English lit exam

English lit exam

1. Macbeths similarities to the witches:

   • His first piece of dialogue mirrors the witches paradoxical language of 'so foul and fair'
   • He is married to an unconventional woman and has an unconventional marriage.
     • 'the hearing of my wife with your approach
     • Unsex me here..fill me.. of direst creulty
   • 'there to meet Macbeth' - quote of the witches.
   • Macbeth is dependant on the witches therefore he willing return to them
   • Macbeth only responds to strong women

2. What are the witches prophesy's to Macbeth at the beginning of the play?

   • Hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis
   • Hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor
   • Hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter

3. What are the witches prophesy's to Macbeth later in the play?

   • Beware of Macduff
   • None born of woman born shall harm Macbeth
   • Macbeth shall never vanquish'd until Birnam wood come to Dunsinane

4. What were Banquo's prophesys ?

   • Lesser than Macbeth and greater
   • Not so happy, yet much happier
   • Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none

5. What impact did the witches have on Macbeth

   • 'He seems rapt withal' - Banquo
     • Macbeth begins to question Banquo 'do you not hope your children shall be kings'
       • Macbeth begins to distance himself from Banquo this is shown using stage directions [ASIDE]
   • Macbeth begins to have secret treasonous thoughts. This shown in his soliloquys i.e.. ' Whose murder is yet but fantastical

6. How does Lady Macbeth link with the witches and the death of Ducan

   • Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are proved to be very ambitious this leads to their downfall i.e. 'the greatest is behind me'
     • She questions his courage ' and live a coward' ' are you a man?'
   • As soon as lady Macbeth receives the letter she immediately begins a silioquy much like Macbeth.
     • She uses ambigious language much like the witches i.e. ' come spirits'
       • She plans the death of Duncan therefore thinks treasonous thoughts
         • Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to kill ' leave it all to me' OR ' look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under't

7. Links to darkness ?

   • Their candles are all our - Banquo
   • Come thick night
   • STARS HIDE YOUR FIRES LET NOT LIGHT SEE MY..DEEP DESIRES - Macbeth hears of Malcom announcement to be king therefore begins to think treasonous thoguhta more.

8. Macbeth quotes

   • O full of scorpions is my mind dear wife
     • Be innocent of knowledge - Macbeth is not open with his wife any more
     • Heat oppressed brain - guilty & worreid

9. CONTEXT

   • 16th centuary are very superstitious and believed in witches
   • James 1st had stirred up hatred and discrimination afainst unconventional women.