Exploring Act 2, Scene 2 of ‘Macbeth’: characterisation and foreshadowing
I can explore Act 2, Scene 2 of ‘Macbeth’, commenting on Lady Macbeth’s characterisation and Shakespeare’s use of foreshadowing.
Exploring Act 2, Scene 2 of ‘Macbeth’: characterisation and foreshadowing
I can explore Act 2, Scene 2 of ‘Macbeth’, commenting on Lady Macbeth’s characterisation and Shakespeare’s use of foreshadowing.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- In Act 2, Scene 2, the audience might interpret some aspects of Lady Macbeth's characterisation as vulnerable
- The exploration of Lady Macbeth's guilt in this scene foreshadows her demise in Act 5
- Act 5, Scene 1 is her final appearance in the play and in it, she is consumed by guilt
Keywords
Diminishes - If something diminishes, it reduces in importance.
Demise - A demise sees the end of something that was previously considered powerful.
Guilt - Guilt is an emotion you feel when you have done something bad to someone else. Guilt makes you feel worried and unhappy.
Foreshadowing - Foreshadowing is a literary device. It gives the reader or audience a hint or indication of what might happen later in the story.
Vulnerability - If you are vulnerable, you are in a position where you could be hurt easily.
Common misconception
Lady Macbeth's rejection of guilt in 2.2 means 5.1's characterisation is inconsistent.
The language in 2.2 foreshadows what is to come.
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Exploring Act 2, Scene 2 of ‘Macbeth’: characterisation and foreshadowing, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Exploring Act 2, Scene 2 of ‘Macbeth’: characterisation and foreshadowing, 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 need access to a copy of William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Supervision
Adult supervision required