Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Plot Summary Activity
When developing our understanding of a play, it is useful to break it down into a 10 key point summary. From here you can explore which characters are
involved at the significant moments and identify the key themes being explored ahead of the examination.
Try completing the table below with the characters, Act/Scenes and key themes. You could also explain how the themes are explored in each part.
Plot Summary
Act/Scene
Characters involved
Key themes
On their return journey from triumph in battle,
Macbeth and Banquo are told a prophecy
Macbeth, Banquo, three
witches
Supernatural
King Duncan names Macbeth Thane of Cawdor and
proposes a visit to Macbeth’s castle
On Macbeths return to his castle, Lady Macbeth
convinces him to believe the prophecy and promises
to help him become King
Macbeth murders King Duncan in his sleep –
immediate regret from Macbeth
Greed and ambition
Macbeth becomes King of Scotland, however in
paranoia arranges for Banquo and his son Fleance to
be killed
Banquo, Macbeths dear friend, is murdered but
Fleance escapes.
At a state banquet, Macbeth see the ghost of Banquo
and Lady Macbeth dismissed the court from the
banquet as he will not calm down
