The smart way to improve grades

Comprehensive & curriculum aligned

Try an activity or get started for free

  1. English
  2. Year 7
  3. Reading
left-icon BACK TO WORKSHEETS

Introducing Mr Shakespeare! 4

In this series of worksheets, students are introduced to the work of William Shakespeare.

'Introducing Mr Shakespeare! 4' worksheet

Key stage:  KS 3

Curriculum topic:   Reading

Curriculum subtopic:   Set, Plot and Character Awareness

Difficulty level:  

Try it for free

Worksheet Overview

QUESTION 1 of 10

This worksheet is designed to introduce you to the language and plays of William Shakespeare.

 

In the last worksheet you looked at how Shakespeare uses dialogue in his plays. Shakespeare uses voices in lots of different ways in his plays.

In the opening of his play Macbeth, Shakespeare grabs the attention of the audience with three witches chanting around their cauldron:

 

 

 

 

Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches  

 

FIRST WITCH

When shall we three meet again

In thunder, lightning, or in rain? 

 

SECOND WITCH

When the hurlyburly's done,

When the battle's lost and won. 

 

THIRD WITCH

That will be ere the set of sun.  

 

FIRST WITCH

Where the place?  

 

SECOND WITCH

Upon the heath.  

 

THIRD WITCH

There to meet with Macbeth.  

 

FIRST WITCH

I come, Graymalkin!  

 

SECOND WITCH

Paddock calls.  

 

THIRD WITCH

Anon.  

 

ALL 

Fair is foul, and foul is fair:

Hover through the fog and filthy air.

 

Exeunt 

 

 

Why do you think Shakespeare opens the play Macbeth with witches?

to grab the attention of the audience

to make the play suitable for Halloween

to scare the children in the audience

What atmosphere does Shakespeare create at the start of this play?

menacing and threatening

relaxed and calm

light and humorous

Where do the witches plan to meet?

a heath

a palace

a battle field

Who do they plan to meet?

soldiers

Macbeth

the king

Later in the play the witches chant again as a group over a boiling cauldron. Match the ingredient with the animal it comes from.

 

 

ACT IV

SCENE 1. A cavern. In the middle, a boiling cauldron.

 

Thunder. Enter the three Witches

 

FIRST WITCH

 

Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.  

 

SECOND WITCH

 

Thrice and once the hedge-pig whined.  

 

THIRD WITCH

 

Harpier cries 'Tis time, 'tis time.  

 

FIRST WITCH

 

 

 

 

 

 

Round about the cauldron go;

In the poison'd entrails throw.

Toad, that under cold stone

Days and nights has thirty-one

Swelter'd venom sleeping got,

Boil thou first i' the charmed pot. 

 

ALL 

 

 

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

 

SECOND WITCH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fillet of a fenny snake,

In the cauldron boil and bake;

Eye of newt and toe of frog,

Wool of bat and tongue of dog,

Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,

Lizard's leg and owlet's wing,

For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

 

ALL

 

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Column A

Column B

eye
owlet
toe
dog
wool
frog
tongue
lizard
leg
newt
wing
bat

To add power to the group chanting, Shakespeare uses rhyme. Match the words from the spell that rhyme.

Column A

Column B

trouble
bubble
snake
wing
frog
throw
sting
dog
go
bake

Shakespeare included witches in his play Macbeth to please the King at the time. Can you research and find out who the king was?

King Henry

King James

King George

Why was King James so interested in witches?

He was married to one.

He liked painting them.

He was interested in witch trials.

  • ANSWERS
  • Question 1

In the last worksheet you looked at how Shakespeare uses dialogue in his plays. Shakespeare uses voices in lots of different ways in his plays.

In the opening of his play Macbeth, Shakespeare grabs the attention of the audience with three witches chanting around their cauldron:

 

 

 

 

Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches  

 

FIRST WITCH

When shall we three meet again

In thunder, lightning, or in rain? 

 

SECOND WITCH

When the hurlyburly's done,

When the battle's lost and won. 

 

THIRD WITCH

That will be ere the set of sun.  

 

FIRST WITCH

Where the place?  

 

SECOND WITCH

Upon the heath.  

 

THIRD WITCH

There to meet with Macbeth.  

 

FIRST WITCH

I come, Graymalkin!  

 

SECOND WITCH

Paddock calls.  

 

THIRD WITCH

Anon.  

 

ALL 

Fair is foul, and foul is fair:

Hover through the fog and filthy air.

 

Exeunt 

 

 

Why do you think Shakespeare opens the play Macbeth with witches?

CORRECT ANSWER
to grab the attention of the audience
EDDIE SAYS
Shakespeare opens the play with the witches to grab the attention of the audience.
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 2

What atmosphere does Shakespeare create at the start of this play?

CORRECT ANSWER
menacing and threatening
EDDIE SAYS
Shakespeare creates a menacing and threatening atmosphere through his use of the witches.
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 3

Where do the witches plan to meet?

CORRECT ANSWER
a heath
EDDIE SAYS
They plan to meet upon a heath.
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 4

Who do they plan to meet?

CORRECT ANSWER
Macbeth
EDDIE SAYS
The witches plan to meet Macbeth.
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 5

Later in the play the witches chant again as a group over a boiling cauldron. Match the ingredient with the animal it comes from.

 

 

ACT IV

SCENE 1. A cavern. In the middle, a boiling cauldron.

 

Thunder. Enter the three Witches

 

FIRST WITCH

 

Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.  

 

SECOND WITCH

 

Thrice and once the hedge-pig whined.  

 

THIRD WITCH

 

Harpier cries 'Tis time, 'tis time.  

 

FIRST WITCH

 

 

 

 

 

 

Round about the cauldron go;

In the poison'd entrails throw.

Toad, that under cold stone

Days and nights has thirty-one

Swelter'd venom sleeping got,

Boil thou first i' the charmed pot. 

 

ALL 

 

 

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

 

SECOND WITCH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fillet of a fenny snake,

In the cauldron boil and bake;

Eye of newt and toe of frog,

Wool of bat and tongue of dog,

Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,

Lizard's leg and owlet's wing,

For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

 

ALL

 

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

CORRECT ANSWER

Column A

Column B

eye
newt
toe
frog
wool
bat
tongue
dog
leg
lizard
wing
owlet
EDDIE SAYS
The spell includes: eye of newt, toe of frog, wool of bat, tongue of dog, lizard's leg, and an owl's wing.
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 6

To add power to the group chanting, Shakespeare uses rhyme. Match the words from the spell that rhyme.

CORRECT ANSWER

Column A

Column B

trouble
bubble
snake
bake
frog
dog
sting
wing
go
throw
EDDIE SAYS
trouble - bubble
snake - bake
frog - dog
sting - wing
go - throw
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 7

Shakespeare included witches in his play Macbeth to please the King at the time. Can you research and find out who the king was?

CORRECT ANSWER
King James
EDDIE SAYS
King James was the king.
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 8

Why was King James so interested in witches?

CORRECT ANSWER
He was interested in witch trials.
EDDIE SAYS
King James was interested in witch trials.
---- OR ----

Get started for free so you can track and measure your child's progress on this activity.

What is EdPlace?

We're your National Curriculum aligned online education content provider helping each child succeed in English, maths and science from year 1 to GCSE. With an EdPlace account you’ll be able to track and measure progress, helping each child achieve their best. We build confidence and attainment by personalising each child’s learning at a level that suits them.

Get started
laptop

Similar activities you may like

Try an activity or get started for free