Macbeth

Studying Macbeth
BBC bitesize – Lots of information to help you revise key extracts for your SATs.
Grade Saver – Includes a character list, plot summary, an analysis by each act and a test yourself section.
Macbeth – Adapted retelling to read/listen to. Click on the classroom version and the original text annotates the adaption.
Macbeth Plugged – Annotated script with glossary and a useful section explaining the key themes.
Shakespeare online – Includes a commentary, plot synopsis, FAQs, history of the play, soliloquies and much more.
Spark notes – Includes an overviewof the play, a character list, character analysis, a discussion of the key themes, motifs and symbols and explains the most famous quotations.
Themes in Macbeth a discussion of the key themes of ambition, the supernatural, appearances vs. reality and order/disorder in Macbeth.

History at the time of Macbeth
BBC history – Medieval Tymes – Timeline for 1000-1999 which gives an important insight to the historical setting of Macbeth. Here’s another useful Timeline too.

Lucky dip
Clans seen in Macbeth – Images of tartans for each of the families in Macbeth.
The curse of the play – An article explaining superstitions surrounding Macbeth and why actors only refer to it as ‘the Scottish play’.
The literature network – 99 quotes from Macbeth.
Macbeth inspired art – Images of 6 paintings imspired by Macbeth.

Games and quizzes
Hang Macbeth
Macbeth Soliloquy quiz
Macbeth quiz
Witches puzzle

The Tempest

Do you need to know the story of the Tempest? 

• Have a look at this summary of the Tempest from BBC Bitesize.
• Or this news-style article from the BBC’s 60 second Shakespeare.
• This summary from Absolute Shakespeare outlines the main events in each act of the play.
• This map from Shakespeare 4 kids has links to the story and some background information.

Do you need to know the main characters in the Tempest? 

• Have a look at this character list from Spark Notes No Fear Shakespeare.
• Or this webpage on the Tempest Characters from Absolute Shakespeare.

Are you looking for information about the themes of the Tempest?

• Themes, motifs and symbols from Sparknotes outlines the key themes of the play.
• This extract from the Wikipedia entry on the Tempest outlines some of the key themes.

Remember that the library has lots of books on Shakespeare.  You will find them in the non-fiction section with a Dewey number (on the side of the book) of 822 SHA.  Books can be borrowed for 1 week.

Macbeth

You can find books about, and plays by, Shakespeare near the library desk.  Follow the signs on the non-fiction shelves.  These books have a Dewey number of 822.3 on their spine.

Here are some useful websites for those of you who are studying Macbeth.

Studying Macbeth
BBC bitesize – Lots of information to help you revise key extracts for your SATs.
Grade Saver – Includes a character list, plot summary, an analysis by each act and a test yourself section.
Macbeth – Adapted retelling to read/listen to. Click on the classroom version and the original text annotates the adaption.
Macbeth Plugged – Annotated script with glossary and a useful section explaining the key themes.
Shakespeare online – Includes a commentary, plot synopsis, FAQs, history of the play, soliloquies and much more.
Spark notes – Includes an overviewof the play, a character list, character analysis, a discussion of the key themes, motifs and symbols and explains the most famous quotations.
Themes in Macbeth Includes a discussion of the key themes of ambition, the supernatural, appearances vs. reality and order/disorder in Macbeth.

History at the time of Macbeth
BBC history – Medieval Tymes – Timeline for 1000-1999 which gives an important insight to the historical setting of Macbeth. Here’s another useful Timeline too.

Lucky dip
Clans seen in Macbeth Images of tartans for each of the families in Macbeth.
The curse of the play An article explaining superstitions surrounding Macbeth and why actors only refer to it as ‘the Scottish play’.
The literature network – 99 quotes from Macbeth.
Macbeth inspired art – Images of 6 paintings imspired by Macbeth.

Games and quizzes
Hang Macbeth
Macbeth Soliloquy quiz
Macbeth quiz
Witches puzzle

William Shakespeare links

Mr Richards’ English classes are researching the life and times of Shakespeare.  We have lots of books in the library that can help you.  You will find most of them in the non-fiction part of the library and each book will have a spine label with the Dewey number 822.3.  You will find books about Shakespeare and books containing his plays and poetry here too.

You can also find information using the reference books (at the beginning of the non-fiction section).  Look for Shakespeare in the encyclopedias or literary dictionaries.

The websites listed below will also help you.

British Library – Shakespeare treasures
Click on the links at the top of this webpage to get lots of information about Shakespeare’s life, theatre and plays. 

Encyclopaedia Britannica’s guide to Shakespeare
A huge website with lots of information about Shakespeare, his plays and the Elizabethan world and theatre.  Click on ‘Chronology’ to see a timeline of Shakespeare’s time and ‘Elizabethan actors and writers’ to find out more about other important people. 

Mr William Shakespeare and the Internet
This is a website that aims to give links and details to all the Shakespeare sites on the Internet.  The best ones are on the front page though.  Click on ‘A Shakespeare timeline’ and try out the quiz. 

Newsround guide to William Shakespeare
Who was Shakespeare? And did Shakespeare really exist? Answers to these questions and lots more information on Shakespeare the playwright, actor and poet as well as how to insult somebody Shakespearean style. 

Shakespeare birthplace trust
Use this website to find out about Shakespeare, what he looked like, his life at school and much more. 

William Shakespeare
This webpage gives a short article detailing the main points of interest about William Shakespeare. 

William Shakespeare biography
This website gives you lots of links to find out about William Shakespeare which are organised by date.  Just click on the title or each date.  If you scroll down there is a link to ‘William Shakespeare facts’ which tells you some strange, and surprising, facts about William Shakespeare. 

William Shakespeare Information
There is a lot of text on this website and not many pictures, but the headings will help you to find lots of information about the life, world and works of Shakespeare.  Don’t let all the writing put you off!