LESSON NINE YOUR STARTER WHAT HAPPENS IN ACT

LESSON NINE

YOUR STARTER: WHAT HAPPENS IN ACT 3, SCENE 4? BANQUO ’S GHOST MACBETH Infer as much as you can from the picture. TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS: 1. Can I read, understand respond to texts? 2. Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance? 3. Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS: ACT 3, SCENE 4 1. Why are they having a banquet in the first place? 2. Where does Banquo’s ghost sit? 3. How does Macbeth react to seeing Banquo’s ghost? How is he feeling? 4. If you were a guest at the banquet, how would Macbeth make you feel? 5. How does Lady Macbeth react to her husband during this scene? 6. What does the Ghost look like? How do you know this? TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS: 1. Can I read, understand respond to texts? 2. Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance? 3. Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

YOUR TASK: EXPLODE YOUR QUOTATION On the screen, you will see a series of quotations from Act 3, Scene 4. Copy the quotations into your books and analyse as much as you can from them. This is a skill you will need across GCSE Literature and GCSE Language. In this quotation, Macbeth is describing Banquo’s ghost. Macbeth is describing the ghost. He is feeling… Repetition of ‘b’ sounds creates the effect of… ‘Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold’. Blood is associated with violence and murder, which shows that Macbeth cannot stop thinking about what he has done. TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS: Contrast – blood is usually hot, therefore the ghost is dead. It’s a chilling sight. 1. Can I read, understand respond to texts? 2. Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance? 3. Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

YOUR TASK: EXPLODE YOUR QUOTATION Banquo’s ghost is shaking his head at Macbeth in this quotation. Perhaps Banquo is shaking his head because… The adjective ‘gory’ suggests Banquo’s hair is… This implies Macbeth is haunted by the violence of Banquo’s murder. ‘Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake thy gory locks at me. ’ ‘Thou canst not say I did it. ’ – What does this tell us about Macbeth and his guilt? The imperative ‘never’ suggests Macbeth is feeling… TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS: In this quotation, Macbeth is addressing Banquo’s Ghost directly. 1. Can I read, understand respond to texts? 2. Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance? 3. Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

YOUR TASK: EXPLODE YOUR QUOTATION Macbeth acknowledges that he is a ‘bold man’, saying that he is … to look upon Banquo’s ghost. Connotations of the devil include… The fact that Banquo’s ghost might ‘appal the devil’ suggests that what Macbeth is seeing is… ‘Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that Which might appal the devil. ’ What is Macbeth’s state of mind here? How do you think an audience would react to seeing Banquo’s ghost? TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS: In this quotation, Lady Macbeth has just asked her husband whether he is a man. 1. Can I read, understand respond to texts? 2. Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance? 3. Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

YOUR TASK: EXPLODE YOUR QUOTATION What is Macbeth saying here? ‘Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which thou dost glare with. ’ What are the connotations of ‘glare’? How is Banquo’s ghost staring at Macbeth? TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS: In this quotation, Macbeth is addressing Banquo’s ghost directly. Try this quotation without any prompts. *speculation - sight 1. Can I read, understand respond to texts? 2. Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance? 3. Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

YOUR TASK: EXPLODE YOUR QUOTATION Macbeth says he has ‘firm nerves’ but is this really the case? ‘Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble. ’ Why does Macbeth want Banquo to take another form? What does this suggest about his guilt? TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS: In this quotation, Macbeth is asking Banquo’s ghost to take on any form but the bloody corpse he is. 1. Can I read, understand respond to texts? 2. Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance? 3. Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

FURTHER ANALYSIS How does Macbeth act as a leader and impose order at the start of this scene? How does Macbeth’s behaviour reflect his wife’s previous act as the perfect hostess? Why does Macbeth compare Banquo and Fleance to snakes? When have snakes / serpents been referred to before? In Act 1, Scene 7, Macbeth said ‘False face must hide what the false heart doth know’ Banquo’s ghost was played by an actor. Macbeth doesn’t see him at first. How good is he at demonstrating that? What is the effect? TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS: 1. Can I read, understand respond to texts? 2. Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance? 3. Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

When Macbeth sees the ghost, it reveals lots of things about how he is feeling, or his state of mind. YOUR TASK Draw a grid. Decide on 4 different emotions or feelings you think Macbeth has in this scene. Write these in the FIRST column. Then find a quotation from Act 3, Scene 4 to back up each feeling in your SECOND column. Explain how your quotation matches your point – what does it mean? Is there any interesting language you can pick out? Write this in your THIRD column. Add an ex tra row! Did you th ink about Macbeth’s feelings b efore he even s ees the gh ost? “But now I a cribbed, co m cabined, nfined, bo und in too saucy doubts an d fears” p. 65 TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS: 1. Can I read, understand respond to texts? 2. Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance? 3. Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

TO FINISH: DISCUSS Does Macbeth's apparent insanity in Act 3, Scene 4 render him a more sympathetic character or is this punishment for his 'vaulting ambition that o'erleaps itself'? TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS: 1. Can I read, understand respond to texts? 2. Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance? 3. Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

RESOURCES

FURTHER ANALYSIS How does Macbeth act as a leader and impose order at the start of this scene? How does Macbeth’s behaviour reflect his wife’s previous act as the perfect hostess? How does the structure of the dialogue and Macbeth’s line length build tension? Banquo’s ghost was played by an actor. Macbeth doesn’t see him at first. What does the disorder at the end of this scene symbolise to the audience? What is the effect? TODAY’S KEY QUESTIONS: 1. Can I read, understand respond to texts? 2. Can I consider the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’ and discuss its significance? 3. Can I analyse the language in a scene and explain its significance?

BANQUO’S GHOST Macbeth’s state of mind – emotion/feeling. Quotation which supports this emotion. Explain how your quotation shows this emotion. Banquo is shaking his head at Macbeth, showing that he blames him for his death. Macbeth is imagining this, so he is feeling guilty for his friend’s death. FEAR SUSPICION

BANQUO’S GHOST Macbeth’s state of mind – emotion/feeling. Quotation which supports this emotion. Explain how your quotation shows this emotion.