The Night Before Duncan's Murder, Act 2, scene 1

In this lesson students are asked to explain how Shakespeare uses language in order to explore Macbeth’s state of mind before he kills Duncan. The lesson starts by asking students why Shakespeare's use of 'apostrophe' is an effective dramatic device and leads to asking how Banquo feels about the evening's atmosphere as he roams Macbeth's battlements. Students are then asked to identify quotes in Macbeth soliloquy (a link is provided to Patrick Stewart's performance) where he feels nervous and confused. The lesson ends with an opportunity to respond independently by writing an essay paragraph.

All lessons in this series include:

- Links to online videos (see 'Notes' under Powerpoint slides)
- Starter tasks which introduce the main idea of the lesson
- Differentiated tasks
- Opportunities for pair and group talk within activities ('Talk for Writing')
- Handouts of scenes or a selection of quotes from scenes studied
- Alternating opportunities for self and peer assessment
- Essay writing prompts to allow students to write about the scene
- References to the AQA English Literature mark scheme for Paper 1, particularly to the demands for attaining a grade 5 - what is considered a 'good pass' for the qualification.

It's suggested that you download the whole series to appreciate the full learning journey.