Drama Terms
This occurs when something that is tangible represents an idea or other abstract concept.
Symbolism
The Weird Sisters claim this character will be the father of kings.
Banquo
This causes Macbeth to lose his dang mind at a dinner party
Banquo's Ghost
Macbeth claims to see this item before he makes a decision to kill the king
Dagger
"The thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?"
Lady Macbeth
A character who is working against the main character, but may not necessarily be the "bad guy".
Antagonist
This is the first title the original three prophecies claimed Macbeth would receive
Thane of Cawdor
These two take the blame for Duncan's murder and are later executed by Macbeth
Duncan's Servants
As Lady Macbeth descends into madness, she claims to not be able to wash this off her hands and clothes
Spots of Blood
"Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day"
Macbeth
A personality trait that ultimately becomes the downfall of a tragic hero.
Tragic Flaw
A crowned child with a tree, summoned by the witches, told Macbeth he would never be defeated until this happened
The forest's march to Dunsinane
Macbeth orders the deaths of this character's family
Macduff
In Macbeth, this supernatural creature cannot speak and appears only to those who have committed grave sins.
Ghost
"Cut short all intermission! Front to front
Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself.
Within my sword's length set him. If he scape,
Heaven forgive him too."
Macduff
A type of irony in which the audience knows more than some or all of the characters on stage
Dramatic Irony
The queen of the witches
Hecate
This emotion ultimately sends Lady Macbeth to her grave
Guilt
Macduff and the Weird Sisters interpret this force of nature as a bad omen.
Storms
"Foul whisp'rings are abroad. Unnatural deeds
Do breed unnatural troubles. Infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets.
More needs she the divine than the physician."
The Doctor
Verse that uses iambic pentameter but does not rhyme
Blank Verse
This is what Macbeth calls the weird sisters during the second meeting, just before demanding answers about his future.
"Midnight Hags"
Macbeth only enters a deadly battle with Macduff when he's called this
Coward
This natural state (and the characters' ability to achieve it) becomes an indicator of a person's mental well-being throughout the play.
Sleep
"But 'tis strange.
And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray's
In deepest consequence - "
Banquo