Context

• Who is England's most famous playwright?

  William Shakespeare
• What years did Shakespeare live?

  1564 – 1616
• How can Shakespeare's plays be categorized?

  Histories, Comedies, and Tragedies
• For which acting group did Shakespeare primarily write?

  The Lord Chamberlain’s Men
• What significant change occurred to Shakespeare's acting group in 1603?

  They became known as the King's Men
• What period was Shakespeare writing during?

  The Renaissance
• What was the Renaissance known for?

  Expansion of artistic expression
• What genre is Macbeth classified as?

  Dramatic tragedy
• What is the classic structure of a tragedy?

  Five-act structure
• Who acts as catalysts for the events in Macbeth?

  The witches
• What does the term 'Hamartia' mean?

  Fatal flaw
• What is Macbeth's hamartia?

  His ambition and lust for power
• What does 'Catharsis' refer to in tragedy?

  Purging of emotions through pity and fear
• How does Macbeth's story lead to catharsis?

  His self-destructive actions lead to pity
• What is the original source of the story of Macbeth?

  Holinshed's Chronicles
• What type of document is Holinshed's Chronicles?

  A historical document
• What artistic liberties did Shakespeare take with Macbeth?

  To enhance the plot and political relevance
• What are the three main changes Shakespeare made from Holinshed's Chronicles in Macbeth?

  1. Macbeth is portrayed as cruel and tyrannical.
  2. The witches are simplified from 'goddesses of destiny' to witches.
  3. Banquo is depicted as an honorable man, not an accomplice.
• Why did Shakespeare characterize Macbeth as cruel?

  To support the belief in the Divine Right of Kings
• What was the Jacobean era known for?

  Uncertainty and tension in politics
• Who was King James I's mother?

  Mary, Queen of Scots
• What significant event happened to James I's mother?

  She was executed by Queen Elizabeth I
• What was King James I's relationship with Elizabeth I?

  He made an alliance with her
• What book did King James I write about witchcraft?

  Daemonologie
• What did King James I believe about witchcraft?

  It was an act of Satan
• What was the purpose of Daemonologie?

  To provide evidence and justify witch hunts
• How many parts is Daemonologie divided into?

  Three parts
• What are the three parts of Daemonologie?

  1. Magic and necromancy
  2. Witchcraft and sorcery
  3. Spirits and spectres
• What happened to witchcraft trials after James published Daemonologie?

  They increased significantly in Scotland
• What did the 1604 act regarding witchcraft entail?

  Made witchcraft a felony punishable by death
• What did James I believe about his role in witch hunts?

  He had a supernatural duty to complete them
• What event led James I to launch a witch hunt in North Berwick?

  His journey to meet Anne of Denmark
• How many suspects were rounded up during the North Berwick witch hunt?

  70 suspects
• What misogynistic belief did James I hold regarding witches?

  Only women could be witches
• What biblical story did James I reference to support his views on women and witchcraft?

  The story of Adam and Eve
• How does witchcraft play a role in Macbeth?

  It provides a basis for the play's events
• What does the line ‘Though his bark cannot be lost/Yet it shall be tempest-tossed’ reference?

  The storm James experienced on his journey
• What warning does Macbeth provide regarding witchcraft?

  It is a sin against God and the state
• How is Lady Macbeth sometimes viewed in relation to the witches?

  As the fourth witch due to her ambition
• What societal view did women in power face during the Jacobean era?

  They were often accused of witchcraft