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Yr 9 - GCSE English Key Terms > Macbeth Key Terms: > Flashcards

Macbeth Key Terms: Flashcards

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1
Q

Allegory

A

A story, character, place, or event is used to convey a hidden meaning, typically moral or political, about real-world events or issues (e.g. Duncan’s death is an allegory for the risks of killing your king).

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2
Q

Allusion

A

An indirect reference to another event, person or work which the writer assumes the reader is familiar.

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3
Q

Archetype

A

The first real example or prototype of something; an ideal model or the perfect image of something.

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4
Q

Bathos

A

An anti-climax which is abrupt; usually humour that comes from an odd and sudden change in tone.

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5
Q

Biblical

A

Language that relates to the bible and thus has religious connotations.

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6
Q

Blazon

A

A poem in which the speaker describes a woman’s physique by focusing on and listing various individual parts of a woman’s body.

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7
Q

Caricature

A

An imitation where particular notable characteristics are exaggerated to a comic or grotesque effect.

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8
Q

Colloquialism

A

An informal word or phrase used in normal or familiar conversation.

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9
Q

Comic relief

A

Relief from tension caused by the introduction of a comedic element.

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10
Q

Connotation

A

An impression, idea, or feeling associated with a word or phase beyond its literal meaning.

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11
Q

Dichotomy

A

A division or contrast between two opposed things.

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12
Q

Double entendre​

A

Words or phrases that have a double meaning and is deliberately ambiguous, especially when one of the meanings is risqué. (For example: In Elizabethan England, the use of the word “die” referred to both death and orgasm).

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13
Q

Dysphemism

A

The substitution of a more offensive term for one considered less so.

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14
Q

Epithet

A

A word or phrase applied to a person to describe an actual or credited quality. (For example: “star crossed lovers” = Romeo and Juliet).

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15
Q

Epitome

A

A perfect example of a specific quality.

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16
Q

Epizeuxis

A

The repetition of words in succession within the same sentence.

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17
Q

Euphemism

A

The substitution of a harmless term for one that is considered as offensively risqué or explicit.

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18
Q

Extended metaphor

A

A metaphor that continues over many sentences and could even extend throughout the entire play.

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19
Q

Foreshadowing

A

A device in which an author suggests certain plot developments that might come later in the play.

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20
Q

Grotesque

A

Ugly and distorted, physically or figuratively, in a way that is comic or repulsive.

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21
Q

Hyperbole

A

An extravagant exaggeration of fact, used either for serious or comic effect.

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22
Q

Ideology

A

A system of beliefs and ideals, typically forming a framework for a political policy or a religion.

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23
Q

Imagery

A

Use of language which is visually descriptive or symbolic.

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24
Q

Irony

A

The use of words where the meaning is contrary to what is expected to actually occur.

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25
Q

Juxtaposition

A

A literary technique that places two opposing words, phrases or events side by side, often for the main purpose of comparing or contrasting them. (For example - “Here is much to do with hate, but more to do with love.”).

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26
Q

Manifestation

A

A physical expression or realisation of an abstract idea through a character, object, place, or event.

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27
Q

Motif

A

An element that reoccurs, such as a word, phrase, idea, image, action, character or symbol that appears throughout the play for emphasis.

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28
Q

Oxymoron

A

A form of paradox that combines a pair of contrasting terms into a single, sometimes unique expression. (For example - When Juliet says “O happy dagger”).

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29
Q

Parable

A

A story used to teach a moral or spiritual lesson, typically told in the Bible by Jesus.

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30
Q

Pathetic Fallacy

A

When human emotions or characteristics are given to objects, nature or the weather.

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31
Q

Personification

A

Giving something non-human a human trait, capability, or personality.

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32
Q

Pun

A

A play on words which suggests multiple meanings.

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33
Q

Satire

A

The use of humour, irony or exaggeration to ridicule and criticize an individual’s stupidity.

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34
Q

Semantic Field​

A

When a writer employs multiple words which are similar and thus group together under one sub-heading.

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35
Q

Sibilance

A

The repetition of ‘s’ sounds close together.

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36
Q

Simile

A

Comparing something to something else in a nonliteral way, in order to convey a particular idea or quality of the original thing.

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37
Q

Symbolism

A

Using one object or character to expose a broader idea running throughout the play.

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38
Q

Trope

A

A particular type of character, event, or setting that is used frequently in stories (e.g. ‘The Damsel In Distress’ is a trope).

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39
Q

Zoomorphism

A

Imagery representing animal forms.

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40
Q

Anaphora

A

Repeating a sequence of words at the beginning of adjacent clauses.

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41
Q

Antithesis

A

Parallel structure that uses opposites to create emphasis. (For example: “It was
the best of times, it was the worst of times”).

42
Q

Aside

A

A part of an actor’s lines that are not meant to be heard by other characters on stage and intended only for the audience; a short digression.

43
Q

Blank verse​

A

Unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter.

44
Q

Couplet

A

A rhymed pair of lines.

45
Q

Cyclical

A

When the same sequence of events repeats throughout a story.

46
Q

Dramatic Irony​

A

When a character shows that they are oblivious of the reality of which the audience is aware.

47
Q

Dramatic monologue​

A

A passage of speech in which one person is speaking to an audience or “thinking out loud”.

48
Q

Epistrophe

A

When the same word (or group of words) is employed at the end of successive sentences with the aim of emphasising it.

49
Q

Exposition

A

Information provided through stage directions, narration, dialogue, or description, used to introduce the audience to crucial background information.

50
Q

Heroic couplet​

A

The last two lines of a Shakespearean Sonnet - a couplet of rhyming iambic pentameter.

51
Q

Iambic pentameter

A

A sentence (10 syllables in total) which is composed of two syllables: the first unstressed; the second stressed.

52
Q

In Media Res

A

Starting in the middle of the action.

53
Q

Microcosm

A

Using a place, group of people, or event in the small-scale to represent something much larger (e.g. the battle at the start of Macbeth is a microcosm for the whole play).

54
Q

Paradox

A

A statement that seems to contradict itself but is still true. For e.g. the witches say in unison: ‘fair is foul, and foul is fair’

55
Q

Parallelism

A

Using components that are similar in grammar, structure, or meaning within a sentence or multiple sentences, or throughout the text as a whole (e.g. “He came, he saw, he conquered”).

56
Q

Refrain

A

A word, phrase, or sentence that is repeated throughout a text.

57
Q

Soliloquy

A

A dramatic device whereby a character stands alone on stage and addresses
the audience, giving voice to their deepest thoughts and feelings.

58
Q

Sonnet form

A

A highly stylized form of poetry, with 14 lines written in iambic pentameter. (For example - Romeo and Juliet’s first real encounter in the balcony scene).

59
Q

Stichomythia

A

A dialogue between two characters who speak one after the other. ​For example:

LADY MACBETH: _____

MACBETH: _____

LADY MACBETH: ____

MACBETH: ____

60
Q

Anagnorisis

A

A moment in a play when a character makes a critical discovery, such as the tragic hero’s sudden awareness of a real situation usually as a result of their downfall.

61
Q

Antagonist

A

character who actively opposes or is hostile to another character, particularly the protagonist.

62
Q

Catharsis

A

The process of letting go of or providing liberation from, strong or suppressed emotions.

63
Q

Conscience

A

A moral sense of right and wrong that guides a character’s behaviour.

64
Q

Foil

A

A character with qualities that are in contrast with another character. (For example, Rosaline and Juliet, or Macbeth and Banquo).

65
Q

Hamartia

A

A character’s tragic flaw.

66
Q

Hubris

A

An exaggerated self-pride or self-confidence which often leads to a fatal retaliation

67
Q

Peripeteia

A

A sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal.

68
Q

Protagonist

A

The leading character in the play.

69
Q

Tragic hero

A

A character who is usually depicted as perfect and honourable yet has one ‘fatal flaw’ or hamartia.

70
Q

Arthurian Legend

A

The stories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, popular for how they celebrate chivalry and patriotism.

71
Q

Autonomy

A

The right and ability to be able to govern yourself, including your actions and decisions.

72
Q

Code of Chivalry​

A

The moral, religious, and social code of Medieval knights, including bravery, honour, and courtesy.

73
Q

Convention

A

The traditional way of doing things.

74
Q

Dehumanise

A

Denying someone their humanity, including their emotions and independent thought.

75
Q

Divine/Natural Order/Great Chain of Being

A

The belief in Medieval Christianity that all life and matter on Earth was organised into a hierarchy by God.

76
Q

Divine Right of Kings

A

The belief in Christianity that the monarch of a country is chosen by God Himself to be His representative on Earth, meaning they don’t have to answer to anyone except God.

77
Q

Facade

A

A front or mask that is put up to disguise something or someone’s true character

78
Q

Fate

A

The development of events outside an individuals’ control, it is sometimes said to be determined by a supernatural power.

79
Q

Globe Theatre

A

A theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare where all of Shakespeare’s plays were performed. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare’s playing company and has been rebuilt and reconstructed since.

80
Q

Heathen

A

Someone who isn’t a Christian, particularly someone who is pagan or lacks moral principles.

81
Q

Infallible

A

Never failing, incapable of making mistakes.

82
Q

Melodrama

A

A dramatic piece that includes exaggerated characters and exciting events.

83
Q

Misogyny

A

Hatred, contempt, or prejudice towards women for no reason other than their gender.

84
Q

Morality

A

Principles, either personal or social, concerning the difference between right and wrong, going beyond legality and often religion.

85
Q

Mythology

A

A collection of stories, especially belonging to a particular religion or culture such as the Ancient Greeks, that teach moral lessons or explain aspects of our world.

86
Q

Nihilism

A

Believing life is pointless and meaningless. For example, Macbeth became more nihilistic near the end of the play - Act V

87
Q

Paganism

A

A non-Christian or pre-Christian religion, particularly nature worship

88
Q

Patriarchy

A

A system of society whereby men have ultimate authority which they use to
oppress women who are largely excluded from the male dominated society.

89
Q

Prejudice

A

Having a negative view or opinion of someone that is not based on experience or logic.

90
Q

Remorse

A

The feeling of intense regret and guilt for doing a bad deed.

91
Q

Repent

A

To feel or/and express great regret for sinning or committing a crime, particularly in a religious context.

92
Q

Stereotype

A

A view or preconception of a person or thing that is fixed and oversimplified, held by most of a population.

93
Q

The Gunpowder Plot​

A

An assassination attempt on the King of England, King James I, in 1605, where a group of Catholics tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament with gunpowder.

94
Q

The Renaissance​

A

A period of time from the 14th to 17th century where artists, writers, and philosophers revisited the works of the Ancient Greeks and Romans.

95
Q

Toxic Masculinity

A

The concept that traditional male gender roles restrict emotion in men while encouraging negative, often violent traits.

96
Q

Tragedy

A

A branch of drama that usually depicts the downfall and the reversal of fortune of a good person; suffering usually awaits many of the characters, especially the tragic hero.

97
Q

Vice

A

A behaviour or trait that is immoral.

98
Q

Virtue

A

A behaviour or trait that is moral.

99
Q

Turning Point

A

The point in the play when the conflict reaches its height

100
Q

Falling Action

A

Things begin to clear up for the central characters

101
Q

Denouement

A

The central problem is resolved, and we usually have a happy ending. For example; After Macbeth is killed, the Natural Order is restored and Malcolm is made king - this is denouement.

Yr 9 - GCSE English Key Terms (5 decks)

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