Macbeth

Try this:
Telling the story of Macbeth in eight tableaux, or frames.

Objectives:

To establish the story and the correct sequence of events

To promote effective and creative teamwork

To inspire students to think visually

To familiarise students with the text

To encourage students to speak words from the play

What to do
1. Split the class into 8 groups (NB: every student must participate). Allocate one tableau per group. Some groups will need to use more than one tableaux to tell their part of the story.

GROUP 1: A wild and windy heath in the middle of a terrible storm. Returning triumphant from battle (Scotland v. Norway - Scotland won), two generals in the King's army, Macbeth and Banquo, meet three weird sisters (the WITCHES) who predict that Macbeth (already Thane of Glamis) will be Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland (a 'Thane' was a local Lord. The real Macbeth was a Mormaer, a mighty war lord.)

GROUP 2: Soon afterwards, King Duncan of Scotland rewards Macbeth by giving him the title, Thane of Cawdor, so now Macbeth is both thane of Glamis and thane of Cawdor and the first of the witches' prophecies has come true.

GROUP 3: Spurred on by the prophecy and by his ambitious wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth murders King Duncan whilst the king is visiting him at his castle in Dunsinane. Duncan's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, run away in terror. Macbeth is crowned king.

GROUP 4: Macbeth revisits the witches and is told

1) to beware Macduff

2) that he can be harmed of no man born of woman

3) that he is safe until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane.

GROUP 5: Macduff runs away and in his absence, Macbeth has Macduff's wife and all their children murdered.

GROUP 6: Lady Macbeth goes mad and dies.

GROUP 7: Malcolm (King Duncan's son who ran away earlier in the story), brings an army to attack Macbeth in his castle at Dunsinane, using branches cut from Birnam Wood as camouflage.

GROUP 8: Macduff, who wasn't "born of woman" but was "ripped from his mother's stomach" (a Caesarean birth), kills Macbeth and Malcolm is proclaimed King of Scotland.

2. Ask the groups to give their tableaux a title (caption).

3. Show the tableaux to the rest of the group. Ask for feedback - what worked? How could the tableaux be improved?

4. Ask students to find bits of text to use in their tableaux.

5. Perform the tableaux again, using the text.


			Telling the story of Macbeth in eight tableaux, or frames. Objectives: To establish the story and the correct sequence of events To promote effective and creative teamwork To inspire students to think visually To familiarise students with the text To encourage students to speak words from the play What to do 1. Split the class into 8 groups (NB: every student must participate). Allocate one tableau per group. Some groups will need to use more than one tableaux to tell their part of the story. GROUP 1: A wild and windy heath in the middle of a terrible storm. Returning triumphant from battle (Scotland v. Norway - Scotland won), two generals in the King's army, Macbeth and Banquo, meet three weird sisters (the WITCHES) who predict that Macbeth (already Thane of Glamis) will be Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland (a 'Thane' was a local Lord. The real Macbeth was a Mormaer, a mighty war lord.) GROUP 2: Soon afterwards, King Duncan of Scotland rewards Macbeth by giving him the title, Thane of Cawdor, so now Macbeth is both thane of Glamis and thane of Cawdor and the first of the witches' prophecies has come true. GROUP 3: Spurred on by the prophecy and by his ambitious wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth murders King Duncan whilst the king is visiting him at his castle in Dunsinane. Duncan's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, run away in terror. Macbeth is crowned king. GROUP 4: Macbeth revisits the witches and is told 1) to beware Macduff 2) that he can be harmed of no man born of woman 3) that he is safe until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. GROUP 5: Macduff runs away and in his absence, Macbeth has Macduff's wife and all their children murdered. GROUP 6: Lady Macbeth goes mad and dies. GROUP 7: Malcolm (King Duncan's son who ran away earlier in the story), brings an army to attack Macbeth in his castle at Dunsinane, using branches cut from Birnam Wood as camouflage. GROUP 8: Macduff, who wasn't "born of woman" but was "ripped from his mother's stomach" (a Caesarean birth), kills Macbeth and Malcolm is proclaimed King of Scotland. 2. Ask the groups to give their tableaux a title (caption). 3. Show the tableaux to the rest of the group. Ask for feedback - what worked? How could the tableaux be improved? 4. Ask students to find bits of text to use in their tableaux. 5. Perform the tableaux again, using the text.