academic-development > English Literature

'Macbeth' in Context

From the Tudor to Jacobean dynasties, explore how contemporary audiences would have reacted to the play and how Shakespeare drew on various sources to create Macbeth.

Created By

Looby M

14-16
English Literature

10 HOURS

10 LESSONS

'Macbeth' in Context

academic-development

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Course Overview


Students will learn how Shakespeare navigated the change from Tudor to Jacobean dynasties, how contemporary audiences would have reacted to the play and how Shakespeare drew on various sources to create 'Macbeth'. At the end of this course, students will be able to show an understanding of the relationship between this text and the context in which it was written. This course is designed to help students write knowledgeably and with confidence in the social and historical context of 'Macbeth'. Furthermore, students will develop critical thinking and essay writing skills that are both valuable and transferable to many subject areas. 

Course Content


10 LESSONS

10 HOURS Total Length

Lesson 1

The Chain of Being

60 minutes

Lesson 2

Elizabeth I: Her Life and Death and Why She Chose James I As Her Successor

60 minutes

Lesson 3

James I: Is Macbeth a Tribute to James I?

60 minutes

Lesson 4

Witchcraft: How Shakespeare Drew on the Popular Traditions of His Time and Used Them for His Own Purposes

60 minutes

Lesson 5

The Gunpowder Plot

60 minutes

Lesson 6

Shakespeare's Sources: Where Did Shakespeare Get His Ideas From?

60 minutes

Lesson 7

The Theatre in Shakespeare's London

60 minutes

Lesson 8

Masculinity: How Does the Play Define Manhood

60 minutes

Lesson 9

The Role of Women: How to Relate Macbeth to Its Social, Historical and Cultural Context

60 minutes

Lesson 10

Writing About Context: How to Relate Macbeth to Its Social, Historical and Cultural Context

60 minutes

Key Skills


Critical Thinking

Forming Opinions

Close Reading

Essay Writing

Educator

Looby M

English and Film Studies Educator

Looby is a professional Educator alongside working as an actor. She is confident in teaching a number of subjects to GCSE and provides a supportive learning environment for students.

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