Advanced English

Macbeth at Mullauna! 

As part of their study of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, our Year 10 Advanced English students worked in groups to perform select scenes from the play. They enthusiastically embraced the task, carefully selecting costumes and settings and passionately delivering their lines to create powerful videos of their performances.

Our Year 7 Excel English students were lucky enough to view a rehearsal of the performances and get an introduction to some of Macbeth’s key scenes and characters. They made some insightful observations during the viewing and then used these performances as a prompt for their own quick creative writing.

Well done to all students on their fabulous work!

I shouldn’t have this feeling of guilt. My husband is about to become King yet every night I see that cold, disfigured body lying in his grave. The doctors say I sleepwalk every night. They see me scrub my hands, yelling about a spot. I scrub and scrub to no avail, my hands blistering and scarring. I can’t take this guilt anymore, but how can I tell anyone? I love my husband, and yes, I want him to be king but this is killing me. My heart, yearning for the truth but my mind says no.

Jennifer Ha, year 7

His scream boomed through the great hills of Scotland. I could see the life slowly drain out of his eyes as a waterfall of sweat poured down his face. A sticky red substance started to appear on his gold and velvet coloured robe as I pulled the dagger out of his heart. I could see the dagger smiling at me, proud of my work. I greedily snatched his crown. I turned around and started up the staircase, until I heard a voice. The king, using all his energy, shouted, “Guards! Seize this monster...”

Max Murphy, year 7

The urges compel me. I must re-take the throne. Years ago, a fool by the name of Macbeth killed my great grandfather, a noble king, ending the glory of my blood line. But now, with my soul owned by the three witches, I will restore the power where it belongs. In the bed chamber of the king, there lies a dagger – the one Macbeth killed the king with. Legend has it that the soul of the King is infused in the dagger, allowing only those who stand against Macbeth to use it. “Allow me to avenge you,” I say as I clasp the dagger. The souls of the witches burn inside of me like the eternal fires of hell. With the rage of a century of build-up, I open the door to the bedroom where all of this happened…

Luke Unwin, year 7

Jessica Anderson

Advanced English Teacher