Year 11
REVISION
GUIDE
Grade
7-9
Macbeth
By William Shakespeare
Name: _____________
Class: ______________
English Literature
Paper 1
What will the
exam look
like?
Remember you will
not have the play in
front of you.
Eduqas will print a
small extract out
for you – like this
one.
Forres, the Palace
DUNCAN My plenteous joys,
Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves
In drops of sorrow. Sons, kinsmen, thanes,
And you whose places are the nearest, know
We will establish our estate upon
Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter
The Prince of Cumberland; which honour must
Not unaccompanied invest him only,
But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine
On all deservers. From hence to Inverness,
And bind us further to you.
MACBETH The rest is labour, which is not used for you:
I'll be myself the harbinger and make joyful
The hearing of my wife with your approach;
So humbly take my leave.
Eduqas will not
tell you what
scene the
extract is from.
You should try and look at the
language features, like
vocabulary, punctuation, rhyme,
length of speech and sentences,
emotions and any action that is
described.
DUNCAN My worthy Cawdor!
The first part of the
question will ask
you to focus solely
on this extract. You
should discuss 4
interesting points
here.
Remember to
use subject
terminology.
MACBETH [Aside] The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires:
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be,
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.
Exit
You need to use
quotations from the
extract.
15 marks are
available.
What will the
exam look
like?
20 marks are
available.
The second part of the question will ask
you to look at a character in the play as a
whole.
Remember you will
not have the play in
front of you.
Remember to
use subject
terminology.
You should include 6 points about the
character/subject of the essay from across the play.
You should include a quotation from the ones you
have memorised to support each point you are
making and look closely at the language in that
quote. You need to explain what your quotation
shows about the character. You should not look at the
extract but rely on your knowledge of the play.
5 marks are
available for
SPAG
Macbeth. Plot Summary
A1S1 - The three witches meet and discuss Macbeth. They agree to find him after the battle.
A1S2 – King Duncan waits for news of the battle. A wounded Captain tells him that Macbeth has triumphed and has killed Macdonald, their enemy. Macbeth and his friend Banquo
fought the Norwegian troops and were victorious. They captured the Thane of Cawdor and made a peace treaty with the King of Norway. Cawdor is sentenced to death.
A1S3 –Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches. Before he arrives they are discussing how they can torment someone who has insulted them. They tell Macbeth he will be Thane of
Cawdor and King of Scotland, Macbeth finds it hard to believe them. The witches tell Banquo that his descendents will be kings but that he himself will not, Banquo is confused
by this. Ross, another Thane (Lord), brings news that Macbeth is to be Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is amazed that the witches were correct. Banquo feels uneasy about the
witches predictions but Macbeth already feels hungry for the power he has been promised by the witches.
A1S4 – King Duncan welcomes Macbeth, his brave and loyal subject. Duncan announces that his son Malcolm shall be king after him. This news distresses Macbeth as he thinks about
the witches predictions.
A1S5 - Lady Macbeth receives a letter from her husband. She too wants him to be king but fears that his character is too weak to do what is necessary – to kill the King! She greets
Macbeth and vows to arrange the killing Duncan, warning Macbeth to hide any guilt. Macbeth is unsure and worried.
A1S6 – Lady Macbeth welcomes the King into her home as a guest. He speaks highly of Macbeth.
A1S7 – After suffering from guilt Macbeth decides not to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth persuades him otherwise by calling him a coward and revealing her plans. She will make the
bodyguards drunk and blame the murder on them. Macbeth agrees to her plan.
A2S1 – Macbeth and Banquo talk about the witches’ predictions. Macbeth hides his plans from Banquo as he knows Banquo is loyal to the King. When he is alone Macbeth sees a
blood stained dagger floating in front of him, a sign of how guilty he feels.
A2S2 – Macbeth kills Duncan and is distraught but Lady Macbeth advises him to forget about it. She takes the daggers back to the King’s room to smear blood on the guards.
A2S3 – Macduff tells everyone of the murder of King Duncan. Lady Macbeth faints and Macbeth is filled with guilt. Duncan’s sons fear for their safety and flee to other countries.
A2S4 – Macbeth is elected King and is crowned, Macduff does not attend.
A3S1 - Banquo fears Macbeth has killed Duncan. Macbeth hires murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance.
A3S2 – Macbeth envies the peace that Duncan now has as he considers the forthcoming murder of Banquo.
A3S3 – Banquo is killed but Fleance escapes
A3S4 – The banquet. Macbeth believes he sees the ghost of Banquo. Lady Macbeth tries to calm him. The Lords leave the banquet and Macbeth vows to kill anyone standing in his
way.
A3S5 – Hecate, goddess of witchcraft, promises to use magic to ruin Macbeth.
A3S6 – Lennox and a Lord discuss Macduff’s attempt to gather an army to defeat Macbeth.
A4S1 – Macbeth meets the witches and demands to know his future. There are three apparitions. First they tell him ‘beware Macduff’. Secondly, that no naturally born man can kill
him. Lastly, that Macbeth will be King until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. Macbeth vows to kill Macduff’s family.
A4S2 – Murderers kill Macduff’s wife and children.
A4S3 – Macduff hears of the murders and vows to get revenge; he is ready to fight Macbeth.
A5S1 – Lady Macbeth sleep walks and is trying to wash imagined blood from her hands.
A5S2 – Malcolm, Macduff and the English army approach Scotland.
A5S3 – Macbeth vows to fight to the death
A5S4 – The approaching army use branches to hide themselves so it looks like the wood is moving towards the castle.
A5S5 – Lady Macbeth is dead. Macbeth hears Birnam Wood is approaching just as the witches predicted.
A5S6 – Malcolm issues orders for battle.
A5S7 – Macduff demands to see Macbeth so they can fight.
A5S8 – Macbeth boasts no naturally born man can kill him, Macduff reveals his own Caesarean birth. Macduff kills Macbeth.
A5S9 – Macbeth’s head is displayed and Malcolm is the new King of Scotland.
Let’s start with some basic analysis and comprehension of an
extract.
This is from the moment Macbeth
and Banquo meet the witches...
What are their reactions to seeing the witches
there in front of them? How do they react?
MACBETH
So foul and fair a day I have not seen.
BANQUO
How far is't call'd to Forres? What are these
So wither'd and so wild in their attire,
That look not like the inhabitants o' the
earth,
And yet are on't? Live you? or are you
aught
That man may question? You seem to
understand me,
By each at once her chappy finger laying
Upon her skinny lips: you should be
women,
And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
That you are so.
MACBETH
Speak, if you can: what are you?
First Witch
All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!
Second Witch
All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!
Third Witch
All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!
BANQUO
Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear
Things that do sound so fair? I' the name
of truth,
Are ye fantastical, or that indeed
Which outwardly ye show?
Where is symbolism evident in this extract?
What does the use of repetition bring to this
scene?
More close analysis...
How can you tell Macbeth is confused and
frustrated?
MACBETH
Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more:
By Sinel's death I know I am thane of
Glamis;
But how of Cawdor? the thane of Cawdor
lives,
A prosperous gentleman; and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say from
whence
You owe this strange intelligence? or why
Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I
charge you.
Explore the use of questioning in this extract.
Witches vanish
How can we tell from this extract that Macbeth is
authoritative?
CLOSE ANALYSIS
Banquo warns
Macbeth that the
witches may mean
him harm...
“MACBETH
To BANQUO
Do you not hope your children shall be kings,
When those that gave the thane of Cawdor to me
Promised no less to them?
BANQUO
That trusted home
Might yet enkindle you unto the crown,
Besides the thane of Cawdor. But 'tis strange:
And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray's
In deepest consequence.
Create an essay
question based
on this
extract…what
would AQA be
likely to ask
you?
DUNCAN (to Macbeth)
Welcome hither:
I have begun to plant thee, and will labour
To make thee full of growing. Noble Banquo,
That hast no less deserved, nor must be known
No less to have done so, let me enfold thee
And hold thee to my heart.
MACBETH – before the murders
[Aside] The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires:
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be,
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.
Analyse these 2 quotations fully.
Analyse these specific quotations
spoken by Lady Macbeth thinking
about her husband’s new future...
Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
“make thick my blood;
Stop up the access and passage to remorse
Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
Only look up clear;
To alter favour ever is to fear:
Leave all the rest to me.
Question: What does this extract show an audience about Lady
Macbeth’s character here? Refer closely to details from the
extract to support your answer.
Enter LADY MACBETH
LADY MACBETH
That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold;
What hath quench'd them hath given me fire.
Hark! Peace!
It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman,
Which gives the stern'st good-night. He is about it:
The doors are open; and the surfeited grooms
Do mock their charge with snores: I have drugg'd
their possets,
That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live or die.
MACBETH
[Within] Who's there? what, ho!
LADY MACBETH
Alack, I am afraid they have awaked,
And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deed
Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready;
He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done't.
Enter MACBETH
My husband!
MACBETH
I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?
LADY MACBETH
I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.
Did not you speak?
Question: What does this extract show the audience about Macbeth’s
state of mind a this point in the play? Refer closely to details from the
extract to support your answer.
MACBETH
This is a sorry sight.
Looking on his hands
LADY MACBETH
A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
MACBETH
There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried
'Murder!'
That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them:
But they did say their prayers, and address'd them
Again to sleep.
LADY MACBETH
There are two lodged together.
MACBETH
One cried 'God bless us!' and 'Amen' the other;
As they had seen me with these hangman's hands.
Listening their fear, I could not say 'Amen,'
When they did say 'God bless us!'
LADY MACBETH
Consider it not so deeply.
MACBETH
But wherefore could not I pronounce 'Amen'?
I had most need of blessing, and 'Amen'
Stuck in my throat.
LADY MACBETH
These deeds must not be thought
After these ways; so, it will make us mad.
MACBETH
Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast,-LADY MACBETH
What do you mean?
Shakespeare shows through Macbeth’s actions and words that he
is feeling regretful almost immediately after the murder of Duncan. This can be
seen by ‘This is a sorry sight/ looking on his hands’. It is evident that Macbeth feels
overwhelmed by what he has done and should have listened to the doubts he had.
The symbolic nature of his bloody hands would disgust an audience appalled by
regicide and the fact that the sight of them is ‘sorry’ implies they are now stained
permanently with both blood and guilt and he will not be free of it.
This pupil is heading for 7
LENNOX
Goes the king hence to-day?
MACBETH
He does: he did appoint so.
LENNOX
The night has been unruly: where we
lay,
Our chimneys were blown down;
and, as they say,
Lamentings heard i' the air; strange
screams of death,
And prophesying with accents
terrible
Of dire combustion and confused
events
New hatch'd to the woeful time: the
obscure bird
Clamour'd the livelong night: some
say, the earth
Was feverous and did shake.
MACBETH
'Twas a rough night.
LENNOX
My young remembrance cannot
parallel
A fellow to it.
Re-enter MACDUFF
MACDUFF
O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor
heart
Cannot conceive nor name thee!
MACBETH LENNOX
What's the matter.
Just before Duncan’s
body is discovered...
Quotation
Of dire combustion and
confused events
Deeper meanings/ effects of line/ quotation
Question: Write about MacDuff
and the way he presented in
Macbeth.
1st Point:
• Quote
• Language
• Plot
2nd Point
• Quote
• Language
• Plot
3rd Point
• Quote
• Language
• Plot
Use the above box to plan your answer
Question: Look at how the characters speak here. How
do you think an audience might respond to this part of
the play? Refer closely to details from the extract to
support your answer.
Messenger
Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known,
Though in your state of honour I am perfect.
I doubt some danger does approach you nearly:
If you will take a homely man's advice,
Be not found here; hence, with your little ones.
To fright you thus, methinks, I am too savage;
To do worse to you were fell cruelty,
Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you!
I dare abide no longer.
Exit
LADY MACDUFF
Whither should I fly?
I have done no harm. But I remember now
I am in this earthly world; where to do harm
Is often laudable, to do good sometime
Accounted dangerous folly: why then, alas,
Do I put up that womanly defence,
To say I have done no harm?
Both the messenger and Lady Macduff
are presented as ‘good’ characters here.
Memory test...without looking at the play, how many quotations
can you note in these boxes?
Macbeth
Banquo
Duncan
Lady Macbeth
The Witches
Minor characters - any
Based on how easy or difficult you found this task, how much revision of quotations do you need to
do? Go through the booklet now and highlight useful small phrases or words that you can use in
these boxes. Then pin this sheet to a wall close to where you study at home.
COMPONENT 1 SECTION A, Macbeth, (a) question, extract
20
mins
8/9
15
marks
4/5
3/4
1/2
COMPONENT 1 SECTION A, Macbeth, (b) question, essay
20
marks
8/9
4/5
40
mins
3/4
5 marks
for SPAG
1/2