Welcome to this week's learning plan
G'day legends! With a bit of disruption going on, let's keep those learning goals in sight. This week, we're diving deep into Macbeth. Here’s everything you need to stay on track while we're navigating remote learning. Remember, I'm here to support you every step of the way!
This week's big idea: who is Shakespeare?
This week, we’re unpacking Shakespeare himself! We’ll break down the contextual information to understand who he was and how that influenced his writing, especially Macbeth. Because knowing the author helps us understand the story!
Learning Intentions:
- Understand the social, moral, and ethical perspectives in Macbeth.
- Analyse how ambition and power influence character decisions.
Success Criteria:
- Identify ethical dilemmas faced by characters.
- Explain how Shakespeare presents moral consequences.
Who is Shakespeare?
Born in 1564, William Shakespeare wrote plays and poems while also performing on stage. His work shaped much of what people still read and watch today. Known for deep stories filled with emotion, he left a lasting mark on language. Active until 1616, his influence remains strong across drama, verse, and everyday speech. Close to thirty-eight dramatic works came from Shakespeare, besides verses and short poems. Often sorted into tragic stories - Macbeth or Romeo and Juliet - light romantic tales like A Midsummer Night’s Dream, or factual dramas including Henry V.
Big themes linger through his plays: what love means, who holds control, why drive rises, how envy spreads, why bonds stay strong, or where trust fades. Because of this depth, schools and stages keep coming back centuries later. Old phrases slip into modern talk, pulled from lines written by Shakespeare long ago. His dramas rise again in novels, movies, shows - not because they are ancient but because people still recognise themselves within them.
Though penned more than four centuries back, the struggles, feelings, choices - they echo. What happens on stage or page then feels familiar, not distant.
Why Macbeth still matters
You might be thinking, "Why should I care about some old play?" Well, Macbeth explores themes like ambition, power, and morality, which are still super relevant today. We see these themes play out in politics, business, and even our own lives. Understanding Macbeth helps us understand the world around us!
Imagine someone tells you exactly how your future will turn out, fame, power, success, but only if you make a terrible choice.
Would you let fate decide… or would you take control, no matter the cost?
Macbeth is about what happens when ambition goes too far.
Read Act 1 Read Act 2
Am I on track? Easy peasy!
Here’s the simplest way to know if you’re on track this week: have you completed all of the tasks in the "Weekly Structure" checklist below? If so, you're golden! If not, no worries, just tick them off one by one.
Weekly Structure:
- Watch the Learning Video – Introduction.
- Complete the assigned readings in Macbeth.
- Participate in the online discussion forum.
- Complete the assigned worksheet or quiz.
- Check out the resources on the Macbeth Resources page.
Read Act 3 & 4 Read Act 5
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