Context

• Who is England's most famous playwright?

  William Shakespeare
• What years did Shakespeare live?

  1564 – 1616
• What are the three main categories of Shakespeare's plays?

  • Histories (e.g. Henry VI)
  • Comedies (e.g. Midsummer Night's Dream)
  • Tragedies (e.g. Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet)
• For which acting group did Shakespeare write for the majority of his career?

  The Lord Chamberlain’s Men
• What was the name of the acting group that Shakespeare's company became known as in 1603?

  The King's Men
• Who was Richard Burbage?

  He was a talented actor known for his role as the first Romeo and Hamlet.
• During which period did Shakespeare write?

  The Renaissance
• What characterized the Renaissance period?

  Expansion of artistic expression free from previous restrictions.
• What was the central medium of entertainment during the Elizabethan and Jacobean era?

  Plays
• What genre is Macbeth classified as?

  A dramatic tragedy
• What is the classic structure that Macbeth follows?

  The 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 the context of tragedy?

  The purging or cleansing of emotions through pity and fear
• How does Macbeth's self-destructive actions lead to catharsis for the audience?

  They evoke pity as he loses his majesty, wife, and life.
• What is the original source of the story of Macbeth?


  Holinshed's Chronicles
• What is the significance of Holinshed's Chronicles in relation to Shakespeare's works?

  It was the main source for many of Shakespeare's history plays.
• What artistic liberties did Shakespeare take with the story of Macbeth?

  He made changes to enhance the plot for the stage and address political needs.
• What are the three main changes Shakespeare made to the character of Macbeth from Holinshed's Chronicles?

  1. Macbeth is characterized as cruel and tyrannical.
  2. The witches are simplified from 'goddesses of destiny' to three witches.
  3. Banquo is portrayed as an honorable man rather than an accomplice in Duncan's murder.

  
• Why did Shakespeare characterize Macbeth as cruel and tyrannical?

  To create a more interesting plotline and support the belief in the Divine Right of Kings.
• How did Shakespeare change the portrayal of the witches in Macbeth?

  He reduced their power, giving Macbeth choice and agency.
• Why was Banquo portrayed as an honorable man in Shakespeare's version of Macbeth?

  To please King James I, who believed he was descended from Banquo.
• During which reign was Macbeth written?

  During the reign of King James I
• How did the mood of the Jacobean era influence Shakespeare's work?

  It reflected uncertainty and tension due to King James I's rise to power.
• What significant event occurred in King James I's early life?

  He became King of Scotland at one year old after his mother was imprisoned.
• What was the state religion during Jacobean England?

  Protestantism
• How did the Protestant Reformation influence the religious landscape in England?

  It led to conflicts between Catholicism and Protestantism.
• What theological debates are considered in Macbeth?

  Predestination vs free will and forgiveness vs suffering.
• What are the religious allusions present in Macbeth?


  • Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to sin like Eve persuaded Adam.
  • Themes of predestination and free will are explored.
  • The necessity of suffering for true forgiveness is debated.

  
• How does the setting of Macbeth reflect its mood?

  The dark and moody setting of 11th-century Scotland enhances the play's atmosphere.
• What literary device does Shakespeare use to create a more in-depth experience in Macbeth?

  Pathetic fallacy
• What does the fog in the opening scene of Macbeth symbolize?

  Uncertainty and mystery surrounding the play's events.
• What does the phrase 'fair is foul and foul is fair' signify in Macbeth?

  It indicates a reversal of morality and expectations.
• What is the Great Chain of Being and its significance in Macbeth?

  • A hierarchical structure of the universe.
  • God at the top, followed by the king, down to commoners and rocks.
  • Regicide is seen as a serious sin against the natural order.

  
• What is the Divine Right of Kings?

  The belief that monarchs are chosen by God to rule.
• How does the Gunpowder Plot relate to the themes in Macbeth?

  It reflects the consequences of regicide and the belief in divine punishment.
• How did King James I view the Gunpowder Plot?

  As an act of witchcraft.
• What impact did King James I's beliefs have on the mood of England during his reign?

  It marked a dark time with witch trials and a focus on higher forces controlling lives.
• What was the religious conflict during the Jacobean period?

  Conflict between Catholicism and Protestantism.