Macbeth Flashcards

What are the four motifs? The four motifs of Macbeth are:Masculine cruelty, appearances, sleep, blood, and omens
When was Macbeth written? 1606
Where did Shakespeare get his information from? History book called Hollinshed’s Chronicles
What are the three reasons Shakespeare’s plays are so good? Quanity, Quality, and Universal Themes
What are the three types of plays? Comedy, tradgedy, and history
What is the “humanist myth?” The classification of the medieval period as dark.
In 1517 Martin Luther led… A protestant reformation.
Banquo is a descendent of ________ and may be intended to flatter the _________. James l; court
Theaters closed in ______ due to __________. 1592; the plague
When is Shakespeare’s death and birthday celebrated? April 23rd.
There was little what in the Elizabethan theater? Scenery.
Groundlings The poor class who paid little to view the plays.
Anachronism An element that is out of time and/or place.
Soliloquy A dramatic or literary form of discourse in which a character talks to himself or herself or reveals his or her thoughts without addressing a listener.
Revolution Fundamental and violent change in the values, political institutions, social structure, leadership and policies of a society.
Tragedy A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances-involves catharsis(purging of emotion)
Act 1 Scene 1Where are the witches planning to meet and for what purpose? The plan to meet Macbeth before the sun sets to tell him his “prophecy” so to speak.
Act 1 Scene 1What mood does the setting of this scene create? A kind of eery/spooky feeling since it’s thundering and lightning and there’s the witches talking.
Act 1 Scene 1What does “fair is foul, and foul is fair” mean? Foreshadows what is about to happen, and means not everything is what it seems.
Act 1 Scene 2What does the sergeant specifically report about Macbeth? What does this reveal about his character? Banquo and Macbeth defeat the thane of Cawdor which reveals Macbeth is very brave.
Act 1 Scene 2What is Macbeth’s relation to Duncan? He is under him yet has a respect for him until the omens from the witches are revealed.
Act 1 Scene 2Who had Macbeth and Banquo been fighting? Macdonwald, Thane of Cawdor
Act 1 Scene 2What are two similes the sergeant uses to describe the battle? “Doubtful as it stood, as two spent wimmers that do cling together and choke their art.” “And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling, showed like a rebel’s whore.” “Which smoked with bloody execution, like a valor’s minion, carved out his passage till he faced the slave.”
Act 1 Scene 2What does Ross mean when he calls Macbeth “Bellona’s bridegroom?” Bellona is the Roman goddess of war and her bridegroom would be the fiercest of warriors.
Act 1 Scene 2What does Duncan instruct Ross to do and why? Duncan instructs Ross to announce the Thane of Cawdor’s death and title greet Macbeth. This is so Macbeth is rewarded for his bravery.
Act 1 Scene 3What does the first witch plan to do to a sailor and why? What does this tell you about the three witches? She planned to kill a woman’s husband (sailor) because she wouldn’t give the witch a chestnut. This tells you the witches will get what they want or will wish bad things upon you.
Act 1 Scene 3When Macbeth says, “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” What does he mean? What other line of the play does he echo? What could be the dramatic irony of the line? As Macbeth’s first lines of the play how might this be significant? He means he’s never seen this nice/weird of a day before. Macbeth echoes the witches. The dramatic irony of this line is the audience knows he’s going to be titled the Thane of Cawdor. This being Macbeth’s first line, it is significant by foreshadowing what is going to happen in the play.
Act 1 Scene 3Describe the physical appearances of the witches. Skinny/scrawny looking, wear weird clothes, are bearded, deeply wrinkled hands/fingers,
Act 1 Scene 3What prophecies do the Witches make regarding Macbeth? How does he react based on what Banquo says? The prophecies the Witches make are that Macbeth with be Thane of Glamis (which he already is), Thane of Cawdor, and King of all things (king of Scotland). Macbeth kind of freaks out and goes aside/whispers to himself about his excitement and to consider how he must become king of Scotland.
Act 1 Scene 3What metaphor does Banquo use to ask the Witches about his future? What do the Witches predict for Banquo? How does this prediction relate to the King of England (King James l) at the time Shakespeare was writing? The metaphor Banquo uses is “If you can look into the seeds of time and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak, then, to me, who neither beg nor fear your favors nor your hate.” The Witches predict that he will be under Macbeth and will get kings but never become one. This relates to the king of England by
Act 1 Scene 3Shakespeare often has the Witches speak in language that is often contradictory. Name one example of where this happens in this scene. “Not so happy, yet much happier.”
Act 1 Scene 3How likely does Macbeth think it is that he will become Thane of Cawdor or King of Scotland? How is this example of dramatic irony? Macbeth is really hesitant and doesn’t think anything is going to happen. Then when Ross gives him the news that he has become the Thane of Cawdor her gets cocky. This is an example of dramatic irony because the audience knows Macbeth is crowned Thane of Cawdor, and the audience knows Lady Macbeth is going to kill Duncan.
Act 1 Scene 3How do Banquo and Macbeth question their encounter with the Witches? The question why/how the Witches vanished and who will be king.
Act 1 Scene 3What does Banquo mean when he says, “What, can the devil speak true?” Can the devil, being the witches, really speak of the truth because they were right about Macbeth becoming Thane of Cawdor.
Act 1 Scene 3 Why does Banquo warn Macbeth about “the instruments of darkness?” What type of literary device is this? How does this comment tie into the “fair is foul, foul is fair” theme? Banquo warns Macbeth about the Witches because he knows only bad can come from them. This is an example of foreshadowing. This comment ties into the “fair is foul, foul is fair” theme by in order for the prophecy to take place foul must be achieved.
Act 1 Scene 3 As the others talk, what does Macbeth’s aside reveal about his thinking? What does he fear? How is this moment a significant turning point for Macbeth? Macbeth’s aside reveals that now he is going to get greedy and try to come up with ways to get rid of Duncan. He fears murdering Duncan and this is a turning point because this is when he is going to write his wife and will realize that this must happen in order for him to achieve anything.
Act 1 Scene 3What is the difference between how Macbeth reacts to the prophecy compared to Banquo? Why might their reactions be significant? Banquo is still happy because according to the prophecy he is still prosperous, Macbeth however is completely excited because these Witches are telling him he’s going to rule Scotland and be prosperous and all of these things. These reactions are significant because they foreshadow what’s going to happen to Banquo and Macbeth.
Act 1 Scene 3What common human feeling is Macbeth expressing when he says, “My thought…/Shakes so my single state of man that function/Is smothered in sumise, and nothing is/But what is not?” How does this relate to the fair is foul, foul is fair theme? Macbeth is feeling almost hostile or aggressive because he wants Duncan dead now. This relates to the fair is foul, foul is fair theme by not necessarily wanting what is right but in order to do what’s “right” he must commit murder.
Act 1 Scene 4How does Malcolm describe Cawdor’s execution? How does Macbeth respond? Malcolm describes Cawdor’s execution by saying, “Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it.” Macbeth responds by saying well that was just my duty but I’ll accept the throne under your control for safety and honor.
Act 1 Scene 4How does Duncan regard what Macbeth has done for him? What does Macbeth think about the services he has provided? Duncan regards this by saying he owes more than he can pay. Macbeth thinks Duncan crowning him Thane of Cawdor is the next step towards the prophecy.
Act 1 Scene 4What metaphor does the king use to describe how he will nurture Macbeth? The metaphor the king used is, “I have begun to plant thee and will labor to make thee full of growing.”
Act 1 Scene 4How does Banquo extend this metaphor? What earlier comment do his words echo? Banquo extends this metaphor by saying, “There if I grow, the harvest is your own.
Act 1 Scene 4What is the significance of Duncan naming Malcolm the Prince of Cumberland? The significance of Duncan naming Malcolm is to get that into Macbeth’s head, and to foreshadow how he intends to get rid of Duncan and Malcolm and to show even if he kills Duncan he’ll also have to kill Malcolm.
Act 1 Scene 4How does Macbeth react to this announcement in his last speech in this scene? What does he reveal? Macbeth is severely angry and in his outburst states, “That is a step on which I must fall down, or overleap.”
Act 1 Scene 5After Lady Macbeth finishes reading the letter, she says Macbeth, “shalt be”, what he is promised, meaning king of Scotland. Why is this significant? This shows Lady Macbeth plans on doing whatever it takes to make her husband king of Scotland.
Act 1 Scene 5After Lady Macbeth finishes reading the letter what concern does she express about Macbeth? That he won’t be strong enough, or enough of a man to commit murder.
Act 1 Scene 5Why does Lady Macbeth want her husband to hurry home? Lady Macbeth wants her husband to hurry home so she can talk to him about not looking guilty and plan how they’re going to stage the murder.
July 9, 2019