An overview of student generated gaps and silences in the narrative structure of Macbeth. Ideal for preparing students to create their own narratives within the story world of Macbeth.

1. Gaps & Silences in the
Narrative of William
Shakespeare’s Macbeth
2017 – 11 English

2. Act 1
 The witches discussion before and after they speak to Macbeth and Banquo (Scene
1)
 What grand plan do the witches have? How do Macbeth and Banquo fit into a
bigger narrative they are trying to create? (Scene 1)
 What did Cawdor do to become a traitor? (Scene 2)
 How did Banquo fell following his prophetic message (Scene 3)
 Duncan or Malcolm’s perspective on the news that Macbeth is now Thane (Scene 4)
 Macbeth actually thinks about the murder! (Scene 7)
 Duncan’s account / perspective on the murder of himself, told prior to, during, or
transcendently after (Scene 7)

3. Act 2
 Duncan’s Point of view on the murder (Scene 1)
 Duncan’s bodyguards experience of being drugged (Scene 2)
 Macduff, Duncan and Lennox’s discussion (Scene 3)

4. Act 3
 Write about Banquo’s suspicions about Macbeth (Scene 1)
 Write about the sleep pattern and dreams of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth (Scene 2)
 Banquo and Fleances conversation as they approach the woods, what do they think
of the events that have happened up until here (Scene 3)
 Where and how does Fleance escape? (Scene 4)
 What does Fleance do from hiding? Does he return at the end of the play to claim
his kingship? (Scene 4, onwards)
 A soliloquy from Banquos ghost (Scene 4)
 The witches social circle, and the rules they follow under Hecate (Scene 5)
 What the chefs prepared and why for Macbeth’s banquet (Scene 6)

5. Act 4
 Does Banquo also receive apparitions like Macbeth? What are they? (Scene 1)
 The messengers account of warning Lady Macduff, then seeing her murdered
(Scene 2)
 The murderers account of the murder of Lady Macduff (Scene 2)
 Lady Macduff’s son’s account of his own murder, or his preparation for it (Scene 2)
 Ross’ departure (Scene 2)
 Ross’s account of Macduff’s departure (Scene 2)
 Macduff’s preparation to go and kill Macbeth (Scene 3)

6. Act 5
 Lady Macbeth’s dreams and hallucinations (Scene 1)
 The Doctor’s account of Lady Macbeth’s full hallucinations and mental health profile
(Scene 1)
 The account of the young men joining the army to face Macbeth (Scene 2)
 Macbeth develops a plan (personal or military) to counter Malcom’s approach, or at
least listens to some advice about what he should do if he were no so filled with his own
belief in his invisibility (Scene 3)
 The Doctors account of Macbeth’s mental health (Scene 3)
 Macbeth’s hasty preparation before the siege (Scene 4)
 Lady Macbeth’s final soliloquy before her death (Scene 5)
 The return of zombie Macbeth (Scene 5)