Contents
p.1-3 – How to write a Grade 9 Macbeth Essay based on the AQA mark scheme
p. 4-21 – Act 1 quote analysis
p. 22-40 – Act 2 quote analysis
p. 41-57 – Act 3 quote analysis
p. 58-68 – Act 4 quote analysis
p. 69-82 – Act 5 quote analysis
p. 83-100 – Character essay plan: (Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Banquo, Macduff, The witches)
p. 101-106 – Example full mark essays
p. 107-122 – Context notes
p. 123-135 – Theme question essay plans
,How to write an essay for AQA based on the top band of mark scheme
Here’s what the mark scheme says:
1. Convincing, critical analysis, conceptualised
2. Exploration of context to author’s and contemporary reader’s perspectives
3. Give interpretation(s) in response to the whole text
4. Analyse it as a play, and deal with the structure
5. Precise reference, analysis of writer’s methods, subject terminology used judicious
How to be conceptual and convincing from write the introduction paragraph:
- Include 3 of Shakespeare’s purposes
- Link them to the question
This is very easy to do in advance, because Shakespeare’s purposes remain the same, no matter the question
1. Cautionary tale, warning any nobles about consequences of regicide – like gunpowder plot, will fail
2. Warning against worship of anti-Christian views, i.e. witches
3. Flattering King James I by warning against regicide, warning against witchcraft and legitimising his Kingship
4. Violence, hamartia, madness and death of Lady Macbeth is divine punishment for regicide and disrupting
Great Chain of Being
5. Warns against disrupting Great Chain of Being
Structure of introduction paragraph:
1. Direct answer to the question, what it represents
2. History and literary context
3. 3 device paragraphs clearly outlined
4. Authorial intent
Example full mark introduction
,How is power presented in the play?
Power in Macbeth is presented to be a corrupting and destructive force that consumes those who commit violent
acts to achieve it. Shakespeare explores the nature of power through unchecked ambition and subversion of the
natural order, which reveals how excessive desire leads to moral decay and punishment. Being written in the early
17th century during the reign of King James I, Macbeth reflects contemporary anxieties about regicide, divine right
of kings and the natural order. Shakespeare utilizes the character of Macbeth to show how power leads to
psychological torment, which is reflected in his wife, who suffers similar consequences, made worse by her
subversion of gender norms when seeking power. Power and gender subversion is also linked in the character
development of the witches. Through this, Shakespeare critiques the allure of power and warns that audience
against disrupting divine order.
How should you structure your essay?
Spend 3 minutes writing a chronological plan. Choose 3 main body paragraphs. The extract should be one of the
main paragraphs.
In each paragraph, the structure should be as follows:
1. Topic sentence, purpose of Shakespeare, link to intro
2. Form and structure point, 2x layers of analysis, link to context, 2x layers of analysis, link to context
3. Conclude how those points PROVE the purpose of Shakespeare
4. In each layer, include a literary technique Shakespeare used, the effect, how effect was achieved,
Shakespeare’s purpose
The marks literally hand themselves over to you!
Take a look at the example essays if unsure
,
,Every quote analysis
Act 1 Scene 1:
Shakespear’s purpose Quote Analysis
The very first mention “When shall we Trochaic meter - the witches generally speak in (everyone else
of the witches is about three meet speaks in iambic pentameter).
their evil and about again, in
Trochaic meter - stressed/unstressed syllables - a falling meter
their rejection of God. thunder,
(because it goes from strong/weak) - associated with negativity,
lighting, or in
evil.
rain?”
“WHEN shall WE three MEET a-GAIN” - creation of momentum
through these trochees, creates this sense of urgency - makes
the witches’ presence seem threatening.
“Thunder, lighting, rain” - pathetic fallacy - negativity of the
weather.
Link to CONTEXT: at the time, they had no scientific explanation
for the weather - they believed it reflected God’s emotions.
1) If this is God, God is upset at the witches - symbolic of them
being evil.
2) Witches are possibly responsible for the weather, not God.
This is them taking over Godly positions - threat. His
omnipotence is being threatened.
, CONTEXT: GCOB: they are subverting the weather - they are
elevating themselves, they are manipulating reality to fit their
purpose (casting spells).
Introduction to the equivocation (not lying, but not quite telling
the truth) they will do throughout the play - “thunder, lighting,
or in rain” - by using ‘or’ it makes it sound like they are giving
options. They aren’t, these 3 come together, happen
simultaneously - this is an example of how the witches’ speech
is deceptive - they make you assume certain things that are
ultimately false.
The witches are “Fair is foul and It is a paradox. It is impossible - by doing so, they are creating a
deceptive and foul is fair deceptive atmosphere.
disruptive.
Hover through Chiasmus - reversal of words, exactly. ““Fair is foul and foul is
the fog and fair” - this reversal of words reflects the witches tendency to
filthy air” reverse the natural order.
Metrically, this is a palindrome (same forwards as it is
backwards) - this is parallels the 2 phrases and equates them.
That makes them interchangeable. “Fair” and “foul” are
presented as interchangeable - complete disruption of order,
because they are complete opposites. The witches are
conflating antithetical concepts, and making them one.
Conflating the positive ‘fair’ and the negative ‘foul’ - they have
no line between good and bad, no line between immorality and
, morality. They are no boundaries to morality.
Lack of clarity in their speech - strategic - people will then
believe what they want to believe, manipulative.
Trochaic meter - falling meters are associated with immorality.
Incomplete trochaic tetrameter - ‘fair is foul and foul is fair’ - it
is read “FAIR is FOUL and FOUL is FAIR ….”
By having it in incomplete trochaic tetrameter, it ends the line
on a stressed syllable, on ‘fair’. If it was complete, the line
would end on an unstressed syllable. This is deceptive. 1) They
will n abide by even their OWN meter, they are unpredictable
and disruptive of even themselves. 2) They end the line on a
strong syllable of the word ‘fair’, which suggests they focus on
the good. Wrong, deceptive, manipulative.
Trochaic meter emphasis the words ‘fair’ ‘foul’ ‘foul’ ‘fair’ - what
that does is it makes them blur into each other.
“Fog” “filthy” - meeting at night and suggesting they will travel
through ‘fog’ points towards the idea of a lack of clarity in their
vision (literally cannot see where they re going, but
metaphorically therefore can also not see guidance in terms of
morality)
“Filthy” - the first introduction of the idea of disease, decay.
Literal filth, but also moral filth - they will encourage
manipulation, murder, lies.
, Rhyming couplet - sound chant-like. Unnatural speech. It does
not follow natural speech patterns - it is obvious poetry which
makes them seem unnatural as they are manufacturing a
certain chant -like feeling deliberately.
Example paragraph:
Shakespeare presents the witches as the embodiment of evil, as they are the ones who orchestrate the evil
actions, plans and mentalities throughout the entire play. Having written Macbeth for King James I, Shakespeare
also strategically plays into the theme of the supernatural, in order to access King James I’s beliefs and hobbies
(writing about the supernatural, as evidenced by his publication of Daemonologie in 1597). Shakespeare accessed
the supernatural directly through the characters of the witches, and by making them appear evil, he pushes the
moral message of rejecting any other moral guide or influence, other than God. The witches, in their first
introduction, ask ‘when shall we three meet again’. The use of trochaic meter, where the witches emphasize the
first syllable sets them apart immediately from other characters, because they are speaking in the opposite meter
to most other characters, who speak in iambic. However, it also means that the beat is falling each time, as it goes
from a strong emphasis to a weak emphasis, creating a sense of moral decline and evil. Alternatively, it could be
that the first beat being stressed is already building up momentum from the very beginning, making their presence
seem threatening and intimidating. Furthermore, they also refer to the weather in which they meet as: ‘thunder,
lighting, or in rain’, where the negative image of the weather relates to their negative influence on the world. This
pathetic fallacy is strategic, because at the time when Macbeth was written, people believed that weather was a
result of God’s emotions, because they had no scientific investigation into weather patterns or causes. So, perhaps
God is upset at the witches, which demonstrates their immense influence on morality and on reality, if God is
getting involved and reacting. This view is also shown through the use of ‘or’ in the witches’ speech, which
suggests that there is a choice between thunder, lighting OR rain - realistically, these often (if not always) come
together, and therefore this is an example of the witches' deceptive equivocation. Regardless, the witches having
p.1-3 – How to write a Grade 9 Macbeth Essay based on the AQA mark scheme
p. 4-21 – Act 1 quote analysis
p. 22-40 – Act 2 quote analysis
p. 41-57 – Act 3 quote analysis
p. 58-68 – Act 4 quote analysis
p. 69-82 – Act 5 quote analysis
p. 83-100 – Character essay plan: (Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Banquo, Macduff, The witches)
p. 101-106 – Example full mark essays
p. 107-122 – Context notes
p. 123-135 – Theme question essay plans
,How to write an essay for AQA based on the top band of mark scheme
Here’s what the mark scheme says:
1. Convincing, critical analysis, conceptualised
2. Exploration of context to author’s and contemporary reader’s perspectives
3. Give interpretation(s) in response to the whole text
4. Analyse it as a play, and deal with the structure
5. Precise reference, analysis of writer’s methods, subject terminology used judicious
How to be conceptual and convincing from write the introduction paragraph:
- Include 3 of Shakespeare’s purposes
- Link them to the question
This is very easy to do in advance, because Shakespeare’s purposes remain the same, no matter the question
1. Cautionary tale, warning any nobles about consequences of regicide – like gunpowder plot, will fail
2. Warning against worship of anti-Christian views, i.e. witches
3. Flattering King James I by warning against regicide, warning against witchcraft and legitimising his Kingship
4. Violence, hamartia, madness and death of Lady Macbeth is divine punishment for regicide and disrupting
Great Chain of Being
5. Warns against disrupting Great Chain of Being
Structure of introduction paragraph:
1. Direct answer to the question, what it represents
2. History and literary context
3. 3 device paragraphs clearly outlined
4. Authorial intent
Example full mark introduction
,How is power presented in the play?
Power in Macbeth is presented to be a corrupting and destructive force that consumes those who commit violent
acts to achieve it. Shakespeare explores the nature of power through unchecked ambition and subversion of the
natural order, which reveals how excessive desire leads to moral decay and punishment. Being written in the early
17th century during the reign of King James I, Macbeth reflects contemporary anxieties about regicide, divine right
of kings and the natural order. Shakespeare utilizes the character of Macbeth to show how power leads to
psychological torment, which is reflected in his wife, who suffers similar consequences, made worse by her
subversion of gender norms when seeking power. Power and gender subversion is also linked in the character
development of the witches. Through this, Shakespeare critiques the allure of power and warns that audience
against disrupting divine order.
How should you structure your essay?
Spend 3 minutes writing a chronological plan. Choose 3 main body paragraphs. The extract should be one of the
main paragraphs.
In each paragraph, the structure should be as follows:
1. Topic sentence, purpose of Shakespeare, link to intro
2. Form and structure point, 2x layers of analysis, link to context, 2x layers of analysis, link to context
3. Conclude how those points PROVE the purpose of Shakespeare
4. In each layer, include a literary technique Shakespeare used, the effect, how effect was achieved,
Shakespeare’s purpose
The marks literally hand themselves over to you!
Take a look at the example essays if unsure
,
,Every quote analysis
Act 1 Scene 1:
Shakespear’s purpose Quote Analysis
The very first mention “When shall we Trochaic meter - the witches generally speak in (everyone else
of the witches is about three meet speaks in iambic pentameter).
their evil and about again, in
Trochaic meter - stressed/unstressed syllables - a falling meter
their rejection of God. thunder,
(because it goes from strong/weak) - associated with negativity,
lighting, or in
evil.
rain?”
“WHEN shall WE three MEET a-GAIN” - creation of momentum
through these trochees, creates this sense of urgency - makes
the witches’ presence seem threatening.
“Thunder, lighting, rain” - pathetic fallacy - negativity of the
weather.
Link to CONTEXT: at the time, they had no scientific explanation
for the weather - they believed it reflected God’s emotions.
1) If this is God, God is upset at the witches - symbolic of them
being evil.
2) Witches are possibly responsible for the weather, not God.
This is them taking over Godly positions - threat. His
omnipotence is being threatened.
, CONTEXT: GCOB: they are subverting the weather - they are
elevating themselves, they are manipulating reality to fit their
purpose (casting spells).
Introduction to the equivocation (not lying, but not quite telling
the truth) they will do throughout the play - “thunder, lighting,
or in rain” - by using ‘or’ it makes it sound like they are giving
options. They aren’t, these 3 come together, happen
simultaneously - this is an example of how the witches’ speech
is deceptive - they make you assume certain things that are
ultimately false.
The witches are “Fair is foul and It is a paradox. It is impossible - by doing so, they are creating a
deceptive and foul is fair deceptive atmosphere.
disruptive.
Hover through Chiasmus - reversal of words, exactly. ““Fair is foul and foul is
the fog and fair” - this reversal of words reflects the witches tendency to
filthy air” reverse the natural order.
Metrically, this is a palindrome (same forwards as it is
backwards) - this is parallels the 2 phrases and equates them.
That makes them interchangeable. “Fair” and “foul” are
presented as interchangeable - complete disruption of order,
because they are complete opposites. The witches are
conflating antithetical concepts, and making them one.
Conflating the positive ‘fair’ and the negative ‘foul’ - they have
no line between good and bad, no line between immorality and
, morality. They are no boundaries to morality.
Lack of clarity in their speech - strategic - people will then
believe what they want to believe, manipulative.
Trochaic meter - falling meters are associated with immorality.
Incomplete trochaic tetrameter - ‘fair is foul and foul is fair’ - it
is read “FAIR is FOUL and FOUL is FAIR ….”
By having it in incomplete trochaic tetrameter, it ends the line
on a stressed syllable, on ‘fair’. If it was complete, the line
would end on an unstressed syllable. This is deceptive. 1) They
will n abide by even their OWN meter, they are unpredictable
and disruptive of even themselves. 2) They end the line on a
strong syllable of the word ‘fair’, which suggests they focus on
the good. Wrong, deceptive, manipulative.
Trochaic meter emphasis the words ‘fair’ ‘foul’ ‘foul’ ‘fair’ - what
that does is it makes them blur into each other.
“Fog” “filthy” - meeting at night and suggesting they will travel
through ‘fog’ points towards the idea of a lack of clarity in their
vision (literally cannot see where they re going, but
metaphorically therefore can also not see guidance in terms of
morality)
“Filthy” - the first introduction of the idea of disease, decay.
Literal filth, but also moral filth - they will encourage
manipulation, murder, lies.
, Rhyming couplet - sound chant-like. Unnatural speech. It does
not follow natural speech patterns - it is obvious poetry which
makes them seem unnatural as they are manufacturing a
certain chant -like feeling deliberately.
Example paragraph:
Shakespeare presents the witches as the embodiment of evil, as they are the ones who orchestrate the evil
actions, plans and mentalities throughout the entire play. Having written Macbeth for King James I, Shakespeare
also strategically plays into the theme of the supernatural, in order to access King James I’s beliefs and hobbies
(writing about the supernatural, as evidenced by his publication of Daemonologie in 1597). Shakespeare accessed
the supernatural directly through the characters of the witches, and by making them appear evil, he pushes the
moral message of rejecting any other moral guide or influence, other than God. The witches, in their first
introduction, ask ‘when shall we three meet again’. The use of trochaic meter, where the witches emphasize the
first syllable sets them apart immediately from other characters, because they are speaking in the opposite meter
to most other characters, who speak in iambic. However, it also means that the beat is falling each time, as it goes
from a strong emphasis to a weak emphasis, creating a sense of moral decline and evil. Alternatively, it could be
that the first beat being stressed is already building up momentum from the very beginning, making their presence
seem threatening and intimidating. Furthermore, they also refer to the weather in which they meet as: ‘thunder,
lighting, or in rain’, where the negative image of the weather relates to their negative influence on the world. This
pathetic fallacy is strategic, because at the time when Macbeth was written, people believed that weather was a
result of God’s emotions, because they had no scientific investigation into weather patterns or causes. So, perhaps
God is upset at the witches, which demonstrates their immense influence on morality and on reality, if God is
getting involved and reacting. This view is also shown through the use of ‘or’ in the witches’ speech, which
suggests that there is a choice between thunder, lighting OR rain - realistically, these often (if not always) come
together, and therefore this is an example of the witches' deceptive equivocation. Regardless, the witches having
