MB Act 1 Scene 3 Flashcards
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What is Dramatic Irony?
It is when the audience knows something which characters in the play do not.
What is the effect of dramatic irony? [2 marks]
To make the audience more involved. It can create suspense, humour, sympathy and dread
What is oxymoron?
Where two contradictory or antithetical words are placed together for effect eg: ‘The play was awfully good’.
How are the witches presented as evil in this scene? [4 marks]
- They are killing pigs
- Torturing someone’s husband
- Insulting the woman who won’t give them any nuts (‘rump-fed’).
- The thunder represents evil
What is significant about MacBeth’s first line in the play?
It echoes ‘fair is foul and foul is fair’, referencing a paradox.
How is the theme of masculinity shown in this scene through the witches? [3 marks]
- They are described as very strange, having beards, yet they should be women
- By referencing masculine attributes, he may be implying that they lack feminine attributes of nurture and kindness,
- This may be foreshadowing Lady MacBeth’s transformation in A1, S5
What do Banquo’s words reveal about MacBeth’s reaction?
He is scared, in disbelief and confused about what the witches have just told him
Why is it important that Banquo will father a line of kings, but he will not be king himself?
It means that MacBeth will rise to the highest office in the land, but will not father a royal line.
Give the quote which shows that MacBeth rejects the prophecy. What does it show?
Quote- ‘stands not within the prospect of belief’
It shows that he is aware of the great chain of being, he knows that even believing he might become king is transgressive. However, he feels the same about ‘Cawdor’, which the is the title the audience know he is going to get soon.
How does Banquo react to the prophecy? Use a quote
Banquo shows scepticism about the source of the prophecy. He uses questions like: ‘What, can the devil speak true?’
What does the quote ‘What, can the devil speak true’ reveal about Banquo’s character?
-Banquo believes that it is the work of the devil.
- He is morally better than MacBeth
-He is more cautious
Whats is MacBeth’s hamartia (fatal flaw)?
Ambition
How is MacBeth’s hamartia starting to show?
He has been informed he has the first two titles, as mentioned in the prophecy, so he is thinking about the third (king). His ambition is starting to consume him.
What does echo with MacBeth’s first line to the witches line ‘fair is foul and foul is fair’ suggest about MacBeth? [2 marks]
- He is connected to the witches
- Reminding the audience not to trust people
What three things do the witches tell Banquo? [3 marks]
- He will not be king, but will father kings: ‘Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none’
- He will be greater than MacBeth but lesser: ‘Lesser than MacBeth and greater’
- He will be not so happy, yet much happier: ‘Not so happy, yet much happier’
