Macbeth context

was macbeth real?

macbeth was king of Scotland in 1040-57 but shakespeare’s character had no resemblance to the historical figure

when is the play set?

11th century

what was the hierarchy during the 11th century?

* king at the top
* thanes governed different regions
* important families
* serfs who worked the land

was Scotland a religious country?

yes it was a christian country

give an example of a religious belief

the Great Chain of Being

what was the Great Chain of Being?

god gives every living thing a place in an ordered hierarchy, to upset the order was a crime against God and nature and their were punishments

who were Scotland normally fighting against?

* vikings invaders
* each other, Scottish lords fighting amongst themselves for more land and the throne

give an example of brutality in Scottish battles during the 11th century

Macbeth burnt 50 of his enemies to death

what was the status of women in society during the 11th century?

* their power came from their husbands
* they were seen as physically and morally inferior

when was the play written?

1606

who was the king at the time the play was written?

James VI of Scotland (1567)

when was the gunpowder plot and who by?

* 1605


* Guy Fawkes and fellow conspirators

what happened to Guy Fawkes when he failed to blow up parliament and james?

he was hanged and quartered an example of a punishment to go against the order of the great chain of being

what did james visit often?

witch trials

what did James write a book on?

the ‘Divine Right of Kings’ developing on the idea of the great chain of being and the idea that the monarch was chosen from God

how were women in renaissance England considered?

they were considered inferior to men

what type of play is macbeth?

a tragedy

define a tragedy

a story that usually features tragic events, the downfall of a central character through a flaw in their character and an unhappy ending

who did James VI descend from?

Banquo, Shakespeare wanted to keep on the good side of the king so made Banquo ‘noble’ and respectable

why was James so interested in the supernatural and witches?

he was protestant and was told how catholics were heretics and therefore wanted to understand more about how the supernatural (so he was told) effected their views