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Year 11
AQA

‘Macbeth’: understanding the significance of a lack of a male heir

I can explain how Macbeth's lack of a male heir fuels his behaviour in the play.

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Year 11
AQA

‘Macbeth’: understanding the significance of a lack of a male heir

I can explain how Macbeth's lack of a male heir fuels his behaviour in the play.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Both Jacobean and 11th Century Gaelic societies were patriarchal and based on hereditary power.
  2. Macbeth is surrounded by men who have male heirs.
  3. Macbeth's lack of patrilineage could have resulted in insecurities around his masculinity.
  4. His insecurities could fuel his ambitious nature.
  5. The witches' prophecies about Banquo highlight the finite nature of Macbeth's power.

Keywords

  • Patrilineal - a patrilineal society bases lineage or ancestry from the male descendants

  • Hereditary - hereditary means the passing on of traits (or titles and rights) from parents to their children

  • Insecurities - if you are uncertain or unsure about yourself, you can be described as having insecurities

  • Masculinity - masculinity is the qualities regarded as characteristic of men and boys

  • Patriarchal - a patriarchal society is one created for, and controlled by, men

Common misconception

Pupils assume Macbeth and his wife have never had children.

Remind pupils about Lady Macbeth's "I have given suck" (1.7). Explore the idea that the Macbeths may have had a child die in infancy.


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: ‘Macbeth’: understanding the significance of a lack of a male heir, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Prepare an example of hereditary power using the famous historical examples pupils may be aware of.
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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
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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.
Who is the only character to not have an heir at the start of the play?
King Duncan
Correct answer: Macbeth
Banquo
Macduff
Q2.
A recurring idea in a piece of literature is called a ?
Correct Answer: motif, Motif
Q3.
Which language device does Shakespeare use when Macbeth calls his crown a 'fruitless crown?'
Simile
Correct answer: Metaphor
Sibilance
Q4.
What does 'barren' mean? Select two definitions.
Correct answer: Bleak or lifeless
Hot and dry
Correct answer: Too poor to produce much or any vegetation
Lush and green
An ideal place for growing vegetation
Q5.
What does 'patriarchy' mean?
Correct answer: A social system is which positions of privilege are predominantly held by men.
A social system which prioritises the needs of the rich.
A social system which prioritises the needs of the monarchy.
Q6.
Why is Macbeth paranoid about Banquo's prophecy? Select the best inference from the answers below.
Macbeth is worried Banquo will betray him.
Correct answer: Macbeth is worried Banquo will betray him to enable his son to become king.
Macbeth wants his own son to be king.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The list below are some of the references to the motif of nature that occur in 'Macbeth'. Starting with the first, put them into chronological order.
1 - King Duncan says he has 'begun to plant thee' to Macbeth and Banquo.
2 - Banquo declares he be 'the root and father of many kings'.
3 - Macbeth laments his 'fruitless crown' and 'barren scepter'.
4 - Macbeth sees an apparition of a child wearing a crown, holding a tree.
5 - Birnam Wood moves towards the castle, prophesying Macbeth's death.
Q2.
Match the clauses about 'Macbeth' to make three logical inferences.
Correct Answer:Macbeth fears Banquo,,namely, he worries his son will take his throne.
tick

namely, he worries his son will take his throne.

Correct Answer:Macbeth has no male heir,,therefore he fears the finite nature of his power.
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therefore he fears the finite nature of his power.

Correct Answer:Macbeth is ruthless,,contrastingly Banquo seems secure in his patrilineal line.
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contrastingly Banquo seems secure in his patrilineal line.

Q3.
What does a patrilineal society mean?
A society where titles are passed down from parents to children.
A society built by men and controlled by men.
Correct answer: A society where titles are passed down through male descendants.
Q4.
Which of the following is not part of the success criteria for a topic sentence?
Use of markers to indicate which part of the play is being analysed.
A brief context of the scene.
A focus on the writer and their intentions.
A clear focus on your argument.
Correct answer: An embedded quotation.
Q5.
'In a patrilineal society, Macbeth's lack of male heir reminds him of his finite power.' Which sentence below best paraphrases this argument about 'Macbeth'?
Correct answer: Without a male heir, Macbeth is aware his titles and power will die with him.
Macbeth worries that Banquo's son will take his crown.
Macbeth is jealous that others have male heirs and he does not.
Macbeth's lack of patrilineage drives his ambitious behaviour.
Q6.
In 'Macbeth', what does the "apparition of the child holding the tree" mean to Macbeth? Select the best responses.
Correct answer: It is a cruel reminder of Macbeth's lack of patrilineal line.
It reminds Macbeth of the children he did not have.
Correct answer: Perhaps the branch represents Macbeth's family tree, which dies out with him.
It represents Fleance, Banquo's son, who will eventually become king.