Macbeth: Shakespeare's Figurative Language!

This interesting and stimulating lesson aims to improve students’ understanding of Shakespeare’s use of figurative language in Macbeth, focusing particularly on similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, and euphemisms. Students learn to analyse the intended effect of these devices through a close-reading and interpretation of Act 5 Scene 1: The sleepwalking scene involving Lady Macbeth.

The lesson utilises a range of tasks, that require students to be visual and interactive learners. It follows this learning journey:
- Defining the key term ‘figurative language’ and establishing its importance as a literary technique;
- Defining and exemplifying each of the key terms ‘simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, and euphemisms through collaborative group opportunities;
- Understanding how and why figurative language is used to add depth to writers’ ideas;
- Reading and interpreting Act 5 Scene 1, and establishing how figurative language impacts upon the scene;
- Reflecting upon why this may/ what effect this may have had on audiences at the time;
- Summarising the events of the scene;
- Peer/self evaluating the learning in the lesson.

Included in this resource pack are:
- A well-presented, thorough, and informative, whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation;
- Resources for the reading and interpreting activity - full scene transcript with space for notes;
- A template to help scaffold the main task, complete with P.E.E instructions;
- Cards for the card sorting group activity
- A comprehensive teacher guidance form/lesson plan to assist delivery.

All images in this resource are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the lesson presentation.