Tag: Macbeth

Macbeth: Witches’ Spells

In Literacy this week we have been looking at Macbeth and at the spell cast by the three witches. Inspired by Shakespeare’s writing, we decided to write our own spells with some definite success criteria. There needed to be rhyming couplets, 7 – 9 syllables a line to maintain rhythm and pace, eight line stanzas, some vocabulary that would chill you to the bone and (in some cases) archaic language.

The children rose to the challenge and unleashed their imaginations resulting in some pretty gruesome spells.

Here are some examples of the children’s work:

Tom H

Download (DOCX, 12KB)

 

Ashleigh

Download (DOCX, 19KB)

 

Toby

Download (DOCX, 17KB)

Freya

Download (DOCX, 14KB)

Sam L

Download (DOCX, 127KB)

Macbeth: Recounts from the meeting with the witches – Abi S

Nightfall was beginning to close in on us from all sides. The moaning cries from the injured soldiers filled the air. Furthermore, I felt that the night time was oddly spooky in appearance. Did I hear a twig snap? Suddenly I heard a rustle in the bushes. I thought I heard a something eerie in the distance.
I looked around… what was that noise?… could it be a owl or could it be something else? I stopped turned around and… then I saw something, three pale ghostly shadows were floating like skeletons right in front of me. I glanced at Macbeth he looked as terrified as I felt. What were these dreadful creatures? Were they just in my imagination? Or were they real?
They rose silently and then they spoke
“All hail Macbeth who shall be king,“ cackled the witches gleefully as they zoomed around Macbeth and I.
“Praise Macbeth who will be thane of Cawdor!”
“Praise Macbeth for he will be king when he is thane of Cawdor!”
After that I exclaimed in surprise,
“But if you can see into the future then tell me my future for I so desperately want to know if a light or hope will come my way.”
“You will be happy when it is all over,” cackled the first witch
“When the days of glory are over for you, your sons will have the much more glory when they are kings!” shouted the witches gleefully. I felt scared, nervous and surprised that my sons would have much more glory than me.
I turned around to look at Macbeth, to see what he thought of it all. He looked as though somebody had hit him with a hammer in the stomach. He’s face was sunken down like a skeleton, and his body features were stiff and hard like a brick wall. I thought to myself,
‘I don’t like the look on his face, whatever it is it can’t be good.’
Just a moment later I heard a clip clop clip clop of hooves in the distance and the witch’s vanished in a puff of smoke.

Macbeth: Recounts from the meeting with the witches – Oscar

Macbeth and I were happily striding down the gut-spreaded, blood-pouring battlefield, I could even see an eyeball loose. I was also playing my drum; it was a dark and gloomy night the sky filled with blackness. We couldn’t see anything so we just picked up the pace and started to walk a bit faster. It was so quiet, all I could hear was the rustling of the wet grass when our feet glided through it.

I looked back. I thought I heard something. At the moment when I turned my head back there was a big bang that stunned my ears and smoke that tasted like sick. I saw in the distance three bad clothed and weird nosed figures. A moment later they became much clearer.

I was frozen, my whole body was numb. I found it hard to breathe. The three disgusting hags made me throw up in my stomach. Then I heard them say even though I was still half-deafened by the big bang

“A drum, a drum. Macbeth’s doth come.” I was shocked by what they said. Then Macbeth replied,

“I will not fear what I hear” I was surprised to see Macbeth stand up like that in front of those three terrifying poison making, cauldron bubbling withes

The witches howled with a sprinkle of horror,

“Macbeth will reign King Duncan will be no more”

The witches faded away. I got the feeling Macbeth had plotted to kill King Duncan or is about to plot his death. I stopped thinking then I ran, then I gradually started to sprint I tripped up once or twice I was running so fast you could only faintly see my legs. I stopped…I was in the middle of the battlefield surrounded by guts, blood and swords. Something struck my mind like thunder Macbeth had to kill me!

Macbeth: Recounts from the meeting with the witches – Peter

As Banqo and I strolled across the dark and gloomy battle field the mist started to surround us. As we carried on our thick leather boots got drenched with water. Yellow fingers shot across the gloomy sky.

“What’s that?”  I gasped.

I didn’t know what it was at first but it was three humbled hags who were known as witches.

 

As we got closer I got more scared. We stopped… the hags called out my name.

“How do you know my name?” I shouted nervously.

I was terrified, my hands were shaking. The witches were saying really weird things. Just a second later I started to under stand them.

“Hail Macbeth, Hail Macbeth thane of Cawdor. You will be king,” screeched the witches.

They carried on screaming until they disappeared into the mist. I couldn’t hear a thing after that. We then carried on strolling along. Just as we walked off my hands stopped shaking. Also the darkness closed in on us as well. We walked off and it got quieter and quieter as we walked along.

Lady Macbeth’s final letter – William L

My dearest husband,

I am writing to you as I am on the verge of death. I feel like life has no meaning for me any more and you would also be better off without me. I feel responsible for the disastrous situation you are now in so please do not mourn my passing.

I now realise that ambition can be a terrible thing. As soon as I received the letter from you telling me about your meeting with the witches I felt like you had to take the throne so we could rule Scotland together. Even though you are a daring man in battle I said you were a cowardly person, which was a step too far. That meant that you would not have the guts too kill King Duncan. When I persuaded you too kill King Duncan I thought I was making you a real man, but all I was doing was making us step into a sea of disaster.

I was very silly and should have had the guts to kill King Duncan myself. The only reason I did not was because he reminded me of my much loved father who was killed in battle. It was just not possible for me to kill him. When you brought the daggers from the Kings chamber I should have just taken them and put them back because I could see you were over come with guilt. I still look down at my hands, arms and finger nails and I can still see King Duncan’s blood flowing through my veins.

Again I feel guilty for the terrible situation you are now in. I feel like you are going to get killed by Macduff, but I will still love you dearly when we are both dead. That is all my fault.

My actions have made us tear Scotland apart. The good man and our friend Banquo murdered and Lady Macduff and her children slain in their home. That is also all my fault. They must have been terrified when the assassins arrived.

Please forgive me for ruining your life. I hope that by taking my own I will end the pain that gnaws at every inch of my body and it is just making me want to kill myself more and more. Please, please, please pray for me as I pray for you my dear husband.

Your loving wife,

Lady Macbeth.

Macbeth: Recounts from the meeting with the witches – Andrew N

L.O: I can write a recount about the meeting with the witches from the point of view of Banquo.

 

Macbeth and I triumphantly paced away from the scene of blood and guts. The view was unbearable. It was rapidly becoming dark and the mist was descending all around us. The field was so quiet that you could have heard a squirrel drop a nut from a mile away. It was getting difficult to see so we decided to stride forward promptly.

We reached a dark and gloomy cave. Nobody was there. I looked….. And saw nothing. We were just walking in when suddenly…. The vilest looking creatures ever started flying around us and were crying out. Their voices were like dying cats.

“A drum, a drum, Macbeth doth come!” cried out the witches.

“What is your meaning, foul hags? Are you from hell?” called back a very frightened Macbeth. He was shivering all the way through from head to toe. I was too frightened to even say a word.

“All hail Macbeth, hail thee Thane of Glamis!” screeched one of them foully.

“All hail Macbeth, hail thee Thane of Cawdor!” the second one cried out.

“All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” I was shocked to hear all of this news. Surely it was all lies. Or was it true that those horrible old hags could tell the future?

 

“If you can really tell the future, tell me mine,” I trembled.

“Not so happy but much happier!” announced the first, evilly.

“Your sons shall be king!”

 

Suddenly, with a flash of smoke the three were gone into the gruel night sky. I was blank minded. What was the meaning of all of this nonsense? I was sure that Macbeth wouldn’t believe those three old hags.

 

I was wondering what he could have been thinking. It looked like he had turned into a solid brick wall, he wasn’t moving a muscle. It seemed as though millions of dark thoughts had come all over him all at once. Suddenly, he turned to me and stated:

“That was a load of nonsense. I will never believe that in a million years. Never will I become king.”