macbeth

YOUNG ADULT

READERS

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE MACBETH

STAGE 3

Macbeth Scotland in the eleventh century. Macbeth is a brave general, loyal to King Duncan and to Scotland. Until, that is, he meets three evil witches after a battle against King Duncan’s enemies. They tell him that one day he, Macbeth, will be King of Scotland. This is the beginning of a story of ambition and evil, involving him and his calculating wife, Lady Macbeth. What follows leads them to terrible violence, murder, madness and ultimately to their own destruction.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE MACBETH

William Shakespeare

STAGE 3

Eli Readers is a beautifully illustrated series of timeless classics and specially written stories for learners of English.

In this reader you will find: - The Play - Information about Shakespeare’s life - A section focussing on theatrical superstitions and idioms - A section focussing on CLIL Physical Geography - A glossary of difficult words - Comprehension activities - PET-style activities - An exit test Tag Ambition, power

Elementary

600 headwords

A1

STAGE 2

Pre-Intermediate

800 headwords

A2

KET

STAGE 3

Intermediate

1000 headwords

B1

PET

STAGE 4

Upper Intermediate

1800 headwords

B2

FCE

STAGE 5

Advanced

2500 headwords

C1

CAE

STAGE 6

Proficiency

Unabridged Texts

C2

CPE

Classic

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YOUNG ADULT ELI READERS

STAGE 1

ELT B1

YOUNG ADULT

READERS

MAIN CHARACTERS

macbeth

lady macbeth

A Scottish Thane (Lord)

His wife

duncan

King of Scotland malcolm donalbain

Duncan’s sons

hecate

The goddess of witchcraft

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the three witches

Hecate’s servants

banquo

A Scottish Thane fleance

Banquo’s son

macduff ross lennox

Scottish Thanes

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william shakespeare

because there is already a Thane of Cawdor. He’s a rebel, but he’s alive. And King of Scotland? I can’t be king, because we already have a good king and we are loyal* to him. So tell me, who are you and why have you met us here to tell us these strange prophecies*? Tell me!’

The witches had nothing more to say. They simply disappeared into the fog.

‘Where have they gone?’ said Banquo to Macbeth.

‘It seems they have vanished into thin air*,’ his friend replied, ‘And I want to know why they went away so suddenly. I had more to ask them.’

‘Were they witches? Or are we going mad?’

‘Don’t worry, your children will be kings!’ Macbeth joked*.

‘And you’ll be king too!’ his friend replied.

‘Oh yes. And Thane of Cawdor as well, don’t forget that! Shh. Just a minute, I can hear horses.’

The sound of the horses came nearer and nearer.

‘Who is it?’ whispered Macbeth.

‘It’s Lord Ross!’ cried Banquo.

‘Macbeth!’ Lord Ross called out, ‘I have news from the King!

Your royal cousin is well and happy with your victory. He sent me to congratulate you and to thank you. King Duncan has decided to give you a reward. You are now the new Thane of Cawdor. Hail Macbeth, Thane of Cawdor!’

‘They were witches!’ whispered Banquo to Macbeth, ‘And, it looks like they were telling the truth.’

Macbeth was confused. He turned to Ross. ‘What do you mean?

The Thane of Cawdor is still alive.’

‘Yes, but he is a traitor* and he has confessed*. King Duncan has ordered his execution.’ loyal to be a trusted friend of someone prophecy a prediction about the future to vanish into thin air to disappear suddenly or in a strange way

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to joke to say something funny traitor a person who rebels against the government to confess to say that you have done something wrong

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AFTER-READING ACTIVITIES

Reading Comprehension 1

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Choose the best answer - A, B or C. 1 Why isn’t Macbeth afraid about the battle?

A ■ because he is a good fighter B ■ because he thinks no-one can kill him C ■ because he is very brave 2

What does Macbeth ask the doctor to do?

A ■ give him something to help him sleep B ■ be ready to help the soldiers after the battle C ■ cure his wife

3

What happens to Lady Macbeth?

A ■ she gets better B ■ she dies C ■ she runs away with Lennox

4

Why do Malcolm and the thanes search the castle?

A ■ they are looking for gold B ■ they are looking for a doctor C ■ they are looking for Macbeth

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Why does Macduff go back out onto the battlefield?

A ■ he wants to find the English general B ■ he wants to find Macbeth C ■ he wants to find Duncan

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Who kills Macbeth?

A ■ Malcolm B ■ Siward C ■ Macduff

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Who is the new King of Scotland?

A ■ Malcolm B ■ Siward C ■ Macduff

Grammar 2

Question forms. Write questions for these answers. Be careful, the tenses are mixed.

1 What was Macbeth doing ?

He was making preparations at the castle.

2 How ______________________________________________ ?

He isn’t afraid.

3 Why ______________________________________________ ?

He isn’t afraid because he thinks no-one can kill him.

4 What _ ____________________________________________ ?

He told the servants to put out the flags.

5 Where _ ___________________________________________ ?

Macbeth ran out onto the battlefield.

6 Who ______________________________________________ ?

Macbeth killed Siward, the general’s son.

7 Who ______________________________________________ ?

Macduff was thinking about his wife and children.

8 What _ __________________________________ to Macduff?

Macbeth says ‘You can’t kill me.’

9 What _ ____________________________________________ ?

Malcolm and the thanes could hear cheering from the battlefield.

10 What _ ____________________________________________ ?

The soldiers shouted, ‘Hail Malcolm! King of Scotland!’

Writing 3 Put the following events into the correct order. Then use them to write a summary of the last chapter. Remember to add that Macbeth believes no-one can kill him.

• • • • • •

Malcolm and the English army take the castle.

Lady Macbeth dies.

Macbeth kills Siward, the general’s son.

Malcolm becomes the new King of Scotland.

The soldiers walk out of Birnam Wood with branches from the trees.

Macduff kills Macbeth.

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THE PLAY The Players KING DUNCAN, King of Scotland.

MALCOLM, DONALBAIN,

LADY MACBETH. Three WITCHES.

| his Sons. |

Three GHOSTS. MACBETH, | Generals in the BANQUO, | King’s Army.

SERVANTS and SOLDIERS.

ROSS, | LENNOX, | Thanes of Scotland.

MACDUFF, |

Act One At the royal palace at Forres, King Duncan has heard the news about his army’s victory against the rebels. He is talking to Lord Ross. duncan. Brave Macbeth, my brave cousin. We have won the battle and I must thank him. The Thane of Cawdor, leader of the rebels, must die. I will give his title to Macbeth. ross. Shall I ride to meet him, your Highness? duncan. Yes, Ross. Tell him he is the new Thane 80

of Cawdor and that I am pleased.

[Ross hurries out of the room.

In a field, near to King Duncan’s castle, three evil witches are waiting for Macbeth. He and his friend, Banquo, appear.] w i tc h 1 . Hail, Macbeth! w i tc h 2 . Hail, Macbeth, the new Thane of Cawdor! w i tc h 3 . Hail, Macbeth, the future King of Scotland! m ac b et h . Who are you?

What are you talking about? ba n qu o. You have a lot to

say about Macbeth, tell me about my future! witch 1. You will be less than Macbeth, but you will be greater. witch 2. You will not be as lucky as Macbeth, but you will be luckier. witch 3. You will not be King, but your children will be kings. witches [together]. Hail Macbeth! Hail Banquo!

[The witches disappear.] macbeth . Strange women.

Were they witches? banquo. I don’t know, but you are my future king.

[Banquo bows to Macbeth.] macbeth . King? I’m not even Thane of Cawdor!

They were mad old women.

[Enter Ross.] ross. Hail, Macbeth! I have great news! The King has made you Thane of Cawdor! banquo. See! Thane of Cawdor! They were witches.

One day you’ll be King of Scotland…

m ac b et h . And your children after me! No, I don’t believe it. We already have a king and he has two sons.

[Lady Macbeth is at the family castle. She is re-reading a letter from her husband, when he walks into the room.] la dy m . I’ve read your letter and I believe the witches. One day, we will be King and Queen of Scotland. But I know you, you’re too kind and too noble. We must be calm, cruel and brave, then our dreams will come true. m ac b et h . King Duncan is coming here tonight. la dy m . Yes? Well he must never leave. You must kill him. m ac b et h . But he is my cousin, my king and he will be my guest. la dy m [angry]. I have no patience with you. Coward!

I’ll make the plan and you can kill him. If you don’t, then I will.

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FOCUS ON...

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Early Years William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-uponAvon, a town in the centre of England. Nobody really knows the exact day that he was born, but people say that it was on April 23rd. He was baptised on April 26th, so it’s possible that he was born on the 23rd. However, people probably chose that day, firstly because Shakespeare also died on April 23rd and secondly, because April 23rd is Saint George’s Day England’s patron saint.

Life in Stratford People don’t know for sure, but William probably went to Stratford’s petty, or junior school, when he was five years old. There he learned to read and write. Then, when he was seven years old, he went to Stratford’s grammar school. The school day was very long. It started at 6 or 7 in the morning and finished at 5 or 6 in the evening. At school he learned Latin and Greek.

He probably left school when he was fifteen or sixteen, which was normal at that time. In the winter of 1582, when he was 18 years old, he married Anne Hathaway. She was 26 years old.

Their first child, Susanna, was born less than six months later. Early in 1585, Anne had twins, Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet was their only son, but he died when he was 11.

Shakespeare's house and museum at Stratford-upon-Avon

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Macbeth Macbeth is Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy and he probably wrote it between 1603 and 1607, just after the death of Elizabeth I (1603). When she died, King James VI of Scotland also became King James I of England, so uniting the two thrones. Perhaps Shakespeare was thinking about the new king when he wrote the play, as one of its themes is kingship. Another theme in the play is superstition and King James was extremely interested in the subject. Macbeth is based on a true story. In the eleventh century, there really was a King Macbeth of Scotland but, unlike the Macbeth in Shakespeare’s play, he was a good and powerful king.

The Lost Years We don’t know when or why Shakespeare left Stratford. We don’t know what he was doing before he became a successful actor and dramatist, either. These years (1585 until 1592) are called the lost years. One story says that he killed a deer* belonging to a lord and so he went to London to escape. Another story says that he was a teacher during that time.

London and the Theatre Whatever happened during the lost years, by 1595, Shakespeare was already famous in London. He was an actor in an important theatre group and he had already written some successful plays. During his life, he wrote a total of 38 plays - comedies, histories and tragedies. Shakespeare also wrote hundreds of poems. Shakespeare stayed in London until 1611, when he moved back to Stratford. He died on April 23rd 1616 at the age of 52. He was buried* in Holy Trinity church two days later.

Task Complete the form with the information about Shakespeare.

Name: _____________ Place of birth: _____________ Date of birth: _____________ Age started school: _ ________ Age left school: _____________ deer

Wife’s name: _____________ Number of children:_ ________ Occupation: _____________ Date of death: _____________

buried put in the ground

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