Macbeth Terminology

Question 1

Tragic Hero

Answer 1

A character who experiences a downfall due to a personal flaw, often leading to a catastrophic ending.

Question 2

Hero

Answer 2

An ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances who typically prevails against the odds.

Question 3

Antihero

Answer 3

A central character who lacks conventional heroic attributes and may embody morally ambiguous qualities.

Question 4

Catharsis

Answer 4

The emotional release or purging that occurs in the audience as a result of experiencing tragedy.

Question 5

Dramatic Tragedy

Answer 5

A serious play where the protagonist faces misfortunes due to a character flaw, leading to a devastating outcome.

Question 6

Traditional Structure of Trajedy

Answer 6

Five acts, consisting of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Question 7

Foil

Answer 7

A character who contrasts with another character, often the protagonist, to highlight particular qualities.

Question 8

What type of play is Macbeth?

Answer 8

A dramatic tragedy.

Question 9

Pathos

Answer 9

A quality that evokes pity or sadness, often used in tragedies to connect with the audience. An appeal to emotions

Question 10

Villain

Answer 10

A character who opposes the hero and embodies the struggle against which the hero must prevail.

Question 11

Misfortune

Answer 11

A series of unfortunate events that lead to the protagonist’s downfall in a tragedy.

Question 12

Crisis

Answer 12

A turning point in the narrative where the main character faces a significant challenge or decision.

Question 13

Exposition

Answer 13

The introduction of background information, characters, and setting in the first act of a play.

Question 14

Climax

Answer 14

The peak of the story’s conflict, typically occurring in the third act of a tragedy.

Question 15

Resolution

Answer 15

The conclusion of the play where the conflicts are resolved, often leading to the protagonist’s demise.

Question 16

Hamartia

Answer 16

The trait of the hero that ultimately causes them to make a fatal mistake.

Question 17

Hubris

Answer 17

Extreme pride or self-confidence that often leads to a loss of contact with reality.

Question 18

Peripeteia

Answer 18

A reversal of circumstances or turning point in a narrative.

Question 19

Anagnorisis

Answer 19

A remarkable discovery that produces a change from ignorance to knowledge.

Question 20

Fatal Flaw

Answer 20

A character’s tragic or fatal mistake that leads to their downfall.

Question 21

Nemesis

Answer 21

The inevitable punishment or downfall that befalls a tragic hero as a result of their actions.

Question 22

Tragedy

Answer 22

A genre of literature that involves serious themes and often ends in disaster for the protagonist.

Question 23

Lady Macbeth

Answer 23

Macbeth’s wife, whose manipulation and ambition contribute to his moral decline.

Question 24

Witches’ Prophecies

Answer 24

Supernatural predictions that spark Macbeth’s ambition and lead to his downfall.

Question 25

Emotional Tension

Answer 25

The psychological strain that can be relieved through experiences such as tragedy.

Question 26

Ambition

Answer 26

A strong desire to achieve something, often leading to moral compromise in characters like Macbeth.

Question 27

Recognition Scene

Answer 27

A dramatic moment in a narrative where a character discovers a crucial truth.

Question 28

Cleansing

Answer 28

The process of emotional release, often associated with the concept of catharsis.

Question 29

Fatal Death

Answer 29

A death that has significant emotional impact on the audience, as seen in Romeo and Juliet.

Question 30

Character Degeneration

Answer 30

The decline of a character's moral integrity and nobility over the course of a narrative.

Question 31

King Duncan

Answer 31

The king of Scotland who is murdered by Macbeth.

Question 32

Witches

Answer 32

Supernatural beings who prophesy Macbeth's rise to power.

Question 33

The feeling Macbeth experiences after committing murder.

Answer 33

Regret

Question 34

Fatal emotions exhibited by Macbeth

Answer 34

Greed, Violence, Ambition, Superstition, Gullibility

Question 35

Character Change

Answer 35

The transformation of Macbeth from a noble soldier to a tyrant.

Question 36

Influence

Answer 36

The capacity to have an effect on the character or behavior of someone.

Question 37

Downfall

Answer 37

The loss of power, prosperity, or status, culminating in Macbeth's death.

Question 38

Assassination

Answer 38

The act of murdering a prominent person, such as King Duncan.

Question 39

Glimmer of Goodness

Answer 39

A hint of the character's former virtuous self, often seen before their death.

Question 40

Tragic hero

Answer 40

A character of noble stature who has a tragic flaw that leads to their downfall.

Question 41

Tyrant

Answer 41

A cruel and oppressive ruler.

Question 42

Noble stature

Answer 42

A high social position or rank, often associated with greatness.

Question 43

Reversal of fortune

Answer 43

A significant change in circumstances, often from good to bad.

Question 44

Emotions evoked in the audience during a tragedy, leading to catharsis.

Answer 44

Pity and fear

Question 45

Proxemics

Answer 45

Placement of people on stage | Dramatic Technique