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Level 4 Intermediate
Teachers Notes
Macbeth
by William Shakespeare
Macbeth and his friend Banquo meet three witches who predict that
Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland, and
that Banquos children will be future kings. Macbeth jokes about it
at first, but when he is rewarded by King Duncan for his heroism in
battle by being made Thane of Cawdor, he begins to take the rest
of his prophecy seriously. He lets his wife persuade him to kill King
Duncan, and the second part of the prophecy comes true. Instead
of happiness, however, fear and paranoia set in. He worries about
the witches prophecy concerning Banquo, so arranges to have his
friend and son murdered. Banquo dies, but his son escapes, and
Macbeth is haunted by Banquos ghost at a feast.
More and more people suspect Macbeth of the murders and
plan to get rid of him. Macbeth consults the witches again, and is
reassured to hear that he will be killed by no man born from a
woman, and will be safe from danger until the trees of Birnam
Wood march against him. He has the wife and family of his
arch-enemy, Macduff murdered, and confidently awaits battle with
his enemies. Just before the battle, Lady Macbeth kills herself. A
messenger then tells Macbeth that a forest is moving towards the
castle (in order to attack Macbeths castle, Macduff and the
soldiers camouflage themselves with branches cut from trees in
Birnam Wood). The battle is lost, but Macbeth refuses to surrender
because he still believes that he cannot be killed. He fights Macduff
and almost wins, but Macduff tells him that he was not born
naturally he was cut from his mothers body. Macbeth knows all is
lost but still doesnt surrender. Macduff kills him, and King Duncans
son Malcolm is hailed as the new king of Scotland.
he was born on 23rd April 1564 and died on 23rd April 1616.
his mother, Mary Arden, came from a higher social background
than his father, who was a civil servant.
before the king (James I) and enjoyed critical and popular success.
By the time he died he was a wealthy man.
Shakespeares plays are famous throughout the world for their
poetry and their insights into the nature of life and the human
condition. A large number of them are set in the south of Europe,
particularly Italy. However, he chose gloomy northern European
landscapes for three of his darkest tragedies, Hamlet (1601), King
Lear (1605) and Macbeth (1605). Some of his other plays are The
Taming of the Shrew (1591), A Midsummer Nights Dream
(1594), Romeo and Juliet (1595), The Merchant of Venice
(1596), Henry V (1599), Much Ado About Nothing (1599), Julius
Caesar (1599), Othello (1604) and The Tempest (1611).
Macbeth
Summary
Communicative activities
Glossary
It will be useful for your students to know the new words found on
page 56 of the Reader. They are practised in the Before you read
sections at the back of the book. (Definitions are based on those
used in the Longman Active Study Dictionary).
2 Put students into pairs. Ask them to act out this conversation.
Student A: You believe in supernatural experiences. Tell your
partner about one (invent one if you like). Say why you believe
it.
Student B: You dont believe in supernatural experiences.
Listen to your partners story and say why.
3 Class discussion: On page 9, Lady Macbeth says take
away all my womanly qualities and make me strong and cruel
from head to foot. What are womanly qualities? Do you
agree that men are crueller than women?
Acts 2 and 3
1 Put students into groups. Ask them to discuss these
questions.
(a) What can Macbeth do to save his kingdom?
(b) What advice will the witches give him now?
(c) The next act is called Death of the Innocents. Who will
die next? Why?
2 Put students into pairs. Ask them to act out this conversation.
Student A: You are Macbeths doctor. You think Macbeth needs
a holiday. Tell him why.
Student B: You are Macbeth. You think its impossible to have
a holiday now. Say why.
Macbeth
Acts 4 and 5
Level 4 Intermediate
Teachers Notes
Students activities
Macbeth
by William Shakespeare
a dagger?
witches?
a sword?
a crown?
a lamp?
a moor?
armour?
a ghost?
Ross
the witches
Banquo
Lady Macbeth
the King
Angus
(1) Lennox.
(2) Malcolm.
(3) Macduff.
(c) Macduff goes to
(1) England.
(2) Ireland.
(3) Fife.
2 Are these statements from Act 3 true or false?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
ACTS 4 AND 5
1 Underline the correct word(s).
(a) A witch / a ghost warns Macbeth about Macduff.
(b) The ghost of Banquo leads / follows eight kings across
the stage.
(c) Lady Macduff feels upset / pleased with her husband.
(d) A murderer kills Macduffs son with a knife / a sword.
(e) Ross brings Macduff good / bad news about his family.
(f) Lady Macbeth washes her face / hands in her sleep.
(g) Macbeth is popular / unpopular with his friends.
(h) Lady Macbeth is killed / kills herself.
(i) Macbeth wants / doesnt want to kill Macduff.
(j) Banquos / Duncans son becomes King of Scotland.
2 Who says these things? What do the underlined words
mean?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
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Macbeth
Students activities
ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK
1 Work in pairs and discuss these questions.
(a) Who do you feel most sorry for at the end of the play?
Why?
(b) Was Macbeth evil or mad?
(c) What was the worst thing that Macbeth did? Why?
2 You are Macbeths doctor. You are in prison and you are
going to be executed tomorrow. Write a letter to King
Malcolm. Tell him why you think you dont deserve to die.
Macbeth
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