Homework revision tasks for Autumn term 2: Year 11.
Week 1
Essential Revision Tasks - context revision. Put all your findings into a mind map or spider
diagram that you can revise from.
Find out when Macbeth was first performed by Shakespeare’s acting company and the possible
reasons behind Shakespeare writing the play.
Make notes on James I and his interest in witchcraft [remember James’ ancestors were Banquo
and Fleance]
Write a definition for the term ‘the divine right of kings.’
Consider the position and stereotype of women in Shakespeare’s era. Put all your findings into a
mind map or spider diagram that you can revise from.
Week 2
Essential Revision Tasks:
Make a timeline of events and scenes in Act 1.
Re- read Act 1 of the play and find 3 key quotations to match each of the following:

The witches’ power (Act 1 scene 1 & 3)

Macbeth being presented as brave and heroic (Act 1 scene 2)

Macbeth shows he is ambitious and tempted by the witches’ prophecies (Act 1 scene 3 or
At 1 scene 4)

Macbeth as reluctant to murder Duncan (Act 1 scene 7)

Methods that Lady Macbeth uses to convince Macbeth to murder Duncan (Act 1 scene 5
or Act 1 scene 7)

Duncan’s innocent and gracious character
Extended revision:
Write a mind-map or spider diagram for this question: How does Shakespeare present
Macbeth’s character in Act 1?
Write a mind-map or spider diagram for this question: How does Shakespeare present Lady
Macbeth’s character in Act 1?
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Week 3
Essential Revision Tasks:
Make a timeline of events and scenes in Act 2.
Re-read Act 2 and find a key quote to match each of the following events that happen:

Macbeth hallucinates (Act 2 scene 1)

Macbeth is shocked and frightened after killing Duncan (Act 2 scene 2)


Lady Macbeth takes control after the murder (Act 2 scene 2)
Macbeth is too composed after the death of Duncan (Act 2 scene 3)
Extended revision:
Write a mind-map or spider diagram for this question: How does Shakespeare present the
developing relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 2?
Write a mind-map or spider diagram for this question: How does Shakespeare present
ideas about masculinity and femininity in Acts 1 & 2?
Week 4
Essential Revision Tasks:
Make a timeline of events and scenes in Act 3.
Mind-map or spider diagram Banquo’s character in Acts 1-3.
Mind-map or spider diagram how Macbeth’s character becomes more callous and daring in Act 3.
Extended revision
Mind-map or spider diagram how Shakespeare presents the themes of loyalty and betrayal
in Acts 1-3
Week 5
Essential Revision Tasks:
Make a timeline of events and scenes in Act 4.
Mind-map or spider diagram how the supernatural is presented in Acts 1-4. Include part of your
diagram to be a note on whether you feel Macbeth or the supernatural is more powerful in
driving events in the play.
Extended revision:
Find examples of animal imagery from each scene of the play and mind map/ spider
diagram these. Consider the dramatic effect of the image- the atmosphere it helps
creates and what it reveals about the character who speaks it.
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Week 6
Essential Revision Tasks:
Re-read Act 4 of the play and find a key quote to match each of the following events that
happen

Macbeth learns that Macduff could be a threat to his power so he decides to kill
Macduff’s family (Act 4 scene 1)

Malcolm sees Macduff’s loyalty and trusts him (Act 4 scene 3)

Macduff is devastated to learn that he wife and children have been killed (Act 4 scene
3)
Consider all of the above and mind map/ spider diagram how Macduff is presented in the play –
[you might want to add some features from Act 5, so leave some room]
Extended revision:
Reflect on Macbeth’s character at this point. In Act 3, scene 4 he realises he must kill
all who oppose him. Starting with this, and reviewing all acts but particularly Act 4,
assess how far you think Macbeth has become a tyrant. Spider diagram your answer.
Week 7
Essential Revision Tasks:
Make a timeline of events and scenes in Act 5. Try to remember why Shakespeare includes a
series of short scenes that flit between Macbeth’s castle and the enemy camp opposed to him.
In Act 5 scene 1, Lady Macbeth is seeing visions and sleepwalking. Makes a mind map/ spider
diagram that compares her in earlier scenes to how she is presented in Act 5. Include a note on
whether we can sympathise with her or not.
Extended revision:
Spider diagram/ mind map any evidence that Macbeth has become dangerously overconfident by the end of the play.
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Week 8
Essential Revision Tasks:
Create a spider diagram/ mind map to answer the question: Can Macbeth be regarded as a tragic
hero? [For this you may need to revise what characteristics a tragic hero has]
Extended revision:
Explain the changes in Macbeth’s character from Act 1 to Act 5 using all evidence from
the play.
Macbeth in Act 1 Scenes 2,3 and 4
Macbeth in Act 5 Scenes 2,3 and 5
Week 9
Essential Revision Tasks:
Below are a series of quotations that could be used when exploring the theme of appearance and
reality. Write down: who speaks it? When? How is it connected to appearance during reality?

‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair’

‘Why do you dress me in borrow’d robes?’

‘let not light see my black and deep desires’

‘Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it

‘This castle hath a pleasant seat’

False face must hide what the false hear doth know’
Make a mind map/ spider diagram about the theme of deception/ appearance versus reality.
Extended revision:
Create your own revision posters/mind maps for the themes of:
Ambition, greed and a thirst for power
Supernatural, fate and destiny versus mans’ free will
Good/ innocence versus evil/ villainy
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