Macbeth Lesson Plans
by William Shakespeare

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Macbeth eNotes Lesson Plan

Learning Objectives: By the end of this unit, students should be able to determine what makes Macbeth such a timeless and popular work; define and describe the play’s central conflict; identify the primary themes and motifs; define and describe the role of the supernatural in the play; explain the play’s examination...

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Macbeth eNotes Teaching Guide

So you’re going to teach William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth, a classic drama that has been a mainstay in English classes for generations. Whether it’s the first or hundredth time you escort students through the text, we've provided some teaching tips to help ensure that the experience is rewarding...

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Macbeth eNotes Curriculum Plan

Macbeth was commissioned for a specific purpose: the accession of Elizabeth’s Scottish cousin, James, to the throne following her death in March 1603. Did Shakespeare in some ways model the character of Lady Macbeth on the recently deceased Queen Elizabeth? As Sigmund Freud noted, the play “offered remarkable analogies to the historical moment....

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Macbeth eNotes Reading Response Prompts

As the play begins, three witches appear in a lonely, deserted place, accompanied by thunder and lightning. What are some words you would use to describe the atmosphere and mood of this first scene? What role do you think the witches might play in the story of Macbeth? During Scene 1, the three...

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Macbeth Literary Devices Lesson Plan

Character Revealed Through Literary Motifs: This lesson plan focuses on Shakespeare’s use of literary motifs in developing the character of Lady Macbeth. Students will examine several motifs in the play and analyze what they reveal about her and how they contribute to symbolism and theme in the drama. In studying...

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Macbeth Reading Comprehension Quiz

This quiz contains reading comprehension questions for Macbeth.

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Macbeth on Film Lesson Plan

Through viewing Orson Welles’s, Roman Polanski’s, and Michael Bogdanov’s film versions of Shakespeare's Macbeth, students will see how one director interprets the text of the play. Students will answer questions to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the main events and characters in Macbeth as they relate to the director’s...

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Macbeth Act 1, Scene 3 Metaphor Activity

This activity gives students an opportunity to practice examining and analyzing metaphors. Metaphors express images, emotions, actions, experiences, and nuances through direct and indirect comparisons, allowing readers to access deeper levels of meaning in the text. In this activity, students will classify and analyze different kinds of metaphors in order...

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Macbeth Character Analysis Lesson Plan

Macbeth as a Dynamic Character (Act 2, Scene 1): This lesson plan focuses on how Macbeth develops as a dynamic character in regard to the internal conflict he experiences in murdering King Duncan. Students will work with Macbeth’s soliloquy at the beginning of act 2, scene 1 as he anticipates...

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Macbeth Allusion Activity

This worksheet gives students an opportunity to practice identifying and analyzing allusions. Allusions broaden the scope of a text and imbue passages with deeper meaning by subtly drawing on unexplained references to literature, history, science, geography, philosophy, mythology, or other aspects of a culture. Allusions are thus a powerful tool...

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Macbeth Act 1 Dialogue Analysis Activity

Through dialogue, playwrights reveal a character’s motivations, personality traits, and relationships with other characters. Diction (word choice) plays an essential role in writing dialogue because it creates mood, develops characters, and establishes events in the play. The following activity will help students analyze passages of dialogue and determine how they...

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