Macbeth: Themes of Ambition - Comprehension Practice

English
Grade 8
8 questions
~16 mins
1 views0 downloads

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A worksheet exploring the theme of ambition in Macbeth through comprehension questions and analysis, framed around sports metaphors.

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Macbeth: Themes of Ambition - Comprehension Practice

Subject: EnglishGrade: Grade 8
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Untitled Worksheet

Grade Grade 8
A

Read the Extract from Macbeth

THEN CAME, OTHELLO, AND / THE MURDER OF KING DUNCAN. / MACBETH: If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me / Without my stir. Come what come may, / Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. / Worthy Macbeth! Greater than both, / By the all-hail hereafter! / But how of late! I have lived / Under the hand of fate, and I have died / By my own ambition. / To be thus is nothing, / But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo / Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature / Reigns that which would be feared. / To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, / Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, / To the last syllable of recorded time, / And all our yesterdays have lighted fools / The way to dusty death. / Out, out, brief candle! / Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage / And then is heard no more. It is a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing.
B

Question 1

Provide a brief summary of Macbeth's state of mind after hearing the prophecies.
1.
In 1-2 sentences, describe Macbeth's feelings about his ambition after hearing the witches' prophecies.
[2 marks]
C

Question 2

Identify the literary device used in the phrase 'Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player.'
1.
What literary device is employed in this line, and what does it suggest about Macbeth's view of life?
[3 marks]
D

Question 3

Explain how Shakespeare uses repetition in the phrase 'to-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow.'
1.
Describe the effect of this repetition and what it reveals about Macbeth's perspective on life and ambition.
[3 marks]
E

Question 4

Analyze the tone of Macbeth's soliloquy during this extract. Is it despair, ambition, or a mix of both? Support your answer.
1.
Explain the tone of Macbeth's speech and how Shakespeare's language creates this mood.
[5 marks]
F

Question 5

Identify the theme of ambition in the extract and relate it to modern sports competitions.
1.
Compare Macbeth's ruthless ambition to the drive of athletes striving for victory. How are they similar?
[3 marks]
G

Question 6

Discuss how the idea of fate influences Macbeth's ambition, using examples from the extract.
1.
What role does fate play in Macbeth's thoughts about his ambition, according to the extract?
[3 marks]
H

Question 7

Create a short creative paragraph imagining Macbeth as a sports coach inspired by his ambition. Include at least three elements reflecting his mindset.
1.
Write a 15-line paragraph from Macbeth’s perspective, using sports metaphors to describe his ambition and drive.
[5 marks]
I

Question 8

Reflect on how Shakespeare's depiction of ambition in Macbeth can be related to contemporary sports scandals involving greed and rivalry. Write a brief paragraph.
1.
In what ways can Macbeth’s unchecked ambition serve as a cautionary tale for modern sports figures?
[3 marks]

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Details

Created
12/31/2025
Updated
12/31/2025
Type
worksheet