Macbeth Flashcards
(58 cards)
Structure
Act 1 > Introduces characters and themes, ends with a dramatic catalyst (an event or moment that speeds up the plot).
Act 2,3,4 > Plot progresses, emotions, reactions and chains of events are established as a result of the dramatic catalyst.
Act 5 > Resolution
Greek tragedies explore the human condition.
Macbeth, a traffic hero, is overcome by his inner flaw: “vaulting ambition” which is obsessive and the drive of the plot.
Blank verse
10 syllables per line (looks like a poem)
Used by smart, or upper class characters
Shows confidence, calm feeling - thought things through
Does not rhyme
Heroic couplet
2 rhyming 10 syllable pines
Makes important or wise saying memorable, emphasises the point.
Dramatic Prose
Sentences, like a normal book
Characters - poor, uneducated OR high characters that are emotionally unstable, under extreme emotion
Witches
Seen as pawns of the devils represent the evil on earth and meet on in darkness which symbolises their malevolence and secrecy.
Motif
Bloody hands - constant repeated symbol within the text, highlights the guilt that is haunting her and physical symbol of sin
“Thunder and lightning”
(A1S1)
Opens the play with pathetic fallacy which personifies the weather, reflecting the mood or atmosphere - which is angry, rage, negative and dark; a sense of fear, danger and evil being created.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”
(A1S1)
Repetition and alliteration used enhances its affect, making it have a more dramatic impact.
Juxtaposing ideas (Antithetical ideas) introduces the theme of duplicity (hidden, secret plans) making the play deceptive and the reader confused on what to believe.
“Unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops”
(A1S1)
Shows Macbeth to be fierce, courageous and brave.
His actions are shown to be honourable, fighting for his king.
Text only reveals the noble deeds of Macbeth, making the turn of events with Macbeth’s mentality even more shocking and dramatic.
“Brave Macbeth”
(A1S2)
From Banquo, highlights how Macbeth was initially perceived; to be heroic on the physical battlefield and of a strong nature. Also enhanced by “noble” (Link, another reference from Banquo - A1S3). The term “noble” is also repeated by Lady M after Macbeth murders Duncan, this highlights the tragic process of Macbeth and links to what he used to be.
“With his brandished steel”
(A1S2) Represents his class and wealth - his status (monetary and reputation), as well as his strength and power through the "steel" - which is a metaphor for sword, personified.
“Smoked with bloody execution”
(A1S2)
Violent imagery.
“Smoked” creates a dark undertone, with a ghostly feel which shows close relation and links in with the supernatural idea of the witches.
“Bloody execution” shows Macbeth to be dangerous and a martyr to his king, as he is doing it for patriotic reasons - which is seen as noble and honourable. However, it also highlights the murderous side of him, which is his fatal flaw and evokes him to be familiar with death that inflicts his power to take a life with intention, making the scene more evil.
“Valour’s minion”
(A1S2)
This portrays Macbeth to act on command, out of his courage and bravery. It shows I’m to be the definition of courage: however, “minion” shows him more to be a slave to it, with lack of power and demeans him and his power.
“Eagle”
(A1S2)
Noun, birds seen as predators, majestic creatures that fly from height and are strong, powerful with keen visions, astute and calculating.
This would convey Macbeth to be a powerful man to a viewer in the Jacobean audience that is highly recognised.
“Lion”
(A1S2)
Noun, a dominating creature that is superior in physical strength - leaders, dictators and extremely loyal.
How Macbeth is represented by a trusted audience, the captain, shows how Shakespeare crafted the creation of Macbeth’s character to present him as a high and mighty character.
“They dance in a ring”
(A1S3)
Stage direction of the witches, it is metaphorical and shows the indication that things are going downhill.
“The witches vanish”
(A1S3)
Stage direction, metaphorical for Macbeth’s nobility, honesty, loyalty, integrity vanishing too. Also could be metaphorical for the seed already being sown as the witches have appealed to Macbeth’s greed.
“Instruments of darkness”
(A1S3)
Banquo referring to the witches.
“Instruments” - noun, shows the witches to be used and played by the devil as his pawns, as the devil is evil himself. However, the word could be juxtaposing the “darkness” because instruments are used to produce music which has connotations of happiness and life.
“To win us our harm”
(A1S3)
“Win” -verb, shows Banquo’s perception that the witches have intent to fight for their “harm” and to be a ploy.
“Harm” -noun, signifies warning and the idea that they’re putting themselves in the position to endure harm, indicating their self destruction and actions to send themselves to their own doom
“Cannot be ill; cannot be good”
(A1S3)
Highlights Macbeth’s internal conflict and gives a reassuring tone that signifies Macbeth trying to convince himself.
“Ill” shows Macbeth perusing his greed, and with the “good” infers that he thinks it is for the better - however it is an evil deed.
“Two truths are told”
(A1S3)
Macbeth dramatises the encounter, and shows Macbeth to have fallen for their proposition as he labels their tellings as “truths”, indicating he believes them to be true and showing the first sign of his overwhelming greed that ends with his downfall.
This is a contest to Banquo’s sight of it - as he labelled the witches previously as “instruments of darkness”
“The service and the loyalty I owe”
(A1S4)
Macbeth to King Duncan, shows his character to be deceptive and ironic as Macbeth does owe him, but he doesn’t play to give it.
Shows him as persuasive and deceitful.
“Stars hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires”
(A1S4)
“Stars” and “light” is metaphorical for God and symbolises good and purity, which juxtaposes “black” and evil - which symbolises the devil and Macbeth’s own dark intentions that he hides “deep” down. “Deep” also highlights his internal battle and the secrecy he is hiding.
“Desires” show his fatal flaw of greed and his sinful nature.
“Perfect’st”
(A1S5)
Macbeth’s reference to the witches’ prophecy, which shows him to be full of faith and trust in the supernatural.
