Macbeth

Question 1

what are the key themes in Macbeth

Answer 1

• good versus evil
• the dangers of ambition
• the influence of supernatural forces
• the contrast between appearance and reality
• gender

Question 2

appearance vs reality act1 of Macbeth

Answer 2

“fair is foul and foul is fair”- witches(A1S1)
“Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s/ In deepest consequence”- Banquo(A1S3)

Question 3

appearance vs reality middle of play

Answer 3

“Is this a dagger which I see before me”- Macbeth(A2S1)
“there’s daggers in men’s smiles”- Donalbain (A2S3)
“Thou canst not say I did it”- Macbeth to Banquo’s ghost (A3S4)

Question 4

appearance vs reality end of the play

Answer 4

“Black Macbeth/ Will seem as pure as snow”- Malcom (A4S3)
“doubt th’equivocation of the fiend”- Macbeth about witches (A5S5)

Question 5

Ambition in act 1

Answer 5

“let light not see my black and deep desires”- Macbeth (A1S4)
“Unsex me here”…“take my milk for gall”- Lady Macbeth (A1S5)

Question 6

Ambition middle of the play

Answer 6

“Wake Duncan with thy knocking: I would thou couldst”- Macbeth (A2S2)
“We have scorched the serpent not killed it”- Macbeth (A3S2)- never satisfied
“Upon my head they place a fruitless crown” Macbeth (A3S1)

Question 7

Ambition at the end

Answer 7

“untie the winds let them fight/ Against the churches”- Macbeth (A4S1)
“I have almost forgot the taste of fears”- Macbeth (A5S5)

Question 8

violence at the start of the play

Answer 8

“Bellona’s Bridegroom” -Ross (A1S2)
“whose murder yet is but fantastical” -Macbeth (A1S3)

Question 9

violence middle

Answer 9

“Macbeth does murder sleep”- Macbeth (A2S2)
“Full of scorpions is my mind” -Macbeth (A3S2)

Question 10

violence towards the end of the play

Answer 10

Macduff son referred to as “young fry of treachery”- murder (A4S2)
“Savagely slaughtered” -Ross to Macduff (A4S3)
“My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain” Macduff (back to noble)

Question 11

gender at the start of the play

Answer 11

“Valour’s minion” -Captain (A1S2)
“Unsex me here”… “Take my milk for gall”- Lady Macbeth (A1S5)
“Screw your courage to the sticking place” -Lady Macbeth (A1S7)

Question 12

gender in the middle of the play

Answer 12

“‘tis the eye of childhood/ that fears a painted devil”- Lady Macbeth (A2S2)
“dearest chuck”- Macbeth (A3S2)

Question 13

gender end of the play

Answer 13

“poor prattler, how talk’st” Lady Macduff joking with her son(A4S2)
“But I must also feel it as a man”- Macduff (A4S3)
“My wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still” Macduff (A5S7)

Question 14

good vs evil start of the play

Answer 14

“Bellona’s Bridegroom” -Ross (A1S2)
“So foul and fair a day I have not seen” -Macbeth (A1S3)
“too full o’th’milk of human kindness” -Lady Macbeth (A1S5)

Question 15

good vs evil in the middle of the play

Answer 15

“Is this a dagger which I see before” -Macbeth(A2S1)
“There’s daggers in men’s smiles”-Donalbain (A2S3)
“Where our desire is got without got without content” -Lady Macbeth (A3S2)

Question 16

Good vs evil end of play

Answer 16

“untie the winds let them fight/ Against the churches”- Macbeth (A4S1)
“I have almost forgotten the taste of fears” -Macbeth (A5S5)

Question 17

Witches/ supernatural start of the play

Answer 17

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair” -witches (A1S1)
“so foul and fair a day I have not seen” -Macbeth (A1S3)
“Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s/ In deepest consequence”- Banquo(A1S3)
“Unsex me here”… “Take my milk for gall”- Lady Macbeth (A1S5)

Question 18

witches/ supernatural in the middle

Answer 18

“Is this a dagger which I see before me” -Macbeth (A2S1)
“Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown” -Macbeth (A3S1)
“Thou canst not say I did it”- Macbeth to Banquo’s ghost (A3S4)
“bear/ His hopes above wisdom” -Hecate (A3S5)

Question 19

witches/ supernatural end of Macbeth

Answer 19

“untie the winds let them fight/ Against the churches”- Macbeth (A4S1)
“Black Macbeth/ Will seem as pure as snow”- Malcom (A4S3)
“I have almost forgotten the taste of fears” -Macbeth (A5S5)