Study Sessions: STG English Revision

In this final episode on minor characters in Macbeth, we turn our attention to King Duncan. Kind, generous and benevolent, certainly - but also naïve and far too trusting in a corrupt world. Use this episode, and the previous two, to ensure you have a good understanding of characters many students wrongly overlook.

In the second episode on minor characters in Macbeth, we turn our attention to Banquo, Macbeth's foil and moral counterpoint. However, is Banquo as straightforward as he first appears? Are there criticisms we can make of Banquo, especially around moral inaction? From his first meeting of the witches, to his ghostly reappearance at the banquet, listen to this episode to learn all you need to know about Banquo ahead of your exam on the 11th May!

This is the first in a series of three short episodes on the 'minor' (but still very important!) characters in Macbeth. We're starting with Macduff, the man responsible for Macbeth's death at the very end of the play, but who plays a subtly important role throughout. The episode covers a series of key quotations, along with detailed analytical comment and links back to the play's central themes of ambition, deception, morality and masculinity.

This episode explores Golding’s central message that human beings possess an innate capacity for evil and that civilisation is fragile. We examine how the island functions as a “laboratory” to test human nature, tracking the breakdown of order through symbols like the fire and the conch, and the rise of savagery through Jack’s leadership. We analyse the Beast as a representation of internal human darkness, before considering the ending, where Ralph’s “loss of innocence” reveals a deeper realisation about humanity - one that carries a profound emotional and psychological cost.

This episode explores Dickens’ central messages, focusing on social responsibility, poverty, and inequality. We track Scrooge’s transformation through key quotations, analyse how Dickens uses Christmas as a symbol of generosity and reflection, and examine characters like the Cratchits, Tiny Tim, and the allegorical figures of Ignorance and Want. The episode shows how Dickens combines emotional storytelling with a clear moral purpose, ultimately arguing that compassion, human connection, and personal change can transform both individuals and society.