Here are some GCSE style essay questions on Shakespeare’s Macbeth that I’ve made for students to practise their essay style and exam technique!
Hope you enjoy them; they’re specially tailored towards AQA, OCR, Edexcel, WJEC, CCEA, Eduqas and CIE (Cambridge) exam boards. They all contain ex...
MACBETH: ESSAY QUESTIONS
These questions are based on the GCSE and iGCSE syllabuses, but they are suitable for any student
between ages 13-16 who is studying the text. They provide a range of character and theme focuses
for students who are studying Macbeth. For each question, there is a given passage, so make sure to
outline that passage in your text when attempting the question. You may use these to plan answers - try
to cut your planning time down to between 5-10 minutes per question, although if you’re just starting
out you’ll find that it takes longer than this to get all of your ideas together. Feel free to write the full
essay answers too, once you’re confident with your plans. Again, start off without any timing constraints
and once you’ve gotten used to that format, you can then incorporate timings for further essays that you
write.
Use your own mark schemes for the specific exam board that you’re taking to check and grade your
own work.
1. How does Shakespeare present Lady Macbeth’s character in Act 1 Scene 5 and elsewhere in the
play? EXTRACT: “Glamis thou art … crowned withal”
2. How does Shakespeare present the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 1 Scene
5 and elsewhere in the play? EXTRACT: “My dearest love … rest to me”
3. How does Shakespeare reveal thoughts and feelings of Macbeth and Banquo in Act 1 Scene 3 and
elsewhere in the play? EXTRACT: “Glamis, and Thane ... I pray you”
4. How does Shakespeare make the Captain’s speech in Act 1 Scene 2 so interesting, and in what ways
does this speech relate to the rest of the play? EXTRACT: “Doubtful it stood … battlements”
5. How does Shakespeare present different attitudes of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth in Act 2 Scene 2,
and elsewhere in the play? EXTRACT: “One cried … sleep no more”
6. How does Shakespeare make the banquet scene so interesting in Act 3 Scene 4, and how does it
relate to the rest of the play? EXTRACT: “my lord, his throat … death to nature”
7. How does Shakespeare present the thoughts and feelings of Lady Macbeth in Act 3 Scene 4 and
elsewhere in the play? EXTRACT: “Are you a man? … fie, for shame”
8. How does Shakespeare explore the theme of fate in the final battle between Macduff and Macbeth
in Act 5 Scene 8? EXTRACT: “Why should I play the Roman fool … Exeunt, fighting. Alarums”
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