12 excellent teaching resources for Macbeth – make Macbeth easy

by mindroar | Jun 25, 2021 | blog | 0 comments

Looking for teaching resources for Macbeth? Are you teaching Macbeth in high school and desperately looking for activities for the Shakespearean tragedy? Check out these 12 resources and make Macbeth easy.

Pre-reading activities for Macbeth

1. shakespearean insult lesson.

If your students are unfamiliar with Shakespeare, it can be a steep learning curve. This can make it difficult to teach Shakespeare’s Macbeth .

Students often feel intimidated by the language and find it hard to get into. And if you’re teaching Shakespeare for the first time, or one of his plays for the first time, you can feel intimidated yourself!

A great way to overcome this fear factor is to have some fun activities for teaching Shakespearean language and the play you will be teaching.

One of my favorite ways to start any unit about Shakespeare is by having a Shakespearean Insult Lesson (see h ere for my blog post about it and here for my digital and in-class lesson ).

Not only is the Shakespearean insult lesson lots of fun, but it also helps reduce the fear factor of Shakespearean language.

2. Watch a video about Shakespeare and his plays

Another great way to introduce students to Shakespeare and Macbeth is to watch a short video about Shakespeare’s life and his tragedies.

There are heaps of videos around, but some of my favorites are the Crash Course videos: this one , which is all about Shakespeare’s life, and this one , which is about Shakespeare’s tragedies.

Both videos are short and sweet, less than fifteen minutes. The video about Shakespeare’s tragedies covers King Lear in more depth, so you can also stop the video at about eight minutes and fifteen seconds if you’re short on time.

The videos are funny and engaging, and they use illustration, a presenter, and quotes to delve deeper into Shakespeare’s life and plays. That series also has a video about Shakespeare’s comedies, just in case you teach any of those too.

If you’re looking for a worksheet to go with the videos, check out our Shakespeare life and plays bundle on TPT.

3. Take a personality quiz

As you know, teaching Macbeth to high school students requires capturing their interest. And for teens, one of the best ways to do that is to relate the content to their own lives.

A great way to do that is this fun pre-reading activity for Macbeth , a personality quiz by High School Help. In the activity, students take a fun quiz to see which character they are most like. And under the guise of a fun activity, students are inadvertently learning about major characters from the play.

High School Help also has a free anticipation guide for the play, covering important themes. Other helpful pre-reading resources for Macbeth by High School Help include this scavenger hunt .

4. Watch a video about Macbeth

Now, once you’ve introduced Shakespeare and your students are more comfortable with the language, you might be wondering how to teach Macbeth specifically.

The Crash Course Literature series also has two videos specifically about Macbeth . Again, I rate these highly as they’re short, entertaining, and cover important content such as plot, characters, and themes.

If you’re looking for worksheets for these, we have some too. Check out the Macbeth bundle , which has worksheets for both of the videos.

But be wary of plot spoilers! If you’re happy for students to know the plot in advance, go for it. If not, you may want to watch the videos during or after reading instead.

While reading activities for Macbeth

Ok, so you’ve gotten your kids into the play, they know a little about Shakespeare and his tragedies, and they’re no longer intimidated by the language.

Now you need some teaching resources for Macbeth that you can use while reading the play.

5. Read some comics

These comics by David Rickert give an introduction to the main events of each act and have an activity that explains an important concept or literary device.

Using comics is a great way to take away that fear that students often have of not understanding Shakespearean language. As an added bonus, the visuals in comics often help with comprehension.

6. Learn the characters with body biographies

These body biographies by Danielle Knight of Study All Knight are another idea for teaching Macbeth . In the activity, students analyze characters in an engaging way. In completing the projects, students have to:

  • to find direct quotes
  • analyze how the character has changed (or stayed the same)
  • explore the characters’ inner thoughts/feelings
  • analyze the characters’ values and beliefs
  • explore the characters’ strengths/weaknesses
  • identify the characters’ goal/s in the play
  • describe what the characters look like
  • choose the characters’ best accomplishment/s
  • identify symbols
  • and describe the characters’ background, family, personality, and conflict

These posters are fantastic for collaborative learning, require in-depth analysis, and are great to display once completed.

7. Close reading workbook analyzing through literary lens

This close reading workbook by Dr Jenna Copper is another idea for teaching Macbeth , this time through a literary analysis lens. The workbook has 16 close reading excerpts from all acts of the play and covering analysis through many different literary theories such as:

  • gender studies
  • psychological

The workbook also has an answer key and can be used in-person or online.

8. Character map activity

One thing about reading Shakespeare that can be difficult for students is keeping track of all of the characters. With fourteen characters, and a bunch of M-names, keeping track of who is who and who’s doing what can be tricky. This activity by Laura Randazzo helps with that.

The character map activity is available to print or in a Google slides version. Students can use the map to work out or remember relationships between characters. And don’t worry, the answer key is included!

9. Scene-by-scene study questions

Another great teaching resource to help with teaching Macbeth is this scene-by-scene study questions resource, also by Laura Randazzo. These questions can help students keep track of important plot points, make inferences, and explore their own personal opinions.

The Macbeth study questions can be used in class, as part of homework, as quizzes, or as enrichment activities. Or you can use bits and pieces of different questions for different purposes or activities. There is also an answer key.

After reading Macbeth activities

So you’ve finished reading or watching Macbeth and now you come to the pointy end where you need to review before an assessment task. These great Macbeth review activities are sure to be a hit with your students.

10. Escape room review activity

This escape room activity by Room 213 is a great, in-depth way to review the play in class. There are challenges/puzzles for students to complete, as well as cards to help or hinder students. In the game, students must use their knowledge of the play to help Malcolm and Macduff rescue Scotland from Macbeth.

11. Review bingo game

This Macbeth review bingo game by Juggling ELA is a great way to quickly review the play. The game covers characters, symbols, and terms/definitions. It also has 30 different bingo cards, as well as one blank card so that you can write your own card. It also has a digital version .

12. Digital escape room

This digital escape room by English Bulldog is a great way to review Macbeth if you are wanting something shorter than the Room 213 version, or if you are still learning online.

The review game covers different verse forms and literary devices, major characters, the theme of appearance vs reality, plot sequence, and students have to unscramble a soliloquy.

What’s your favorite teaching resource for Macbeth ?

We hope you’ve found some fresh, engaging, and exciting resources to teach Macbeth to your high school students. If you have favorite teaching resources for Macbeth, let us know!

Want more Shakespeare?

Blog posts you may be interested in:

  • 5 awesome free resources to teach Shakespeare
  • Fun, engaging, and easy Shakespearean insults lesson you have to try
  • Worried about teaching Shakespeare? How to make it fun + easy

Products you may be interested in:

  • Crash Course Literature Shakespeare worksheet bundle
  • Shakespearean insults lesson for ANY play digital activity
  • Crash Course Literature Romeo and Juliet mini-bundle
  • Crash Course Literature Hamlet mini-bundle
  • CrashCourse Theater and Drama Shakespeare mini-bundle
  • Crash Course Literature Shakespeare’s sonnets

macbeth theme activities

How to Get Students Excited About William Shakespeare’s Macbeth

  • Reading Instruction

Macbeth  was the first Shakespeare play I ever taught, and it helped me appreciate how much fun your students can have while acting out a drama in the classroom! Here are some of my favorite activities and lessons to use with William Shakespeare’s Macbeth .

A hand lifts up a black sheet or drape. The fingers point to the sky and appear under violet and red letters that read: How to Get Students Excited About William Shakespeare's Macbeth

This post this post may contain affiliate links .  Please read the  Terms of Use .

Getting Started with Macbeth

As with any unit, getting students excited is essential! Sometimes students have previous experiences with Shakespeare or expectations about how boring Shakespeare can be. For this reason, I always try to engage my students with enthusiasm. Here are some of my favorite ways to engage students in Macbeth :

Firstly, we begin by making a cast “family tree.” This helps students begin to see the connections between characters . As we build our cast anchor chart , I give students a little preview of how the character acts and behaves. Plus, this generates excitement!

Secondly, I bring in the witches . The Weird Sisters are some of the most memorable characters in Macbeth , so they are a great opportunity for engaging students. We begin by close reading the first scene and then watching several film adaptations . Students can analyze how different directors’ choices affect the mood, and they can begin making predictions about the play. Here are some excellent versions of the play:

  • Macbeth (2015) directed by Justin Kurzel and starring Michael Fassbender.
  • Macbeth (2011) directed by Rupert Goold and starring Patrick Stewart.
  • The Royal Shakespeare Company does Macbeth (2018) directed by Polly Findlay and Robin Lough.
  • Macbeth (1979) directed by Philip Casson and starring Ian McKellan and Judi Dench.

Thirdly, I use this free anticipation guide . This activity helps students begin making connections to the text, activate prior knowledge, and engage in conversation. Depending on the group of students I have, this resource can be part of station rotation or part of a classroom discussion .

While Reading Macbeth

Infographic featuring a woman's hand pulling up a black sheet. This image appears under plum and white text about how to engage students in Macbeth

During our reading and acting of Macbeth , I use this modified and abridged version of the text. While Macbeth is a short play, I often find myself wanting to abbreviate or eliminate some scenes and adjust some vocabulary (the Porter, anyone?). For this reason, I designed this modified and abridged resource with the text on one side and guided reading questions on the other.

Throughout our reading, I encourage students to make connections with the text through the use of journals . By writing about the play, students have an opportunity to see how the text remains relevant. This also allows me to check for understanding, preview themes, and keep students writing regularly even in a reading-heavy unit.

Task cards are another great way to check for understanding throughout the play. While journals are usually bell ringers during this unit, task cards can be exit tickets or parts of station rotations . I choose the task cards based on the skills my students most need to work on. Here are some of my favorite task card sets:

  • Characterization Task Cards
  • Plot and Conflict Task Cards
  • Figurative Language Task Cards
  • All of these task cards (and more) are included in my ELA Task Cards Bundle !

Additionally, it’s important for students to discuss the text throughout our reading. During discussion, students can evaluate Macbeth’s character development, Lady Macbeth’s influence, and the dangers of ambition and revenge. Similarly, discussions can also re-visit the ideas featured in the anticipation guide, giving us time to re-evaluate how or if our opinions have changed. Depending on my group of students or the time of the year, silent discussions can be a good way to go!

My favorite!

Finally, my favorite part of reading Macbeth is the banquet. I start talking about the banquet in the first act. As we get closer to the banquet scene, my students plan their own banquet. We push our desks into a long banquet table, in non-pandemic years everyone brings in food, and we feast while Banquo haunts Macbeth! It’s a fun way to emphasize the climax of the play! (Plus, my students love food days!)

Macbeth Essential Questions

During our reading, students and I stay focused on essential questions. While we’re reading, these essential questions can become journal prompts, questions for discussion, or the basis for a larger writing or project.

  • Firstly, is ambition dangerous?
  • Secondly, is fear a good motivator?
  • Is weakness an innate part of humanity?
  • What does it mean to be a strong leader?
  • Are leaders born or made? How do you know?
  • Does free will exist, or does each person have a destiny?
  • Finally, what are the elements of a successful relationship?

Synthesizing Macbeth

Throughout our reading of Macbeth , we emphasize synthesizing . Students can synthesize the intersection of Macbeth with its historical contexts . Did Shakespeare include witches because King James I was interested in witchcraft? Was he honoring the king by including his potential ancestor Banquo?

In addition, I often encourage students to synthesize across media . To do so, we might return to film versions of the play. However, I often prefer to use artwork for this pursuit. To make this activity successful, I have put together 23 images of different scenes from the play, including multiple portrayals of the Weird Sisters and of Lady Macbeth. As with the film clips of the opening scene, analyzing different pieces of art provides students with a chance to evaluate how artists use shade, lighting, and composition to create mood.

Similarly, as we near the end of the text, I also incorporate paired passages. This allows students to synthesize across texts, evaluating how different authors comment on similar subjects. Here are some paired passages that work with Macbeth :

  • Firstly, “I, being born a woman and distressed” by Edna St. Vincent Millay provides an interesting view on womanhood. Since Macbeth comments on gender roles, this poem is a great opportunity. Read it here .
  • Secondly, “Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson features a protagonist obsessed with what he can never have. Unlike Macbeth, Miniver does not resort to violence to achieve his goals. However, like Miniver, Macbeth is obsessive. Read it here .
  • Thirdly, Shakespeare’s sonnets are a good complement to any of his plays. This post describes an inquiry-based approach to teaching Shakespeare’s sonnets . In particular, I often show the Crash Course about Shakespeare’s sonnets and give students an opportunity to write their own .

Extending and Assessing

One of the great things about teaching Macbeth is the opportunity to continue the learning beyond the play. While I don’t give a traditional test about the play, I do usually show the Crash Course episode about Macbeth as a review at the end of the play and as a lead-in to summative discussion.

Finally, Macbeth lends itself so well to applying literary criticism ! In particular, Lady Macbeth makes a great opportunity for feminist criticism. Similarly, Macbeth suits archetypal criticism well because he is such a clear tragic hero. The imbalances in the play and the violence also make it a candidate for psychoanalytical criticism.

What other strategies do you use to get students excited for reading Macbeth ?

Kristi from Moore English #moore-english @moore-english.com

Photo by Bogdan Kupriets , Valentin Salja , and Yevhen Ptashnyk on Unsplash

Read these posts next...

A black notebook with a white pencil appears on a yellow background next to text that reads: Abridge a Text When You See These 4 Surefire Signs

Abridge a Text When You See These 4 Surefire Signs

A person stands on a tall cliff. They are silhouetted against a blue sky and appear under text that reads: According to the Sorting Hat, "ambition" is a Slytherin characteristic. In Julius Caesar and Macbeth, ambition plays a part in our heroes' downfalls. After all, ambition is a necessary ingredient in pursuing your goals and holding high expectations for yourself. When I was brainstorming and trying to think of my annual word of the year, I cycled through countless options. However, when I think of 2024, I think of two major goals: to complete both of those goals, I need ambition.

2 Reasons Ambition is My Word of the Year

Confetti appears under text that reads: My Absolute Favorite Books of the Year

All My Absolute Favorite Reads from 2023

Actors playing Romeo and Juliet appear under text that reads: How to Engage Students in Romeo and Juliet

How to Engage Students in Romeo and Juliet

macbeth theme activities

Let's Stay in Touch

Join Moore English

A hand lifts up a black sheet or drape. The fingers point to the sky and appear under violet and red letters that read: How to Get Students Excited About William Shakespeare's Macbeth

RSC-Donate-button_V4

  • Schools and Teachers

Teacher Resources

Macbeth teacher pack 2023.

This pack supports the RSC’s 2023 production of Macbeth, directed by Wils Wilson.

The activities provided in this pack are specifically designed to support KS3-4 students attending the performance and studying Macbeth  but all activities can be adapted for learners of different ages and abilities. These activities aim to help students explore some important features of the text and production, using the RSC’s rehearsal processes. 

Lady Macbeth (Valene Kane) and Macbeth (Reuben Joseph) are holding each other. Lady Macbeth wears a sheer dress with white dots and Macbeth wears a light-coloured waistcoat and tartan kilt. A small boulder is in the background

About the production 

This 2023 production of Macbeth sets the ambition and fall of Shakespeare’s most infamous couple in a future dystopian world, pitching its powerful, foreboding themes and imagery against a cruel ruined earth. Directed by Wils Wilson and designed by Georgia McGuinness, it is an interpretation for our time, closely examining the nature of evil and our most selfish motives in a fragile world that one day might fight back.

Watch our  Macbeth  trailer

For audio and visual access, you can watch a narrated filmed series of our  Macbeth  Teacher Pack 2023 via our Learning YouTube Channel .

Exploring the story

For audio and visual access, watch a narration of this synopsis.  

THE PROPHECY

Macbeth and Banquo, Scottish generals in King Duncan’s army, are returning victorious from battle. They are hailed by three witches who predict that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland. They tell Banquo that his descendants will one day be kings. The first part of the prophecy is fulfilled instantly when Duncan rewards Macbeth's loyalty by making him Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth expresses his ambition and confusion when King Duncan names his son Malcolm as his heir.

BECOMING KING

  In Macbeth’s castle, Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband about the witches’ prophecy. Encouraged and inspired, she calls on the ‘spirits’ to make her strong enough to persuade Macbeth to murder Duncan while he is a guest at their castle. Macbeth has doubts but goaded by his wife, murders the elderly king in his sleep and frames his guards for the crime. Duncan's sons flee to England for safety but Banquo and fellow lord, Macduff, are suspicious of Macbeth who is crowned king, and his wife, Queen.

A SECOND VISIT

  After Duncan’s murder, the childless Macbeth starts to unravel and grow distant from his wife. Fearing that the witches’ prophecy about Banquo will come true, Macbeth has Banquo murdered to secure his position as king but Banquo's son, Fleance, escapes. After Banquo's ghost appears to him at a banquet, Macbeth visits the witches again for reassurance. They tell him he will not be beaten until ‘Burnham wood comes to Dunsinane’. They also warn him to beware of Macduff, who has also fled to England, but tell him that he cannot be harmed by any man born of woman. Macbeth is encouraged but orders the murder of Macduff's wife and children.

TEST OF LOYALTY

  In England, word of the ‘sickness’ in Scotland has spread and Macduff asks for Malcom’s help to overthrow Macbeth. Malcolm tests Macduff's loyalty by pretending he is not worthy of being king. In a tragic scene,  Macduff hears that Macbeth has murdered his entire family in his absence. Malcolm urges him to use his grief to fight and together, they raise an army to march against Macbeth.

THE PROPHECY COLLAPSES

In his castle, Macbeth, armed with the witches' prophecy, believes that he is invincible. But, as his enemies draw nearer, Macbeth learns that his wife has killed herself. Malcom’s army cut down trees to hide their numbers and Macbeth sees Birnham Wood move towards his castle. He puts on his armour, prepares to fight and when Macduff appears, Macbeth boasts that none of woman born can kill him. Macduff then declares that he was born by Caesarian section (i.e. not 'born of woman'), Macbeth realises the witches have tricked him from the start. He refuses to fight but Macduff pursues him, eventually killing Macbeth. Malcolm is crowned King of Scotland in an ending that suggests hope and healing for the land.

Activity 1: World Building

For audio and visual access, watch a narration of this activity.  

“Our director and designer found so many references to the weather and the environment in the text and that wasn’t something they wanted to skip over. This world was crumbling, and this country was in a state of demise and that needed to be reflected in our production. It felt very timely.”

- Lizzie Manwaring, Assistant Director, Macbeth, RSC 2023

This writing and performance activity allows students to explore the story by creating their own world for the play, exploring how specific locations affect key scenes. They can then test these locations out in performance. (It ’s best suited to a hall but can be done in a classroom. You will need pens, paper and Resource A: Macbeth in 10 Plot Points from the bottom of this page). 

  •   As a group, list the locations that appear in Shakespeare’s Macbeth . Eg: a wild Scottish heath, Macbeth’s Castle, an English Battlefield. Discuss why Shakespeare chose these locations and what they add to the play and its themes.
  • Organise your students into groups of 3 or 4 and hand each group paper, pens and a Plot Point from Resource A (groups may use the same point or you might leave some out depending on class size).
  • Explain that the groups have 10 minutes to invent ONE location to set their Plot Point in. Encourage them to be as imaginative as they like but their choices must reflect the mood and themes of the play at this moment.
  • Whether their location is set in the past, present or future.
  • Is it a familiar place that has been ruined or destroyed in some way?
  • What are the new rules of this place? What are the dangers?
  •   Give your groups some extra time to rehearse their Plot Point for performance. Encourage them to add narration or sound effects to make the action and location clear.
  • Which locations really worked and why?
  • Which locations would be easy or difficult to stage?
  • Did any groups choose similar locations? Could these be developed into the same production, set in the same world?

Reflection Point:

Collect some current newspaper headlines. Shakespeare used important events of his time to inform his writing of Macbeth, including the Gunpowder Plot and bubonic plague. Which headlines might belong to the worlds and locations created in the last activity? How might they reflect the themes in your version of Macbeth? Eg:

  • Reports of political or social unrest?
  • N ews about environmental changes or disasters?
  • Examples of important figures lying to or misleading the public?

Production Notes

For our 2023 production of Macbeth, director Wils Wilson set the play in a ruined future Earth, giving new life and meaning to its language and themes. In rehearsal, the cast and creatives set about ‘world building’, imaging what this future might be like and finding interesting parallels between this apocalyptic vision and Shakespeare’s medieval Scotland, as well as finding powerful connections to the current world we live in:

  • This dystopian future was given a name from the text: ‘The Woeful Times’, setting it as a specific period in history to give it weight and reaity.
  • This future has harsh unpredictable weather, we see rain and snow and it is only when Macbeth is killed and Malcolm is crowned that a rainbow appears.
  • Dead birds fall from the sky at the start of the play, suggesting that even the air is poisoned.
  • The cast chose specific props to establish this ruined future world. Eg: the Bloody Captain’s gold foil emergency blanket / the generator lights in the banquet scene / wind up torches and radios.
  • The actors thought carefully about how they might dress, both to survive and to indicate their status. Macbeth’s black waterproofs and heavy skirts worn over combats offer a futuristic interpretation to the kilt worn in battle and military dress.
  • The use of ‘amulets’ worn on belts became a visual display of status. Macbeth collects three during the play: Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and finally, king.

Activity 2: What's in a Scene?

For audio and visual access, watch a narration of this activity.

“We broke every single scene into ‘events’. An ‘event' is a moment which changes everything for every character. For example, when Duncan announces the succession will lie upon Malcolm, there is a temperature shift onstage. There are usually multiple events in a scene. It’s really important to play these so the audience knows what information to latch onto.”

This writing and performance activity, in two parts, allows students to explore a specific scene from the play as we did in rehearsal. Experiencing the action from several different perspectives will give them an idea of ‘ensemble playing’ and illustrate how preparation can fuel the conflict of the play. (It is best suited to a hall or large classroom. You will need pens, paper and Resource B: Act 1, Scene 4 - edited from the bottom of this page. There is a primary edit of this scene for younger students.)

Part A: My Personal POV.

  • Organise your students into pairs and hand out Resource B, pens and paper. Ask your pairs to find a space in the room, stand back-to-back and read the scene out loud, taking one speech at a time.
  • Where might this scene take place? Where have the characters just come from and what has just happened?
  • Who has the greatest status in this scene? Who has the lowest?
  • How many ‘attendants’ might Duncan have and what are their roles?
  • Ask your pairs to complete the list of ‘events’ in the underlined sectioned, taking their clues from the lines to decide what is happening in the scene.
  • Now give each student one character from the scene (including servants, attendants, knights, bodyguards, grooms etc) and explain that they each have ten minutes to write two short paragraphs:
  • A brief backstory to their character. Eg: what role they have, how they got their position, who are they loyal to, who have they met before, do they know the Macbeths or is this their first time to the castle?
  • The ‘events' they notice during this scene. Eg: how people are dressed, their behaviour, how they greet each other, what is the castle like, where is the power?
  • What extra ‘events’ have we noticed in this scene? Are there events that certain characters noticed in particular?
  • How much do actors need to know about their characters?
  • What does this preparation work add to the drama of a scene?

Part B: Ensemble Playing

  • Organise your students into groups of 8 or 10 and ask them to cast the scene within the group, making sure everyone has a role (these roles may be different to the ones they have just written about).
  • Ask them to appoint a director from the non-speaking parts. This director must listen to everyone’s ideas and finalise all decisions so that no character’s point of view gets left out.
  • What has happened to everyone immediately before this scene.
  • Where and when the scene is set and what is the weather like?
  • How everyone enters and exits and in which order.
  • How they greet each other? Is there a certain saying or gesture they use?
  • Is Duncan old or young, well or ill?
  • Where each character stands in the scene and if they move at any point.
  • What ‘events’ need to be noticed by the audience in this scene. How can certain characters direct the audience’s attention to these moments?
  • Invite your groups to perform their scenes and discuss any similarities or differences. Which specific events stood out and why? Which characters have different memories of this scene and why might this be?

Our rehearsals were an opportunity to invent a history or backstory for the characters and make important decisions that affected how the actors performed their scenes together.

  • In our production, Banquo is played by a woman. Decisions were made about whether Lady Macbeth was jealous of Banquo’s close relationship with Macbeth.
  • Our director, Wils Wilson, set up improvisations with the actors playing Macbeth & Lady Macbeth to explore their lives before the play: how they met and how long ago they lost their baby. This closeness and shared grief strongly affects their journey though the production.
  • Fleance has a close relationship with Macbeth at the start of the play and even is seen jumping onto Macbeth’s back. Our Fleance trusts Macbeth and sees him almost like an uncle figure, creating conflicting feelings in the childless Macbeth.
  • It was decided that Duncan’s decision to name Malcolm as heir was unplanned, coming as a surprise to everyone, even Malcolm herself.
  • New rituals were created to show the bonds between people in this new world. These included: touching foreheads and hitting chests in greetings, the chanting of words and group songs.

Exploring the characters

Activity 3: the macbeths.

“Shakespeare lost his son, Hamnet, quite close to writing Macbeth so there is a sense of grief in the play that we wanted to hold on to as an anchor for their relationship. Wils, our director, explored this though improvisations. We had loads of props in the rehearsal room so we could say: ‘let’s use some pots and pans in this or let’s write letters to each other.’”

This physical activity in 2 parts allows students to explore the dynamics of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship from an actor’s perspective. The first part uses rehearsal room techniques to explore power and connection. The second part builds on physical images and Shakespeare’s text to explore motive and subtext. (It is best suited to a hall. You will need pens & Resource C: The Macbeths - edited scenes from the bottom of the page).

Part A) Who’s Leading Who?

  •   Ask your students to get into pairs, decide who is A and who is B and to find a space in the room, face to face.
  • Explain that A is to imagine they are facing themselves in a large mirror and B is their refection. When A begins to move, B is to copy their movements exactly. Encourage them to start small and slow with these movements.
  • After a few minutes, ask them to swap over so A becomes B’s reflection. After a few more minutes, challenge them to continue to swap leadership back and forth but silently. Can they become so in tune with each other’s movements, they lose sight of who is leading who?
  •   Now ask the pairs to stand palm to palm and take turns leading each other around the room. Encourage them to swap leadership back and forth as before and to experiment with fighting against this leadership by pushing against their partner’s palm.
  • Discuss the activity as a whole group. What was it like to lead or follow? What were the changes of leadership like? Smooth, difficult, frustrating? Did they feel themselves changing character at all? Eg: becoming younger or older, developing relationships such as parent & child or master or servant?

Part B) A MARRIAGE IN FOUR STAGES

  • Give each pair a copy of Resource C and a pen. Explain that these four scenes represent four important stages in the Macbeths’ relationship. Ask the pairs to read the short scenes between them and write down any words to describe what has changed in each one. Where does the power lie? Who is in control? Does this change and why?
  •   Now ask the pairs to partner up so they form groups of 4 (or 5s if you have a spare pair). Give each group ten minutes to create a frozen image or tableau to represent each of the four stages in the relationship.
  • Encourage these images to be as imaginative as possible and to include possible details from the Macbeths’ backstory. Eg: How they met, the child the couple have lost, their love & ambition for each other, the witches, madness?
  • Challenge each group to use spoken lines in each image and to decide if they are said by the Macbeths themselves, by other characters or chorally by the group.
  • Give the groups a few more minutes to find a creative way to move from one tableau to the next. The transitions can be as simple or as elaborate as they wish and can include details, lines or repeated words from other scenes.
  • Invite each group to share their Marriage in Four Stages and discuss the results. Were there any repeated images? If so, what does this tell us about the two characters? Did any group include a supernatural influence? If so, how did it affect the relationship?
  •   Ask your groups to reform and create one final image representing the last stage in the Macbeths’ relationship. This can include what they know of the play or be something of their own invention. Invite the groups to share these final images.

What can we tell about people and their relationships from what they don’t say? What visual examples are there in our modern world of unspoken power or closeness? Examples might be:

  • Donald Trump walking in front of Queen Elizabeth II in his 2018 UK visit.
  • Kate Middleton patting Prince William’s bottom at the 2023 BAFTAS
  • The kiss that Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish football federation, gave Jenni Hermoso, after the 2023 World Cup final. 

Activity 4: Unwritten Scenes

“Macbeth is a male-heavy play and we wanted to normalise women in this world. It would feel really wrong in this imagined future not to have women in positions of power and explore what new relationships this creates. It’s important not to glimpse over what any potential relationship is. The text is like a word search to discover new things.”

This writing activity allows students to create their very own scene for Macbeth. They will explore the relationships between characters that never or barely meet onstage but whose fates are significantly linked. It will also encourage them to develop their own language to reflect their character’s inner needs and conflict. ( You will need Resource D: Character Study from the bottom of this page, paper & pens.]

  •   Organise your students into pairs and hand each pair one character from Resource D & pens. Ask the pair to work together and list everything they know about their character from the play.
  • Where were they born?
  • Who are they closest to?
  • What do they most fear?
  • What is their greatest desire?
  • What was the happiest and saddest moment of their life?
  •   Repeat this with another character from the list. (If you are short of time or the students require more support, ask pairs with different characters to join up.)
  • What do these two people think of each other?
  • Where is this meeting? Choose somewhere that makes the scene more interesting or more challenging for one character than the other. Eg: the porter visiting Duncan’s castle for a job interview.
  • Is this their first meeting or does it follow a specific moment in the play?
  • How have they prepared for this meeting? Have they dressed to impress?
  • What can add to the tension in the scene? Eg: Does Lady Macbeth meet Lady Macduff accompanied by all her children? How would this affect both women?
  • Planning the beginning, middle and end. Why do they meet, what happens, how must it end?
  • Deciding what both characters want from each other and if they get it.
  • Deciding how they want this scene to affect the audience?
  • I mprovising the meeting in character, writing down any lines. They can rewrite these afterwards to make them sharper, funnier or more powerful.
  • Using stage directions where needed.
  •   When the scenes are written, invite your pairs to take turns reading their scene to another group and ask for any positive feedback: Are there any lines that could be rewritten or cut? Any moments that could be more dramatic?
  •   After this feedback, give the pairs a few more minutes to work on their scenes then invite them to read draft 2 to the whole group. Discuss these changes.
  • If you have extra time, they could swap and perform each other’s scenes with props and costumes if you have access to them.

In our 2023 production, all of these five characters are played by women. How might this change of gender affect the relationships in the play? Eg: Duncan as Queen of Scotland, Macbeth murdering a woman. Banquo as a female soldier and friend of Macbeth. A female porter joking with male lords. Does gender change our notions of friendship, leadership or class? How different are these views in modern times compared to Shakespeare’s world, 400 years ago? 

Macbeth contains some of Shakespeare’s most powerful imagery. The creative team worked very hard to incorporate his images and many more into this production, to firmly plant the text and themes into the audience’s minds.

  • The bloody Captain who speaks in Act 1 Scene 2, is dressed entirely in red and painted red. This introduces the theme of bloodshed and illustrates the bloody encounter that Macbeth has just won in battle which the Captain describes.
  • The witches’ fingers are black, connecting them to the poisoned earth they’ve been born from. This contrasts to other characters’ fingers which are stained with blood depending on how much killing they’ve done. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s hands are completely covered in blood after Duncan’s murder.
  • Hands continue to be an important image in this play. Macduff cuts off Macbeth’s hand instead of his head at the end, emphasising what evil has been done by them. The witches pounce on this severed hand, as if planning to use it in another spell.
  • The witches use giant mathematical compasses at the beginning of the second half, suggesting they are playing with the earth, measuring it out for their plans or even creating magic circles.
  • A giant red circle of light appears on the ground when Macbeth visits the witches, representing the circle of hell and a higher power of evil.
  • We see a rainbow on the back wall during Malcom’s final speech, suggesting he is bringing light and good into a poisoned world and that there is some hope.

Exploring the themes

Activity 5: most wanted.

“The best part of theatre is going to the bar afterwards to discuss what you’ve just seen. I hope the audience discuss that final moment in our production (the witches turning to Fleance) and ask: ‘Does that mean Fleance is going to kill Malcolm? What does this mean? How is he going to ascend to power?”

This physical and writing activity allows students to study the motives of the most ambitious characters in the play, exploring performance beyond words and ways of making the text theatrical. ( You will need: a large, clear space, copies of Resource E: Ambitions from the bottom of this page, pens.)

  •   Ask your students to get into pairs and hand out copies of Resource E. Explain that these are speeches from four characters who show a sense of ambition in Macbeth .
  • Give your pairs ten minutes to read the speeches out loud to each other and fill in whatever ambitions they think this character has, together with any evidence in the text and from what they know of the play.
  • Now ask your pairs to create images to illustrate each of the four characters, as if the images were statues of 'ambition’ in a city square.
  • Invite the pairs to share their written results and compare statues. Does any character have positive ambitions? Which characters act on them? What are the consequences of these actions? Who do they affect? Are there any other examples of ambition in the play?
  •   Now organise your students into four larger groups and give each group one of the characters to work on.
  • Explain that they have 15 minutes to create a short presentation of their character’s ambitions using any theatrical style they choose. Eg: tableaus, mime, movement or dance. Encourage them to experiment with the text: speaking as a chorus, repeating key words, using rhythm, adding or writing additional text.
  • Remind the groups to consider the consequences of their character’s ambitions, how they act or do not act on them, who they affect in the play. How might they incorporate these things in their performance?
  •   Invite your groups to share their presentations of ‘ambition’.

Ask your students to think of examples of ambitious individuals in the modern world and whether their ambitions have a positive or negative impact on them or on society. Examples might be:

  • Greta Thunberg
  • Boris Johnson
  • Donald Trump
  • Kim Kardashian

Discuss how the press and social media treat these individuals. Why do good ambitions sometimes attract bad press or trolls? How do people with questionable or harmful ambitions find success? Does a person’s gender, age or class change how we respond to their ambition?

Which Shakespeare characters are these modern examples most like? Who is our modern Lady Macbeth? Or Iago?

Activity 6: A Hero's Ruin

This physical & writing activity, in two parts, gives students an opportunity to deep dive into Macbeth’s ‘vaulting ambition’ and the fall that follows it. (It’s best suited to a large hall or clear classroom. You will need paper & pens.)

Part A) Corridor of Conscience

This physical activity explores the ambitions and motives of Macbeth by allowing students to work on each other’s morality in the same way the characters do. (This is best suited to a big hall or clear classroom.)

  •   Organise your students in two lines facing each other like a long corridor across the room, with enough space for one person to walk through the corridor and ask them to sit down.
  • Explain that one line is Macbeth’s Ambition (who wants him to kill Duncan) and the other side is his Conscience (who does not).
  • As a whole group, brainstorm reasons why Macbeth thinks he should murder Duncan (eg: the witches’ prophecy, his wife has planned the murder) and reasons why Macbeth thinks he should not murder Duncan (eg: Duncan is a God-appointed king, Macbeth is his host and subject).
  • Ask for two volunteers to play Macbeth and King Duncan and ask them to stand at opposite ends of the corridor. Explain that if Macbeth hears a persuasive reason to murder Duncan, they must take a step forward towards Duncan and if he hears a good reason why he shouldn’t murder the king, they must take a step back.
  • If Macbeth makes it to Duncan, they are to touch him on the shoulder and Duncan must say “Sleep no more” and fall to his death dramatically. You may then recast your Macbeth and Duncan and start another game. If Macbeth does not make it to Duncan after 5 minutes, end the game and recast.
  • Encourage your corridor of Conscience and Ambition to think of as many reasons as possible and to wait until Macbeth is near them to voice their reason. They must remain seated and not touch Macbeth. Remind them if everyone shouts out together, Macbeth will not hear.
  • After each game, ask your Macbeth which reasons made them move back or forward. What are the most powerful things their Ambition or Conscience can say to make Macbeth move either way? What does this say about Macbeth as a character?  

Part B) Trial of a Hero

This writing activity gives students an opportunity to put the motives they used in Part A into words and explore the consequences of ambition in the play.

  • Hand out paper and pens and explain that Macbeth is now on trial. The students in the Conscience line from Part A are his prosecution lawyers. They think Macbeth is guilty of murder and could have stopped his crimes at any time. The students in the Ambition line are Macbeth’s defence lawyers who consider him innocent, a man driven to evil by other things or people.
  • Organise your lawyers into pairs so they can work together on writing a short paragraph defending or prosecuting their client.
  • Encourage the lawyers to consider all the motives and influences mentioned in Part A . Can they think of any additional details from the play that might prove Macbeth’s guilt or innocence?
  •   Invite some pairs to deliver their prosecution or defence speeches to the rest of the group.

Gather some modern examples of people who have committed high profile crimes (you can pre-choose examples from history, such as the Gunpowder Plot, to make these age appropriate). As a group, list anything that is known about the individuals responsible. Eg - their backgrounds, their circumstances, their influences.

Discuss the following:

  • Can a person’s experiences ever excuse their behaviour? What about their state of mind or beliefs?
  • What are the differences between a crime of passion and one that is planned?
  • Can others be guilty of a crime, even if they did not commit it personally? What examples are there of this in modern life?

Activity 7: Shell Shocked

“There was one time when Reuben (playing Macbeth) started flipping a stool and the sound of it, the knocking against your head… It felt like a physical manifestation of what was going on within him, that then spiraled into him tipping up the place. As an actor, use what’s in front of you, never lose the sense of creativity, curiosity and imagination.”

The following physical and writing activity allows students to explore the unsettling world the characters are in through the methods our movement director, Julia Cheng, used in rehearsal. (It is best suited to a large hall or clear classroom. Pens & paper. If possible, use a variety of music to inspire your students as they move. Eg: film soundtracks, classical tracks, different tempos, moods, etc.

  •   Organise your students into pairs. Ask the pairs to face each other and place one palm against the palm of their partner. Challenge them, without speaking, to establish who is leading and who is following with a gentle ‘push/pull’ between their palms.
  • Invite your pairs to move around the room, palm to palm, without speaking or colliding with other pairs. Challenge them to swap who leads by following the elasticity of the ‘push/pull’. Alternatively, this activity can be done on the spot, using just palms or holding a length of material between them and exploring a smaller space in detail.
  • Now get your students into groups of 3. Ask them to repeat the exercise but with one person using both hands, the other two using one hand . Can they find this push/pull movement as before? Is it harder with 3 people or easier? Again, this step can be done on the spot to explore the shifts of movement and leadership in detail.
  • Next, organise your students into larger groups of 8-10 and ask them to connect palm to palm (some can use both hands so it’s more of a group ‘creature’, not one long chain). Ask them to move as one ‘creature’, to find a fluidity, a smoothness as they try to cross the room.
  • getting as low as possible, dropping their centre of gravity
  • responding to different tempos: fast and slow
  • nominating leaders to safely steer everyone across the room
  •   Now ask your students to get back into pairs and travel across the space back-to-back, remaining in contact at all times. Repeat this with two pairs only, whilst the others move as fast as possible around the space (without running). Encourage them to do this as safely as possible, remaining aware of each other. Alternatively, students can explore this without moving across the room, by connecting with their partner through just their backs or with different parts of the body, shoulders, elbows or knees.
  • Discuss how the different pairs felt, being surrounded by this movement. Which words best describe these feelings?
  •   Ask your students to imagine they are a surviving soldier from Duncan’s war. Give them 5 minutes to write their feelings down about the ‘battle’ they have just fought in. Encourage them to use their senses to inform their writing: what did they smell? Hear? Feel? See? Ask your students to swap paragraphs with someone else and invite volunteers to read out each other’s work.
  • Discuss as a whole group, the meaning of ‘shell shock’ and ‘PTSD’. What are the common symptoms? What could cause this type of experience? Are we more aware of this type of trauma today, compared to in Shakespeare’s time or even 50 years ago?
  •   Ask your students to research any written accounts of shell shock from war veterans and ask volunteers to share or read out any examples they find.
  • Do they notice any common words or feelings used in these accounts? Does any imagery get used in the descriptions such as: Animals? Nature? The supernatural?

Activity 8: Powerful Words

“One thing we did was translate the text into modern English to make sure that we always understood what was saying, then we went back and re-read the scene before we explored it in the space". 

This performance & writing activity, in 2 parts, allows students to explore the power of Shakespeare’s language in the play and to experiment with their own examples. (It’s best suited to a large clear classroom.)

Part A) Distorted WORDS

(You will need: large pieces of material (preferably stretchy), pens & paper. Resource E: The Witches from the bottom of the page)

  • Organise your students into groups of 3 and hand each group one of the four speeches in Resource E and some material.
  • Explain that each group is a coven of witches. They have 10 minutes to decide how to perform their speeches using their pieces of material.
  • Encourage them to work together to experiment with their imagination . Eg. Do they split up the text? Speak chorally? Speak through the material? Dress themselves as one creature? How will they appear, move, disappear?
  • Invite the covens to share their work and discuss the results.

Extension Activity:

  • If you have the facilities, ask students to film each other’s performances, either very simply on their devices or adding music and lighting effects. They could even be edited together using simple editing apps.

Part B) KNOCK KNOCK…

“The Porter monologue is one of the earliest records of stand-up comedy. But we don’t have the same references as they did in the 1600s. At one point, ‘French geese’ are mentioned and I have no idea what that means. Shakespeare wrote Macbeth very much in response to the corruption and equivocation in his time so we asked: where do we see that in 2023? ”

(It’s best suited to a large hall or clear classroom. You will need: pens & paper. Resource F: The Porter: ‘Knock, knock!’)

  • Organise your group into a big circle and hand out copies of Resource F. Read both the Shakespeare and Stewart Lee version of the porter scene in turn.
  • Discuss the examples that Shakespeare uses of the people knocking on hell’s doors. Why were these jokes funny 400 years ago? What does it mean to us now? Why does the porter speak in prose and not verse?
  • Discuss what decisions Stewart Lee has made in his rewriting of this scene. Eg: Using modern examples of people we want to make fun of and who might end up in hell. How the Porter addresses the audience. Why has this rewrite been done for this production and do they think it is effective?
  • Ask your students to get into pairs and explain that they have 20 minutes to write their own version of the Porter speech, using the same structure, sound effects & the 3 jokes delivered to the audience.
  • How does the Porter enter and exit?
  • How do they speak to the audience?
  • Which 3 examples of modern people might we want to make fun of, who might end up in hell?
  • What is their version of hell like? Fire and brimstone? A really bad party?
  • Invite your pairs to read out their rewritten scenes.
  • Once all the jokes have been heard, take a vote on which 3 jokes are the most effective and put these together in one speech.
  • Invite any volunteer Porters to perform this new scene.
  • Collect and compare some examples of comedian’s jokes that target current people in modern times. Who is main focus of these jokes: Celebrities? Politicians?
  • Do any of these jokes target serious subjects? Are these jokes fair or unfair? Do they go too far or not far enough and why?
  • Why is it important to make jokes about serious matters?

The porter’s monologue in Macbeth famously provides some comic relief in the centre of a dark, murderous play. Our director, Wils Wilson, wanted to harness the spirit of what Shakespeare intended but update its references so they were relevant to today’s society. This expanded into a very different way of approaching the entire scene:

  • Stand-up comedian, Stewart Lee, was approached to rewrite the text, using modern references. The result was a contemporary stand-up routine that breaks from the tone of the play completely and includes jokes about the Tories and GSCE drama and even contains a spoiler about the end of the play.
  • The porter is played by Scottish actress, Alison Peebles, who uses a traditional mic and stand to speak to the audience. This mic is used later by Macbeth to deliver his ‘Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow” soliloquy.
  • The comedy continues after the entrance of Macduff and Lennox, who play sidekicks to the porter’s comedy.
  • The porter is seen observing Macbeth in later scenes and silently leaves the castle with a backpack when Macbeth is certain to lose.

Resource PDFs

These printable PDFs can be used in the classroom to support the activities on this page.

  • Resource A -  Macbeth  in Ten Plot Points
  • Resource B - Act 1, Scene 4 (Edited)
  • Resource C - The Macbeths (Edited Scenes)
  • Resource D - Character Study
  • Resource E - Ambition & The Witches (Edited)
  • Resource F - The Porter: 'Knock, Knock!'

Download a PDF version of this Teacher Pack in full:  Macbeth  Teacher Pack 2023

Macbeth Production Photos

Valene Kane as Lady Macbeth and Reuben Joseph as Macbeth in Macbeth . 

Alison Peebles as Porter, George Anton as Macduff and Kevin Lennon as Lennox in Macbeth .

Eilidh Loan, Dylan Read and Amber Sylvia Edwards as the Witches in Macbeth . 

Reuben Joseph as Macbeth and Anna Russell-Martin as Banquo in Macbeth . 

Reuben Joseph as Macbeth and the company in Macbeth . 

Valene Kane as Lady Macbeth in Macbeth . 

George Anton as Macduff in Macbeth . 

Emma King as Lady Macduff and Dylan Read and Amber Sylvia Edwards as the Witches in Macbeth . 

The company of Macbeth . 

Amelia Isaac Jones as Donalbain and Shyvonne Ahmmad as Malcolm in Macbeth . 

Annie Grace as Ensemble/Musician in Macbeth . 

Benjamin Osugo as Angus in Macbeth . 

Th é r è se Bradley as Duncan, Shyvonne Ahmmad as Malcolm, Ryan Hunter as Ross and Anna Russell-Martin as Banquo in Macbeth . 

Alasdair Macrae as Bloody Captain in Macbeth . 

Alison Peebles as Porter in Macbeth . 

Reuben Joseph as Macbeth in Macbeth . 

Liam King as Fleance, Th é r è se Bradley as Duncan, Reuben Joseph as Macbeth and Amelia Isaac Jones as Donalbain in Macbeth . 

Michael Wallace as Young Siward in Macbeth . 

  • Rehearsal Room Approaches to Shakespeare
  • Activity Toolkits
  • Tales From Shakespeare Resources
  • Interactive Learning Resources
  • Teaching Shakespeare
  • Matilda The Musical Resources
  • Shakespeare Lives in Schools
  • RSC School Shakespeare

You may also like

macbeth theme activities

Shakespeare Learning Zone

macbeth theme activities

macbeth theme activities

William Shakespeare

Everything you need for every book you read..

Ambition Theme Icon

Macbeth is a play about ambition run amok. The weird sisters ' prophecies spur both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to try to fulfill their ambitions, but the witches never make Macbeth or his wife do anything. Macbeth and his wife act on their own to fulfill their deepest desires. Macbeth, a good general and, by all accounts before the action of the play, a good man, allows his ambition to overwhelm him and becomes a…

Ambition Theme Icon

From the moment the weird sisters tell Macbeth and Banquo their prophecies, both the characters and the audience are forced to wonder about fate. Is it real? Is action necessary to make it come to pass, or will the prophecy come true no matter what one does? Different characters answer these questions in different ways at different times, and the final answers are ambiguous—as fate always is.

Unlike Banquo, Macbeth acts: he kills Duncan …

Fate Theme Icon

To call Macbeth a violent play is an understatement. It begins in battle, contains the murder of men, women, and children, and ends not just with a climactic siege but the suicide of Lady Macbeth and the beheading of its main character, Macbeth . In the process of all this bloodshed, Macbeth makes an important point about the nature of violence: every violent act, even those done for selfless reasons, seems to lead inevitably to…

Violence Theme Icon

Nature and the Unnatural

In medieval times, it was believed that the health of a country was directly related to the goodness and moral legitimacy of its king. If the King was good and just, then the nation would have good harvests and good weather. If there was political order, then there would be natural order. Macbeth shows this connection between the political and natural world: when Macbeth disrupts the social and political order by murdering Duncan and usurping…

Nature and the Unnatural Theme Icon

Over and over again in Macbeth , characters discuss or debate about manhood: Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth when he decides not to kill Duncan, Banquo refuses to join Macbeth in his plot, Lady Macduff questions Macduff's decision to go to England, and on and on.

Through these challenges, Macbeth questions and examines manhood itself. Does a true man take what he wants no matter what it is, as Lady Macbeth believes? Or does a real…

Manhood Theme Icon

  • Varsity Tutors
  • K-5 Subjects
  • Study Skills
  • All AP Subjects
  • AP Calculus
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Computer Science
  • AP Human Geography
  • AP Macroeconomics
  • AP Microeconomics
  • AP Statistics
  • AP US History
  • AP World History
  • All Business
  • Business Calculus
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Supply Chain Management
  • All Humanities
  • Essay Editing
  • All Languages
  • Mandarin Chinese
  • Portuguese Chinese
  • Sign Language
  • All Learning Differences
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Special Education
  • College Math
  • Common Core Math
  • Elementary School Math
  • High School Math
  • Middle School Math
  • Pre-Calculus
  • Trigonometry
  • All Science
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Physical Chemistry
  • All Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Materials Science & Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Thermodynamics
  • Biostatistics
  • College Essays
  • High School
  • College & Adult
  • 1-on-1 Private Tutoring
  • Online Tutoring
  • Instant Tutoring
  • Pricing Info
  • All AP Exams
  • ACT Tutoring
  • ACT Reading
  • ACT Science
  • ACT Writing
  • SAT Tutoring
  • SAT Reading
  • SAT Writing
  • GRE Tutoring
  • NCLEX Tutoring
  • Real Estate License
  • And more...
  • StarCourses
  • Beginners Coding
  • Early Childhood
  • For Schools Overview
  • Talk with Our Team
  • Reviews & Testimonials
  • Press & Media Coverage
  • Tutor/Instructor Jobs
  • Corporate Solutions
  • About Nerdy
  • Become a Tutor

Web English Teacher

  • Book Reports
  • Children’s Literature
  • Interdisciplinary
  • Just for Fun
  • Literature (Prose)
  • Professional Resources
  • Reading/Literacy
  • Shakespeare
  • Study Guides
  • Technology Integration
  • Young Adult Literature

Macbeth by William Shakespeare Lesson plans and teaching resources

Teacher Guide to The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare How might students use storyboards to demonstrate and to extend their learning? Check the resources here. Includes essential questions, plot diagram, character maps, Aristotelian elements of the tragic hero, motifs and images, conflict analysis, more. Note: Storyboard That helps sponsor this site.

60-Second Shakespeare On this page, a summary of the play in tabloid style from the BBC. Follow links to learn how your students can produce something similar.

CliffsNotes Macbeth video The play in a 7-minute cartoon updated for contemporary audiences. Includes introduction of major themes. A great pre-reading activity!

English Class in Performance If you want your students to get up and perform Shakespeare, here are some abridged scripts: The Merchant of Venice , A Midsummer Night's Dream , Macbeth , Romeo and Juliet , and The Tempest .

Enjoying Macbeth by William Shakespeare Very extensive background, commentary, and analysis: enough gruesome trivia to keep a class fascinated.

Macbeth Theme: Lust for Power Can Lead to Loss of Humanity. Summary, theme openers, cross curricular activities, research assignments from McDougal Littel.

Macbeth Plot summary, themes, discussion of witchcraft, essay topics, more.

Macbeth A variety of post-reading activities, organized by level of difficulty.

Macbeth A variety of post-reading activities. Some projects address multiple intelligences.

Macbeth Reading strategies, including an anticipation guide, a biopoem, and vocabulary crossword puzzles.

| Macbeth plans, p. 1| | Macbeth plans, p. 2 | | Macbeth plans, p. 3 |

bing

Shakespeare's Globe

Shakespeare's Globe logo

Macbeth: Themes KS3

In these lessons, students will engage with the themes and ideas at the heart of the text, including the supernatural, power and loyalty. Tasks include: tracking recurring themes throughout the text; a close reading of the witches and apparitions in Act 4, Scene 1; and a card game which will help connect themes to characters and the text.

In order to benefit fully from these lesson plans, we recommend you use them in the following order:

  • Text in Performance

If students are new to the play, we suggest you start with these introductory KS3 Lesson Plans. If you would like to teach the play in greater detail, use the advanced  KS4/5 Lesson Plans .

These lesson plans are available in the Downloads section at the bottom of this page.   To download resources, you must be logged in.  Sign up   for free  to access this and other exclusive features .  Activities mentioned in these resources are available in a separate downloadable 'Student Booklet', also at the bottom of this page. The 'Teachers' Guide' download explains how best to use Teach Shakespeare and also contains a bibliography and appendices referencing the resources used throughout.

Key Questions for Students:

Can I explain what is meant by ‘theme’?

Can I list some of the key themes of Macbeth ?

Key words:  betrayal, death, family, loyalty, power, succession, supernatural, theme, trust, violence, war

Prologue: Opening Discussion

Display a montage of images connected to the plot of Macbeth . This is available in the Props PowerPoint in the Downloads section of this resource. Students should first of all identify as many items as they can from the montage (e.g. dagger), and secondly pick out as many ideas, themes and issues as they can that are suggested by the images in the montage (e.g. power, death, violence, war). 

Enter the Players: Group Tasks

1) Theme statues

Students are given pieces of paper which represent plaques for statues. They should write down the key themes of the play on these plaques, e.g. power, ambition, family, trust, fate, loyalty, unity, etc. Students work in pairs or threes to sculpt themselves into poses representing statues for the Scottish king’s castle. Which statues would Duncan choose for his castle? Which ones would Macbeth choose? What about Malcolm? As an extension activity, students could embellish the plaques by having an appropriate quotation from the play engraved onto each plaque. There is a page to create some theme ‘plaques’ in the Student Booklet.

macbeth theme activities

2) Recurring nightmares, recurring dreams

A theme can be defined as a recurring idea within a work of literature or other work of art. It could even be described as an idea that ‘haunts’ a work of literature, particularly if the theme is a rather sinister and eerie one! In groups, students could be assigned a macabre theme from Macbeth : violence, the supernatural, evil or madness. They should then identify at least three occasions when that theme makes its presence felt in the text. How and why does Shakespeare do this?

  • echoes (what would the audience hear? e.g. repeated words or phrases, other sounds)
  • visions (what would the audience see? e.g. action and stagecraft )
  • feelings (how would this make the audience feel?)

One or two groups could be asked to track more positive themes to look at how Shakespeare sows the seeds of a more hopeful resolution to the play, particularly through the figure of Macduff: e.g. goodness, healing, heroism, unity.

3) Pick a card...

Themes are important throughout a work of literature. To be able to write well about a theme in Macbeth , students will need to track its importance at different points in the play. Have students randomly select a card from each pile: a character, a theme, and a section of the play. The template for these cards can be found in the downloadable Lesson Plans at the bottom of this page. This game could be used in the following ways:

  • to support students in becoming more familiar with the play, and in moving more confidently around it and making quick connections
  • as a revision tool without the text
  • as the basis for detailed small group discussion involving close analysis of a specific passage, through the lenses of particular characters and themes
  • to prepare students for exam questions which ask them to write about one part of the play in the context of the whole text

macbeth theme activities

Exeunt: Closing Questions for Students

What would I say are the main themes in the Macbeth ?

What kinds of connections can I make between these themes?

How might a director draw out these themes on stage?

Suggested plenary activity…

Ask students to write a spell that lists the main themes from the play, using the witches’ spell from Act 4 Scene 1 as a model.

Aside: Further Resource

  • Students can play around with icons representing important themes from the play in this Clan Badge Maker:  2011.playingshakespeare.org/node/98 .

macbeth theme activities

Epilogue: Teacher's Note

Each of the themes mentioned in this learning sequence has a dedicated lesson within these materials. In depth activities linked to ‘Trust and Betrayal’ and ‘The Supernatural’ follow here in the Key Stage 3 section. Look in the Key Stage 4 materials for sections about ‘Appearance and Reality’, ‘Power and Ambition’, ‘Family and Succession’ and ‘Guilt and Conscience’ and for detailed guidance on writing about themes. 

Can I investigate how Shakespeare explores the themes of trust and betrayal in Macbeth ?

Can I explain how and why Macbeth goes from being a loyal subject to a murderous traitor?

Key words: allegiance, betrayal, loyalty, treachery, trust

trusting, trustworthy, traitor, credulous, gullible, loyal, faithful, naïve, allegiance, treachery, betrayal, believe, mistrust, doubt, wary, loyalty, faith, betray, suspicious, suspect

  • Group 1: find two words that mean the same thing
  • Group 2: find two words that are opposites
  • Group 3: find two words that have similar meanings but one sounds like a compliment and one sounds like a criticism
  • Group 4: find two words that are nouns
  • Group 5: find two words that are adjectives
  • Group 6: find two words that are verbs
  • Group 7: find two words that you might use about the relationship between a ruler and a subject
  • Group 8: find two words that you might use about a marriage

1) Trust games

The following two games, taken from Jessica Swale’s Drama Games for Classrooms and Workshop , will support students in talking about trust and developing trust as a group of players. (More detailed explanations of each game can be found in Swale’s book.)

  • Friendly Follower: A pair of students each has a turn of one leading the other around the room holding hands. The follower must have their eyes closed and the leader must ensure the follower is safe and doesn’t bump into things. Repeat, but this time the contact is reduced to fingertip to fingertip. Repeat for a third time with only the sound of the leader’s voice guiding the follower.
  • Falling Trees: One student stands in the middle of a tight circle of 6 to 8 students with no gaps. The students in the circle put their hands up, palms facing out and the student in the centre should have their arms up against their chest and their eyes closed. The student in the middle should gently start to lean and ‘fall’ like a falling tree. The group supports and protects the falling student, gently pushing them back and forth. Take it in turns to be the ‘falling tree’.

2) Text detectives: trust and distrust

For this activity, students will be closely reading and analysing two scenes from Act 1, in which trust and betrayal are established as important themes in the play. Model a close analysis of Act 1 Scene 2. Students could work more independently in groups looking for textual evidence in Act 1 Scene 4, and then collect their evidence in the ‘notebook’ in their Student Booklet.

  • Q) Who does Duncan trust? How do we know?
  • Q) Who doesn’t Duncan trust? How do we know?

macbeth theme activities

3) Murder suspects

This activity can be used as a follow-up to ‘Text detectives’ and it is another activity that makes use of students’ language analysis skills. Duncan has been murdered and students must make notes about suspects and what their motives for murder might be. Say to students that they don’t have much evidence to go on, but that a new piece of evidence has come to light. It is a recording of Macbeth (taken from a speech in Act 3 Scene 1):

Read these lines or play the recording of them. Students should make notes in the Student Booklet about:

A: any evidence they feel is incriminating in relation to Duncan’s murder

B: any evidence of new crimes being plotted

C: any clues about motives for these crimes

Does Macbeth trust anyone in the play?

How trusting is the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

What part do trust and betrayal play in the relationships between different characters in Macbeth ?

Create a colourful, illustrated mindmap with the words ‘trust/betrayal’ in the middle. Reflect the importance of these themes in the play in terms of characters, their situations, relationships and their motivations.

Students could write an account of their experiences of the trust games in the Rehearsal Diary pages of the Student Booklet. They should give examples of how these insights could be reflected in the way a certain character might be played, or how a certain scene might be staged.

Can I identify why Macbeth  has a reputation for being a dark and unsettling play?

How might modern and Jacobean audiences react to the supernatural elements in the play?

Key words: audience, apparition, context, curse, supernatural

Students could be shown the following words: prophecy, ghost, omen, apparition, witch, curse, superstition. They should:

  • Write down what they think the connection is between all of the words.
  • what the word makes them think of
  • what the word means to them
  • connections to other stories, films, poems, news stories, etc.
  • any ideas about the connection between their word and Macbeth

Given the topic of the lesson, students can go to town making their word webs look spidery! Take feedback on each word.

1) The Macbeth  curse

Read the handout ‘The curse of Macbeth’ in the Student Booklet, taken from Ben Crystal’s book Shakespeare on Toast . Students should answer the quick information retrieval questions and then come up with a list of reasons why, in Crystal’s words, ‘ Macbeth seems to cause a certain amount of trepidation.’ Finally an extension question asks students to consider why the play might have caused a great deal of trepidation on the part of audiences as well as players when it was staged. Students could try to include some of the vocabulary from the starter activity. This question, requiring some research, would work well as a homework task.

2) Staging the banquet scene

As an introduction to this task, students could look closely at three images from past productions of the banquet scene in Macbeth at the Globe. They should comment on some of the different staging decisions and give evidence. These can be shown to students using the The Table’s Full PowerPoint (available in the Downloads section at the bottom of this page).

macbeth theme activities

Take some brief feedback about what they have noticed, and then watch Act 3 Scene 4 of the 2010 production starring James Garnon:

Discuss with students how they interpret this staging of the scene, thinking about:

  • the effect of the audience being able to see Banquo
  • the effect of the audience being able to see Banquo before Macbeth does
  • the use of music in this scene and its effects
  • the effect of Banquo’s reappearance in the galleries

Taking all of this analysis into consideration, ask students whether they think that Macbeth’s vision of Banquo has a supernatural explanation. Is Banquo really haunting Macbeth? How else might we interpret his appearance?

3) 'Call ‘em; let me see’em.'

There is plenty of scope in Act 4 Scene 1 for spectacle when Macbeth returns to the witches. Macbeth demands answers and what follows in the script opens up a wealth of opportunities in terms of drama and design. Students should read lines 68-133 from the Student Booklet as a class or in groups, with one student reading the stage directions. Students can briefly discuss ideas about staging this section of the scene and the effect they want it to have on the audience. 

[Thunder. First Apparition, an armed head]

Macbeth:     Tell me, thou unknown power, -

First Witch:  He knows thy thought: Hear his speech, but say thou nought.

First Apparition:  Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife. – Dismiss me. – Enough.

Macbeth:      Whate’er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks: Thou hast harp’d my fear aright. But one word more:-

First Witch:   He will not be commanded. Here’s another,  More potent than the first.

[Thunder. Second Apparition, a bloody child]

Second Apparition:  Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! –

Macbeth:   Had I three ears, I’d hear thee.

Second Apparition:  Be bloody, bold and resolute: laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth.              

Macbeth: Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet I’ll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of Fate: thou shalt not live, That I may tell a pale-hearted fear it lies, And sleep in spite of thunder. –

[Thunder. Third Apparition, a child crowned, with a tree in his hand]

               What is this, That rises like the issue of a king; And wears upon his baby brow the round And top of sovereignty?

All:      Listen, but speak not to’t.

Third Apparition: Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him.                

Macbeth:  That will never be: Who can impress the forest; bid the tree Unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements! Good! Rebellious dead, rise never, till the wood Of Birnam rise; and our high-plac’d Macbeth Shall live the lease of Nature, pay his breath To time, and mortal custom. – Yet my heart Throbs to know one thing: tell me (if your art Can tell so much), shall Banquo’s issue ever Reign in this kingdom?

All:      Seek to know no more.

Macbeth:  I will be satisfied: deny me this, And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know –  Why sinks this cauldron? and what noise is this?

First Witch: Show!

Second Witch: Show!

Third Witch: Show!

All: Show his eyes, and grieve his heart; Come like shadows, so depart.

[A show of eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand;    Banquo following]

Macbeth:   Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo: down! Thy crown doth sear mine eye-balls:- and thy hair, Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first:- A third is like the former: - filthy hags! Why do you show me this? – A fourth? – Start, eyes! What! will the line stretch out to th’ crack of doom? Another yet? – A seventh? – I’ll see no more: - And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass, Which shows me many more; and some I see, That two-fold balls and treble sceptres carry. Horrible sight! – Now, I see, ‘tis true; For the blood-bolter’d Banquo smiles upon me, And points at them for his. – What! is this so?

First Witch:   Ay, Sir, all this is so: - but why Stands Macbeth thus amazedly? – Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites, And show the best of our delights. I’ll charm the air to give a sound, While you perform your antic round; That this great King may kindly say, Our duties did his welcome pay.

[Music. The Witches dance, and vanish.]

Macbeth:  Where are they? Gone? – Let this pernicious hour Stand aye accursed in the calendar! –

Students should then devise a storyboard, bringing to life their ideas about the look of the scene and how the apparitions will present themselves to Macbeth. Ideas to think about include:

  • positioning of Macbeth as he watches
  • lighting and sound effects, e.g. thunder
  • appearance, positioning and movement of the witches and the apparitions
  • use of music
  • use of spaces below or above stage
  • Macbeth’s reactions, e.g. his ‘running commentary’ during the show of kings

Students can draw on interests in drawing, collage, photography, dance, etc. to develop their personal response to this task, which can be completed in the Student Booklet.

Do you agree that Macbeth  is a play about supernatural forces?

How do you think the average modern audience reacts to the supernatural elements in the play?

What about in Shakespeare’s time?

Allocate to pairs of students different words that could be used to explain the events in the play, e.g. magic, fate, evil, greed, ambition, love, grief, jealousy, temptation, insecurity, etc. Ask students to share a sentence or two with a strong argument for their explanation.

Asides: Further Resources

  • Students might enjoy watching the Blackadder episode (‘Sense and Senility’ from Series 3) in which Edmund teases the actors by repeatedly mentioning ‘The Scottish Play’!
  • Who are the Witches? Students can read a short essay on this subject here: 2011.playingshakespeare.org/themes-and-issues/the-witches
  • Students can watch Act 4 Scene 1 from the production starring James Garnon below:

You will find suitable further materials within the Key Stage 4 materials to develop an understanding of this theme in the play. One of the lessons under Language  explores the otherworldly qualities of the witches’ language. One of the lessons under Historical and Social Context  supports students’ knowledge and understanding about how witchcraft was viewed in Shakespeare’s time.

Want to download these resources and more? Log in or sign up to Teach Shakespeare.

Log in or sign up to add your own notes.

  • International
  • Topical and themed
  • Early years
  • Special needs
  • Schools directory
  • Resources Jobs Schools directory News Search

English resources for teaching Macbeth

Australia and new zealand, international schools, tes resources team.

The witches from secondary English resources to teach Macbeth

"Double, double, toil and trouble..."

Macbeth is one of the most frequently taught Shakespeare plays, and for good reason - with witches, kings, madness and murder, it has great potential to engage young people once they get over any fears about its difficulty. We have selected a range of our favourite Macbeth resources below, focusing on Lady Macbeth, the witches and tools to aid understanding and revision. 

Looking for more secondary English resources? Visit our secondary English collection .

If you're about to start teaching Macbeth, the full scheme of work below could be perfect for giving you ideas on how to approach teaching the themes and action of the play - it includes ideas to fill 17 lessons. If you're teaching the context of Macbeth or looking for worksheets on every scene we have these engaging resources to get you started.

Macbeth Scheme of Work

Macbeth Scheme of Work

Macbeth Worksheets

Macbeth Worksheets

Macbeth - Context

Macbeth - Context

The witches.

The three witches are a great way into Macbeth as they can so easily capture the imagination of young people. Explore the Weird Sisters' role in the play with resources analysing key scenes, the witches' influence on Macbeth and their characterisation and Shakespeare's use of language to present them.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare: The Role of the Witches

Macbeth by William Shakespeare: The Role of the Witches

Macbeth: The Witches

Macbeth: The Witches

Macbeth Witches PowerPoint

Macbeth Witches PowerPoint

Macbeth     The Witches

Macbeth The Witches

Lady macbeth.

Use these resources to help your students analyse this infamous villain of literature - including an analysis of how she changes throughout the play. To help students explore Lady Macbeth, we have also selected an activity putting the character on trial as well as learning mats with key knowledge.

Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth on trial

Lady Macbeth Learning Mat

Lady Macbeth Learning Mat

Macbeth revision.

These resources have been selected to help KS4 students revise the key themes, characters and action of the play - including a detailed knowledge organiser, colour-coded key quotations, practice essay questions and a comprehensive revision guide.

Macbeth Revision

Macbeth Revision

Shakespeare's Macbeth: key quotations for GCSE

Shakespeare's Macbeth: key quotations for GCSE

Macbeth Knowledge Organiser/ Revision Mat!

Macbeth Knowledge Organiser/ Revision Mat!

Macbeth Exam Questions

Macbeth Exam Questions

Storyboard That

  • My Storyboards
  • Log In / Register

Themes, Symbols, and Motifs in Macbeth

In this activity, activity overview, template and class instructions, more storyboard that activities, this activity is part of many teacher guides.

Macbeth Symbols, Motifs, & Themes

Themes, symbols, and motifs are valuable aspects of any literary work, and they add richness to stories. Part of the Common Core ELA standards is to introduce and explain these complex concepts. However, abstract ideas are often difficult for students to analyze without assistance. Using a storyboard, students can visually demonstrate their understanding of these concepts, and master analysis of literary elements. For best practices, see our supplementary article with specific lesson plan steps on setting up your classroom and activities to teach themes, symbols, and motifs.

As a classroom activity, students could track the rich symbolism William Shakespeare uses throughout Macbeth . In the example storyboard above, the creator has focused on Shakespeare's use of visions in the play. The recurrence of this motif throughout the play proves its significance. Since Macbeth's actions weigh heavily on his conscious, it is not surprising that he would have some second thoughts. The visions Macbeth and his wife consistently see throughout the play serve as constant reminders of their ambition and corruption.

Themes and Ideas to Discuss

Things are not what they seem.

Throughout the play, the idea that ‘fair is foul, and foul is fair’ is repeated. What you expect is not what will come about.

Nature at War with Itself / Man Goes Against his Nature

Another favorite theme is that nature is ominous and that it foreshadows and mimics what is to become of Macbeth and Macbeth's actions.

Macbeth and his wife’s personal ambition to control the crown ultimately ends up controlling them.

Motifs and Imagery to Look For

Supernatural.

Ghosts, witches, and spirits are used throughout the play to add a sense of suspicion and suspense.

The blood that was spilled because of Macbeth's ambition continuously reappears as a physical reminder that he cannot wash away his evil deeds.

Sanity/Insanity

As his corruption begins to control him, Macbeth and his wife slip out of reality and struggle between sanity and insanity.

Order/Disorder

Order and disorder surround the new king and queen. The order of their rule clashes with the chaos they have caused. This links to the theme that things are not what they seem.

Sleep/Insomnia

The motif of sleep (or sleeplessness) surrounds the tyrants as they struggle to overcome their deeds.

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes, symbols, and motifs in Macbeth . Illustrate instances of each and write a short description below each cell.

  • Click "Start Assignment".
  • Identify the theme(s) from Macbeth you wish to include and replace the "Theme 1" text.
  • Create an image for an example that represents this theme.
  • Write a description of each of the examples.
  • Add additional cells as needed.

Themes in Literature

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 11-12

Difficulty Level 5 (Advanced / Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual or Group

Type of Activity: Themes, Symbols & Motifs

  • [ELA-Literacy/RL/11-12/1] Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain
  • [ELA-Literacy/RL/11-12/3] Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed)
  • [ELA-Literacy/RL/11-12/4] Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric .)

How to Teach Themes, Symbols, and Motifs to Students with Special Needs

Introduction and engagement.

Begin by discussing the concept of themes, symbols, and motifs in literature, emphasizing that these elements can help students understand and enjoy stories better. Use visual aids and simple, concrete examples to explain the terms, such as showing pictures that represent common symbols or using real-life objects as symbols. Discuss the specific goals and expectations of the lesson and clarify the importance of each element (themes, symbols, and motifs) in understanding Macbeth.

Simplified Reading and Visualization

Provide students with simplified versions or excerpts from Macbeth to make the content more accessible. Use visual schedules or timers to manage time and ensure students' engagement. Read a short section aloud, then encourage students to identify and discuss any themes, symbols, or motifs they recognize. Use visual aids and tactile materials to represent symbols or motifs from the text. For example, show a crown symbol to represent themes of power and ambition.

Hands-On Activities and Personalized Support

Engage students in hands-on activities tailored to their specific needs. For example: Create a tactile storyboard with textured symbols or motifs. Use assistive technology (e.g., text-to-speech software) to help students process the content. Encourage students to draw or color symbols and motifs they've identified. Offer one-on-one or small group support as needed to ensure understanding and participation.

Discussion and Consolidation

Encourage students to share their observations and interpretations with the class. Use the whiteboard to create a visual summary of themes, symbols, and motifs discussed during the lesson. Review the main points of the lesson and highlight the progress made in understanding Macbeth through themes and symbols. Distribute a simplified visual guide or summary to reinforce key concepts and provide students with a reference.

Frequently Asked Questions about Themes, Symbols, and Motifs in Macbeth

What is the central theme of "macbeth," and how does it drive the plot.

The central theme of "Macbeth" is ambition. Macbeth's insatiable ambition for power and his wife's encouragement lead to a series of destructive actions, including murder and betrayal. This ambition drives the plot as it sets in motion a chain of events that ultimately results in chaos, death, and Macbeth's own downfall. The play explores the consequences of unchecked ambition and the corrupting influence of power.

What are some other literary works that use similar themes, symbols, and motifs as "Macbeth"?

Many literary works explore themes, symbols, and motifs similar to those found in "Macbeth." One notable example is William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," which also delves into themes of ambition, guilt, and the supernatural. Additionally, "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald examines themes of ambition, wealth, and the American Dream. In terms of symbolism, the use of blood and darkness in "Macbeth" finds parallels in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart." Similarly, motifs of deception and the corrupting nature of power are evident in George Orwell's "Animal Farm."

What are some worksheet ideas that guide students in critically analyzing and discussing the themes of "Macbeth"?

Worksheet ideas include character analysis, theme comparisons, symbol exploration, group discussions, and essay prompts, all designed to facilitate deep theme analysis in 'Macbeth'.

Tragedy of Macbeth, The

Macbeth by William Shakespeare - Five Act Structure

Try 1 Month For

30 Day Money Back Guarantee New Customers Only Full Price After Introductory Offer

Learn more about our Department, School, and District packages

Example of using the storyboard Creator

  • Thousands of images
  • Custom layouts, scenes, characters
  • And so much more!!

Create a Storyboard

No Sweat Shakespeare

Macbeth Themes

Macbeth is a favorite choice by teachers introducing teenagers to the Bard, often with a focus on examining the Macbeth themes. The play is a great theatrical triumph, offering audiences of all ages everything we could ask for in a drama. It has a strong supernatural element, something that is very much in fashion today, sex, revenge, lots of violence, and – the cream on top – it’s a thriller, a gripping murder story. It grips us in exactly the same way as it did our ancestors four centuries ago. And on top of all that it’s a great work of literature.

So let us get down to looking at the main themes in Macbeth. Macbeth explores several ideas or key themes throughout the play.  Here are four of the key themes in Macbeth:

1. Theme of Appearance and Reality in Macbeth

Something that preoccupies Shakespeare, and which he brings into every one of his plays, is the way that so many things in life are not what they seem. That is a very strong thematic strain in Macbeth … so much so that we’ve pulled together the most significant Macbeth ambition quotes with some commentary.

In the first moments of the play we see the witches chanting “Fair is foul and foul is fair.”  That’s the statement of this theme. Things that seem good will be bad and things that seem bad will be good. When Duncan arrives at Glamys he comments on how lovely it is. Banquo, who is traveling with him says, “the heaven’s breath smells wooingly here,” but it is far from a heaven. Lady Macbeth has just finished describing it as a hell, and indeed, that’s what it turns out to be, with conspiracy and murder. And those things from people who are regarded as good, faithful, loyal, trustworthy. As Lady Macbeth puts it, one should “look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it.” It’s one of Shakespeare’s most striking images of this theme.

Macbeth is confused by the witches  – they seem to be women but they have beards. They are not what they seem. Then they set out something that seems quite simple, clear, and attractive – that he will be king. But it’s not simple and clear, and in fact, it’s chaotic, and he will have to be disloyal and commit several crimes to achieve it. Confusion is the tone throughout – confusion about what is right and what is wrong, what is fair and what is foul. Those things hover chaotically through the fog of understanding.

On his way to kill Duncan Macbeth sees a dagger, but it’s not real. The dagger is the thing that’s been in his mind since encountering the witches, even when he’s smiling at Duncan. As Donalbain puts it “there’s daggers in men’s smiles,” another striking image o the theme. Macbeth also sees Banquo’s ghost, which is not real.

This theme pervades the play and is evident in every scene – for example, Malcolm presenting himself as evil, a dangerous tyrant, who would terrorise his subjects if he became king. He is concealing his goodness and pretending to be bad to test Macduff. At the end of the play, we find that the witches have deceived Macbeth in a series of lies. Macbeth believes himself to be invincible – that no man of woman born can harm him – but he discovers that it’s a trick: his sense of invulnerability has been an illusion and the reality is that he is vulnerable, and he’s killed by Macduff.

2. Theme of Ambition in Macbeth

Macbeth is very much about ambition. It’s introduced at the beginning as part of the political setting. As the play opens we learn about some Scottish rebels who have been trying to wrest power away from the rightful king, Duncan, and elevate themselves into powerful positions. Their ambition backfires and they are defeated.

In the modern world, we rather admire ambition but Shakespeare saw it more as a corrupting force and his ambitious characters like Julius Caesar and Macbeth come to sticky ends while pursuing it. And in Macbeth’s case, once he gives way to ambition he is transformed from a good to an evil man. He recognises his ambition as being overwhelming – ‘vaulting ambition’ he calls it – but he knows that he doesn’t have the strength to resist it.

In Macbeth ambition is not straightforward. Who is the ambitious character? It is not only Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is just as ambitious as he is, and arguably more so. Macbeth seems to be an Aristotelian tragic hero but that is complicated by Lady Macbeth’s role in the play. In terms of classical tragedy, Macbeth seems to fit into the pattern. He’s a hero, highly regarded by the other feudal lords of Scotland. When the idea strikes him that he can become king he believes that all he has to do is kill Duncan, he will be elected king, and he will live happily ever after as king. The rest of the play works that idea through and throws up its various complications. In the end, the hero, by now regarded as a villain, is brought down by his fatal flaw – ambition. That is the Aristotelian tragic idea.

There’s far more than that to it though. What about Lady Macbeth? At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is still a good man and his naturally good qualities, which his wife sees as faults, stall him. This is where Lady Macbeth’s ambition becomes evident.   She uses all the tactics at her disposal – her sexuality, emotional blackmail, flattery – to ensure that he carries out the murder. Then she herself begins to resemble a classical tragic hero. So here we have two different models of ambition, and two different examples of a classical tragic hero.

Ambition, resulting in the murder of the divinely given king, entails a series of violations of the natural order, all of which return to haunt Macbeth relentlessly. These are the consequences of giving way to ambition. Killing one’s king is a violation of nature, and in violating nature Macbeth forfeits the benefits of its regenerative power. He becomes an insomniac unable to benefit from the regeneration that sleep brings. Lady Macbeth, as guilty as he is, goes mad and takes her own life.

3. Theme of Guilt in Macbeth

Macbeth could almost be seen as a dissertation on guilt. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth suffer the most torturous guilt as a result of their regicide.

Modern English has an idiom to describe the state of someone who is guilty of great violence. We say that they have blood on their hands. Shakespeare has these two characters literally covered in blood then uses the blood on their hands to carve out his theme, equating blood with guilt. The word ‘blood’ appears 109 times in the text, and, using it, or referring to it, Shakespeare makes some of the most beautiful poetry in the English language. After the murder, Macbeth stares at his red hands in horror and says “What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine eyes/Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather/The multitudinous seas incarnadine,/Making the green one red.” We see such images all the way through.

As his guilt grips him Macbeth begins to imagine things – the ghost of Banquo, the friend he murdered – those hallucinations begin even before the actual killing when he imagines a dagger hanging in the air in front of his eyes. His guilt is already evident. Lady Macbeth’s guilt expresses itself in nightmares, also featuring blood, in which she relives the killing of Duncan. The whole text is a dramatisation of guilt. The couple do not live to enjoy the fruits of their misdeed: from the moment of the murder until their deaths their lives are intolerable, made so by the anguish of guilt.

 4. Theme of Sin and Retribution in Macbeth

‘Sin and Retribution’ is an Old Testament way of describing Crime and Punishment . Sin has religious associations whereas crime does not. In the same way retribution goes beyond punishment. You can be punished by being imprisoned or executed but retribution suggests something nasty that may happen to you after your death. Shakespeare’s audience would all have believed that if you behaved yourself and went to church an eternity of bliss awaited you but if you sinned then you had an eternity of torture to look forward to.

That is one of the tensions in this play. Macbeth is worried about what he is about to do because of that fear of retribution, but his yearning to be king is so powerful that he’s willing to make the exchange.

There is a crime at the centre of this play: the murder of a king. Macbeth decides to kill the king and does. But this is more than a crime. It is a grave sin: he kills the king who has been chosen by God. But it is even worse. Duncan is his cousin. So there are two crimes – one against family and one against state. And there’s another – a crime against trust. Duncan is murdered by his host.  Macbeth contemplates this as he is churning it over in his mind: he should “against the murderer shut the door/Not bear the knife myself.” His responsibility as a host was to protect his guest, so murdering him is a massive betrayal.

All that amounts to a grave sin. Macbeth considers all that and concludes that it would be alright if it weren’t for the ‘life to come.’ If he could skip that… but he knows he can’t. If he murders Duncan the hereafter will be waiting for him. Retribution is certain and it will be in proportion to his sin – which is very serious. He almost gives up and, in fact, makes that decision but at that moment Lady Macbeth appears and makes him change his mind.

We are reminded of the presence of Hell all through the play, in the events and in the imagery. The evil sisters, the witches, are a constant presence, guiding Macbeth towards his destruction. Glamys, the castle of the Macbeths is a representation of Hell, its hellish atmosphere created by the language of Lady Macbeth – its “thick night,” its “murdering ministers,”  its “dunnest smoke of hell,” its blanket of darkness.

At the end of the play, Macbeth receives his punishment for the crime – he is decapitated by Macduff – but the divine retribution expresses itself in guilt, insomnia, paranoia and the fear of what is to come.

Shakespeare Themes by Play

Hamlet themes , Macbeth themes , Romeo and Juliet themes

Shakespeare Themes by Topic

Ambition, Appearance & Reality , Betrayal , Conflict , Corruption , Death , Deception , Good & Evil , Hatred , Order & Disorder , Revenge , Suffering , Transformation

macbeth's blood covered face - a recurring theme in the play

Macbeth’s blood-covered face… with blook being one of the recurring Macbeth themes

What do you think of these Macbeth themes – any that you don’t agree with, or would add? Let us know in the comments section below!

  • Pinterest 0

fhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

order and chaos

hi

I think Good vs Evil should be added

Leave a Reply

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

follow on facebook

macbeth act 1 theme

All Formats

Resource types, all resource types.

  • Rating Count
  • Price (Ascending)
  • Price (Descending)
  • Most Recent

Macbeth act 1 theme

Preview of Macbeth Acts 1 - 3 Theme Review Assignment

Macbeth Acts 1 - 3 Theme Review Assignment

macbeth theme activities

  • Word Document File

Preview of Macbeth Act 1 Scene 1 - Themes and Key Terminology Lesson

Macbeth Act 1 Scene 1 - Themes and Key Terminology Lesson

macbeth theme activities

Macbeth Quizzes for Whole Play - EDITABLE Quiz for Macbeth Act 1 , 2, 3, 4 & 5

macbeth theme activities

Macbeth Unit Bundle - No-prep teaching materials for grades 9-12!

macbeth theme activities

Macbeth Activities Bundle -Analysis Activities for Act 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, Whole Play

Preview of Macbeth Comprehension & Analysis Questions for Acts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 - Study Guide

Macbeth Comprehension & Analysis Questions for Acts 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 - Study Guide

  • Google Apps™

Preview of AP Macbeth Comprehensive Unit

AP Macbeth Comprehensive Unit

macbeth theme activities

Macbeth - Act 1 Multiple Choice and Short Answer Quiz

macbeth theme activities

Macbeth Soliloquies - Reading Annotation & Analysis Activities, Act 1 , 2, 3, 5

macbeth theme activities

  • Easel Activity

Preview of Macbeth Act 1 Activities - Scene-by-Scene Analysis Activities for Macbeth

Macbeth Act 1 Activities - Scene-by-Scene Analysis Activities for Macbeth

Preview of A trio of BUNDLES - Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet

A trio of BUNDLES - Macbeth , Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet

macbeth theme activities

Macbeth Test Acts 1 -3 (for Modern Translation)

macbeth theme activities

Macbeth Questions & Quizzes - Macbeth Analysis Acts 1 , 2, 3, 4 and 5 Whole Play

Preview of Two Bundles Combined - Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet

Two Bundles Combined - Macbeth , Romeo and Juliet

Preview of Macbeth Starting the Play - Pre-Reading, Background, Act 1, & Plot Map

Macbeth Starting the Play - Pre-Reading, Background, Act 1 , & Plot Map

macbeth theme activities

Macbeth Acts 1 and 2 test: MODIFIED AND UNMODIFIED with KEYS

macbeth theme activities

Macbeth Test Acts 4-5 (for Modern Translation)

Preview of MACBETH Act 1 Character Map Quiz, Worksheet, Review, Study Sheet -- NO PREP

MACBETH Act 1 Character Map Quiz, Worksheet, Review, Study Sheet -- NO PREP

macbeth theme activities

  • Google Slides™

Preview of Macbeth Acts 1 and 2 Test BOTH UNMODIFIED AND MODIFIED versions and KEY

Macbeth Acts 1 and 2 Test BOTH UNMODIFIED AND MODIFIED versions and KEY

Preview of MACBETH ACT ONE EDITABLE TEST - Assessment with answer keys

MACBETH ACT ONE EDITABLE TEST - Assessment with answer keys

macbeth theme activities

Macbeth GAME - mapping a Macbeth overview Act 1 - 5

Preview of Macbeth Act 1 Quiz (Printable Multiple Choice + Answer Key Included)

Macbeth Act 1 Quiz (Printable Multiple Choice + Answer Key Included)

macbeth theme activities

Macbeth Act 1 Guided Reading Comprehension & Analysis Unit - Analysis Questions

Preview of Macbeth for middle-school unit

Macbeth for middle-school unit

  • We're hiring
  • Help & FAQ
  • Privacy policy
  • Student privacy
  • Terms of service
  • Tell us what you think

macbeth theme activities

Macbeth Themes: 25 Days of Writing and Discussion Prompts

Description, additional information.

This Macbeth Themes Pack Includes: 25 Different themes for 25 days of teaching Macbeth! -Each day bring one up on the smart board, projector, or overhead -Coincide the theme with which part of the play you are currently reading. You can pick from 25!

-As students enter —Great Bell Ringer/ Do Now writing prompt. -Fantastic post reading writing prompt. -Easy way to start a pre-reading or post-reading discussion

-Print them out and place them around the room at stations… -Assign partners to discuss/write about one and then present to class -Place at your Macbeth literary center as a task

Colorful, clear, thought provoking, and eye catching.

**THIS PRODUCT is also included in the Macbeth Teaching Pack, sold in my store** http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Macbeth-Notes-Characters-Quizzes-Prompts-PowerPoint-Test-Key

Created by Danielle Knight, © Study All Knight ™, The Knight Stuff, LLC

Related products

macbeth theme activities

Pi Day Activity Collaborative Poster With Writing Prompt

macbeth theme activities

Martin Luther King Jr, Writing Activity, Timeline, Sketch Notes, Teacher Lesson

Escape by the Morning! The Tell-Tale Heart Digital Escape Room

Digital Escape Room, the Tell-tale Heart, Edgar Allan Poe Escape by the Morning

The Monkey's Paw Digital Escape Room

Digital Escape Room, the Monkey’s Paw, W.w. Jacobs, Escape the Three Wishes!

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Escape Room

Digital Escape Room, the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Escape the Woods

Exciting teaching tools.

Subscribe and receive a FREE body biography for your classroom straight to your inbox!

  • Study All Knight
  • Site design by Laine Sutherland Designs
  • TERMS & CONDITIONS

Writing Explained

Macbeth Themes – Meaning and Main Ideas

Home » Literature Explained – Literary Synopses and Book Summaries » Macbeth – William Shakespeare » Macbeth Themes – Meaning and Main Ideas

Main Theme of Macbeth – Introduction

Macbeth is set in northern Scotland in the 11th Century. This part of Scotland is known for being dark, rainy, damp, and cold. All of these features of the setting contribute to the gloomy and fearful mood of the play. The play opens as the Three Witches meet during a storm, which enhances the sense that some evil and/or deception is at play before the main characters and plot are even introduced.

This violent and depressing weather of dreary northern Scotland plays in with the story’s motifs. These motifs help to reinforce the overall themes of the play. First, the motif of violence ties directly in with the weather. For example, when King Duncan is murdered, an unrelenting storm rages on throughout the night. The weather tends to mirror the violent action of the play and enhances the sense of disorder and chaos that the characters go through. Another motif is that of prophecy. The Three Witches prophesize that Macbeth will become king of Scotland among other things. Almost all of their prophecies come true but the mystery that is emphasized with the gloomy and foggy weather holds with the prophecies as well—were they really destined to be through some metaphysical workings? Or were they simply self-fulfilling? A final notable motif is hallucinations. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth become consumed with guilt as their environment becomes more and more unstable and they cause more and more crimes and killings to be carried out. They hallucinate as a result of their guilt and see many eerie spectral images that refuse to let them have any peace. Everything in this play works together to create an unsettled atmosphere that contributes to the madness of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and subsequently their total demise.

Themes in Macbeth

Here’s a list of major themes in Macbeth .

The Destruction of Unchecked Power

  • Masculinity

Theme of Ambition

macbeth themes ambition

Theme of Masculinity

How easily masculinity can lend itself to cruelty – Gender is a frequently occurring issue in Macbeth. Lady Macbeth tends to be seen as a character who subverts gender norms because she influences and controls her husband. Her power and ambition lead her to manipulate her husband to do as she wishes. It is implied that she uses her sexual influence over him in order to maintain power. However, masculine traits are an inherent part of Macbeth’s characters as well. In a similar way that Lady Macbeth goads her husband into action, Macbeth questions the manhood of the killers that he has hired to murder Banquo and his sons. He does this to prompt them to take the most effective method of action that they can—to not fail. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth uphold masculinity as a way to manipulate and get what they want. Both fail to consider the effects that this has on people around them. Ultimately, it can be seen that any time masculinity is flexed as a tool, violence and chaos follow. It is important to note that damaging masculinity is not only seen in male characters. In fact, Lady Macbeth is not the only character who uses her masculine side as a tool. The Witches and the goddess Hecate do this as well by summoning their power to direct chaotic energy upon people’s lives. Another case of masculinity being tied to violence is when Macduff finds out that Macbeth has murdered his wife and child. Instead of mourning, he vows to get revenge upon Macbeth.

Theme of Guilt

macbeth theme of guilt

Macbeth game

Examples from our community, 3952 results for 'macbeth game'.

Macbeth Act 1 scene 1 - quiz

IMAGES

  1. Macbeth Interactive Games & Activities by Room 213

    macbeth theme activities

  2. Pin on Notes

    macbeth theme activities

  3. Themes and Symbols

    macbeth theme activities

  4. Macbeth Character Collages: An Interactive Digital Activity

    macbeth theme activities

  5. Teaching Macbeth? Looking for activities? Start each day of your

    macbeth theme activities

  6. English4everyone1: Macbeth Themes

    macbeth theme activities

VIDEO

  1. Macbeth

  2. Macbeth Play

  3. Macbeth YouTube

  4. Macbeth Project

  5. macbeth

  6. Macbeth

COMMENTS

  1. Meaningful and Fun Activities for Teaching Macbeth

    Here are some Macbeth intro activities that will spark their curiosity and help set the tone of the play: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ashley Bible 📚 English Educator (@buildingbooklove) Macbeth Hook with Ambient Media: When you are thinking about how to introduce Macbeth, go rummaging through your Halloween decorations.

  2. 12 excellent teaching resources for Macbeth

    3. Take a personality quiz As you know, teaching Macbeth to high school students requires capturing their interest. And for teens, one of the best ways to do that is to relate the content to their own lives. A great way to do that is this fun pre-reading activity for Macbeth, a personality quiz by High School Help.

  3. Learning

    There are lots of themes you can choose to explore in Macbeth, including: Ambition Kingship Fate and free will Grief and despair Loyalty and deception Rebellion Duty and honour You can discover more about these themes and where they appear in the text in our Themes Resource. DOWNLOAD FREE RESOURCES

  4. How to Get Students Excited About Macbeth / Moore English

    Reading Instruction Macbeth was the first Shakespeare play I ever taught, and it helped me appreciate how much fun your students can have while acting out a drama in the classroom! Here are some of my favorite activities and lessons to use with William Shakespeare's Macbeth. this … This post this post may contain affiliate links .

  5. Macbeth Teacher Pack 2023

    About the production . This 2023 production of Macbeth sets the ambition and fall of Shakespeare's most infamous couple in a future dystopian world, pitching its powerful, foreboding themes and imagery against a cruel ruined earth. Directed by Wils Wilson and designed by Georgia McGuinness, it is an interpretation for our time, closely examining the nature of evil and our most selfish ...

  6. Macbeth by William Shakespeare Summary

    Five Act Structure Characters Tragic Hero William Shakespeare's Macbeth continues to be one of his most celebrated plays, even today. While it is not one of his more elaborately constructed works, it nonetheless examines the complicated nature of the human soul, especially when tempted with power and ambition.

  7. PDF MACBETH

    PRIMARY ACTIVITY Click on the witches in the Character Who's Who section on this page. It opens up a gallery of images of witches in different productions of Macbeth. Which images look most like the witches you imagine?

  8. Macbeth Themes

    Fate From the moment the weird sisters tell Macbeth and Banquo their prophecies, both the characters and the audience are forced to wonder about fate. Is it real? Is action necessary to make it come to pass, or will the prophecy come true no matter what one does?

  9. PDF MACBETH TEACHErs' PACk

    Lady Macbeth persuades her husband to change his mind. The cast explore different ways of performing the scene. 8 6'23 act 2 Scene 2 Bloody daggerS Macbeth has committed the murder and is overcome with guilt and fear. Lady Macbeth tries to reassure him and oversee the unfinished business. A knocking at the door unsettles them both. 10 4'38

  10. Macbeth: Themes KS4/5

    Tasks include: tracking these themes throughout the play, drawing out key quotations; creative writing on Lady Macbeth's sleep walking, in the character of her doctor; and a list of practice exam questions with an emphasis on themes and motifs. In order to benefit fully from these lesson plans, we recommend you use them in the following order:

  11. Macbeth Themes Resource Pack

    Dive deep into the themes of Macbeth with the help of this Macbeth themes resource pack. We've included some great teaching ideas, activities, and a PowerPoint to support your teaching. With these resources, you'll be able to explore the themes of ambition, gender, fate / free will, and other themes present in Macbeth with your students. Macbeth has a number of different themes throughout ...

  12. Macbeth Lesson Plans

    Macbeth Theme: Lust for Power Can Lead to Loss of Humanity. Summary, theme openers, cross curricular activities, research assignments from McDougal Littel. Macbeth Plot summary, themes, discussion of witchcraft, essay topics, more. Macbeth A variety of post-reading activities, organized by level of difficulty.

  13. Macbeth: Themes KS3

    Macbeth: Themes KS3. In these lessons, students will engage with the themes and ideas at the heart of the text, including the supernatural, power and loyalty. Tasks include: tracking recurring themes throughout the text; a close reading of the witches and apparitions in Act 4, Scene 1; and a card game which will help connect themes to ...

  14. Themes In Macbeth Teaching Resources

    This Macbeth Themes Pack Includes: 25 Different themes for 25 days of teaching Macbeth! -Each day bring one up on the smart board, projector, or overhead -Coincide the theme with which part of the play you are currently reading. ... All activities are provided in two versions: as PDFs, and as editable Word Docs that can be easily converted to ...

  15. English resources for teaching Macbeth

    FREE (3) The witches The three witches are a great way into Macbeth as they can so easily capture the imagination of young people. Explore the Weird Sisters' role in the play with resources analysing key scenes, the witches' influence on Macbeth and their characterisation and Shakespeare's use of language to present them. TesEnglish

  16. Analyze Motifs & Themes in Macbeth

    Activity Overview Themes, symbols, and motifs are valuable aspects of any literary work, and they add richness to stories. Part of the Common Core ELA standards is to introduce and explain these complex concepts. However, abstract ideas are often difficult for students to analyze without assistance.

  17. Macbeth Themes: Understanding The 4 Key Themes In Macbeth

    Here are four of the key themes in Macbeth: 1. Theme of Appearance and Reality in Macbeth Something that preoccupies Shakespeare, and which he brings into every one of his plays, is the way that so many things in life are not what they seem.

  18. Macbeth: Themes

    Act 1: Scenes 5-7 Act 2: Scenes 1 & 2 Act 2: Scenes 3 & 4 Act 3: Scenes 1-3 Act 3: Scenes 4-6 Act 4: Scenes 1-3 Act 5: Scenes 1-8 Full Play Full Play Summary Full Play Analysis Key Facts Video Summary Characters Character List Macbeth Lady Macbeth The Three Witches Banquo Macduff King Duncan Malcolm Literary Devices Themes Motifs Symbols

  19. Results for macbeth act 1 theme

    This resource provides scene-by-scene activities for Act 1 of Shakespeare's Macbeth that will help connect your students to the story, ensure they comprehend key plot developments, and are able to analyze events, characters and themes at a deeper level. It includes close reading analyses of critical event.

  20. Macbeth Themes: 25 Days of Writing and Discussion Prompts

    Description This Macbeth Themes Pack Includes: 25 Different themes for 25 days of teaching Macbeth! -Each day bring one up on the smart board, projector, or overhead -Coincide the theme with which part of the play you are currently reading. You can pick from 25! -As students enter —Great Bell Ringer/ Do Now writing prompt.

  21. Macbeth Themes

    The destruction of unchecked power - A major theme of Macbeth is that ambition unchecked by morals will lead to destruction. Similar to the theme discussed prior to this one, unchecked power and ambition will lead to extreme misfortune, but not just for the person letting their ambitions and power run unchecked.

  22. Macbeth Group Activities

    1.1K views Macbeth versus Game of Thrones It was 388 years before the characters from Game of Thrones were being eliminated at a brisk pace, and Shakespeare's Macbeth was knocking off his...

  23. Macbeth game

    Wordwall makes it quick and easy to create your perfect teaching resource. Pick a template. Enter your content. Get a pack of printable and interactive activities. Find Out More. Macbeth Act 1 scene 1 - quiz - Macbeth - Macbeth - Patterns game - Macbeth crossword - Macbeth - Macbeth true and false - Macbeth Act 3 scene 2.

  24. International Mother Language Day 2024 Date: History, Theme

    International Mother Language Day is celebrated on 21 February. Here are the history, significance, and theme for the day you should know. Read how to celebrate the day.