Context

• Witches

  Shakespeare includes the witches and presents them as evil because the king at the time, King James I, tried to prove that witches were real and Shakespeare would have wanted to impress the king and entertain him.
• What era is known as the time under James I?

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

  To flatter James I and maintain popularity
• Who succeeded Elizabeth I as king of England?

  James I
• Why is Macbeth set in Scotland?

  James I was King of Scotland before England
• How does Shakespeare portray Banquo in Macbeth?

  As brave, loyal, and conscientious
• What does Malcolm represent in Macbeth?

  Unification of England and Scotland
• What was the Gunpowder Plot of 1605?

  A plot to kill James I
• What does Shakespeare warn against in Macbeth?

  Attempting treason against the king
• What is the Divine Right of Kings?

  Belief that kings are chosen by God
• How does Shakespeare depict the consequences of treason in Macbeth?

  All traitors face terrible consequences
• What does Lady Macbeth call upon in Act I, Scene V?

  Evil spirits
• How does the Jacobean audience view witches?

  With fear and distrust
• What role do the witches play in Macbeth?

  They represent temptation and evil
• What societal norms do women face in Jacobean England?

  Women lacked agency and control
• How does Lady Macbeth attempt to gain agency?

  By controlling her husband and status
• What warning might Shakespeare be conveying through Lady Macbeth's character?

  Women who defy norms face consequences
• What are the expected traits of men in Jacobean society?

  Dominant, superior, and noble
• How does Macbeth fail to meet gender expectations?

  He is seen as weak and unmanly
• What does the Great Chain of Being represent?

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

  It brings disorder to the world
• What is regicide considered in Jacobean belief?

  A mortal sin
• How do Macbeth and Lady Macbeth view their crimes?

  They wish to hide them from God
• How do the witches disrupt the moral order in Macbeth?

  By tempting characters to commit evil
• What does Shakespeare suggest about the afterlife in Macbeth?

  It holds consequences for treason
• How does Shakespeare integrate context into themes in Macbeth?

  By linking historical factors to character actions
• What is the significance of Lady Macbeth's character in relation to gender roles?

  She subverts societal expectations of women
• What is the primary theme explored through the witches in Macbeth?

  The nature of evil and temptation
• How does Shakespeare's portrayal of Macbeth reflect Jacobean beliefs?

  It shows the consequences of defying order
• What does the presence of witches symbolize in Macbeth?

  The threat to moral order and authority
• What is the consequence of breaking the Great Chain of Being?

  Disorder and chaos in the world
• How does Shakespeare use Lady Macbeth's character to comment on gender roles?

  She challenges traditional female roles
• What does Macbeth's character reveal about masculinity in Jacobean society?

  Failure to conform leads to vulnerability
• What does the term 'regicide' refer to?

  The act of killing a king
• How does Shakespeare depict the consequences of ambition in Macbeth?

  Ambition leads to downfall and chaos
• What is the relationship between ambition and morality in Macbeth?

  Ambition often conflicts with moral integrity
• What does the term 'than' refer to in Macbeth?

  A nobleman or lord
• How does Shakespeare portray the theme of loyalty in Macbeth?

  Loyalty is tested and often betrayed
• What does the character of Malcolm represent in relation to kingship?

  Rightful authority and moral order
• What is the significance of the witches' prophecies in Macbeth?

  They foreshadow Macbeth's downfall