Subject: English
Grade Level: Year/Grade 11 (Ages 16-18)
Length: 30 Minutes
Objective:
Students will be able to analyze and interpret the use of supernatural elements in Macbeth, gaining a deeper understanding of their significance in the play.
Materials:
- Copies of Macbeth
- Whiteboard and dry erase markers
Introduction (5 Minutes):
- Begin by asking students if they have ever experienced anything that they couldn't explain with science.
- Next, introduce the idea of the supernatural in literature, and how often it is used to illuminate the human condition.
Body (20 Minutes):
- Provide students with the context of the play, Macbeth, and its use of supernatural elements.
- Read passages from the play that reference supernatural occurrences (e.g. when the witches appear to Macbeth, or when Banquo's ghost appears).
- Take a few moments to discuss the passages with the students and encourage them to think about the effects that the supernatural elements have on the characters in the play.
Conclusion (5 Minutes):
- Ask students to reflect on what they have learned about the role of the supernatural in Macbeth.
- Encourage them to think about how Shakespeare used these elements to comment on themes such as ambition and power.
- Finally, reiterate the importance of studying the use of the supernatural in literature, which can help us understand and appreciate the diversity of human experience.