'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2
I can explain what happens in Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2 of ‘Macbeth’, including showing understanding of important contextual ideas about The Divine Right of Kings.
'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2
I can explain what happens in Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2 of ‘Macbeth’, including showing understanding of important contextual ideas about The Divine Right of Kings.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Divine Right of Kings is the belief that a monarch is chosen by God; that a monarch is God’s representative on Earth
- Macbeth hallucinates a dagger before he commits regicide
- After the regicide, Macbeth worries he will no longer be able to pray or sleep
- Whilst Macbeth is preoccupied with the blood on his hands, Lady Macbeth is not
- Blood is a symbol for feelings of guilt in ‘Macbeth’
Keywords
Regicide - If you kill your monarch, you commit the crime of regicide.
The Divine Right of Kings - The Divine Right of Kings is the belief that a monarch is chosen by God; the belief that a monarch is God’s representative on Earth.
Jacobeans - When James I was King of England (1603-1624), the people he ruled over were called Jacobeans.
Hallucination - A hallucination is when you see, smell, taste, touch or hear something that appears to be real, but is only in your mind.
Symbol - If something is a symbol, it represents or expresses an idea. In 'Macbeth', blood is a symbol of guilt.
Common misconception
Macbeth actually sees a dagger.
Shakespeare signals the dagger is a hallucination, and that Macbeth is aware it is a hallucination too: 'a dagger of the mind'.
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: 'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: 'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2, 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: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
The witches prepare to meet Macbeth.
An account of Macbeth's bravery in battle; Macbeth promoted.
The witches give the prophecies.
Previous Thane of Cawdor killed.
Lady Macbeth hears of the prophecies.
Lady Macbeth welcomes Duncan then goads Macbeth to regicide.
Exit quiz
6 Questions
Banquo and Fleance meet in the pitch black.
Macbeth pretends he hasn’t thought about the witches.
Macbeth hallucinates a dagger.
Macbeth regrets regicide; Lady Macbeth frames the guards.