Quotes
"Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" This line is spoken by which character?
(1.5)
Lady Macbeth
This theme is central to the play, illustrated by Macbeth’s relentless pursuit of power.
Ambition
The play is set primarily in this country.
Scotland
Macbeth kills this king to seize the throne of Scotland.
King Duncan
The phrase "borrowed robes" used by Macbeth to describe his new title is an example of this.
Metaphor.
"Is this a dagger which I see before me?" This line illustrates Macbeth's internal conflict before committing what act?
The murder of King Duncan (regicide).
Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking and eventual madness highlight this theme.
Guilt.
Macbeth was written during the reign of this king, who had a strong interest in witchcraft.
King James I.
Lady Macbeth’s death occurs offstage and is presumed to be a result of what?
Suicide due to overwhelming guilt
The witches’ prophecies use this type of irony, where the audience understands more than the characters.
Dramatic irony.
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair." This paradox reflects which theme in the play?
Blurring of moral boundaries or the inversion of values.
The theme of this is explored through the witches’ prophecies and Macbeth’s downfall.
Fate vs. Free will
Macbeth kills this king to seize the throne of Scotland.
King Duncan.
Briefly describe what is happening in the banquet scene.
Macbeth’s confrontation with Banquo’s ghost, marks a significant turning point in his psychological state.
This literary device is used extensively in the play, where words are used to mean the opposite of their literal meaning, often to add depth to the text.
Irony.
"Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage." This quote reflects which theme?
The futility of life or the inevitability of death
The theme of the natural versus the unnatural is explored through the imagery and events in the play. How does this theme manifest in the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?
It manifests in their unnatural ambition and actions, disrupting the natural order and leading to their psychological downfall.
The use of the supernatural in Macbeth reflects the societal beliefs and fears of Shakespeare’s era. How did the public’s perception of witchcraft and the supernatural during the early 17th century influence the portrayal of the witches in Macbeth?
In the early 17th century, witchcraft was feared and believed to be a genuine threat, with witch trials and executions being common. The portrayal of the witches in Macbeth as malevolent and manipulative reflects these fears, presenting them as agents of chaos who embody the public’s anxieties about the supernatural. Their influence over Macbeth and the play’s events would have resonated with an audience that saw witchcraft as a real and dangerous force.
The final battle at Dunsinane Castle is foreshadowed by what seemingly impossible event?
Birnam Wood coming to Dunsinane
Shakespeare frequently uses juxtaposition to highlight contrasts between characters and themes. How does the juxtaposition between Macbeth and Banquo in their responses to the witches’ prophecies serve to underscore key themes in the play?
The juxtaposition between Macbeth and Banquo in their reactions to the witches’ prophecies—Macbeth’s immediate ambition versus Banquo’s cautious skepticism—underscores the theme of moral integrity versus unchecked ambition. While Macbeth succumbs to the temptation of power, Banquo remains wary, highlighting the corrupting influence of ambition and the importance of moral restraint.