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English Literature > Quote Analysis Macbeth > Flashcards

Quote Analysis Macbeth Flashcards

1
Q

In thunder lightning or in rain

A

Pathetic fallacy- ominous, chaos, reflects negative stigma of supernatural, immediately creates them as evil

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2
Q

When the battles lost, and won

A

Caesura suggests that some strange food will come of the death
Foreboding
In the witches own interest
Bad things will come of it

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3
Q

Set of sun

A

Metaphor- death of Duncan (dusk), Macbeth’s tyranny (night), Fleance and James (day)
Darker end is coming
Foreshadowing tragedy and danger

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4
Q

Fair is foul and foul is fair

A

Recurring paradox
Sense of uncertainty- equivocation
Speaking their own language
Duncan death= foul to LM+M death=fair
Prophecy

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5
Q

Swarm upon him

A

Enemy is described with insect imagery
Macbeth is left from this
Nothing can tarnish his image
Enemy is feeble compared to Macbeth

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6
Q

Yes as sparrows eagles or the hare the lion

A

Are not afraid
Happy to die for their king- loyal
They have natural superiority to the enemy
Predatory- huge power

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7
Q

Memorise another Golgotha

A

Christ’s crucifixion- huge sacrifice and blood
Loyalty to their King
Macbeth’s blood thirst foreshadows his tyranny

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8
Q

Bloody man

A

Duncan opens with a joke
Contemporary audience would not laugh at King
Duncan doesn’t mind
Perfect king

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9
Q

Valour’s minion

A

Follower of personified courage
Introduces Macbeth as pure and good
Sounds strong
Makes downfall harder for the audience

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10
Q

Smoked with bloody execution

A

Violent graphic imagery
Warrior culture of 11th century
Humbleness- Macbeth doesn’t advertise himself
Patriotic

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11
Q

Belladonnas bridegroom

A

Roman God of war- warrior incarnate
Foreshadows the future
Macbeth can do no wrong
Winning and losing are irrevocably tied

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12
Q

If you look into the seeds of time

A

Banquo is suspicious of the supernatural
Foil to Macbeth- he is intrigued
Was the prophecy fate or free will
Macbeth was evil and murdered Duncan
Banquo was virtuous- waiting was good, but he could have issued a warning
Instead he analyses his position in a soliloquy

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13
Q

If you look into the seeds of time

A

Banquo is suspicious of the supernatural
Foil to Macbeth- he is intrigued
Was the prophecy fate or free will
Macbeth was evil and murdered Duncan
Banquo was virtuous- waiting was good, but he could have issued a warning
Instead he analyses his position in a soliloquy

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14
Q

The Earth hath bubbles as the water has

A

Create a sense of foreboding and the supernatural
These occurrences only happen around the witches
Earth doesn’t bubble- sense of the supernatural
Witches can manipulate the earth
Fearful reaction in audience

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15
Q

So foul and fair a day I have not seen

A

Immediately links Macbeth to the witches
At best, he may have a vulnerability
At worst, he may have a natural affinity with them

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16
Q

Would they have stay’d

A

Macbeth is bothered that the witches have gone at all
Wants to learn more about the prophecies- foreshadows his character downfall
More concerned about the content of the prophecies than if the witches are real- first sign of his ambition

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17
Q

Why do you dress me in borrowed robes

A

Clothes are a motif throughout
Dramatic irony- we know, but it also foreshadows that he will be king as well- maybe undeserved
Realisation that he could be king
Beginning of downward spiral
Transition from virtuous to evil
Internal conflict- wait or act

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18
Q

Why do you dress me in borrowed robes

A

Clothes are a motif throughout
Dramatic irony- we know, but it also foreshadows that he will be king as well- maybe undeserved
Realisation that he could be king
Beginning of downward spiral
Transition from virtuous to evil
Internal conflict- wait or act

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19
Q

What! Can the devil speak true?

A

Witches are seen as truly evil by Banquo
Were thought to be incarnations of the devil
Burnt- semantic field of hell
Evil intentions, but truth is virtuous- another paradox

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20
Q

Instruments of darkness

A

Paradox of beauty and evil
Suggests that they work for the devil
Ominous feeling about the witches
Instils fear
Foil of Banquo and Macbeth
Macbeth is tempted and becomes an instrument of their evil

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21
Q

Nor must be known no less

A

Creates Banquo as a foil
Both start on an equal level- it is their actions that differ them

22
Q

Prince of Cumberland, that is a step on which I must fall down or else over leap

A

We fear for the prince
Introduces Macbeths ambition- Malcolm is in the way of the throne
Dramatic irony that creates tension

23
Q

Stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires

A

Metaphor
Stars represent god or heaven
Fears judgement- still wants salvation
Black- connotations of evil
Macbeths desparateness to be king- betrayal against god, ambition above his station
Divine Right of Kings
Doesn’t want to see his own villainy

24
Q

The service and loyalty I owe, in doing it, pays itself

A

Flattering King Duncan
Trying to throw suspicion off of himself
Dramatic irony, reward is kingship
Macbeth is being sycophantic

25
It is too full of the milk of human kindness
Macbeth is too loyal to kill Duncan Milk, purity, white, weakness, femininity- gender role LM first words are evil
26
Art not without ambition, but without the illness
Ambition was looked down upon He is not noble Macbeth doesn’t have the necessary evil LM does- she is already plotting
27
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear
Direct parallel between LM and the witches Connotations of evil Manipulation Audience immediately know her intentions Verbal power of women, no physical- she cannot commit the act
28
The raven himself is hoarse
Compares attendant to bird of ill omen Found on battlefield eating carrion The castle is the next battlefield- where Duncan will die
29
Unsex me here… and take my milk for gall
Links to stereotypes of Jacobean era Manhood is murder Theme of masculinity Relationship between masculinity and violence- warrior culture Milk is purity and femininity Her womanhood- normally symbols of nurture, stops her from being violent- a masculine trait
30
Leave all the rest to me
LM takes responsibility for planning the murder Subverts stereotypes M is presented as feminine- rational LM as masculine- emotional
31
My dearest partner of greatness
M sees LM as an equal Subvert stereotypes LM is not subservient Odd way of referring to wife to contemporary audience
32
His great love, sharp as his spur
Love is as sharp as his knife Dramatic irony LM is obsessed with gain of power Ambition
33
We’d jump the life to come
Macbeth realises he is going too far Metaphor for someone trying to jump a large river Use of royal plural Ambition, power
34
Bloody instructions… return to plague the inventor
Aware of how murder would open door to a sinful world Dark imagery Eye for an eye M is afraid Foreshadows his haunting and death
35
Tears shall drown the wind
Demonstrates Duncan’s greatness Hyperbole for public pain People will truly miss Duncan- he is a good king, no reason for him to die
36
Vaulting ambition
M harmitia Typical convention of Greek tragedy Understands his ambition has gone too far Back to jump the life to come His downfall- unchecked ambition- context of Gunpowder Insufficient justification
37
Was the hope drunk, wherein you dressed yourself
Mocking M, questioning faithfulness and if he is trustworthy Gave the appearance he would go through with this plan Implying he is a coward Regrets his ambition- hangover, boastfulness is drunkenness Dressed- clothes motif, how you present yourself to the world
38
Bring forth men children only
LM is so full of determination and violence Must be expressed through male child- she cannot show it Inappropriate for her to act that way M is aware of her power and subverting stereotypes
39
Their candles are all out
Links to ‘stars hide your fires’ Dark setting- evil will begin Foreshadows something dark M desires with be fulfilled
40
I think not of them
M lies to B Hide ambition and supernatural connection B is honest, but dismisses his ambition, making him a foil to M Please king + audience
41
Is this a dagger which I see before me
Ambiguous - is this a torment by the witches Supernatural signs of guilt Reminder to kill D M stress and fear Subconscious telling him to commit deed? W create fear in audience Fate vs free will Women + supernatural have power over a high ranking male, fear in audience
42
Tarquins ravishing strides
M is comparing himself to a Roman tyrant that operated in darkness Parallels between two villains M knows the magnitude of his deeds + that they are evil
43
It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman
Ill omen Motif of birds and animals Ms are no longer human, beastial imagery
44
Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I’d have done it
LM now conforms to stereotypes LM is dependant on M She is emotional Her power + bravery is decreasing
45
I could not say amen
M is a devout Christian Breaks Great Chain of Being No longer good and undeserving of heaven Regretful of his actions Cannot be forgiven by God
46
Sleep no more, Macbeth does murder sleep
Words from the witches- enjoying his torment Punishment for sailor was lack of sleep- torturous M has ruined innocence and safety Broken xenia
47
My hands are of your colour, but I shame to wear a heart so white
LM is as guilty as M, but doesn’t feel it Bloodless, innocent, immature Wishes she had committed the deed M should be ashamed of himself
48
If a man were porter of hell gate, he would have old turning the key
Comedic respite M porter Opens the door to hell for M D is dead Lots of evil in the castle
49
A falcon towering in her pride of place, was by a mousing owl hawked and killed
Motif of birds Falcon = D- great king Imagery of death M= owl, metaphor Lower in food chain, unnatural death Microcosmic affects of regicide God has lashed out from GCOB Shakespeare is dissuading the audience from ambition- unforgiven by God
50
But hush, no more
B as a foil to M Discards thoughts of disloyalty and acting in the witches interests Please J No ambition Fate or free will No action- future is foretold M had to irk for nobility- B fate and M free will
51
In his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared
B has an overpowering natural nobility Appease J Foil to M Loyalty is nobility M feels unsafe and threatened by B Knows that B deserves the crown

English Literature (8 decks)

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