This full lesson reviews key information which GCSE students studying Macbeth would be expected to know, before moving on to analysis of Macduff as a foil character to Macbeth and then sets the class up with an extract from Act 2 Scene 3, for an essay. This would fit any exam board studying Macbeth as a Shakespeare text, but is geared towards AQA.

The lesson takes students through ways in which Macduff and Macbeth contrast as characters, which helps highlight Macbeth’s nihilistic and murderous attitudes compared to the patriotic and loyal Macduff. It also highlights the similarities between how Lady Macbeth and Lady Macduff both die as a result of their husbands’ actions. The lesson refers to Assessment Objective 2, for which students are expected to deliver an analysis of writers’ methods and the meanings created through these methods. An extract from Act 2 Scene 3 and an example thesis statement are provided.