macbeth kingship Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is the thesis statement of the analysis?
Shakespeare cleverly crafts the themes of kingship, tyranny, and natural order through the moral devolution of Macbeth.
How does Shakespeare contrast Macbeth and Banquo?
By contrasting Macbeth with Banquo, Shakespeare explores the dangers of unchecked ambition and links it to the supernatural.
What is the main argument of Paragraph 1?
Banquo’s moral restraint contrasts Macbeth’s corruption, illustrating the theme of ambition and moral order.
What evidence is used in Paragraph 1?
“Lesser than Macbeth, and greater”
What does the paradox in Paragraph 1 foreshadow?
It foreshadows Banquo’s nobility and Macbeth’s moral downfall.
What is the critical idea presented in Paragraph 1?
Banquo’s ghost, not Duncan’s, haunts Macbeth – symbolising moral consequence and the persistence of rightful legacy.
What is the main argument of Paragraph 2?
Macbeth begins as a loyal subject but becomes a tyrant, showing how ambition corrupts kingship and destroys natural order.
What evidence is used in Paragraph 2?
“Carv’d out his passage”
What does the emotive verb in Paragraph 2 suggest?
It presents Macbeth as heroic, but also foreshadows his carving a violent path to kingship.
What is the contrast highlighted in Paragraph 2?
Macbeth kills traitors early on but becomes one himself.
What context is provided in Paragraph 2?
Regicide was a sin against God; Macbeth’s actions violate the Divine Right of Kings.
What is the main argument of Paragraph 3?
Macbeth’s kingship becomes tyrannical, and Shakespeare shows how illegitimate power brings suffering to all – including the tyrant.
What evidence is used in Paragraph 3?
“The usurper’s cursed head”
What does the motif of heads in Paragraph 3 symbolize?
It mirrors Macbeth’s moral inversion – from hero to villain.
What context is provided in Paragraph 3?
Cautionary tale for rebellious nobles; supports the idea of God-ordained monarchy.
What is the main argument of Paragraph 4?
The supernatural acts as a corrupting force that tempts Macbeth, representing chaos and disorder in the natural and political worlds.
What evidence is used in Paragraph 4?
“Supernatural soliciting”; “why hath it given me earnest of success”
What literary devices are used in Paragraph 4?
Sibilance and rhetorical questions show inner turmoil and evil influence.
What context is provided in Paragraph 4?
King James I wrote Daemonologie; audience feared witchcraft.
What is restated in the conclusion?
Shakespeare explores kingship and tyranny through Macbeth’s tragic fall, contrasting it with Banquo’s virtue.
What is the purpose of the analysis?
To caution the audience about the dangers of disrupting natural order and to flatter King James I.
