Introduction
William Shakespeare was a very prominent playwright during the sixteenth century. He wrote Macbeth between 1605 and 1606, yet the play is set some 500 years before. Shakespeare used Holinshed's Chronicles of Scottish History, a loose collection of gossip, tales and fantasies, as a reference while writing Macbeth. He altered historical records to heighten dramatic effect. He also changed history to, quite frankly, kiss up to King James, who was reigning at the time Macbeth was written.
Task
You will have the opportunity to investigate some of the people, events and cultural influences that helped shape Shakespeare's Macbeth. Your focus will be on: Scotland during the Middle Ages, the role of women, nobility and lastly, what life as a Scottish Knight may have looked like.
Process
The life of a commoner, or serf, during the Scottish Middle Ages was difficult. Food was hard to come by, and day to day work was hard and long. Click the link below to find out more about the day-to-day life of a Scottish serf:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/history/middle_ages/everyday_life_mid…
Life could be even harder as a common woman during this time. They were often denied the small freedoms that were granted to male commoners. Learn more below:
http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-life/medieval-peasant-…
The difference between the common folk and the nobility was large during the Middle Ages. The Nobility had access to many luxuries which the commoners could only dream of. Click the links below to find out more about living as Scottish nobility during the time of Macbeth:
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandshistory/medievallife/castl…
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandshistory/medievallife/fooda…
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandshistory/medievallife/hunti…
Finally, life during the Scottish Middle Ages was violent. Wars were often fought over disputed territory, but sometimes battles were initiated because of the pride of the ruling class. Knights were the preferred soldiers of Kings and rulers, and life as a knight involed war and recreation. Find out more below:
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandshistory/medievallife/knigh…
Evaluation
Click the link below to see two different takes on the infamous Macbeth witches
Conclusion
Thank you for all your hard work!
-Ms. Power