Name:_____________________________________________________ Period: _______

Macbeth
THEME
Theme is the message or insight revealed about life within a literary work. Seldom stated by the author, theme
must be interpreted by the reader. Not simply a subject, such as “friendship,” theme is the underlying message
about it: “True friendship knows no boundaries.” Great works of literature often have multiple themes.
Instructions: Below is a list of subjects central to Macbeth. Choose FIVE subjects, and for each, determine a
related theme of the play. Support with evidence from the text, including a direct quote, the speaker, as well as
the act, scene and line number. An example has been done for you.

Subject Theme Evidence from Text

(Include quote, speaker, act and line number)

Appearances Appearances are often quite “Fair is foul and foul is fair.”
different from reality. –-The Three Witches, Act 1, scene 1, line 10

Ambition

Guilt

Trust or
Betrayal

Fate vs. Free

Will

Unchecked
Power

Gender
 WHAT IS THE THEME?
Choose the strongest theme you have identified in the previous activity. Then, in a
well-constructed, well-supported paragraph, answer the following question: what
Macbeth
is the central theme of Macbeth? Support with at least two textual examples.
When you are finished, score your response using the rubric below.
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Proficient Developing Beginner Score

4-5 2-3 1-2

Theme Theme statement is a Theme statement is a Theme statement is

Statement full, thoughtful, concise full sentence that incorrect or not a full
sentence that correctly correctly identifies a sentence or may be a
identifies a central central theme of the summary of the work
theme of the story. story. Captures a rather than a message
Captures a universal universal message, derived from it. It may
message that could be however, it may be feel incomplete or lack
connected to and overly obvious or clarity, or it may be too
studied in other works. It cliché. It is clearly specific to apply to
is clearly written in third written, but may not be other works. May not
person using fresh, in third person. be written in third
original language—not person.
a cliché.

Evidence/ Support is specific, Support relates to Support may not clearly

Support detailed and clearly theme provided, relate to theme
relates to theme however, there may be provided. May not
provided. Includes at better examples in the include directly quoted
least 2 textual examples story. Includes at least 1 content.
that are well-chosen example of directly
and directly quoted. quoted content.

TOTAL SCORE: ____

 Macbeth
THEME TWEETS
Harness the power and popularity of Twitter to help your students
connect to themes of the play. Students must create a “tweet”
related to a theme of the story, then connect to it with a hashtag.
Example, using the poem, “The Road Not Taken”
THEME RELATED TWEET: In the journey of life, there is more than one
path. Choose wisely. #YOUBEYOU

M a c b e t h THEME TWEET
NAME:_____________________________________________________________
THEME-RELATED TWEET: _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Connect to it with a Hashtag: #____________________________________________

M a c b e t h THEME TWEET
NAME:_____________________________________________________________
THEME-RELATED TWEET: _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Connect to it with a Hashtag: #____________________________________________

M a c b e t h THEME TWEET
NAME:_____________________________________________________________
THEME-RELATED TWEET: _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Connect to it with a Hashtag: #____________________________________________

M a c b e t h THEME TWEET
NAME:_____________________________________________________________
THEME-RELATED TWEET: _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Connect to it with a Hashtag: #____________________________________________
 Name(s):___________________________________________________________________ Period: ___________

Macbeth as a

TRAGIC HERO
Over 2,300 years ago, the Greek philosopher Aristotle defined the concept of a tragic hero. A tragic hero is a
protagonist with a tragic flaw (also called hamartia), which eventually leads to his downfall. According to
Aristotle, a tragic hero must meet four criteria:

• A position of superiority (such as a king or nobleman)

• A moral or ethical person at the start, or one with heroic traits, that evokes pity or empathy in the audience
• At least one tragic flaw or error in judgment that leads to his downfall
• The eventual realization that his decisions or actions have caused his own downfall, thus he meets death with
honor

Instructions: Complete the table below, citing evidence from the text for support. Then answer the question:
Does Shakespeare’s Macbeth meet all the criteria to be considered an Aristotelian tragic hero?

Meets Evidence from Text

Criteria Criteria (include quote, speaker, act, Explanation
Y/N
scene and line numbers)
Position of
superiority?

Moral or
ethical at
the start?

Tragic flow
or error in
judgement
that leads
to downfall?

Eventual
realization
of error?

Is Macbeth a true Aristotelian tragic hero? Explain. ___________________________

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
 Name(s):___________________________________________________________________ Period: ___________

Macbeth’s
TRAGIC FLAWS
A tragic hero is a protagonist with a tragic flaw (also called hamartia), which eventually leads to
his downfall. In the spaces below, name three tragic flaws of Macbeth that helped lead to his
demise:

___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________

Now, choose ONE of the tragic flaws above, then responds to the question below

Of the multiple tragic flaws Macbeth possesses, which one of them most strongly contributed to
his downfall? In a well-constructed paragraph, using the I.C.E. format, write your response,
supporting with at least two pieces of directly quoted evidence from the text.
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Name(:______________________________________________________________________________ Period: ________

Macbeth

SYMBOLISM
Symbolism is the practice or art of using an object or a word to represent an abstract idea. An action,
person, place, word, or object can all have a symbolic meaning. For example, In Robert Frost’s poem
“The Road not Taken,” two roads represent choices in life.

INSTRUCTIONS: Below is a list of important elements from the play Macbeth. For each, draw a symbol
representing that element in the first column. Then, explain what it might symbolize in the second.
Next, provide evidence from the text for support. Finally, explain your reasoning.

Story What it Textual Evidence Explanation

Element Symbolizes
(Draw symbol)

Blood

Sleep

Light and
Darkness

Weather

Ghosts/
Apparitions
 f Macbeth Character Fatebook Page
Cover Photo—should display significant events or people in character’s life.

Profile Picture
Character’s Name

Intro: What’s on character’s mind?

Current City:_________________________
Work: _______________________________
Relationship Status: __________________
Hobbies: ____________________________ Photo/Image/Meme/Tags
_____________________________________’
_____________________________________
_________________________________

Photos: See all photos:

Reactions & Comments:

Friends: ________ # of friends

What’s on character’s mind?

Photo/Image/Meme/Tags

Check-Ins

Reactions & Comments:

Name:____________________________________________________________. Period: ______________________

Macbeth
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Instructions: In the boxes below, track how a Macbeth character of your choice changes
over the course of the play by describing his/her thoughts, words and/or actions in the first
part of the work compared to his/her behavior in the middle and end. Support with
evidence from the text. Then, using the evidence you have gathered, describe the
transformation of the character by listing his/her character traits in the beginning of the story
with those at the end of the story.

Describe the character’s

thoughts, words, actions and/or Evidence from the Text
feelings
BEGINNING
OF STORY

MIDDLE OF
STORY

END OF
STORY

CHARACTER TRAITS BEGINNING OF STORY CHARACTER TRAITS END OF STORY

(List adjectives to describe character) (List adjectives to describe character)

________________ ________________ ________________ ________________

________________ ________________ ________________ ________________
Macbeth
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Essay
INSTRUCTIONS: Your assignment is to write a
character analysis essay about a major
character from Macbeth. Once you have
chosen a character to analyze, choose three
adjectives to describe that character as well
as one important way in which the character
changes over the course of the play. These
adjectives, or character traits, along with the
change in character will be the basis of your
analysis paper.

ESSAY REQUIREMENTS
Overall: Body Paragraphs:
• Must include a completed “Character
Must include:
Development” graphic organizer
• A topic sentence that tells the reader
• Must include a completed essay the main idea of each body paragraph
planner
• Transitional devices between and within
• Must include a title
paragraphs for a smooth flow
• Length: 5-6 paragraphs long, minimum
• At least two quotations from the play in
2 typed pages in length
each of the three body paragraphs to
• Typed in MLA format (12-point Times support your ideas
New Roman font, double spaced)
• An explanation of each quote and its
• Must include in-text citations as well as significance
a Works Cited page
• Quotations must be correctly cited
using MLA guidelines
Introduction:
Must include: Conclusion:
• An interesting, attention-grabbing or • Should summarize/restate thesis without
thought-provoking lead repeating the same exact words
• The title of the book, the author, and • Should provide a wrap-up to your
the character you are analyzing paper
• A directly-stated thesis that includes the • Should leave the reader with something
three character traits as well as a to think about
description of the character’s
transformation—these are to be proven
in your body paragraphs
• Thesis Example:
While at the beginning of the story,
Sergei is a reclusive hermit who
is suspicious of others, he later reveals
himself as a selfless character who
puts others before himself.
Name: ____________________________________________________ Period: ______

Macbeth Character Analysis

ESSAY PLANNER
THESIS STATEMENT:

TOPIC SENTENCE 1:

TOPIC SENTENCE 2:

TOPIC SENTENCE 3:
Name(s):______________________________________________________________________________ Period: ________

Macbeth
CHARACTER ANALYSIS ESSAY
Rubric
EXCELLENT ADEQUATE POOR TOTAL
(10-8) (7-5) (4-1)
Writing is focused and The organizational Writing lacks a clear
clearly organized. structure is strong sense of direction.
PURPOSE/ Includes a title, catchy enough to move the Problems with
ORGANIZATION hook, strong thesis reader through the organizational
statement, thoughtful text without too much structure make it
transitions, and a confusion. May difficult for reader to
satisfying conclusion. occasionally stray from follow.
topic.

Includes an Includes a sufficient Includes few if any

abundance of amount of quality relevant details that
relevant, quality details details including at help support key
CONTENT/ that effectively least one quote per claims. May fail to use
SUPPORTING support main claims; body paragraph to at least one quote per
DETAILS effectively uses at support claim. One or body paragraph
least two quotes per two details may seem and/or include an
body paragraph, with obvious or out of explanation of quote.
clear, compelling place.
explanation for each.

Writer uses rich, The language is Writer uses a limited

colorful word choices functional; words are vocabulary. Words
that convey the adequate and correct are non-specific
CONTROL OF message in a precise, in a general sense, but and/or used
LANGUAGE natural and interesting may lack variety or incorrectly. Sentence
way. Sentence clarity. Sentence structure may be
structures are varied structure may lack overly simple, non-
and sophisticated. variety or include varied, and/or flawed.
minor errors.

Essay correctly follows Essay generally follows Essay does not follow
MLA guidelines, MLA format, including MLA guidelines and/or
including in-text in-text citations and a may not include in-text
MLA FORMAT citations and a Works Works Cited page, but citations and/or a
Cited page, with may contain some Works Cited page.
virtually no errors. errors or omissions.
12 –point type,
double-spaced.

Writer demonstrates a Writer shows Frequent errors in

clear grasp of reasonable control spelling, punctuation,
CONVENTIONS standard conventions over a limited range of capitalization, and/or
(i.e., spelling, standard conventions. grammar distract the
punctuation, Spelling, punctuation, reader and make it
capitalization, grammar, etc., usually difficult to read.
grammar). correct.

TOTAL