Witches Act 1

Question 1

“Fair is ___ and ___ is fair”

Act 1 Scene 1

Answer 1

“Fair is foul and foul is fair” - chiasmus, creates the idea that not everything is as it seems, Appearance vs Reality.

Also adds to the sense of confusion and choas the witches bring which eventually leads to Macbeth’s downfall

Question 2

“So ____ and so ____ in their attire”

Act 1 Scene 3

Answer 2

“So withered and so wild in their attire” - alliterative ‘w’ sound, hard to pronouce so symbolises the ambiguity of the witches’ gender or if they are human, builds tension

For a Jacobean audience, this would conform to their perception of witchcraft and therefore be fearful of the witches.

Question 3

“The instruments of ____ tell us truths”

Answer 3

“The instruments of darkness tell us truths” goes onto become a paradox, represents how easily humans can be manipulated and led astray by small truths. Even Banquo, a morally righteous construct doubts his logic, and by presenting this idea, Shakespeare accentuates the potency of the supernatural and ambition.

Question 4

“The ____ sisters”

Act 1 Scene 3

Answer 4

“The weïrd sisters” - mythological allusion, the witches are sisters of Fate, casts doubt to whether or not it was completely Mabeth’s fault for his downfall or if he was predestined to.

Their fate is an opposition to the fate provided by God, contextual