"A drum, a drum! Macbeth doth come."  The withered and wild witches of Shakespeare’s Scottish play launch an examination of the fantastical elements in Act I, scene iii, paying particular attention to the action, imagery, characterization, and language. Class members compare beliefs about witchcraft in Elizabethan times with contemporary ideas about how the supernatural influences behavior, and then apply what they have learned to other scenes in the play. The richly detailed packet includes discussion questions, activities, and links to videos and other materials. This might be the be-all and the end-all of Shakespeare resources.

Additional Tags

william shakeaspeare, the scottish play, english language arts

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Pros

• A list of other scenes, rich in supernatural elements, is included
• The plan is carefully scaffolded
• The discussion questions focus readers' attention on key elements of the play and prepare individuals for the writing assignment

 

Cons

• No rubric is included for the writing assignment

Common Core

RL.11-12.2 RL.11-12.3