🔴 Macbeth: Summary Flashcards

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1
Q

When was Macbeth written?

A

1606

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2
Q

What genre is Macbeth?

A

A classic Shakespearean tragedy

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3
Q

What is a tragedy?

A

Typically depicts a tragic character and a fatal flaw which ultimately results in conflict and a final restoration of the status quo

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4
Q

Where does Macbeth take place?

A

Medieval Scotland

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5
Q

What happens in Act 1 of Macbeth?

A
  • 3 Witches gives 3 prophecies to Macbeth & Banquo
  • Thane of Cawdor is executed for treason - Macbeth becomes new thane of Cawdor
  • Macbeth sends a letter to Lady Macbeth outlining the witches’ prophecies
  • King Duncan comes to visit the Macbeths at their castle
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6
Q

What are the prophecies given to Macbeth & Banquo?

A
  • Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor
  • Macbeth will become king hereafter
  • Though Banquo will never be king, his descendants will become kings
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7
Q

What happens in Act 2 of Macbeth?

A
  • Macbeth sees a bloody dagger after seeing Banquo & Fleance in the courtyard
  • Macbeth kills king Duncan
  • Macbeth returns to LM with the 2 daggers covered in blood
  • LM calls Macbeth a coward & returns daggers to Duncan’s chambers
  • Macduff discovers Duncan has been murdered
  • Duncan’s sons flee Scotland
  • Macbeth is crowned king of Scotland
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8
Q

Where does Malcom flee to after hearing about king Duncan’s death?

A

England

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9
Q

Where does Donalbain flee to after hearing about king Duncan’s death?

A

Ireland

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10
Q

What did Macbeth claim when he killed the guards?

A

That he killed them in an act of revenge

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11
Q

What is Regicide?

A

The action of killing a king

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12
Q

What happens in Act 3 of Macbeth?

A
  • Banquo begins to suspect Macbeth for Duncan’s murder
  • Macbeth hires assassins to kill Banquo and his son
  • Murderers kill Banquo but Fleance escapes
  • Macbeths host a banquet @their castle but Macbeth hallucinates
  • Macbeth starts shouting at Banquo’s ghost
  • LM controls the situation
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13
Q

What does Macbeth’s hallucination of Banquo’s ghost show about him?

A

Banquo is a manifestation of Macbeth’s guilt

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14
Q

What is Banquo’s son called?

A

Fleance

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15
Q

How does LM control the situation in Act 3?

A

She says that Macbeth has been having episodes of hallucination since he was young

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16
Q

What happens in Act 4 of Macbeth?

A
  • Macbeth turns to witches for help in an act of desperation
  • They give him 3 apparitions
  • Malcolm & Macduff concoct a plan to bring Macbeth down
  • Macbeth orders murderers to kill MacDuff’s family
17
Q

What are the 3 apparitions given to Macbeth?

A
  • Beware Macduff
  • No man born of a woman can harm Macbeth
  • Macbeth will be safe until Birnam wood moves to Dunsinane hill
18
Q

What’s the difference between an apparition and prophecy?

A

Apparition - The receiver of that projected vision becomes a part of the action ( a vision )

Prophecy - A prediction or foretelling of future events, often delivered a figure with supernatural insights

19
Q

What happens in Act 5 of Macbeth?

A
  • LM hallucinates in her sleep. She commits suicide
  • Scenes quicken
  • Malcom & army cut down branches of trees to camouflage themselves - seems like Birnam wood is moving
  • Macbeth kills young Siward (a young boy - minor character)
  • Servant tells Macbeth his wife is dead
  • Macduff beheads Macbeth
  • Malcom becomes the rightful king
20
Q

What does LM do while she hallucinates in her sleep?

A

She talks to herself & tries to get rid of a ‘spot’ on her hand

21
Q

What does the imaginary ‘spot’ on LM’s hand symbolise?

A

Her guilt

22
Q

What was Macbeth’s reaction to hearing LM has died?

A

Her says that she should have died later as now she is inconveniencing him

23
Q

How did Macduff kill Macbeth?

A

He was ‘untimely ripped’ out of his mothers womb

24
Q

What does the minor character’s young Siward’s death show about Macbeth?

A

Macbeth had become so ruthless that he would kill anyone or anything to retain his power