Macbeth Made Easy

Ever struggled to explain the twisting and turning plot of Shakespeare’s classic play to younger students? If so then this resources can help you. Terry Deary has condensed the plot into a twenty-five verse poem called “The Ballad of Big Mac”. Students study the poem over two lessons, analysing the plot and language techniques in the poem. Having identified Deary’s use of pathetic fallacy, students are guided and supported to create their own witch and introduce him or her using pathetic fallacy. After peer-assessing each other’s work, students study an extract from “Doomspell” by Cliff McNish in which he introduces his witch, Dragwena. Students are then encouraged to re-draft and improve their descriptions using all the techniques which they have been taught in the two texts. Designed with less able students in mind, this folder of work would also suit primary school children. The folder includes.

1. Copy of poem with numbered verses so students can be allocated a verse to practice reading/performing to class.
2. A seven-page student workbook with a two comprehension cloze exercises on the poem and guided activities.
3. Teacher answers to cloze exercises.
4. Copy of extract from “Doomspell”.
   This resource could also be used as an introduction to my other lesson available on this website called “The Witches Spell”.