AP Seminar Macbeth Acts 1-3

When was the English Renaissance?

16th centruy

What does Renaissance mean?

Renaissance means rebirth - an artistic, intellectual, and cultural movement

Where did the Renaissance start?

Started in Italy - revival of classical studies, secular works, and Humanism

What did Shakespeare write and when?

Shakespeare wrote the Tragedy of Macbeth around 1603 and presented it to King James I in 1605

What are the key characteristics of the Renaissance?

Focused on humanism

Focused on Greek classical traditions

Secular

Exploration

Reason over religion

Inventions

Chain of being

What was the Divine Right of Kings?

The belief that God has given rulers the right to rule and allows them to do whatever they want

What was the Chain of Being?

People believed that everyone and everything was arranged in a hierarchy known as the Great Chain of Being

Who created the Chain of Being?

An idea that God created an ordered system for both nature and humankind

What does the Chain of Being create?

Creates social stability - the act of not following their responsibility was considered as an offense to God

Who ruled over England after Queen Elizabeth I died?

After Queen Elizabeth of England died, King James I of Scotland ruled England

Why do people not like King James I?

People do not like that he is Presbyterian (Calvinist) and from Scotland and very religious

Why does William Shakespeare write Macbeth?

William Shakespeare writes Macbeth to reflect the political tensions of the time period in hopes of impressing King James I

Writes as a cautionary tale of would be traitors

What does Macbeth show?

Look at the effects of what would happen when the chain of being is challenged

What does Shakespeare decide to show?

Shakespeare decides he wants to show how excessive ambition can lead to bad consequences

What was King James I fascinated by?

Witchcraft

What was Macbeth inspired by?

Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland which is about a "bloodthirsty" 11th century Scottish King named Macbeth

What is a tragedy?

A work of literature that tells the story of a person with high status that fell

What is a tragic flaw?

A flaw in a character that results in their downfall

What is a tragic hero?

The main character in a tragedy who faces impending doom

What is a monologue?

A long speech said by a character which is directed to the audience or another character

What is a soliloquy?

A speech delivered by a single character that shows their thoughts/feelings

What is foreshadowing?

A literary device that hints to events that will occur

What is an allusion?

A reference that is implied or indirectly stated

What is an aside?

A murmur not meant to be heard by someone - heard by audience not characters

What is a foil?

A character whose traits contrast with and highlights a different character's traits

What is a paradox?

A contradictory idea, statement, or event that could be true

What is a thane?

Scottish title of nobility

What language is Macbeth written in?

Iambic pentamenter

What is iambic pentameter?

Iamb = unstressed/stressed syllable

Pentameter = 5 feet of iambs

What is a trochaic tetrameter?

A meter in which a line of poetry has four trochaic feet, each with one stressed syllable and unstressed syllable

Mainly spoken in by witches

What does trochaic tetrameter reinforce?

Supernatural part of witches

What is verse?

Poetic

What are traits of verse?

Characters from upper class

Reformed and formal speech

Emphasizes romance

Used to give moral advice

Used in prologues

What is prose?

Writing that is not poetry

What are traits of prose?

Lower class

Informal

Relatable for audience

Creates doubt in character's sanity

Crates humor - comic relief

What is Act I of Macbeth mainly about?

Betrayal

What is the mood of Act I?

Ominous

What are the three asides of Act I?

First aside - Macbeth yearns for crown

Second aside - Banquo warns Macbeth

Third aside - Macbeth wants something he shouldn't - wants to murder King

What is the witches prophecy for Macbeth in Act I?

Macbeth will be Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor (dramatic irony), and King

What is the plot of Act I?

The witches predict Macbeth will become king

Macbeth learns one prophecy has already come true, sparking his ambition

Duncan names Malcolm heir, blocking Macbeth's path to the throne

Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth to kill Duncan to seize power

Macbeth agrees to commit the murder

What was Macbeth's role in Act I?

King's general

What is Macbeth like in Act I?

Although naturally hesitant to commit evil, he is easily influenced and increasingly tempted by power

What does Macbeth do in Act I?

Captures Thane of Cawdor and decides to kill Duncan

Who is Banquo?

King's general

What was Banquo's prophecy from the witches in Act I?

Lesser than Macbeth and greater

Not so happy yet much happier

His descendants will be king but he will not

What is Lady Macbeth like in Act I?

Lady Macbeth is shown as strong-willed, manipulative, and more ruthless than Macbeth

She immediately embraces the idea of gaining power and pushes Macbeth to act on his desires

What are the witches?

Weird sisters - about fate

What are the witches like?

The witches are mysterious and unsettling, representing chaos and temptation

What is King Duncan of Scotland like?

Duncan is a noble, trusting, and generous king

Who was Macdonwald?

Traitor killed by Macbeth

What is Macbeth's internal conflict with himself in Act I?

He is torn between his ambition and his sense of loyalty, honor, and fear of consequences

What is Lady Macbeth's internal conflict in Act I?

Lady Macbeth's conflict with conscience and gender expectations: She struggles to suppress any sign of weakness, calling on darkness to harden her

What are external conflicts of Act I?

Macbeth vs. Lady Macbeth: She pressures him to kill Duncan while he hesitates

Macbeth vs. Duncan: Macbeth views Duncan as an obstacle to the crown, even though Duncan trusts and praises him

Macbeth vs. Fate/Supernatural: Macbeth wrestles with the witches' prophecy—should he act, or let destiny unfold?

What is ambition like in Act I?

Ambition is the driving force of the act - very controlling

Macbeth feels a sudden, dangerous rise of desire after hearing the prophecy

What is deception like in Act I?

Deception becomes a strategy for gaining power

Macbeth hides his dark thoughts behind a loyal appearance

What is power like in Act I?

Act One shows how the desire for power corrupts

Macbeth begins to crave kingship

What is the plan to kill the King in Act I?

Get chamberlains drunk and smear them with Duncan's blood to blame them

What does Act II focus on?

Heavy emphasis on unnatural acts

Macbeth focuses on obtaining crown

What does Act II open with?

Banquo and his son, Fleance

They cannot sleep well

Why is Banquo a foil to Macbeth?

Banquo is very loyal - foil to Macbeth

What is the plot of Act II?

Macbeth murders King Duncan after hallucinating a bloody dagger

Lady Macbeth frames Duncan's guards with blood

Duncan's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, flee for safety, making them appear guilty

Macbeth is crowned king

Where does Malcolm and Donalbain flee?

Malcolm - England

Donalbain - Ireland

How does Macbeth change in Act II?

Macbeth becomes more violent, paranoid, and shaken by guilt

How does Lady Macbeth change in Act II?

Lady Macbeth appears strong and controlled but begins to show cracks

Who are Macduff and Lennox?

Come to pick up king - Macduff finds him dead

What is the internal conflict of Act II?

Macbeth struggles with guilt and fear after the murder

What is the external conflict of Act II?

Suspicion grows around Duncan's death; Macduff distrusts Macbeth

What is ambition like in Act II?

Macbeth sacrifices morality for the crown

What is deception like in Act II?

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hide their crime

What is power like in Act II?

Macbeth gains power but immediately fears losing it

What does Act III focus on?

Macbeth focuses on keeping crown

What is Act III considered as?

The climax

What is the plot of Act III?

Macbeth, now king, feels insecure about Banquo's prophecy

He hires murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance

Banquo dies; Fleance escapes

Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost at the banquet and loses control

Macbeth seeks out the witches again and rules more like a tyrant

How does Macbeth change in Act III?

Macbeth becomes ruthless and paranoid, acting without Lady Macbeth's help

How does Lady Macbeth change in Act III?

Lady Macbeth begins to emotionally unravel as guilt increases

How does Banquo change in Act III?

Banquo dies but remains morally superior even in Macbeth's fear of him

How does Lennox change in Act III?

Lennox is distrustful of Macbeth

What is Malcolm doing in England?

Malcom has gone to England to seek help from King Edward of England and his army to dethrone Macbeth

What is the internal conflict of Act III?

Macbeth's paranoia intensifies—he fears losing the crown

What are the external conflicts of Act III?

Macbeth vs. Banquo (fear of the prophecy)

Macbeth vs. nobles (growing distrust)

What is ambition like in Act III?

Macbeth's ambition drives him to more murders

What is deception like in Act III?

Macbeth hides his plots even from Lady Macbeth

What is power like in Act III?

Macbeth abuses power, becoming a tyrant and losing control mentally

How is Macbeth first introduced?

Macbeth is first introduced as Thane of Glamis and praised for defeating Macdonwald and the Norwegians

What does Lady Macbeth call on spirits to do?

Lady Macbeth calls on spirits to "unsex me here", showing her willingness to abandon femininity and morality

What does Macbeth do to the chamberlains (guards) for Duncan?

Macbeth kills the guards in pretended rage to protect himself

How many murderers does Macbeth hire?

Two but there is a surprise third one

Who does not attend the banquet?

Macduff does not attend the banquet and is shown as suspicious of Macbeth, foreshadowing rebellion

What happens during the banquet?

During the banquet, Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost, which no one else can see, showing his guilt and paranoia

Lady Macbeth tries to calm him, but Macbeth's behavior begins to alarm the nobles

Why is Hecate angry?

The witches used their magic to toy with Macbeth

Does Hecate like Macbeth?

No - she does not like him

What is the witches plan to trick Macbeh?

Plan on using fog to conjure up sprites and trick Macbeth to lead him to his ruin

Give him a false sense of security

What are the bells symbolic of?

Death

What is Macduff the Thane of?

Fife

What is the serpent symbolic of?

Danger

What is Lady Macbeth worried about in Act II?

They are not enjoying their time

What are the bells symbolic of?