer: Macduff, the noble warrior and foil to Macbeth, ultimately slays the tyrant.
Macduff, who is a noble warrior and foil to Macbeth, ultimately slays the tyrant
Macduff is a noble warrior and foil to Macbeth and he slays the tyrant.
Q3.
Why did Shakespeare choose to make the historical Duncan older in 'Macbeth'? Select the best response.
As a result of being an older man, Lady Macbeth is unable to murder him.
By being older he becomes a father figure to Macbeth.
Correct answer: The murder of a wise, father-figure is more shocking to audiences.
Q4.
Which word, beginning with 'u', fits in the following sentence: 'The treacherous Macbeth plots to King Duncan and take his crown.'?
Correct Answer: usurp
Q5.
Whilst the fictional Duncan in 'Macbeth' is murdered in his sleep, how did the historical Duncan die?
Correct answer: in civil war
in his sleep
murdered by Macbeth
murdered by Macbeth's army
Q6.
Which of the statements below best explains the purpose of King Duncan's narrative arc.
Correct answer: Duncan's death serves as a poignant warning against committing treason.
Duncan's death serves to highlight the brutality of Macbeth.
Duncan's death is designed to make the audience angry at Macbeth.