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English Literature GCSE Macbeth > Characters > Flashcards

Characters Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a quote that presents Macbeth as noble?

A

“For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name).”

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2
Q

Meaning & context of the quote:
“For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name).”

A

The Captain is giving an account of how well Macbeth fought in battle.

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3
Q

Analyse how his quote shows that Macbeth is noble: “For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name).”

A
  • Shows Macbeth is well-respected by his comrades
  • He is loyal to King Duncan
  • Emphasises his positive qualities
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4
Q

What is a quote that presents Macbeth as ambitious?

A

“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, only vaulting ambition.”

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5
Q

Meaning & context of the quote: “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, only vaulting ambition.”

A

This quote is in Act 1, where Macbeth contemplates whether to murder King Duncan.

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6
Q

Analyse how this quote shows Macbeth’s ambition: “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, only vaulting ambition.”

A
  • Metaphor of “vaulting ambition” suggests recklessness
  • Shows that Macbeth’s hamartia is his ambition
  • Conveys he is willing to challenge the Great Chain of Being
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7
Q

Give a quote that portrays Macbeth as cruel.

A

“Never shake thy [Banquo’s] gory locks at me.”

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8
Q

Meaning & context of the quote: “Never shake thy [Banquo’s] gory locks at me.”

A

Macbeth is seeing his best-friend, Banquo’s ghost, after he ordered his murder.

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9
Q

Analyse how Macbeth is shown as cruel in the quote: “Never shake thy [Banquo’s] gory locks at me.”

A
  • His cruelty has led to him murdering his best-friend
  • Shakespeare suggests how power corrupts people
  • “Gory locks” alludes to the violence of Banquo’s murder
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10
Q

What is a quote that presents Macbeth as traitorous?

A

“Stars hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires.”

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11
Q

Meaning & context of the quote: “Stars hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires.”

A

At this point in the play, Macbeth is convinced that he can only become king by killing Duncan.

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12
Q

Analyse how Macbeth is traitorous in the quote: “Stars hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires.”

A
  • At the beginning of the play, he is loyal to King Duncan, but now he is planning to commit regicide
  • Commands of nature are blasphemous
  • Shows deterioration of his moral compass as he feeds his ambition
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13
Q

In what quote is Macbeth shown as guilty?

A

“Macbeth does murder sleep!”

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14
Q

Meaning & context of quote: “Macbeth does murder sleep!”

A

Macbeth hears a voice crying this out, after he commits regicide.

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15
Q

Analyse how Macbeth’s guilt is shown in the quote: “Macbeth does murder sleep!”

A
  • Shows he will never be able to sleep due to his guilt
  • Sleep is a motif for peace, something which Macbeth won’t have
  • Divine retribution for disrupting the natural order
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16
Q

What quote presents Lady Macbeth as a controlling character?

A

“I may pour my spirits in thine [Macbeth’s] ear.”

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17
Q

Meaning & context of the quote: “I may pour my spirits in thine [Macbeth’s] ear.”

A

Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that she will be the one taking charge of Duncan’s murder.

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18
Q

Analyse how Lady Macbeth is controlling in the quote: “I may pour my spirits in thine [Macbeth’s] ear.”

A
  • Metaphor shows she plays a pivotal role in manipulating Macbeth into murdering Duncan
  • Macbeth is shown as a puppet of his wife, challenging gender norms
  • Shows her lack of confidence in Macbeth
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19
Q

Give a quote which portrays Lady Macbeth as ambitious.

A

“Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.”

20
Q

Meaning & context of the quote: “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.”

A

Lady Macbeth is commanding the spirits to remove her femininity.

21
Q

Analyse Lady Macbeth’s ambition in the quote: “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.”

A
  • Imperatives are blasphemous as she trys to command nature
  • Removing her femininity will enable her to kill Duncan
  • Shows that her ambition spurs her sinful actions
22
Q

What is a quote that presents Lady Macbeth as ruthless?

A

“Have I plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out.”

23
Q

Meaning & context of the quote: “Have I plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out.”

A

Lady Macbeth gives an example of what she would do to keep her word.

24
Q

Analyse how Lady Macbeth is shown as ruthless in the quote: “Have I plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out.”

A
  • Hyperbole shows that she is willing to kill an innocent baby to gain power
  • Shakespeare warns that her unchecked ambition will lead to her downfall
25
Q

What is a quote that presents Lady Macbeth as vulnerable?

A

“Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?”

26
Q

Meaning & context od the quote: “Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?”

A

This occurs in Act 5, when Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking.

27
Q

Analyse how Lady Macbeth’s vulnerability is conveyed in the quote: “Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?”

A
  • Juxtaposes her formidable character before she helped murder King Duncan
  • Shows that she also is tormented by the guilt of commiting regicide
  • Sleep is a motif for peace, something that she doesn’t deserve
28
Q

Give a quote that presents Banquo as virtuous.

A

“Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none.”

29
Q

Meaning & context of the quote: “Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none.”

A

This prophecy is given to Banquo whe him and Macbeth first meet with the three witches.

30
Q

Analyse how Banquo is displayed as virtuous in the quote: “Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none.”

A
  • Despite being given this prophecy, Banquo doesn’t meddle with fate, unlike Macbeth
  • His lack of action shows his integrity
  • Paradox shows the witches’ deceiving nature
31
Q

What is a quote that shows Banquo is sceptical?

A

“I fear, thou [Macbeth] play’dst most foully for’t.”

32
Q

Meaning & context of the quote: “I fear, thou [Macbeth] play’dst most foully for’t.”

A

In Act 3, Banquo suspects that Macbeth killed Duncan in order to become king.

33
Q

Analyse how Banquo is presented as sceptical in the quote: “I fear, thou [Macbeth] play’dst most foully for’t.”

A
  • Banquo suspects that Macbeth has been corrupted, yet he doesn’t voice his opinion
  • Shows that ambition causes Macbeth to commit regicide
  • Warns audience of misplaced loyalty as Macbeth kills Banquo later on
34
Q

What is a quote that presents Banquo as prophet-like?

A

“In the great hand of God I stand.”

35
Q

Meaning & context of the quote: “In the great hand of God I stand.”

A

This is Banquo’s response to King Duncan’s murder.

36
Q

Analyse how Banquo is presented as prophet-like in the quote: “In the great hand of God I stand.”

A
  • His honesty and moral shows that his character acts as a foil to Macbeth
  • Shows he is a devout Christian, the expectation in this era
  • Conveys his loyalty to King Duncan
37
Q

What is a quote that shows Macduff is a symbol of justice in the play?

A

“Was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.”

38
Q

Meaning & context of the quote: “Was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.”

A

In his fight with Macbeth, Macduff reveals that he was born via C-section before he kills Macbeth.

39
Q

Analyse how Macduff is presented as righteous in the quote: “Was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.”

A
  • He restores the moral order of the play as he kills traitorous Macbeth
  • Fulfils the witches’ prophecy, feeding into the theme of fate
40
Q

What is a quote that presents Macduff as noble?

A

“All my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop?”

41
Q

Meaning & context of the quote: “All my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop?”

A

Macduff comments this as he hears that Macbeth killed his entire family.

42
Q

Analyse how Macduff is shown as noble in the quote: “All my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop?”

A
  • He chooses not to grovel over his family’s death, but instead chooses to avenge them
  • “One fell swoop” alludes to the brutal murder of Macduff’s family
43
Q

Give a quote that presents Macduff as faithful.

A

“O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!”

44
Q

Meaning & context of quote: “O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!”

A

Macduff’s response to discovering Duncan’s murder in Act 2 Scene 3.

45
Q

Analyse how Macduff is shown as faithful in the quote: “O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!”

A
  • Rule of three and exclamatives express his true distress
  • His response is genuine, showing his loyalty to King Duncan
  • Builds tensions and suspicion over Macbeth

English Literature GCSE Macbeth (3 decks)

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