2. Shakespeare’s Times
• During the reign of Elizabeth 1 public concern
over witchcraft grew. In 1564 a law was passed
making murder by witchcraft punishable by
death.
• In Scotland 8,000 witches were burned to death
between 1564 & 1603.
• King James 1 became personally involved with
witchcraft when he and his wife Anne were
almost shipwrecked on returning to Scotland
from Denmark in 1590.
3. • Dr Fian and the “witches of Berwick” were
found guilty of trying to kill them by raising
storms at sea.
• James 1 published a book on witchcraft
named Demonology in 1597.
4. Divine Order
• In Jacobean times people believed that the
whole universe had an order that was decided
by God. Anything unnatural was against the
divine order. Kings were God’s agents , so
action against a King was a crime against God.
Satan, who had rebelled against God, was
responsible, through witches and evil
spirits, for all attacks on the divine order.
5. • Shakespeare would have been well aware of
his patron the king’s interest in and fear of
witchcraft and so has chosen to make the
witches the catalyst for all the evil events
which occur in the play.
• They lead Macbeth into evil deeds but also
trick him into feeling invincible.
• Banquo, who was an ancestor of James
remains uncorrupted by them.
6. Lesson Objectives
• To fully understand Shakespeare’s use of
language in Act 1 Scene 1 of Macbeth.
7. Act One Scene One
• Why do you think the scene opens with thunder
& lightning?
• This is the first scene, what tone does it set?
• What is “the heath ?”
• What are “Greymalkin & Paddock?
• What do you think they mean by “Fair is foul, and
foul is fair”?
• What do you notice about the way the witches
speak?
8. Your Turn
This is a chance to improve your Speaking &
Listening Role Play mark.
Split into groups of three.
Practise a performance of this opening scene.
Try as much as possible to do without your
script. Concentrate on conveying a sense of evil.
9. Beliefs about witches
• They were often held responsible for the death of
animals.
• They travelled the seas in sieves.
• When witches transformed themselves into
animals they were often incomplete.
• They could control the winds.
• Parts of corpses were used in casting spells.
• The number 3 and its multiples were regarded as
magic numbers.
10. Act 1 Scene 3
• What does the first witch say she has been
doing?
• What does the second witch say she is going
to do?
• What is the second witch carrying with her?
• What impression to we gain of the witches
from their conversation up to line 30?
11. Line 38
Macbeth and Banquo are on their way back
from battle where they have defeated the
Norwegian forces who have been trying to
overthrow King Duncan. The Norwegians were
helped by the Thane of Cawdor, a Scottish lord
who has turned traitor.
Line 38 “So fair and foul a day I have not seen.”
Macbeth’s words echo those of the witches in
scene 1.
12. Line 39 - 46
What do we learn about the
witches’ appearance from what
Banquo says in these lines?
13. Line 47 - 69
• What 3 things do the
witches say to Macbeth?
• What do they say to
Banquo?
14. Line 70 -133
• What news does Ross bring?
• What is Banquo’s reaction?(line 107)
• How does the news seem to effect Macbeth?
• Line 120 – 127. What does Banquo warn
Macbeth about?
15. Act Four Scene One
By this stage in the play Macbeth has killed
Duncan and become king. He was tormented by
the fact that according to the witches Banquo’s
ancestors would become kings so he has hired
murderers to kill him. Banquo’s son escaped so
there is still a chance that the witches prophecy
could come true. Macbeth goes to find the
witches again to ask them about this.
16. Lines 1 - 39
The witches are in the process of mixing a spell.
• List the ingredients.
• What do you notice about the rhythm and
rhyme in this section?
17. The Apparitions
These are conjured by the witches’ spell.
• What are the first three apparitions and what
do they tell Macbeth?
• What does the fourth appear to show?
• Line 44/45 What do the lines “By the pricking
of my thumbs..”etc tell us about Macbeth?
• Why is line 138 “Infected by the air whereon
they ride, And damned all those that trust
them” ironic?
18. Betrayal
Now you have watched the
ending of Macbeth explain how
the witches have betrayed
Macbeth’s trust in them.
19. A film presentation of the witches
• Where is the opening of the play
set?
• How are the witches dressed?
• What are they doing?
• What effect do they have on the
audience?
