Macbeth - Shakespeare's Techniques Flashcards
What is structure?
+Structure is one of the most important parts of a play.
+Structure is the skill of writing a play so all the bits fit together, in the right order, in a way that works on stage.
What is a play’s structure?
+A play’s structure is the way it’s put together.
What is one of the most important parts of stagecraft?
+One of the most important parts of stagecraft is the structure of the play.
+The structure is the overall design of the play - how the plot is revealed, what events happens when, which scenes focus on thoughts and feelings, and which scenes build towards a dramatic climax.
What did Shakespeare not do?
+Shakespeare didn’t put the scenes in a random order - he had reasons to structure them in a certain way.
How does Shakespeare emphasise important themes?
+He introduces the Witches right at the beginning in Act 1, Scene 1.
+That way the audience knows that there are supernatural forces at work.
How does Shakespeare set the mood?
+The first scene of each act sets the mood for the rest of the act.
+Eg. in Act 2 Scene 1, Macbeth goes to murder Duncan.
+This sets the dark atmosphere for the whole of Act 2.
What do tragedies have?
Tragedies have a set structure
How is Macbeth a typical tragedy?
+Macbeth is a typical tragedy.
+The first part builds up to the turning point [Duncan’s murder], and the second part deals with the consequences of this, which lead to the main character’s downfall.
How does the structure of the play help develop characters?
+The structure helps Shakespeare develop the characters - Macbeth starts off as an honourable, moral character, but he’s corrupted by ambition [his fatal flaw].
+In contrast, Lady Macbeth starts out cruel and remorseless, but she eventually goes mad from guilt.
How does Macbeth have a circular structure?
+Macbeth also has a circular structure…
+It starts and ends with a battle to defeat a “merciless tyrant”.
+This shows that the events have come full circle and order is restored at the end of the play.
What does Shakespeare vary the length of?
+Shakespeare varies the length of the scenes.
Why does Shakespeare use short scenes?
+Shakespeare uses short scenes to speed up the action and make the play more exciting.
+For example, Act 5 is made up of nine short scenes - and a lot happens in this act.
+Lady Macbeth goes mad, the English army arrives, Lady Macbeth kills herself, Macbeth sees Birnam Wood on the move, Macbeth kills Young Siward, Macduff kills Macbeth and Malcolm becomes King. Phew.
Why does Shakespeare use long scenes?
+Long scenes let Shakespeare explore his characters’ emotions and reveal their true characters.
+In Act 4, Scene 3, Malcolm tests Macdff by claiming to be unfit to be King.
+Macduff’s reaction shows that he is loyal to Malcolm and passionate about his country.
+Later in that scene, Macduff learns that his wife and children are dead - his grief shows that he cares about his family too.
Mention the play’s structure and the effects it has…
+Shakespeare didn’t want people getting bored - or finding the scary and tragic bits funny.
+He had to use every trick he knew to make the audience react as he wanted them to. Know these tricks for the exam.
What does Shakespeare prepare you for?
+Shakespeare prepares you for what’s going to happen.
What is a good way of keeping the audience on the edge of their seats?
+Hinting at what’s going to happen later on in a play is a good way of keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
+Shakespeare does it a lot in Macbeth, especially near the start.
How does Shakespeare use forshadowing in Act 1, Scene 1?
+In Act 1, Scene 1 the Witches let the audience know that they’re evil [“Fair is foul”] and that they’re going to meet Macbeth.
+This creates dramatic tension because it makes the audience wonder who Macbeth is and what the Witches are planning for him.
How does Shakespeare use foreshadowing in Act 1, Scene 3?
+In Act 1, Scene 3 the Witches tell Macbeth he’ll be King, which plants the idea in both Macbeth’s and the audience’s minds and creates anticipation.
How does Shakespeare use foreshadowing in Act 1, Scene 4?
+In Act 1, Scene 4 Macbeth hears that Malcolm is heir to the throne, not him - this suggests that for the Witches’ prophecy to come true, Macbeth will have to do something.
+The audience starts to wonder what Macbeth’s capable of, and how strong his ambition is.
How does Shakespeare use foreshadowing in Act 4, Scene 1?
+The apparitions’ prophecies in Act 4, Scene 1 hint at the things to come.
+The audience suspects the prophecies will come true, but doesn’t know how, which builds suspense.
How does the theme of the supernatural create tension?
+Theme - Supernatural: The Supernatural elements in the play [the Witches, the apparitions, Macbeth’s vision of a dagger and Banquo’s ghost] create tension.
+They make things seem uncertain and evil.
What does Shakespeare leave the audience in?
+Shakespeare leaves the audience in littlle doubt it’s going to be a tragedy - but he still keeps a few questions open about what’s going to happen.
How does Shakespeare create anticipation in Act 1, Scene 7?
+Act, Scene 7 Macbeth battles with his conscience before killing Duncan.
+Will he go through with it? - We don’t find out until Act 2.
How does Shakespeare create anticipation in Act 3, Scene 1?
+Act 3, Scene 1 - Banquo suspects that Macbeth killed Duncan - Macbeth plots to kill Banquo.
+Will Banquo accuse Macbeth? Will Macbeth kill Banquo before he gets the chance? - We don’t find out until later in Act 3.
How does Shakespeare create anticipation in Act 4, Scene 3?
+Act 4, Scene 3 - Macduff learns that his family have been murdered and vows to take revenge on Macbeth.
+Will Macduff kill Macbeth? - We don’t find out until Act 5.
How does Shakespeare create anticipation in Act 5?
+Act 5 - The scenes alternate between Macbeth preparing for battle and the English army advancing.
+Who will win? What will happen to Macbeth? - We don’t find out until the end of the play.
What is the first part of the play structured around?
The first part is structured around Macbeth’s rise to power.
What are the Key Scenes focused on in the first part of Macbeth?
+In Acts 1 and 2 the key scenes are focused on Macbeth becoming King.
+The plot gradually builds up until the murder of Duncan is discovered and Macbeth is crowned.
What are the Key Scenes in Act 1 of the first part of Macbeth?
+Act 1 Scene 3 - Macbeth meets the Witches, who tell him he’ll be King.
+Act 1 Scene 7 - Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to kill Duncan.
What are the Key Scenes in Act 2 of the first part of Macbeth?
+Act 2 Scene 1 - Macbeth goes to kill Duncan
+Act 2 Scene 3 - Macduff finds Duncan’s body.
What is the purpose of the minor scenes in the first part of Macbeth?
+The minor scenes build up the tension and delay the actual murder.
What are the Minor Scenes in Act 1 of the first part of Macbeth?
- Act 1, Scene 1 - The Witches are introduced
- Act 1, Scene 2 - Duncan talks about the battle.
- Act 1, Scene 4 - Macbeth starts to think about killing Duncan.
- Act 1, Scenes 5&6 - Lady Macbeth learns of the Witches’ prophecy. Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle.
What are the Minor Scenes in Act 2 of the first part of Macbeth?
+Act 2, Scene 2 - Lady Macbeth covers up the murder
+Act 2, Scene 4 - An old man talks about weird events. Macbeth is crowned.
What happens in the second part of Macbeth?
+In the second part of Macbeth, things fall apart for Macbeth.
What are the Key Scenes in the second part of Macbeth about?
+In Acts 3, 4 and 5, the other characters learn how evil Macbeth is, and start to plot against him.
+This builds up to the climatic rebellion in the final act.
What are the Key Scenes in the second part of Macbeth?
- Act 3 Scene 4 - Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost.
- Act 4 Scene 1 - Macbeth visits the Witches, and is shown three apparitions that predict his future.
- Act 5 Scene 1 - Lady Macbeth sleepwalks.
- Act 5 Scene 8 - Macduff kills Macbeth.
What is the purpose of the minor scenes in the second part of Macbeth?
+The minor scenes help develop the plot.
+The short scenes speed up the action.
What are the Minor Scenes in Act 3 of the second part of Macbeth?
+Act 3, Scenes 1-3: Macbeth realises that Banquo’s a threat, so he has him killed.
+Act 3, Scene 5 - Hecate plans to ruin Macbeth.
+Act 3, Scene 6 - Lennox is told of a plot to overthrow Macbeth.
What are the Minor Scenes in Act 4 of the second part of Macbeth?
+Act 4, Scenes 2-3: Macbeth has Macduff’s wife and son killed.
+Malcolm tests Macduff, and Macduff learns of the murders.
What are the Minor Scenes in Act 5 of the second part of Macbeth?
+Act 5, Scenes 2-4&6: The English Army advances, disguised as Birnam Wood.
+Act 5, Scenes 5&7: Lady Macbeth kills herself and Macbeth kills young Siward.
+Act 5, Scene 9 - Malcolm becomes King.
How does Shakespeare creaet atmosphere?
+Shakespeare creates atmosphere in different ways
How does Shakespeare create different atmospheres?
+Shakespeare uses different methods to create different atmospheres, which are an important part of the play.
+Some of the techniques he uses are?
- Setting
- Use of the supernatural
- Humour
- Different senses
- Language
In particular, what helps create different moods?
+In particular, imagery helps to creat different moods.
What do different settings create?
+Different settings create different moods
How did Shakespeare choose the settings?
+Shakespeare chose the settings of his scenes very carefully - they add to the atmosphere of the play.
What setting do the Witches appear in?
+The Witches always appear in a spooky setting, usually in deserted places.
+This gives a sense of isolation and secrecy, and highlights the fact that they are separated from the rest of the characters.
+They are often accompanied by “thunder and lightning”, which makes them seem menacing - Each apparition is introduced with more “thunder”, so they appear threatening.
What setting do the Macbeths appear in?
+A lot of the scenes take place in and around Macbeth’s castles in Scotland.
+This reminds the audience that the Macbeths are noble.
+However, the way they act contrasts sharply with this - their actions are not noble.
What does most of Act 5 take place in?
+Most of Act 5 takes place as Malcolm’s army advances, which highlights the violence that occurs throughout the play.
What does Language set?
+Language sets the scene and creates atmosphere
Sometimes, what helps set the scene?
+Sometimes what the characters say helps to set the scene.
+Using dialogue to describe the setting and atmposphere was important in Shakespeare’s time because sets and props were limited.
How does dialogue describe the setting in Act Scene 1?
+In Act 1, Scene 1, the Witches appear in “fog and filthy air”.
+This creates a gloomy atmosphere, and also makes them seem ambiguous as they can’t be seen properly.
How does dialogue describe the setting in Act 1 Scene 6?
+In Act 1, Scene 6, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony.
+Duncan describes Macbeth’s castle as “pleasant”, not knowing that he’s going to be murdered there.
What is dramatic irony?
+Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something a character doesn’t.
How does dialogue describe the setting in Act 2 Scene 1?
+Act 2, Scene 1 takes place on a dark night - Banquo says the “candles are all out” [there are no stars].
+This is an appropriate setting for murder.
What atmosphere can language create?
+Language can create an atmosphere of its own - one that isn’t linked to the setting, but more to do with what’s going on in the characters’ minds.
+In Act 4 Scene 1, the Witches talk about “poisoned entrails” and “Finger of birth-strangled babe”.
+This unpleasant, gruesome language reflects their evil intentions.
What does Shakespeare use violent language to reveal?
+Shakespeare uses violent language to reveal Lady Macbeth’s true nature.
+Her description of how she would kill her own child creates an evil atmosphere.
+“I would, while it was smiling in my face,/Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums/And dashed the brains out” [Act 1, Scene 7].
What does Shakespeare also use to create feelings of panic and confusion?
+He also uses short lines of dialogue, questions and exclamations to create feelings of panic and confusion.
What does Shakespeare use senses to set?
+Shakespeare uses the senses to set the scene.
How does Shakespeare make the scenes more vivid?
+By making the characters describe what they can see or hear, Shakespeare makes the scenes more vivid.
+It helps the audience imagine what’s happening, especially as there wouldn’t have been many props.
How does Shakespeare use Macduff’s description of Duncan’s body to make the scene more vivid?
+When Macduff has just discovered Duncan’s body, he says it will “destroy your sight/With a new Gorgon”.
+This emphasises the horror of the discovery - he feels he’s gone blind from seeing something so terrible.
How does Shakespeare use sound to make the scenes of Duncan to appear more vivid?
+Earlier in the play, Duncan’s arrival is introduced by a “Flourish” [or fanfare].
+This contrasts with the “hideous trumpet” and “alarum bell” that announce his death, and shows how the atmosphere has changed.
