Flashcards
Year 11 English notes
Cards in this deck (33)
- 1Macbeth-
- 2Act 1 Scene 1to understand the importance of the supernatural element of Macbeth by focusing on Act 1 Scene 1 and Act 1 Scene 3
> develop a sense of how the supernatural is so critical to the world of the play - 3languagehumans tend to speak in non-rhyming iambic pentameter throughout the play where as the witches use trochaic tetrameter and do rhyme - this makes them seem unnatural and spiritual (>"chantlike")
- 4antithesis"when the battle's lost, and won", "fair is foul, and foul is fair" > creates confusion, mystery and deception which ties to the themes of the play (appearance and reality)
- 5key themessupernatural - three witches/ weird sisters are able to cast spells and predict the future
- 6settingdesolate place > far away from civilisation and adds to the sense that the witches aren't human and have supernatural powers
- 7dramatic techniquestrochaic tetrameter (8 beats/ line) > not human as all human characters speak in iambic pentameter (10 beats/ line)
- 8contextthe witches employ many of the stereotypes of the supernatural e.g. they appear in thunder & lightning and witches were thought to be especially active during storms
- 9Character analysis - the witches-
- 10setting the scene-preparation by the witches for their first encounter with Macbeth
-end with the witches chanting a spell > what sort of magic do they perform > chanting suggests of an evil intent, something mysterious going on - 11>"chanting" gives the impression that they share some of their being through their spirituality that then allows them to speak and maybe think together - sort of like a hive-mind
- 12>-repeating a movement three times > continues the idea of three > in the direction of each witch in order to consolidate their power
- 13How does Shakespeare present the witches here-was written at a time when interest in witches bordered on hysteria > witches were blamed for causing illness, death and disaster, and were thought to punish their enemies by giving them nightmares, making their crops fail and their animals sicken
- 14>-by presenting the witches like this, Shakespeare pleased James I/ VI and his audience
- 15>-thought to communicate with the devil through familiars - "Graymalkin", "Paddock" > by using animals that are generally non-threatening, a sense of influence is suggested whether from the Devil through the familiar to the witch or from the witch to the familiar
- 16>-James I/ VI was deeply concerned about the threat posed by the witches. He believed that a group of witches had tried to kill him by drowning him while he was at sea
- 17>(a curse echoed here by the first witch) > links back to getting king's approval
-witchcraft was made a capital offence, meaning anyone found guilty would be executed > fear and fascination - 18>-"mischief following anger" > vindictive nature of the witches > no doubt as to their connection with powers if evil
- 19The Witches' language-mysterious and other-worldly
-they speak in verse however differently to other Shakespeare characters > rhyming couplets, in contrast to the unrhymed verse used elsewhere in the play > use trochaic tetrameter instead of iambic pentameter - 20>only 4 stresses compared to normal 5 > give the witches a sense of foreboding that emphasises their malevolence and unearthliness > relentless, eeriness
- 21>-numbers and idea of three > three is a number that is often seen as having a particular significance > in Christianity there is the holy trinity (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit)
- 22>bad luck is thought to come in threes > Macbeth is hailed by three titles (Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and King Hereafter) > three prophecies
- 23>- Is Shakespeare suggesting here that the Witches are a kind of unholy trinity?
- 24How does this scene fit into Macbeth as a whole-second time that we've met the witches, second time they've mentioned Macbeth > anticipation for encounter
- 25>-two sides to Macbeth > Act 1 Scene 2: loyal warrior, hero > association with witches?
- 26>-Banquo is unafraid however Macbeth "start[s]" or flinches > speechless
- 27How have the witches been interpreted-stereotypical hags - "withered" and "wild", unearthly beings ("That look not like th' inhabitants O' th' Earth") with "skinny lips", chapped ("choppy") fingers and beards.
>not always portrayed like this however, especially modernly - 28Act 1 Scene 2focus on the concept of honour and heroism in the context of the tragic hero
- 29Macbeth's reputation-brave and capable > executed and fought the rebel Macdonald
-loyal - "valiant", "worthy"
-heroic - actions change course of battle
-leadership -great physical strength
-brutal, ruthless
-courageous -ferocious, intense -determined - 30key themesbravery - Macbeth is presented as a hero as he has killed "the merciless Macdonald" - Reward - Macbeth will be rewarded with the title of "Thane of Cawdor" because he killed Macdonald
- 31settinga military camp "near Forres" - The audience is thrown into the heart of the battle as not only does the scene start with an alarm but the characters discuss Macbeth's actions and bravery in battle
- 32dramatic techniquesthe play began with the sound effect of thunder and lightning and this scene begins with the sound effect of the alarum. the different sound effects emphasise how the setting has completely changed. This reinforces through the difference between the desert place and the crowded battlefield
- 33contextit was common for prowess and bravery on the battlefield to be rewarded with titles and power. Here Macbeth benefits from his fighting abilities by being given the title of the "Thane of Cawdor".
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- GCSE English Literature Flashcards on Year 11 English notes, created by Rebecca Hall on 06/09/2021.
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