Play On Toolkit - MACBETH

A unique approach to teaching and learning shakespeare

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Using the navigation toolbar, click on the scene you want to teach. This will take you to the relevant 5 Step approach visual (available as a downloadable PDF). All 5 Step visuals will follow the same format.

WHAT IS THE 5 STEP APPROACH?

You can take your students through the five-step approach when looking at any scene in the play. The simple steps can be extended according to the age and ability of your class:

Step 1 – Audience - think about the audience in Shakespeare’s times and our times

What will happen next?

Who will be in the scene?

Will we see something we haven’t seen before?

Where will the scene take place?

Step 2 – Setting

Location – Where are we? Are we inside/outside, in a castle corridor or on the heath?

Conditions – What is the weather doing? Can we hear/see people or animals?

Time - What time of day is it? What time of night is it?

Space – Who owns the space? Who has power over the space?

Step 3 – Character

Status  - Who has the most power in the scene?

See – What does the character literally see in front of them?

Envy – What does the character want that the other character has?

Predicament – What do they want to do and what do they have do?

Stakes  - What do they need to gain? What are they frightened of loosing?

Identity/unidentity – How do they want to be seen and what do they become?

Step 4 – Language

Pre-scene – What do we imagine happened just before the scene started?

Underpoem – What does the last word of every verse line tell us about the situation, character and Shakespeare’s intention?

Pronouns – What does the repetition or absence of pronouns tell us about the situation, character and Shakespeare’s intention?

Iambic Pentameter – Is the rhythm verse regular or irregular and why? Go to Syllable Counter to check the text

Hear - is there any unusual about what the characters say or how they say it?

Step 5 -  Impact on the Audience in Shakespeare’s times and our times

What did they see?

What did it remind them of?

What did they think about?

What did they feel?

How did they re-act?

In addition to the 5 Step visuals, key scenes in the play are accompanied by a selection of short films created by the Play On Company to inspire your teaching and share with your students.

A taster from Act 1 Scene 5: