Macbeth study guide

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Macbeth Study Guide

Renaissance = Rebirth affected the subjects of literature, art, politics, philosophy, science, religion

1485-1660 focuses on human emotion and arts

era of discovery reading literature was increasingly available to more people

The Great Chain of Being:

1. angels

2. humans it was unnatural to go against instincts and try to advocate to other levels on the chain

3. beasts and plants

4. inanimate objects

William Shakespeare:

Born in 1564, died in 1616 wrote about 38 plays and 154 sonnets

Married Anne Hathaway - he was 18 she was 26 and pregnant

3 Children: Susanna, Judith and Hamnet (died at age 11)

Macbeth:

written in 1606

based off of Raphael Hollinshed's history book that inspired WS to write Macbeth

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Tragedy:

Aristotle's version:

1. serious

2. descriptive language Tragic Hero: literary character who makes an error of judgement, has a fatal flaw: Macbeth

3. play

4. end in catharsis : Hopeful ending at the end of a sad play - Malcom becoming king --> restoring order to Scotland

Hecate:

Leader of the Weird Sisters

goddess of witchcraft

in acts 3.5 and 4.1

**not Shakespeare's character - Thomas Middleton a play editor, while he was reading the play, he found Hecate to be in Macbeth

Hand-washing and Sleep-walking:

signs of guilt, hand washing sign of role reversal of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

in act 2.2 and 5.1

Hallucinations: shows the state of Macbeth's mental decline - dagger and Banquo's ghost

Prince of Cumberland Title:

Malcom has the title

when he becomes king of Scotland --> symbol of order being restored

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Themes of Theme Chart:

Ambition gone wrong : how Macbeth's character changes over time - results in killing every time

things are not what they seem: foul is fair and fair is foul; false face must hide what the false heart doth know

what it means to be a man: role reversal between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth

the seductive nature of evil: evil lifestyle - results in bad things for Macbeth

the effect of superstition on human behavior: Witches are the very first scene - foreshadowing that there is going to be some fake parts about Macbeth

Prophecies and Apparitions:

Beware Macduff

No man born of woman can harm Macbeth

Macbeth cannot be defeated until the Birnam Wood moves to Dunisanane Hill

1. armed head

2. bloody child

3. crowed child holding a tree

4. 8 kings, the last one is Banquo

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Important Quotes Act 1:

Foul is fair and fair is foul - witches

Stars! hold your fires. let not light see my dark desires - macbeth

unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelties - Lady Macbeth

look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it - Lady Macbeth

Important Quotes Act 2:

is this a dagger i see before me.... - Macbeth

the wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees is left this vault to brag of - Macbeth

to show an unfelt sorrow is an office which the false man does easy - Malcolm

There's daggers in men's smiles - Donalbain

Important Quotes Act 3:

I am in blood steeped in so far, that, should i wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er - Macbeth

We have scorched the snake, not killed it - Macbeth

It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood - Macbeth

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Important Quotes Act 4:

Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caudron bubble- Witches

Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell - Malcolm

When our actions do not, our fears do make us traitors - Lady Macbeth

Important Quotes Act 5:

Out, damned spot, out, I say! - Lady Macbeth

All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand - Lady Macbeth

What's done cannot be undone - Lady Macbeth

I have lived long enough. my way of life Is fall'n into the sere, the yellow leaf.. - Macbeth

Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow - Macbeth

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