Macbeth (2021)

Lesson 3
icon/ela/white

ELA

Unit 15

10th Grade

Lesson 3 of 23

Objective


Characterize King Duncan.

Readings and Materials


  • Play: Macbeth by William Shakespeare  — Act 1, Scene 4

Fishtank Plus

Unlock features to optimize your prep time, plan engaging lessons, and monitor student progress.

Target Task


Writing Prompt

How do Duncan’s final words about Macbeth (lines 61–65) support our hypothesis about Duncan’s character? Explain using evidence from Macbeth’s words and Duncan’s. 

Key Questions


  • What is Duncan asking about in his opening lines? Motif?
  • What does Malcolm report to the king? Why did the King want this done in the first place? What had this person done?
  • In lines 6–10, what do we learn about the Thane of Cawdor just before his death?
  • What did Duncan used to think of Cawdor? (13–16)
  • Reread and annotate the quote: “There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face.” What does this mean?
  • How does Duncan refer to Macbeth? Why is this significant?
  • Reread the following line: “More is thy due than more than all can pay.” What does Duncan mean here?
  • What do lines 25–30 imply about Macbeth?
  • Macbeth compares the relationship of the subjects to their king to which two things?
  • How does Duncan feel about Banquo? 
  • What do lines 37–38 imply about Banquo?
  • What does Duncan do for his son Malcolm? (45–49) How does this change Macbeth’s path? How does this affect the prophecy?
  • Where is Duncan going to travel? What is this place? (48–49)
  • Why is Macbeth leaving?
  • What does Macbeth suggest in lines 55–57?
  • What do lines 57–58 reveal about Macbeth?

Notes


  • This scene establishes Duncan’s difficulty in judging character. It opens with Duncan punishing a former kinsman who had betrayed him, showing that he was able to be tricked in the past.
  • Then, he goes on to explain that it is hard to judge a person by their face alone. He is very kind and trusting to Macbeth, setting up the betrayal.

 

Next

Characterize Lady Macbeth. Analyze the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

Lesson 4
icon/arrow/right/large

Lesson Map

A7CB09C2-D12F-4F55-80DB-37298FF0A765

Request a Demo

See all of the features of Fishtank in action and begin the conversation about adoption.

Learn more about Fishtank Learning School Adoption.

Contact Information

School Information

What courses are you interested in?

ELA

Math

Are you interested in onboarding professional learning for your teachers and instructional leaders?

Yes

No

Any other information you would like to provide about your school?

We Handle Materials So You Can Focus on Students

We Handle Materials So You Can Focus on Students

We've got you covered with rigorous, relevant, and adaptable ELA lesson plans for free