English Exam: oh sadness

Ambition

The driving force behind Macbeth’s actions, leading to his rise and fall, highlighting the notion that unchecked ambition can be destructive.

Guilt and Madness

Themes illustrated by the psychological deterioration of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth following their murderous actions.

Fate vs Free Will

The struggle between accepting predestined outcomes and making personal choices, questioned throughout the play.

Supernatural

Elements represented by the three witches, symbolizing chaos and dark forces that interfere with the natural order.

Appearance vs Reality

The contrast between how things seem and how they truly are, emphasized by deceptive characters.

Blood imagery

Symbolizes guilt and the consequences of actions, prominently featured in both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s hallucinations.

The Dagger

A hallucination representing Macbeth's ambition and internal conflict before killing Duncan.

Macbeth

A brave soldier who transforms into a tyrant driven by ambition, ultimately leading to his downfall.

Lady Macbeth

Macbeth’s wife who initially pushes him to kill Duncan but later succumbs to guilt and madness.

The Witches

Mysterious figures who deliver prophecies that spark Macbeth's ambition and ultimately lead to chaos.

Macduff

The nobleman who opposes Macbeth, representing justice, and ultimately avenges his family's murder by killing Macbeth.

Dramatic Irony

A literary device where the audience knows more about the character's situation than the characters themselves, creating tension.

Foreshadowing

Hints dropped early in the play that suggest future events, particularly relating to the witches' prophecies.

Imagery

Descriptive language that evokes sensory experience, especially around themes of blood, darkness, and guilt in the play.

Violence and Murder

Central actions that set off the plot, showing the brutal consequences of the quest for power.

Masculinity and Gender

Explores the expectations of masculinity, particularly through Lady Macbeth’s challenge of gender roles and Macbeth’s violent responses.