TEACHER’S NOTES
Act 2 Scene 1
Dynamic Learning resources
• Video clip: Macbeth’s ‘Is this a dagger’ soliloquy, from the summer 2010 production. This
video clip is 3 minutes 11 seconds long.
• Video clip: Macbeth’s ‘Is this a dagger’ soliloquy, from the spring 2011 production. This
video clip is 2 minutes 52 seconds long.
• Audio clip and audio transcript: James Garnon (Macbeth, from the spring 2010
production) talks about the dagger soliloquy.
• Audio clip and audio transcript: Elliot Cowan (Macbeth, from the summer 2010
production) talks about the dagger soliloquy.
• Worksheet 10: What I say and what I think: This worksheet helps to study Macbeth and
Banquo at the start of Act 2 Scene 1.
• Worksheet 11: Iambic pentameters: This worksheet is about the verse form and what it
tells us about Macbeth’s state of mind in his ‘Is this a dagger’ soliloquy.
Book pages 34–35
• Photo activity: Macbeth and Fleance are play-fighting on one side of the stage, while
Banquo watches from the other.
Act 2 Scene 1: Dynamic Learning resources
• From the Rehearsal Room: What I say and what I think: The objective of this activity
is to track the hidden thoughts and opinions of the characters.
Once students have spoken aloud what they believe their character is really thinking, they
can write down the subtext in sequence and repeat the exercise by working in groups of
four with two other people reading the hidden thoughts aloud in between the text from the
play.
Discussion can centre on identifying the text from the scene that reveals the character’s
hidden thoughts and helped them to identify the subtext, such as, ‘being unprepared,’ and,
‘All’s well’. Worksheet 10: What I say and what I think in Dynamic Learning has both
the play text and the activity.
Book pages 36–37
• Photo activity: Good answers to Question 1 will speculate, probably linking the Witches
with evil. Other plausible speculations should be acceptable. Good answers to Question 2
will see that Macbeth is reaching for the dagger, and go for one of the lines between 40 and
44. More able students will point out it needs to be before he draws his own dagger (line
49), and that there is no evidence in the photo of blood on the blade (line 54).
• From the Rehearsal Room: Iambic pentameters: The objective of this activity is to
reveal to the students how Shakespeare uses rhythm to illustrate Macbeth’s emotional
journey and state of mind.
Globe Education Shakespeare: Macbeth
COPYRIGHT © 2011 THE SHAKESPEARE GLOBE TRUST
1
The first two lines go like this:
Sha
boom Sha
boom Sha
boom
Sha
boom
Sha boom Sha
Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready,
Sha
boom
Sha boom Sha
boom
Sha
boom
Sha boom
She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed.
Act 2 Scene 1: Dynamic Learning resources
Following the chart activity, display a range of the students’ interpretations, discuss what
the charts reveal and if there are any conflicting interpretations. Review the lines to ensure
all students understand the pattern of iambic pentameter. Worksheet 11: Iambic
pentameters in Dynamic Learning has the text, the activity, and a grid on which to record
the answers.
Globe Education Shakespeare: Macbeth
COPYRIGHT © 2011 THE SHAKESPEARE GLOBE TRUST
2