Macbeth (English Literature) Flashcards
Thunder and lightning 11 1
Pathetic fallacy, Stage direction
we’
‘meet again? 11 2
‘again’ adverb
‘we’ pronoun
thunder, lightning or rain? 11 3
pathetic fallacy
When the battle’s lost and won 11 4
juxtaposition ‘lost’ ‘won’
Fair is foul, foul is fair 11 6
equivocation, alliteration, antithesis
Hover through the fog and filthy air 11 7
verb ‘hover’
noun ‘fog’
adjective ‘filthy’
noun ‘air’
worthy to be a rebel 12 1
Criticise
Adjective “worthy”
brave Macbeth 12 2
Adjective
bloody execution 12 3
Noun execution
unseam’d him from the nave to th’ chaps 12 4
Brutal imagery
o valiant cousin 12 5
Adjective valiant
Noun cousin
worthy gentleman 12 6
Noun gentleman
the hare, the lion 12 7
Animal imagery
most disloyal traitor 12 8
Superlative “most disloyal traitor”
noun “traitor”
Bellona’s bridegroom 12 9
Metaphor
No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive 12 10
Foreshadowing
former title greet Macbeth 12 11
Curse
drain him dry as hay 13 3
Verb “drain”
noble partner 13 13
Noun “partner”
speak, I charge you 13 19
Imperative
[aside] 13 23
Stage direction
ENTER Banquo’s Ghost 34 9
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things u should do when you answer a macbeth extract question
- only focus on extract
- think about audience responses
- track the text
- 2,4,2
- alternate views (perhaps..or…however..although..alternatively…)
- language, tone, structure
- identify any shifts
- range of different ideas
- intro and conclusion
- say where the extract is
macbeth exam consists of
extract -15 marks
whole play question-25 marks (20 for content, 5 for SPAG)
together=40 marks
success criteria - extract
- use Shakesphere’s name
- uses subject terms accurately
- uses evalutive terms in your analysis
- focus on the task
- audience response
- confident knowledge of the play
- track trhough extract
- at least 5 different ideas
- accuracy of SPAG
macbeth extract AO1
clear focus on the question
clear understanding shown/clear points made
track through extract/play/poem
select relevant (short) quotes
make inference to show engagement
address an alternative viewpoint (how audience may alternatively perceive it + Shakespeare’s presentation) -hedging language +authorial intention
macbeth extract AO2
explain meaning of quotes
zoom into language
use subject terms accurately/appropriately
consider effect on audience/readier
consider structure/shift of ideas or on page
use evaluative vocabulary to evaluate effectiveness
macbeth ESSAY (20) AO1
Clear focus on question
clear understanding shown/clear points made
track theme or character through the play
select relevant short quotes
make inference to show engagement
address an alternative viewpoint
macbeth ESSAY (20) AO2
explain meaning of quotes
zoom into language +authorial intent
use subject terms accurately appropriately
consider effect on audience
consider structure/shift of ideas or on pages
use evaluative vocabulary to evaluate effectiveness
macbeth ESSAY (5) SPAG AO4
Proofread carefully for spelling and punctuation
Greater range of vocabulary
Greater range of punctuation/sentence structure (for control)
paragraph introduction
In the eponymous tragedy Shakespeare presents….as….
initially, …..
However, as the play progresses, ……
As the play concludes, it is evident that…
which evokes …. in the audience… due to…
paragraphs middle (15 quotes w 5 embedded short quotes) 3 alt views, 3 authorial intent, 3 audience response, 3 context
1- In the outset of the play, Shakespeare establishes ….with (subject term + quote), which (adverb + verb) (explanation). This is further reinforced by (short quote), (adverb + verb) (explanation) 2 Later on, Shakespeare presents 3 ————- 4 5 6 ———- 7 8 9 ———- 10 11 12 ——— 13 14 15
paragraph conclusion
In conclusion, …….(1-5 idea summary)
Perhaps, Shakespeare did this to
Ultimately, …
Shakespeare might’ve done this to..
Paragraphs middle (extract version) 5 different main points, 8 quotes 3 alt views, authorial intent, audience reaction
At the opening of the extract, which is in Act ? Scene ?, Shakespeare immediately establishes….This evokes the audience….Next….The audience would feel….However…..Later on….Alternatively….Further on…This evokes the audience….Next…Shakespeare does this to….Later on….
(Bonus: if shift is identified- Shakespeare utilises a shift at the….of…extract….to….)
Key vocab for analysis
euphenism, silibance, lists, exclamations, metaphor, religious imagery, third person, emotive abstract nouns
short simple sentences, short questions, remorseful/regretful adjectives vengeful verbs, tone. mood, atmosphere, structure(opening, middle,end), masculinatiy, typicality, revenge, grief.
Writer intention verbs
instruct, persuade, inform, entertain, educate, enlighten, punish, console, criticize, celebrate, condemn, establish, reinforce, to reveal the importance of, to warn
Context
- Catharsis (purging of emotions through pity or fear, end of a tragic work- Macbeth self destruction as he loses his wife and his own life which leads the audience to pity Macbeth so the audience experiences catharsis)
- Divine Right of Kings(chosen by God). Great chain of being (king is the closest being to God on earth and enacts the will of God) Natural order.
- regicide = sin and crime - eternal damnation
- Holinshed’s Chronicles : Banquo helped Macbeth kill Duncan, Macbeth ruled for 10 years and was a good king, the witches were ‘goddesses of destine’
- Jacobean era intensely religious. Uncertainty and tension when King James I came to power. Queen Elizabeth I left no heir.
- Witchcraft sinful - treason against god. King James. book of Daemonologie. Religious fanatic. Misogynistic. In the book, only women witches - asserted women were weaker sex so could be easily tempted by devil - Bible Adam and Eve: Eve tricked by serpent and both are punished
- James I patron of Shakespeare. Banquo ancestor
- King James launched witch hunts.
- attacked by a storm when sailing to Denmark to meet his betrothed
- lady Macbeth fourth witch
- failed Gunpowder plot 1605 - devised by catholics. King James Protestant.
- England 1606 11th century Scotland
- patriarchal society. No legal rights. Role was to get married and have children. She doesn’t have individual identity.
- military standards and male friendships on Jacobean culiture: male solidarity and loyalty were important values.
- predestination: before born, God decided whether we are going to heaven or hell
Banquo
- brave, has a royal nature, moral, virtuous, noble, strong
- ambitious thoughts, but restrains. symbolic of man’s ability to resist temptation/evil
- representation of route Macbeth doesn’t take - righteous, Macbeth’s foil/antithesis
- protective and affectionate towards son
- serves as a constant reflection for how Macbeth should’ve acted - reminder of the morality Macbeth started losing
- dies in god’s favour and from religious disgrace/condemnation
Lady Macbeth
- antagonist
- unconventional female character. Dominant. Cunning, smart, bloodthirsty, unnatural. Audience view as supernatural.
- subversion of femininity
- alternatively, tragic heroine
- wives supportive of their husbands’ aspirations. Fulfilling her role as the devoted helpful wife
- love for Macbeth - wants him to succeed
- position as woman: own career prospects are limited. Ambition. Using Macbeth to climb up social ladder
- becoming queen as compensation for her lost children. Children died in infancy - lost her purpose as woman
- gender identity ambiguous. Dangers of gender nonconformity.
- femme fatale archetype. Ensnares men into deadly situations. Warn consequences of unrestrained female ambition and power. Unease audience.
Macbeth
- Tragic hero position of glory and success but falls from grace
- hamartia. Hubris. Peripeteia. Anagnorisis. Nemesis. Catharsis.
- oblivious to morality and natural order
- more feminine role in marriage
- symbol for toxic and repressive masculinity , violence as a tool which leads to more violence and tyranny (cycle)
- nihilistic figure (tormented by his own conscience)
- weak willed. Fragile sense of masculinity. cowardly, indecisive, paranoid, consumed by guilt. Internal struggle.
Macduff
- foil
- sin defeated. Order restored
- doesn’t resist emotion, embraces it
- brave, selfless, loyal, righteousness, patriotic
- justified violence
- adheres to divine right of kings
Witches
Equivocation, supernatural beings
- agents of Satan
- serpent in garden of Eden/catalysts
- trinity of evil, opposes the holy trinity
- Macbeth turns to them in times of need instead of god
- Daemonologie
- trochaic tetrameter
- inverses natural order. Not completely powerful.
Structure
establishment, outset, crisis, conflict, climatic, denoucement, cliff hanger, twist
