Thursday and Tuesday, January 17 and 22 - History behind the Tragedy of Macbeth

Objective: By the end of class students will be introduced to drama and Elizabethan England in order to prepare to read Shakespeare's Macbeth.


Standards: L.F.2.1 / L.F.2.1.1/ L.F.1.1.2 / L.F.2.3.4

DO NOW

Who are the following characters and tell me three things or character traits about each of them:
1. Macbeth
2. Banquo
3. Lady Macbeth
4. Duncan


Direct Instruction

macbeth intro






As you watch this video, write down three ways women were 'TESTED" to determine if they were witches or not in 17th century England.

witchcraft in england 

Guided / Independent 

website where following information can be found

Historical background questions: Explain:

1. Who was Queen of England and who was Queen of Scotland and what happened and why.  

2. What did Queen Elizabeth do on her deathbed? What year was that? Why did she do that (why was it a good political move?)?

3. Who is James VI of Scotland and who is James 1 of England? 

4. What year did Shakespeare write Macbeth and why did he write it?

5. What message did Shakespeare want to send to the people of England by writing Macbeth?

6. According to Shakespeare, why was it important to support the king?

7. The story of Macbeth was written by Shakespeare in 1606, however, the drama takes place in the 11 century (between the years 1000 -1100). Who was King of Scotland at that time? 

8. What was happening in Scotland at that time?