Macbeth

when did shakespeare write macbeth? 1606
who was king at the time Macbeth was written? James I
who is Macbeth’s foil? why? Banquo, because both men have ambitions to rule, but macbeth acts on it and Banquo does not
who is Lady Macbeth’s foil? why? Lady Macduff, because she is very protective of her son and has motherly instincts, unlike lady macbeth. also, lady Macduff cares for the welfare of Scottland, but Lady Macbeth really doesn’t care that killing a king will be bad for Scottland.
who is Banquo? The brave, noble general whose children, according to the witches’ prophecy, will inherit the Scottish throne. Like Macbeth, Banquo thinks ambitious thoughts, but he does not translate those thoughts into action.
who is King Duncan? The good King of Scotland whom Macbeth, in his ambition for the crown, murders.
who is Macduff? A Scottish nobleman hostile to Macbeth’s kingship from the start. He eventually becomes a leader of the crusade to unseat Macbeth.
who is Malcom? The son of Duncan, whose restoration to the throne signals Scotland’s return to order following Macbeth’s reign of terror.
who is Fleance? Banquo’s son, who survives Macbeth’s attempt to murder him
who is the Porter? The drunken doorman of Macbeth’s castle.
who is Lady Macduff? the scene in her castle provides our only glimpse of a domestic realm other than that of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. She and her home serve as contrasts to Lady Macbeth and the hellish world of Inverness.
what are the motifs in Macbeth? heaven vs. hell, birds (owls), eyes, harvest, blood
what are some themes in Macbeth? gender roles, illness v. wellness, appearance v. reality, ambition
what is the difference between elizabethan (shakespearean) tragedy and Greek tragedy? in Greek tragedies, murders and fights had to be offstage, using only sound. In Elizabethan, you could have anyone “die” on stage. While Elizabethan plays can be a direct criticism of government officials, Greek tragedy tends to be more subtle.
what happens in Macbeth’s character arc throughout the play? By the end of the play, Macbeth has changed from an honorable but ambitious general into a monstrous, unfeeling tyrant.
what happens to Lady Macbeth’s character arc throughout the play? Lady Macbeth changes from ambitious and cunning to weak and guilt-wracked
With whom are the Scots at war at the beginning of the play? Norway
Which nation’s army invades Scotland at the end of the play? England
Who discovers Duncan’s body? Macduff
Which of the following best describes Lady Macbeth’s death? She dies offstage
Whom does Lady Macbeth frame for the murder of Duncan? Duncan’s drunken chamberlains
who kills Donalbain? no one
Where are scottish kings crowned? scone
Why is Macduff able to kill Macbeth despite the witches’ prophecy? he was born by cesarian section
What was the weather like the night Duncan was murdered? stormy and violent
who is the tragic hero in Antigone and why? Creon is the tragic hero because his human flaws and emotions such as pride and arrogance lead to his ultimate downfall
September 1, 2019