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English Literature : Macbeth > Macbeth Vocabulary > Flashcards

Macbeth Vocabulary Flashcards

1
Q

hamartia

A

a flaw or error in a character which leads to their downfall

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2
Q

‘macbeth’s hamartia is his…

A

…unchecked ambition which drives him to commit murder’

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3
Q

‘lady macbeth’s hamartia is her…

A

…ruthless determination, leading her to underestimate the physical toll of regicide.’

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4
Q

‘macduff’s loyalty becomes his hamartia…

A

…leaving his family vulnerable to macbeth’s violent retribution’

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5
Q

‘banquo’s hamartia could be seen in his hesitation…

A

…to act on the witches’ prophecy, which ultimately costs him his life’

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6
Q

irresistible allure

A

a powerful attraction which is hard to resist

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7
Q

‘the prophecy holds an irresistible allure…

A

for macbeth, tempting him toward kingship’

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8
Q

‘banquo senses the danger in the witches’ irresistible allure…

A

..but is unable to fully resist comtemplating it’

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9
Q

‘malcolm’s return to scotland holds an irresistible allure…

A

…for those loyal to justice and ready to end macbeth’s reign’

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10
Q

unchecked (uncontrollable)

A

something that is unrestrained or allowed to continue without limits

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11
Q

‘macbeth’s unchecked ambition leads…

A

..him down a path of tyranny and violence’

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12
Q

‘macduff’s unchecked rage against macbeth…

A

..fuels his desire for vengeance in their final confrontation’

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13
Q

‘lady macbeth’s unchecked desire for control…

A

…drives her to manipulate macbeth into murder.’

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14
Q

antagonist (villain)

A

a character who opposes the protagonist, often working against their goals

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15
Q

‘lady macbeth is an antagonist to macbeth…

A

…as she intentionally manipulates him, accelerating him towards his downfall’

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16
Q

‘macduff emerges as macbeth’s main antagonist…

A

…seeking justice for the wrongs done to his family’

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17
Q

‘macolm sees macbeth as the ultimate antagonist..

A

…whose rule must be overthrown for scotalnd’s salvation’

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18
Q

carcass of insanity

A

a metaphor describing a state of complete madness or mental breakdown

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19
Q

‘consumed by guilt, lady macbeth becomes..

A

..a carcass of insanity, unable to cleanse her conscience’

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20
Q

‘macbeth’s carcass of insanity..

A

..grows as he sees banquo’s ghost, showing his deteriorating mind’

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21
Q

‘macduff accuses macbeth of being a carcass of insanity…

A

…consumed by his own deeds and paranoia.’

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22
Q

tyrannical

A

exercising power in a cruel or oppressive way

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23
Q

‘macbeth’s tyrannical rule..

A

..terrifies his subjects and leads to widespread suffering’

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24
Q

‘malcolm denounces macbeth’s tyrannical reign…

A

…and vows to restore justice to scotland’

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25
'lady macbeth is the tyrannical force behind macbeth...
....driving him to commit heinous acts'
26
'as a tyrannical leader...
...macbeth demands loyalty through fear, not respect'
27
tragic hero/heroine
a noble character who experiences a downfall due to their own flaws
28
'macbeth embodies a tragic hero...
...a noble warrior brought low by his ambition'
29
'banquo, a potential tragic hero...
...meets a premature end due to his association with macbeth and the witches'
30
'lady macbeth is a tragic heroine - she starts off...
...as powerful and becomes consumed by her guilt.'
31
'macbeth's story aligns with that of a tragic hero...
...his fatal flaw ultimately leading him to ruin'
32
motif of sleep
a recurring element or theme that symbolises rest, innocence or guilt
33
'the motif of sleep in macbeth represents...
...the peace that macbeth and lady macbeth lose after the murder'
34
'macduff's horror upon discovering duncan's body...
...disrupts the motif of sleep, as his shock awakens the entire castle'
35
'lady macbeth's sleepwalking scene brings the motif of sleep full circle...
...revealing her guilt through restlessness'
36
anagnorisis
the moment a character realises the truth of their situation or their own faults
37
'macbeth's anagnorisis is when...
...he finds out about lady macbeth's death, realising the futility of life and the sacrifices made'
38
'macbeth's anagnorisis comes too late...
...as he realises that his ambition has led to ruin'
39
'macduff's anagnorisis occurs when he learns of...
...his family's murder, realising the price of his loyalty to scotland'
40
'in the final act, macbeth's anagnorisis reveals his regret...
...knowing he has lost everything to ambition and has been deceived by the witches'
41
androgynous
combining or showing characteristics traditionally associated with both genders
42
'lady macbeth's desire to be androgynous reflects her wish...
..to embrace traits of both strength and ruthlessness'
43
'macbeth's actions become androgynous...
...as he exhibits both aggression and emotional vulnerability'
44
'the witches have androgynous qualities in both...
...their masculine ruthless nature and the physical appearance of having 'beards'.'
45
'malcolm's leadership combines androgynous qualities...
...binding compassion and assertiveness in his bid to reclaim the throne'
46
peripeteia
a sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances
47
'macbeth's peripeteia occurs when he...
...realises his reign is collapsing around him'
48
'macbeth's peripeteia occurs when fleance...
..escapes from the murderers sent by macbeth - macbeth's successes of murder and tyranny have worked until this'
49
'banquo's peripeteia arrives when he realises..
..the prophecy may bring fortune to his descendants, not to him'
50
'the prophecy initiates macbeth's peripeteia...
...transforming him from a nobleman to a desperate tyrant'
51
'lady macbeth's peripeteia, is marked when...
...macbeth has hallucinations at the banquet - she realises then the irreversible mental damage caused'
52
duplicitous
deceptive or dishonest in one's actions or intentions
53
'macbeth's duplicitous nature..
..surfaces as he hides his true intentions from his friends'
54
'malcolm questions whether macduff is duplicitous...
...when he initially suspects his loyalty'
55
'the witches' duplicitous words lead...
...macbeth to believe in a reality that ultimately betrays him.'
56
emasculation
depriving someone of their traditional male role or qualities
57
'lady macbeth emasculates macbeth...
...threatening his sense of identity as both a soldier and man'
58
'macbeth's hesitation to kill duncan...
...suggests momentary emasculation, as he questions his courage'
59
'lady macbeth's taunts are meant to drive macbeth to action...
...by hinting at his emasculation'
60
'lady macbeth uses emasculation as a deceptive tool...
...to coerce macbeth into committing regicide'
61
'malcolm's accusations of emasculation test...
...macduff's loyalty, proving his dedication to scotland'
62
femme fatal
a seductive, manipulative woman who often leads men to their doom
63
'lady macbeth embodies the femme fatal...
...luring macbeth into a deadly plot with promises of power'
64
'the femme fatal in lady macbeth emerges as...
...she manipulates her husband's ambition'
65
'with her deadly ambition, lady macbeth is shakespeare's...
...quintessential femme fatal, guiding macbeth toward ruin'
66
hubris
- excessive pride - overconfidence or arrogance that leads to downfall
67
'macbeth's hubris blinds him to...
...the consequences of his actions, leading to his ruin'
68
'banquo's cautious nature prevents him from...
...falling into the same hubris that consumes macbeth'
69
'macbeth's hubris grows as he...
...places too much faith in the witches' prophecy'

English Literature : Macbeth (43 decks)

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