Key Skills in English


Engaging and responding 1. What evidence, from the words spoken by the characters, suggest that this scene takes place outdoors and in bad weather?


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2. What sort of atmosphere is created by the numerous questions in this extract? Explain your answer.


3. How does the appearance and disappearance of the witches influence the atmosphere of this extract?


4. In what way is Banquo’s reaction to the witches different from that of Macbeth? Explain.


5. The witches’ answers are full of contradictions. Identify three contradictory phrases and say what effect these have on the general atmosphere.


6. Banquo says: ‘you should be women, / And yet your beards forbid me to interpret / That you are so’. Rewrite these lines in your own words.


7. Taking into consideration your answers to questions 1-6 above, write a paragraph describing the setting and atmosphere created in this extract.


8. If you were directing this scene, how would you like Macbeth’s speech to the witches to be performed? Refer to tone of voice, body language and facial expression.


9. Imagine that you are Macbeth. Write a diary entry based on this experience. 10. You are another soldier and have heard rumours about this incident. Write a letter to Banquo telling him what you have heard and questioning him about what happened.


3. Stagecraft


Stagecraſt is not the same thing as setting or stage directions, although these may contribute. When you write about how you would stage an extract or scene, you are writing about the play in performance on stage.


You could refer to such things as props, costume, lighting, sound, backdrops or any other technique which you think would bring the play alive for a modern audience and create a vivid, realistic impact.


Tip:


From a Shakespearean play which you have studied, it is advisable to select at least three key scenes – the opening, climax and closing scenes are particularly important – and be able to write a reasonably detailed analysis of how they could be performed successfully.


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Unit 1: Drama


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