AQA English Literature: EVERYTHING Flashcards
(21 cards)
What atmosphere does Macbeth establish at the beginning of the play?
A dark and ominous atmosphere, establishing themes of fate, ambition, and deception.
What is pathetic fallacy?
The attribution of human feelings and responses to inanimate things or animals, especially in art and literature.
What do the witches chant in Act 1, Scene 1?
‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air.’
This quote warns the audience that appearances can be deceiving.
How is Macbeth introduced in Act 1, Scene 2?
As a valiant and celebrated soldier fighting for King Duncan, mercilessly defeating the Norwegian army.
What prophecies do the witches deliver to Macbeth and Banquo in Act 1, Scene 3?
Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland; Banquo’s descendants will be kings.
What effect does the witches’ first prophecy have on Macbeth?
It deeply affects him, sparking ambition and planting the seed of regicide in his mind.
What does Lady Macbeth resolve to do after reading Macbeth’s letter?
She resolves to help Macbeth become king and fears he is too kind to take necessary actions.
What does Lady Macbeth mean by ‘chastise [Macbeth] with the valor of [her] tongue’?
She will manipulate him with her words.
What does Lady Macbeth call upon when she sees an opportunity to seize the throne?
Evil spirits to ‘unsex me here,’ asking to be stripped of her feminine qualities.
What does Lady Macbeth urge Macbeth to do regarding their intentions?
To appear innocent while concealing their murderous intentions: ‘Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.’
What hallucination does Macbeth experience in Act 2, Scene 1?
He hallucinates a dagger symbolizing Duncan’s death.
What happens after Macbeth kills Duncan?
He returns with the daggers, and Lady Macbeth berates him for not leaving them at the scene.
What do Duncan’s sons do after discovering their father’s death?
They flee to England and Ireland, respectively, positioning Macbeth as the new king.
What does Banquo suspect about Macbeth’s rise to power?
He suspects foul play, recalling the witches’ prophecies.
What does Macbeth do to eliminate the threat posed by Banquo?
He hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance.
What new prophecies do the witches present to Macbeth in Act 4?
‘No man born of a woman can harm you,’ ‘Beware Macduff,’ and ‘Until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane.’
What does Macbeth do despite the witches’ prophecies?
He hires murderers to kill Macduff and his family.
What is Lady Macbeth’s state in Act 5?
She is consumed by guilt and descends into madness, obsessively washing her hands.
What realization does Macbeth have after Lady Macbeth’s death?
He reflects on life as a ‘brief candle,’ hinting at a moment of regret.
How does Macbeth’s encounter with Macduff end?
Macduff reveals he was ‘ripped’ from his mother’s womb, defeating and killing Macbeth.
What does Banquo’s warning summarize about the play?
‘The instruments of darkness tell us truths only to betray us in deepest consequence.’
