English

50 (or so) things you need to know about Macbeth

1. When was Macbeth written, who It was written around 1606,King James I, Jacobean era.
was the monarch and what do we
call this era?
2. What was Shakespeare’s Big Idea In Macbeth, Shakespeare examines the destructive power of
when he wrote Macbeth? unchecked ambition.
3. What is regicide and how was Murder of a king is called ‘regicide’ and it was considered to
this crime viewed in the be crime against God.
Jacobean era?
4. What is the Chain of Being? (also The idea that things are fixed in a specific place in the
referred to as Natural Order) universe and cannot be changed.
5. In Macbeth, the “owls scream and the The natural order.
crickets cry”after Duncan’s murder.
What has been disturbed?
6. Weather and nature are used to Pathetic fallacy.
demonstrate that things are not
following the Chain of Being in
Macbeth. What is this called?
7. What kind of setting does Isolated and stormy. In Act 1, they appear on a 'heath' with
Shakepseare usually use when the 'thunder'.
witches are on stage?
8. How does Macbeth begin? With the witches who are planning when and where they
will meet next.
9. How is Macbeth presented at the Macbeth is initially presented as a brave and well
beginning of the play? respected man who led the Scottish army to victory over
the Norwegian invaders.
10. In Macbeth, what purpose do the Shakespeare constructs the witches to sow discord in the
witches serve? universe.

11. What are the three things do the Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor, then ‘king hereafter’,
witches predict in Act 1? and that Banquo will be the father of kings. They also hail
Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, a title he knows he
possesses.
12. How does Lady Macbeth advise She tells him to 'look like th'innocent flower' which suggests
Macbeth to act around Duncan? that he should act normally and graciously around Duncan.
13. How does Duncan reward Duncan appoints Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor.
Macbeth for his bravery?
14. How does Duncan misjudge Macbeth? Duncan trusts Macbeth so he does not realise that Macbeth
intends to betray him.
15. Why is Banquo a threat to Macbeth? The witches predict that Banquo's sons will be kings which
means Macbeth's descendents will not be heir to the throne.
16. Who says, 'Stars hide your fires, let Macbeth
not light see my black and deep
desires.'?
17. In Act 1, Macbeth says that a 'False This shows that appearances are not always the same as
face must hide what the false heart reality.
doth know.' What does this suggest?

18. Define fate. Fate is the idea that everything that is going to happen is
already decided so people can't change the future and
aren't in control of what happens to them.
19. Define free will. Free will is the idea that people can choose their own
destiny, or course of action, and are in control of their
future.
20. What happens to disturb Duncan names his son, Malcom, Prince of Cumberland and
Macbeth’s new found ambition to heir to the throne of Scotland. Macbeth sees this as a “step
become King? on which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, for it lies in my
way”.
21. How does Macbeth break the chain of He murders Duncan.
being?

22. What sound ‘invites’ Macbeth to A bell rings. Macbeth takes this as a signal to do the deed.
kill King Duncan? Macbeth calls it a ‘knell’ which is telling as a knell is a
funeral bell.
23. Who are Malcom and Donalbain? Malcolm and Donalbain are King Duncan’s sons.

24. What do Duncan’s sons do when they They flee: Malcolm goes to England; Donalbain goes to
learn of their father’s death? Ireland.

25. How does the porter refer to the He calls it a ‘hell-gate,’ as if warning us the castle itself might
door of the castle? What does be considered hell for those who enter.
Shakespeare imply?
26. Why does Shakespeare include the The scene provides some comic relief amidst all the tension
porter scene after the murder of and darkness of the murder. Do not disregard it as
King Duncan and before his body is unimportant.
found?
27. Who says ‘there’s daggers in men’s Malcolm says this after his father is murdered. He means
smiles’ and what does Shakespeare everyone is pretending to be nice but one of his ‘friends’ is
mean by this? really a traitor. He just doesn’t know which one.
28. What three prophecies do the witches “beware Macduff, Beware the Thane of Fife”, “none of
predict when Macbeth visits them in woman born shall harm Macbeth”, and “Macbeth shall
Act IV? never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to
Dunsinane Hill shall come against him”.
29. How do the witches’ second The combination of these three prophecies make Macbeth
prophecies spur Macbeth’s ambition? feel invincible, but it is “none of woman born” that he puts
the most faith into.
30. What is foreshadowing? Foreshadowing is a warning or an indication of a future event.

31. How does Shakespeare use Shakespeare explicitly foreshadows through the witches’
foreshadowing in prophecies. Shakespeare tells us what is going to happen but
Macbeth? not how.

38. Who kills Banquo? Macbeth hires murderers to kill Banquo.

39. Macbeth describes Fleance as a This metaphor suggests that Macbeth sees Fleance as a
'worm' which 'in time will venom threat because, although he is currently only a 'worm', he
breed.' What does this metaphor will have 'venom' in future. This shows that Macbeth thinks
suggest about how Macbeth views that Fleance might be a danger to him in the future and a
Fleance? threat to his position as king.
40. Give an example that shows how Macbeth addresses her as 'my dearest partner of greatness.'
much Macbeth admires Lady
Macbeth at the start of the play.
41. What is Lady Macbeth’s opinion of Lady Macbeth thinks Macbeth is weak and cowardly. She
her husband? calls him, ‘white,’ and comments that he is ‘too full o’th milk
of human kindness’.
42. Lady Macbeth sees femininity as She appeals to the spirits to 'unsex' her. She questions
weakness.' What evidence supports Macbeth's masculinity when he is unsure about killing
this statement? Duncan.
43. What is the significance of this line: The witches’ prophecy stated that, ‘none of woman born
‘Macduff was from his mother’s shall harm Macbeth.’ Macduff was not ‘born’ in the
womb untimely ripped’? obvious sense; he was delivered via caesarean.
44. What does the ‘spot’ Lady Macbeth The spot is an imagined blood stain on her hands, Duncan’s
refers to in, ‘out, damned spot!’ really blood. The spot symbolises the stain upon her character:
symbolise? her ambitious, treacherous side, but also her guilt that
cannot be soothed or washed away.
45. Why does Lady Macbeth sleepwalk? She is consumed by guilt for her part in Duncan's murder.

48. Which character kills Macbeth? Macduff.

49. Explain, briefly, how ambition is Ambition is destructive as it motivates Macbeth to murder
presented as a destructive force Duncan. The violence escalates as Macbeth kills an
throughout Macbeth. increasing number of people to stay king. Both Macbeth
and Lady Macbeth experience extreme guilt as a result of
these killings. The bloody battle at the end of the play is
also a result of Macbeth's ambition to be king.
50. How does the structure of Macbeth The play begins and ends with a traitor getting beheaded.
suggest that betrayal is always At the beginning of the play it is reported that Macbeth has
punished? beheaded a traitor, and at the end of the play Macbeth
himself is beheaded for betraying Duncan. The circular
structure suggests that betrayal is always punished.