**GRADE NINE** 'Macbeth' GCSE English Literature Notes
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Course
English
Institution
GCSE
Extensive detailed notes on:
- Is Macbeth a Hero
- Is Macbeth a Butcher
- Is Lady Macbeth a Villain
- Context
- How does Shakespeare present guilt and remorse
- Discussions around the supernatural in Macbeth
Macbeth Notes
Essay structure:
Link to Shakespeare’s purpose (flatter King James? Cautionary tale for
regicide? Lady Macbeth/women as equals?)
Strong thesis – for example: In the archetypal Scottish play ‘Macbeth’,
Shakespeare portrays the effects of usurpation through the protagonist
Macbeth. He also shows how violence can lead to moral failure.
Start with the extract
Shakespeare was in JACOBEAN times
Explain quotes, link back to thesis and context points, tie points together
Make sure conclusion goes back to the ideas in the thesis to create a
STRONG argument
Don’t have basic and dull points (AO1), talk about the choice and effect of
language devices and form(A02), add in context
Macbeth is a hero:
Shakespeare presents Macbeth as an admirable protagonist, however shockingly
ends up being one of the main antagonists of the play. This could be because
‘Macbeth’ was written shortly after the gunpowder plot, so one of Shakespeare’s
main purposes of the play was to warn any men considering committing regicide
of the dangers of following their ambition, or, as shown in ‘Macbeth’, being easily
influenced by others.
Play is a tragedy, so he is a TRAGIC HERO
Therefore, he is at first celebrated as a hero
o Brave
o Strong
o Selfless
o Reliable
o Trustworthy
Macbeth's violence is celebrated when he is a loyal soldier - but condemned
when his violence serves his own ambition to become and to remain King of
Scotland
Agree…
Act one, Scene two – he is presented as a hero by the Sergeant, who
describes the battle between the king’s forces and rebels
He is given the epithet ‘brave Macbeth’ because he sought Macdonald, a
villainous rebel
Selfless, brave and shows skill and strength – ‘carved out his passage’ and in
a show of triumph ‘fix’d his head upon our battlements’. Pronoun OUR
shows Macbeth is considered a hero from the perspective of the Sergeant
because he is loyal to Duncan and is perceived as being on the right, ethical side
of battle. His sword ‘smoked with blood execution’. This is an image of a
weapon hot from the friction of carving through flesh and bone, and dripping
with blood – which becomes a motif of butchery throughout the play
Disagree…
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