New
New
Year 11
Eduqas
Exploring the motif of sleep in 'Macbeth'
I can analyse the motif of sleep in regards to Macbeth's guilt.
New
New
Year 11
Eduqas
Exploring the motif of sleep in 'Macbeth'
I can analyse the motif of sleep in regards to Macbeth's guilt.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Sleep is a motif in 'Macbeth' associated with innocence.
- Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth suffer with lack of sleep (insomnia) and nightmares.
- Insomnia is associated with guilt in the play.
- Insomnia might be considered a punishment that either God or the conscience inflicts.
- We can use discourse markers to help us trace different uses of a motif across a text.
Keywords
Insomnia - difficulty falling or staying asleep
Repressed - describes a feeling that you do not express
Manifestation - an object that embodies something abstract
Assuage - make an unpleasant feeling less intense
Common misconception
Students may be familiar with the function of sleep, but less aware of the symbolism and connotations.
Whilst sleep is vital for healing and serves a restorative function, it also symbolises innocence and vulnerability.
You could spend some time unpicking the finer details of the sleep motif. For example, is it significant that Duncan is murdered whilst sleeping? Why is it that Lady Macbeth sleep walks whereas Macbeth only experieces insomnia?
Teacher tip
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' for this lesson.
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
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
Loading...
Starter quiz
Download starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.
After Macbeth commits regicide in the play 'Macbeth', he can no longer do what in Act 2, Scene 2?
eat
look anyone in the eyes
Q2.
What is true of sleep?
humans do not need it
it represents chaos
Q3.
What happens to Lady Macbeth by Act 5, Scene 1 o? 'Macbeth'?
she is killed
she is plotting to kill Macbeth
Q4.
In what state is Duncan murdered in 'Macbeth'?
just as he is eating dinnner
whilst he enters grounds Macbeth's castle
Q5.
What is a discourse marker?
a word that describes an action
the very first word of each paragraph
Q6.
What is Macbeth troubled by in Act 3, Scene 2 of 'Macbeth'?
his hallucination of a dagger
threats from Macduff
Exit quiz
Download exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.
What word beginning with 'i' means having trouble falling and staying asleep?
Q2.
Why does Macbeth say he will sleep no more after committing regicide in 'Macbeth'?
it has given him an adrenaline rush
he is forced out of his living quarters
Q3.
In 'Macbeth', Macbeth cannot sleep, this means he can't gain ...
power
knowledge
Q4.
In Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', what could provide an interesting religious interpretation of Macbeth's insomnia?
he is having nightmares based on his repressed guilt
God is protecting Macbeth from sin by not granting him sleep
Q5.
Why is it important to use discourse markers when writing about motifs in a text?
so that we talk about only one use of the motif
to show a superficial understanding of a motif
Q6.
What is a repressed feeling?
a feeling you do express
a positive feeling