Course: Thematic Literature, 3201

Topic: The Themes of Macbeth

Instructional Goals:
The goal of this lesson and subsequent lessons is to provide students with a thorough understanding of the various themes throughout the play Macbeth. At the end of the learning activity that I will begin during this lesson, students should have knowledge of specific examples from the play that relate to each assigned theme and be able to engage in detailed discussion about each theme.
Learning Objectives:

• Students will be able to identify and have thorough knowledge of various themes in Macbeth
  
• Students will be able to refer to specific examples from the play when discussing the themes
  
• Students will understand the relationships between the plot, characters and the various themes

Entry:
I will introduce the lesson by explaining that since this course is a thematic literature course, and that there is a public exam on the material covered, it is essential that students have a thorough understanding of the thematic significance of Macbeth. I will explain that there are at least a dozen themes in Macbeth, so if each student had to examine each theme in detail, this would be a very long and tiresome process. Therefore, we will be taking a cooperative learning approach.

Learning Activities:
Students will be given a handout (see Appendix 1) with detailed instructions about the activity. Students will be put into designated groups. Each group will be assigned a theme from Macbeth, and will have to analyze the play to determine the significance of that theme. This involves examining the play and figuring out all the instances where that theme arises. Students should analyze the play to see how different characters and plot developments work to reveal the theme they have been assigned. I will continuously monitor and help the students with the assignment, providing guidance where necessary.
The end product of this assignment is that each group will produce a detailed paper on one of the major themes of Macbeth. There are a number of ways that students could delegate different responsibilities. I will suggest that they divide the play up into equal sections to be analyzed. Each person in the class will receive a copy of each group's paper, so that in the end each person will end up with a detailed paper on each of the major themes that have been assigned.

Closure: Because this is a learning activity that will extend over four classes, there will be no closure until the last class of the activity. On the last activity day I will point out the value of cooperative learning and teamwork, emphasizing that each person now has a thorough resource on the major themes of Macbeth, which will be invaluable when preparing for the public exam.

Evaluation:
Students will be given the choice to be evaluated as a group for their final project, or to be evaluated individually for their part in the final product. The group will have to make a collective decision. I will produce a checklist to make my marking more valid.

Resources:

• Paper and a writing utensil
  
• Copy of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare