The Witches

Question 1

The Witches
All quotes

Answer 1

‘fair is foul, and foul is fair’
‘Thane of Glamis’
‘Thane of Cawdor’
‘King, hereafter’
‘lesser than Macbeth, and greater’
‘none of woman born/ Shall harm Macbeth’

Question 2

The Witches
1st point and quotations

Answer 2

Powerful, open the play dramatically, number three, inverse holy trinity, dominating ‘fair is foul, and foul is fair’ catalectic trochaic tetrameter, incantatory effect, paradoxical lang, determination to corrupt all good into evil

Question 3

The Witches
2nd point and quotations

Answer 3

Omniscient, revel first prediction ‘Thane of Glamis’ gains Macbeth’s trust in order to manipulate him, ‘Thane of Cawdor’ realistic, audience watch it become true, knowledgeable ‘King, hereafter’ climactic revelation, root cause of Macbeth’s ambition, said in choral speech, unease at supernatural

Question 4

The Witches
3rd point and quotations

Answer 4

Show delight in taunting Macbeth, tell Banquo will be ‘lesser than Macbeth and greater’ equivocating statements, obscure truth, catalysts for Macbeth’s paranoia, vanish, showing supernatural powers, sinful in Jacobean era

Question 5

The Witches
4th point and quotations

Answer 5

Malevolent, ensure there is suffering, three apparitions, second says ‘no man of woman born/Shall harm Macbeth’ cunning, feed Macbeth’s ambition, forebodes revelation of Macduff being ‘untimely ripped’

Question 6

The Witches
5th point and quotations

Answer 6

Lack of finality, never see them again, no justice is brought, uncomfortable, still undefeated, eerie