Answering the Macbeth question - Part (a)

The Macbeth question

You will be given THREE PARTS TO THIS QUESTION (a) (b) and (c).

For part (a) write 3 PEE paragraphs

For part (b) write 4 PEE paragraphs

For part (c) write AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

The Macbeth question comes in three parts. The first two are based on an EXTRACT.

PART A.

Part (a) ALWAYS asks you what we learn about a particular character based on the extract you have just read.

You are supposed to use QUOTATIONS from the extract to back up your answers.

I know that it is difficult to understand what is being said when it is in Shakespearean language. Everyone finds this hard, so try not to panic about it.

Just try to look for OBVIOUS things.

So for example, does it look like the characters is being ‘nice’ to people?

Nice

Are they giving compliments?

Do they seem happy?

Are they laughing and joking?

If they are doing any of these things, then make sure you include it in a PEE paragraph about how kind they are or how happy they are.

Angry

Are they shouting at people?

Are they insulting people?

Are they arguing with people?

If they are doing any of these things, then we can write a PEE paragraph about how they have a short temper, or how insulting they are.

We know that the EXTRACT will be taken from ACT 1. Thankfully, this is a very straightforward ACT, and the characters are pretty straightforward in it.

Here are things that you will usually be able to say about the characters in this act, so use these points to answer your question.

Macbeth

In act one, Macbeth is very confused.

He is a brave person, but we don’t really see that in this act.

As soon as he hears about the witches he becomes tempted by what they have predicted.

He is easily swayed and does what people tell him to do.

If he talks to his wife, he does exactly what he is told.

He is quite weak willed.

Duncan

Duncan is a kind and happy King

If he talks about the battle, then he feels very betrayed by the Thane of Cawdor

He loves Macbeth

He wants to reward people who are loyal to him and do well

He is very trusting, particularly when he goes to stay with Macbeth

Lady Macbeth

She is manipulative and evil

She is able to influence Macbeth very easily

She prays to spirits and asks them to possess her to give her the power to be more evil.

She acts very nice in front of Duncan even though she is plotting against him.

She is two faced.

Banquo

Banquo is a loyal and trusting friend to Macbeth

He looks up to Macbeth and is very polite to him

He is a brave soldier

He is not easily swayed and he is not interested in what the witches predict for him.

He thinks their predicitions are a load of rubbish and are quite funny.

Hopefully the extract will as you about ONE of these characters. All you have to do is to turn these points in to PEE paragraphs.

For example:

Point

Evidence

Explain

One thing which we learn about the character of Lady Macbeth is that she is very evil. We know this because she says, ‘come evil spirits that tend on mortal thoughts’. This shows that she prays to evil spirits to help her to be even more evil in her plans.

Another thing we learn about Lady Macbeth is that she is able to influence Macbeth very easily. We know this because she says, ‘come, come my lord’. This shows that she talks to him like a child, so he usually does what he is told.

As long as you write your paragraphs like this, you will be ABSOLUTELY FINE!!

More to come! Stay tuned – Mr Williams