BANQUO

Question 1

what is the key quote for violence for banquo

Answer 1

“it will be rain tonight” ACT 3 scene 3

Question 2

what is the importance of the pathetic fallacy in the quote “it will be rain tonight”

Answer 2

• signaling the violence that is going to come and the looming darkness
• the rain symbolises the blood that is going to be spilt in his murder
• creates a ominous atmosphere

Question 3

what does the motif of darkness and concealment in the quote “it will be rain tonight” suggest

Answer 3

• the quote reinforces a motif of darkness that continues throughout the play we see this at
• A1 S1 begins ‘in thunder and lighting’ - dark tone from offset which is continued here
• macbeth yearns for the night as it conceals his true intentions ‘ stars hide your fires’
• by banquo referencing the night and rain we can see him as a shrewd character as he is able to see through macbeth’s deceitful nature by referencing this coming darkness

Question 4

how does the quote “it will be rain tonight” link to the great chain of being

Answer 4

as macbeth disrupts natural order through violence, nature responds for example the rain symbolising the bloodshed that stains the world - by banquo referencing the rain he is able to understand this

Question 5

how does the quote “it will be rain tonight” link to James 1st

Answer 5

• it is said the james the 1st was a descendant of banquo banquo’s prophecy was ‘his descendants would be kings’
• shakespeare may have made banquo a wise shrewd character that could see through macbeth’s violent nature by stating the upcoming rain to please king james by suggesting that he is intellectual

Question 6

what is the significance of banquo being a foil for macbeth

Answer 6

highlights macbeth’s contrasting characteristics to banquo

Question 7

what is the key quote for banquo and ambition

Answer 7

“but that myself should be the root and father.. of many kings” Act 3 s 1

Question 8

how does the quote “but that myself should be the root and father.. of many kings” link to the prophetic motif

Answer 8

• reveals banquo’s awareness of the witches prophecies
• banquo’s prophecies was that his descendants would be kings
  -macbeth takes his prophecy and uses it to fuel his unchecked ambition
• banquo is more tempered when containing his ambition
• highlights his integrity

Question 9

what is the use of dramatic irony in the quote “but that myself should be the root and father.. of many kings”

Answer 9

• banquo’s ambition is contained even though the audience knows that his descendants will be kings through the idea that james the 1st is one of banquo’s descendants
• highlights his role as the foil as he is not tainted by deceitful actions - shows macbeth’s immortality

Question 10

what is the context of the quote “but that myself should be the root and father.. of many kings”

Answer 10

banquo is believed to be a ancestor of james the 1st making the prophecy a piece of political fattery to the reigning monarch

Question 11

how can the quote “it will be rain tonight”
link to other themes like ambition,supernatural and appearance vs reality

Answer 11

ambition: rain signifies the blood that will be spilt when macbeth murders banquo which is a result of his unchecked ambition

supernatural: rain hints at the supernatural influence of witches - from offset they arrived in thunder and in rain -

apperance vs reality: rain hides the deceitful nature of macbeth’s actions

Question 12

what is the key quote for banquo and the supernatural

Answer 12

“look not like th’inhabitents o’th earth”

Question 13

what is physiognomy

Answer 13

the belief that external appearance reflects internal character

Question 14

how does physiognomy link with the quote “look not like th’inhabitents o’th earth”

Answer 14

• shows that banquo understands that the witches are evil - he is wise
• contrasts with macbeth’s moral blindness and reinforces banquo’s role as the foil
  -banquo already knows that being involved in the supernatural will lead to his down fall

Question 15

how does the motif of subversion link to the quote “look not like th’inhabitents o’th earth”

Answer 15

subversion - go against
- he understands that the witches subvert natural order and go against the natural world - he knows that anything that will go against the natural world will lead to his his demise
- banquo’s resistance from the supernatural contrasts will macbeth who succumbs to their prophecies - banquo is anchored in his idea of god and don’t let the super natural sway him as it is not his hamartia - highlights him as the foil