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Year 10
Edexcel

'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 5, Scenes 6 to 9

I can explain what happens in Act 5, Scenes 6 to 9 of 'Macbeth' and consider some of the play's main themes.

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Year 10
Edexcel

'Macbeth': an exploration of Act 5, Scenes 6 to 9

I can explain what happens in Act 5, Scenes 6 to 9 of 'Macbeth' and consider some of the play's main themes.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Macduff tells Macbeth that he was born by c-section.
  2. Macbeth realises the witches’ prophecies won’t protect him.
  3. Macduff kills Macbeth.
  4. Malcolm is crowned King of Scotland and thus order is restored to the country.
  5. Themes are a text’s main ideas.

Keywords

  • Invincible - If someone is invincible, they can’t be defeated or killed.

  • Caesarean section - A caesarean section (c-section) is a surgical procedure whereby a baby is delivered through an incision (cut) in the mother’s stomach.

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

  • Theme - Themes are the main ideas that a writer wants to explore. An important theme in ‘Macbeth’ is ambition.

  • Coward - A coward describes someone who lacks bravery, or is extremely afraid of danger or pain.

Common misconception

A theme is any moment or idea in a text.

A theme is an idea that is explored in multiple different ways - it has to come up more than once in a text.

In learning cycle 2, consider whether there are ideas that your class has discussed many times during the reading of 'Macbeth'. These might be more suitable models for the discussion task.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

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

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
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.
In Act 5 of 'Macbeth', why does Macbeth feel invincible?
Malcolm's army has fewer troops than he does.
The witches say they will support him in the battle.
Correct answer: The witches say he can't be killed until Birnam wood comes to Dunsinane.
The witches say "Beware Malcolm" and he has had Malcolm killed.
Correct answer: The witches say he can't be killed by one of "woman" born.
Q2.
In 'Macbeth', why does Macduff want to kill Macbeth?
Macbeth exiled him to England.
Correct answer: Macbeth killed his wife and children.
Macbeth killed his son, Fleance.
Correct answer: He is a tyrant who is an unnatural King of Scotland.
Macbeth stole the title of the Thane of Cawdor from him.
Q3.
Match the first five scenes of Act 5 of 'Macbeth' to their plot points
Correct Answer:Act 5, Scene 1,Lady Macbeth is consumed by guilt.
tick

Lady Macbeth is consumed by guilt.

Correct Answer:Act 5, Scene 2,Soldiers discuss the 'tyrant' Macbeth.
tick

Soldiers discuss the 'tyrant' Macbeth.

Correct Answer:Act 5, Scene 3,Macbeth hears reports of a large army coming to defeat him.
tick

Macbeth hears reports of a large army coming to defeat him.

Correct Answer:Act 5, Scene 4,Malcolm's army use tree branches to camouflage themselves.
tick

Malcolm's army use tree branches to camouflage themselves.

Correct Answer:Act 5, Scene 5,Lady Macbeth is reported dead.
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Lady Macbeth is reported dead.

Q4.
If you , you speak in an ambiguous way that allows you to conceal the truth.
Correct Answer: equivocate, Equivocate, equivocate., 'equivocate', Equivocate.
Q5.
In Act 4, Scene 1 of 'Macbeth', the witches tell Macbeth, "none of born Shall harm Macbeth".
Correct Answer: woman, Woman, woman., 'woman', Woman.
Q6.
In Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth decides not to commit regicide. Lady Macbeth goads him into it, saying, "Art thou To be the same in thine own act and valour As thou art in desire?"
Correct Answer: afeard, afeard., Afeard, 'afeard', Afeard.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'Macbeth', why is Macduff able to kill Macbeth?
Because he can equivocate.
Because he was adopted at birth.
Because Macbeth yields to him.
Because he is the rightful King of Scotland.
Correct answer: Because he was born by c-section.
Q2.
In Act 5, Scene 8 of 'Macbeth', Macduff tells Macbeth to 'yield, '.
Correct Answer: coward, coward., Coward., 'coward', 'Coward'
Q3.
Match the final 4 scenes of Act 5 of 'Macbeth' to their plot points
Correct Answer:Act 5, Scene 6,Malcolm organises his army and the attack on Macbeth.
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Malcolm organises his army and the attack on Macbeth.

Correct Answer:Act 5, Scene 7,Macduff searches for Macbeth.
tick

Macduff searches for Macbeth.

Correct Answer:Act 5, Scene 8,Macduff kills Macbeth.
tick

Macduff kills Macbeth.

Correct Answer:Act 5, Scene 9,Malcolm is crowned rightful King of Scotland.
tick

Malcolm is crowned rightful King of Scotland.

Q4.
In Act 5, Scene 8 of 'Macbeth', Macduff tells Macbeth, 'Macduff was from his mother's womb Untimely '.
Correct Answer: ripp'd, ripped, ripp'd., 'ripp'd', Ripped
Q5.
In the final scene of 'Macbeth', Malcolm calls Macbeth "dead ."
Correct Answer: butcher, Butcher, 'butcher', butcher., Butcher.
Q6.
In 'Macbeth', which of the following would count as a theme?
Daggers.
Correct answer: Ambition.
Correct answer: The supernatural.
Lady Macbeth's soliloquy.
Correct answer: Kingship.