context

• During whose reign was Macbeth written?

  James I
• What era is known as the time under James I?

  Jacobean era
• Why did Shakespeare write Macbeth during James I's reign?

  To flatter the new king
• When did James I succeed Elizabeth I?

  1603
• Why is Macbeth set in Scotland?

  James I was King of Scotland
• Who did James I believe he was descended from?

  A medieval thane called Banquo
• How does Shakespeare portray Banquo in Macbeth?

  As brave, loyal, and conscientious
• What was James I's aim as king regarding the nations?

  To unify England, Scotland, and Ireland
• How is Malcolm depicted in Macbeth?

  As a unifying and rightful king
• What was the most serious plot against James I?

  The Gunpowder Plot of 1605
• What do the plots against James I represent in Macbeth?

  Acts of treason with severe consequences
• What happens to characters who commit treason in Macbeth?

  They face terrible consequences
• What does Shakespeare warn potential traitors about in Macbeth?

  They will suffer eternal consequences
• What is the title of James I's book on kingship?

  Basilikon Doron
• What is the Divine Right of Kings?

  Belief that kings are chosen by God
• What are the religious consequences of overthrowing a king?

  It leads to severe punishment in the afterlife
• How does Macbeth address the theme of the afterlife?

  It suggests dire consequences for regicide
• What was the belief about witches in Jacobean England?

  They were seen as slaves of Satan
• What did James I do regarding witch trials?

  He attended and supervised them
• What is the title of James I's book on witchcraft?

  Daemonologie
• How does Shakespeare incorporate witches in Macbeth?

  He features three "weird sisters"
• How many scenes featuring witches are in Macbeth?

  Four separate scenes
• What do the witches do in Macbeth?

  They plot evil acts against men
• How does the presence of witches affect Macbeth?

  They tempt him towards evil
• What was the punishment for being associated with witches during James I's reign?

  Death penalty
• How does Macbeth's character relate to the witches?

  He is tempted by their evil
• What does Shakespeare suggest about women who subvert gender roles?

  They face negative consequences
• What were women expected to be in Jacobean England?

  Subordinate, dutiful, and nurturing
• How does Lady Macbeth challenge gender expectations?

  She seeks control over her husband
• What does Shakespeare imply about Macbeth's mental state?

  It reflects moral weakness
• What is the Great Chain of Being?

  A hierarchy asserting God's authority
• What happens when the Great Chain of Being is broken?

  It brings disorder to the world
• How does Lady Macbeth's invocation of spirits appear to Jacobean audiences?

  As blasphemous and shocking
• What does regicide symbolize in Macbeth?

  A mortal sin leading to Hell
• How do the witches relate to the moral order in Macbeth?

  They represent temptation and evil
• What does Shakespeare suggest about characters acting outside their status?

  It disrupts the natural order
• What are the gender roles and expectations in Jacobean England?

  • Women lacked agency and control
  • Expected to be subordinate, dutiful, and nurturing
  • Men expected to be dominant, superior, and noble
• How does Shakespeare explore the themes of power and ambition in Macbeth?

  • Lady Macbeth's ambition challenges gender norms
  • Macbeth's ambition leads to moral decline
  • The witches symbolize temptation and evil
• What are the consequences of breaking the Great Chain of Being in Macbeth?

  • Disorder in the world
  • Moral and spiritual consequences
  • Regicide leads to Hell
• How does Shakespeare integrate context into the themes of Macbeth?

  • Contextual factors linked to themes
  • Jacobean expectations of gender roles
  • Beliefs about witchcraft and divine right