Superstition and Supernatural
An event or occurrence caused by forces that cannot be explained by science?
What is the Supernatural?
In Macbeth, ambition drives both Macbeth's rise to power AND this.
What is his downfall?
Hearing a prediction about your future does not guarantee this.
What is the prediction coming true?
In modern English, this is what "thou" means.
What is you (as the subject)?
Shakespeare is credited with inventing this common word for chatting about other people's business.
What is gossip?
This day of the week, paired with the number 13, is considered unlucky by many.
What is Friday?
Working hard toward a goal, like a good grade or a sports achievement, is an example of this kind of ambition.
What is healthy ambition?
This term describes a prediction that comes true because believing it changes your behaviour.
What is a self-fulfilling prophecy?
This word means "your" and is used before a word starting with a consonant, as in "thy crown."
What is thy?
This king was on the throne when Macbeth was likely written, giving the era its name.
Who is King James I (the Jacobean era)?
Unlike a ghost, this kind of supernatural sighting doesn't have to be a person — in Macbeth it takes the form of a floating dagger.
What is an apparition?
This is what happens to your morals when ambition starts to outrun them.
What is justifying bad actions?
This philosophical debate asks whether everything is predetermined, or whether we truly choose our own path
What is free will (vs fate)?
The Shakespearean translation of "You are kind."
What is "Thou art kind"?
This London theatre was where many of Shakespeare's plays were performed.
What is the Globe Theatre?
These three supernatural beings are the first thing Macbeth encounters, setting the whole play in motion.
Who are the witches (the Weird Sisters)?
These are the two characters in Macbeth most driven by ambition.
Who are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?
Shakespeare deliberately leaves this question about Macbeth's path to the throne unanswered.
What is fate vs choice (was he always going to be king)?
The Shakespearean translation of "If you told me your secret, I would keep it."
What is "If thou told me thy secret, I would keep it"?
Besides Macbeth, this is another famous Shakespeare play.
What is Hamlet/ Romeo and Juliet (or any valid play)?
This is why Shakespeare's original audience would have found Macbeth's witches far more frightening than a modern audience might.
What is, widespread belief in witchcraft in Jacobean England?
This literary term describes a character's fatal personality flaw that drives their own downfall - often used to describe ambition in Macbeth.
What is a tragic flaw (hamartia)?
Some critics argue the witches' prophecies work this way on Macbeth — not forcing his actions, but planting a seed he was already capable of acting on.
What is influence or suggestion (not direct control)?
This is the key social distinction that decided whether a Shakespearean character was addressed as "thou" rather than the more formal "you."
What is status or familiarity (rank, closeness, or affection)?
This type of stage, used at the Globe Theatre, had no roof over the main standing area, so performances relied on natural daylight.
What is an open-air stage?