🚨FREEBIE: Macbeth Revision Cheat Sheet!

Hi there,

As we’re in mock exams season, I know when it comes to GCSE English Literature MACBETH is the one set text that GCSE students absolutely hate! Why?

1️⃣ It’s written in old English

2️⃣ It’s about themes like kingship and guilt that nobody cares about

3️⃣ Remembering quotes for all the characters is hard

4️⃣ Writing a solid essay with clever analysis is impossible

5️⃣ Managing all this by the time mock exams start in OCTOBER & NOVEMBER is a tough ask!

Macbeth is tough. But I want to give you a cheat code that will basically save your life in your mocks. What is this cheat code? Divine Right of Kings:

 

PS: if you can’t be bothered to read the rest of this post but you still want that cheat sheet with an easy explanation of “divine right” and how to use it in your essay - download it here: https://www.firstratetutors.com/offers/Hphw9vdH

So in easy English - Divine Right of Kings is the belief that:

⭐️ The King was chosen by God

⭐️ Disobeying him or killing him was a sin against God

(PS: I’ll be running a one-off Macbeth live revision class during OCTOBER HALF TERM on 27 October - sign up for that class here: https://www.firstratetutors.com/october-macbeth)

Why is this such an important point? 

✅ The WHOLE PLAY is structured around the central crime of “regicide” - Macbeth’s murder of King Duncan

✅ The central theme - ambition - led to its violation (Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were ambitious for power so they plotted to murder the King)

✅ All the other characters - especially BANQUO and MACDUFF never develop ambition and remain totally LOYAL to the King and respect divine right.

How do I use this in my Macbeth essay?

It’s easy - if you get a question on Macbeth or Lady Macbeth - mention how their ambition leads them to violate divine right of Kings. If you get a question on any of the other characters, say they respect this belief.

🚨PRO TIP: if you also mention how the play demonstrates the “supernatural chaos” that developed as a result of King Duncan’s death, you’re onto a winner!

“Thank you! So.. How does this look like in an essay?”

I’m glad you asked! 😃

I’ll be writing a Macbeth GCSE Grade 9 Model Answer in my upcoming GCSE Literature class on 29 October:

✅ You can use this GCSE Answer for your mocks and final exams next year

✅ Ask me as many questions in that live class

✅ You’ll get a 3-page cheat sheet with main character & theme quotes you can use for your Macbeth revision

✨Sign up here: https://www.firstratetutors.com/october-macbeth