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Year 10
AQA

'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 2, Scenes 3 and 4

I can explain what happens in Act 2, Scenes 3 and 4 of ‘Macbeth’ with a focus on the significance of the porter and the play’s settings.

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New
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Year 10
AQA

'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 2, Scenes 3 and 4

I can explain what happens in Act 2, Scenes 3 and 4 of ‘Macbeth’ with a focus on the significance of the porter and the play’s settings.

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Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Act 2, Scene 3 starts with a drunk porter who pretends to be the gatekeeper to hell
  2. References to regicide and equivocation were topical for Jacobeans because of The Gunpowder Plot
  3. King Duncan’s murder is revealed in Act 2, Scene 3
  4. King Duncan’s sons flee Scotland
  5. The unnatural events in Scotland suggest that Macbeth’s reign is illegitimate

Common misconception

Macbeth is next in line to the throne.

Malcolm has been named Duncan's heir. However, he flees to England and thus Macbeth is crowned King.

Keywords

  • Porter - A porter is employed to carry the bags of passengers or guests.

  • Equivocate - If you equivocate, you speak in an ambiguous way that allows you to conceal the truth.

  • Jacobean - ‘Macbeth’ was first performed in 1606 when James I was King of England (1603-1624). The people he ruled were called Jacobeans.

  • The Gunpowder Plot - The Gunpowder Plot was a failed attempt to kill King James I in 1605.

  • Setting - Setting is the location where an event takes place. In literature, setting can tell us something about the story or characters.

Consider watching the porter's scene so that students can see how it has been played for comedic effect.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the final three scenes of Act 1 of 'Macbeth' and the first two scenes of Act 2 of 'Macbeth' to their plot points
Correct Answer:Act 1, Scene 5,Lady Macbeth hears of the prophecies.

Lady Macbeth hears of the prophecies.

Correct Answer:Act 1, Scene 6,Lady Macbeth welcomes Duncan to the castle.

Lady Macbeth welcomes Duncan to the castle.

Correct Answer:Act 1, Scene 7,Lady Macbeth goads Macbeth into regicide.

Lady Macbeth goads Macbeth into regicide.

Correct Answer:Act 2, Scene 1,Macbeth hallucinates a dagger and commits regicide.

Macbeth hallucinates a dagger and commits regicide.

Correct Answer:Act 2, Scene 2,Lady Macbeth frames the guards; Macbeth regrets the regicide

Lady Macbeth frames the guards; Macbeth regrets the regicide

Q2.
In Act 1, Scene 3 of 'Macbeth', King Duncan appoints the heir to the throne should he die. What is the name of his heir?
Macduff.
Macbeth.
Banquo.
Correct answer: Malcolm.
Donalbain.
Q3.
In Act 1 of 'Macbeth', why does King Duncan decide to stay with the Macbeths?
He is suspicious of Lady Macbeth and wants to keep an eye on her.
Banquo told him of the prophecies so he is suspicious of Macbeth.
Correct answer: It is meant as an honour to the Macbeths following Macbeth's bravery in battle.
The witches lead Duncan to the Macbeths' castle.
Lady Macbeth invites him so she can kill him more easily.
Q4.
In Act 2, Scene 2 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that when he heard Duncan's guards praying, he couldn't join in and that the word 'Amen in [his] throat'.
Correct Answer: stuck, 'stuck', 'Stuck', Stuck, stuck.
Q5.
King James I (King when 'Macbeth' was first performed) wrote a book about The Divine Right of Kings. What are the main ideas in this book?
Correct answer: That monarchs are God's representatives on Earth.
Correct answer: That to challenge a monarch is to challenge God's authority.
That Macbeth should be punished because he committed regicide.
That Jacobeans are all divine.
That God created all people equal.
Q6.
After committing the regicide in Act 2 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth worries that he will never be able to pray again. Why is this one of his worries?
Lady Macbeth won't let him pray as she is devoted to 'spirits'.
Kings don't need to pray to God because they are God-like.
He hallucinates the vision of the guards saying this to him.
Correct answer: Prayer is a means of communication with God; he has destroyed this relationship.
The witches have cast a spell on him so he can no longer pray.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
After the regicide in Act 2 of 'Macbeth', what do King Duncan's sons do?
Kill their father's guards.
Demand that Malcolm be made King, as his father's heir.
Admit they committed the regicide.
Argue that Macbeth committed the regicide.
Correct answer: Flee to England and Ireland.
Q2.
Match the scenes from Act 2 of 'Macbeth' to their plot points.
Correct Answer:Act 2, Scene 3 Part 1,The porter’s Scene.

The porter’s Scene.

Correct Answer:Act 2, Scene 3 Part 2,The regicide is revealed.

The regicide is revealed.

Correct Answer:Act 2, Scene 3 Part 3,Malcolm and Donalbain flee Scotland.

Malcolm and Donalbain flee Scotland.

Correct Answer:Act 2, Scene 4,Scotland experiences unnatural weather.

Scotland experiences unnatural weather.

Q3.
Why would the inclusion of regicide, and ideas about equivocation, be topical for 'Macbeth's' first Jacobean audiences?
King James I sanctioned equivocation in his court.
King James I ascended the throne after committing regicide.
Correct answer: There was an assassination attempt on James I in 1605.
Jacobeans believed equivocation was a way to become closer to God.
Correct answer: Equivocation was a tactic sanctioned by the Catholic Church when on trial.
Q4.
After Macbeth's regicide in 'Macbeth', a number of unnatural events occur. What are they?
Correct answer: Duncan's horses eat each other.
Correct answer: A bird of prey is eaten by a weaker bird.
Correct answer: It is dark during the day time.
There is a flood.
Correct answer: There is terrible weather.
Q5.
In Act 2, Scene 3 of 'Macbeth' the porter pretends to be the gatekeeper of hell as stands at the entrance of the Macbeths' castle. What does this suggest?
That the porter knows about the regicide.
Correct answer: That the Macbeths' castle is like hell.
That the porter can equivocate.
Correct answer: That Macbeth's reign will be hellish.
That the porter wants Macbeth to go to hell.
Q6.
If you , you speak in an ambiguous way that conceals the truth.
Correct Answer: equivocate, Equivocate, 'equivocate', equivocate., Equivocate.