Macbeth: 10 Great Web Resources

Hi again,

There are very few texts in the history of literature which have had more comment and critical attention than Macbeth. That's great news for you, folks, because it means there's lots of help out there.

Here are just a few of the great sites which can help you get your head around Macbeth:

• Shakespeare Navigators: a searchable e-text, scene summaries, analysis + extracts from Daemonology and Holinshed's Chronicles (Shakespeare's go-to history book)
• Shakespeare Unlocked: actors' workshops and performances (as seen in lessons) featuring everyone's favourite Macbeth, Jonathan Slinger (pictured above)
• Sparknotes - Macbeth: an online study guide
• Cliffnotes: Macbeth: and another...
• No Fear Shakespeare: From Sparknotes, the whole play - translated into modern prose! 
• Shakespeare Online: the play, with notes, articles, analysis... everything!
• BBC GCSE Bitesize: study guide with videos and tests
• Universal Teacher: notes and tips from a teacher who lived around the corner.
• Witches in Macbeth: From the British Library
• Conjuring darkness in Macbeth: Also from the British Library

I'm sure there's lots more good stuff out there to be found. And don't forget my own creation: the Macbeth Key Quotes list.  

I also quite like bits of this, a study guide created by a Broadway theatre group:



By the way, I think I've found a place where you can download a free Great Expectations Audiobook. It's here or here. You can stream online or download and pop it on your phone. I'd still prefer to hear it in an English accent though. iTunes might be worth a look...


See you all in a week!


Mr M

Half-term revision

Oh hi,

This half-term, I just want you to read and revise! You have four exams to prepare for, so leaving it until after Christmas will leave you with too much to cram into your head in just over a term. Spacing out practice and interleaving revision is proven to help with long-term memory.

With that in mind, here's the advice that I gave you before the summer:

Suggested summer revision activities:

1.    Re-read An Inspector Calls

2.    Revise key quotes on Quizlet

3.    a) Re-read Great Expectations, or…

b) Re-read key chapters from Great Expectations (see below) and annotate text

4.  Re-read the six poems studied so far in the poetry anthology

Useful websites:

·       www.wemmickspostbox.blogspot.co.uk (all other links can be found here)

·       http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/

·       www.sparknotes.com/lit/greatex/

·       http://www.victorianweb.org/

·       http://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/

·       http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/victorianbritain/

·       https://quizlet.com/class/2101970/

Key chapters (Great Expectations)

·       Chapters 1-5 (Pip and the convict)

·       Chapter 8 (Miss Havisham and Satis House)

·       Chapter 11 (the pale young gentleman)

·       Chapter 14 (growing up at the forge)

·       Chapters 19 and 20 (leaving for London)

·       Chapter 27 (Joe’s visit)

·       Chapter 29 (the return of Estella)

·       Chapter 35 (Mrs Joe’s funeral)

·       Chapter 39 (Return of the convict)

·       Chapter 42 (Magwitch’s story)

·       Chapter 44 (Satis House: Pip’s declaration of love)

·       Chapter 48 and 49 (Molly’s story; back to Satis House)

·       Chapter 53 (Encounter with Orlick) and 54 (the steamer)

·       Chapter 56 (the trial)

·       Chapter 57 (Pip’s illness) and 59 (the ending)

It might be a good idea to try to find an audiobook version of Great Expectations to help you. If you find one somewhere, please let me know so I can share a link. I'd still advise you to re-read key chapters however. Seeing the text makes a difference.

Don't forget An Inspector Calls either. You could easily re-read it in a couple of hours. 

In my next post, I'll share some great sites for helping you study Macbeth. In the meantime, don't forget about this. 


Happy half-term,

Mr M


PS. I know you're reading this, Beth.