Macbeth Act 3 scene 1

This PowerPoint resource guides the class through the important scene that is the first to feature Macbeth as king. The imagery of chaos and apocolypse is considered in a recap of the previous scene, followed by a focus on the short soliloquy of Banquo, the extended soliloquy of Macbeth and his plotting with the murderers. Parallels are made between Macbeth’s persuasive techniques and Lady Macbeth’s highlighting his cunning, a ‘progression’ from his earlier self doubt. Context is considered, especially in the light of the repeated references to the descendants of Banquo, the penalties for regicide and the position of James I of England, James VI of Scotland as patron of Shakespeare’s players. The lesson concludes with a comparison of the killings carried out/ planned by Macbeth so far to understand how his character appears to be changing. To consolidate learning, students are provided with exam-style questions suitable for AQA, Edexcel and OCR GCSE courses. 23 slides.