Topic sentences need to be clear and linked to the question
Judicious quotations from the text are used to create compelling arguments
Writer’s methods should be explored without always relying on single word analysis
Context can be used to develop arguments

Keywords

Machiavellian - Machiavellian is an adjective. It describes someone who gets what they want in cunning, ruthless and immoral ways.
Compelling - If an argument is compelling, it is convincing and persuasive.
Methods - Methods are techniques a writer uses. These encompass everything: language, form, structure and characterisation.
Context - Context concerns the circumstances in which a text was written; context helps us to understand the writer’s intentions further.
Feedback - Feedback is information given to someone to help them improve something.

Common misconception

Contextual information in an essay should comprise of one final sentence in each paragraph.

Context should be weaved throughout an essay to help explore a writer's intentions.

Consider if the models in this lesson could be replaced by models from your own students.

Teacher tip

Equipment

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

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

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).

Lesson video

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Worksheet

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

When is 'Macbeth' set?

the Jacobean period

Shakespearean times

Correct answer: 11th century Scotland

Jacobean Scotland

16th century Scotland

Q2.

Which words describe Jacobean society?

a meritocracy

Correct answer: patriarchal

matriarchal

Correct answer: hierarchical

Q3.

A villain describes someone who gets what they want in cunning, ruthless and immoral ways.

Correct Answer: Machiavellian, Machiavellian., machiavellian, 'Machiavellian', 'machiavellian'

Q4.

What happens in Act 5, Scene 1 of 'Macbeth'?

Lady Macbeth is murdered.

Lady Macbeth meets the witches.

Correct answer: Lady Macbeth is consumed by guilt.

Lady Macbeth chooses to take her own life.

Lady Macbeth asks Macbeth 'What's to be done?' about Banquo.

Q5.

In Act 3, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth seeks the witches. Why would this have been a shocking moment for the play's first Jacobean audiences?

Macbeth is a King. The witches should come to him.

Correct answer: He relies on evil supernatural creatures, not the power of God.

Correct answer: Before they appeared before him by chance, now he actively seeks them.

Correct answer: Witches were believed to be evil and unreliable.

The witches have threatened to kill him if they see him again.

Q6.

In what ways does Shakespeare use Act 3, Scene 4 of 'Macbeth' to signal Lady Macbeth's diminishing power?

Correct answer: She doesn't have a plan about what to do about Banquo. Instead, Macbeth does.

Correct answer: She doesn't enjoy being monarch, calling it 'nought'.

Correct answer: Macbeth relies on the witches to support him, not her.

She sees Banquo's Ghost, thus her mind is beginning to deteriorate.

Correct answer: She emasculates Macbeth to no effect.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

What is the term we use to describe 'Macbeth's' first audiences?

medieval Scots

Elizabethan

Thanes

Shakespearean

Correct answer: Jacobean

Q2.

Which of the following can make for compelling evidence in an English literature essay?

when every quotation is analysed a word at a time

Correct answer: judicious choice of evidence

Correct answer: evidence which supports your topic sentence

Correct answer: analysis of writer's methods exemplified through evidence

multiple thesis

Q3.

Which of the following could allow for meaningful use of context in an English literature essay?

including the catch all phrase 'at the time'

making sure context is encapsulated in one sentence at the end of each paragraph

Correct answer: weaving it throughout your response

placing all your contextual knowledge in one paragraph at the end of your essay

Q4.

How does the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth alter over the course of 'Macbeth'?

Lady Macbeth becomes increasingly dominant.

They don't speak after Lady Macbeth 'dashes' their child's brains out.

Lady Macbeth can't endure Macbeth after he kills Duncan.

Correct answer: They both become increasingly isolated.

Correct answer: Macbeth comes to rely on his wife less and less.

Q5.

A student wrote this topic sentence in response to the question, 'Is Lady Macbeth presented as a dutiful wife?'. 'Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as very dominant.' What feedback would you give?

You should use a quotation in your topic sentence.

You must analyse methods in your topic sentence.

You must use context in your topic sentence.

Your topic sentence should be a thesis.

Correct answer: Your topic sentence should link to the question more obviously.

Q6.

A student decided to explore the quotation, "Here's the smell of blood still" from Lady Macbeth in 5.1 in order to examine the idea of guilt. What would help make this a compelling piece of analysis?

To use the sentence starter, 'This quotation means...' so they can be clear.

Correct answer: To explore the symbolism of blood from across the play.

To analyse each word's connotations in turn.

Correct answer: To contrast this moment with moments from 2.2 when she rejects ideas of guilt.