Macbeth Knowledge Organiser Dramatic/Stylistic Devices 1.Soliloquy 2.Dramatic irony 3.Tragic Flaw 4.Hamartia 5.Hubris 6.Catharsis 7.Anagnorisis 8.Peripetieia 9.Paradoxes 10. Pathetic Fallacy 11.Blank Verse 12.Prose 13.Rhyme 14.Symbolism 15.Juxtaposition 16.Antithesis 17.5 Act Structure Symbols/Motifs 18.Light and dark 19.Blood 20.Birds 21.Nature 22.Ritual Cleansing 23.Masculinity Context 24.Scotland V England 25.Succession 26.Plots/treason 27.Religion 28.Great Chain of Being 29.Divine Right of Kings 30.Kingship 31.Witchcraft 32.Tragedy 33.Machiavellian One character speaking to audience sharing genuine thoughts and feelings; Macbeth uses this to make the audience complicit When the audience knows more than characters; e.g. audience knows Duncan will die Convention of tragedies; character trait which leads to the central character’s downfall. Macbeth’s is ambition. The flaw in character which leads to the downfall of the protagonist in a tragedy. Macbeth’s is ambition. Intense pride – links to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth A purifying or figurative cleansing of the emotions, especially pity and fear, described by Aristotle as an effect of tragic drama on its audience. In Greek tragedy - the recognition or discovery by the protagonist of the identity of some character, or the nature of his own predicament, which leads to the resolution of the plot; denouement A sudden or unexpected reversal of circumstances or situation The use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing oneself. The witches/apparitions use this when giving Macbeth further prophecies in the play. Play opens in the middle of storm – reflects how volatile the politics of Scotland (and England) was Lines written in unrhymed Iambic Pentameter (unstressed followed by stressed syllables). Usually used to show a character’s power and status. Normal speech without rhyme or structure. Usually used to convey lower class and less important characters. Used by the witches – links to supernatural, some soliloquys end with rhyming couplets to emphasise key ideas. The practice of representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships: Dagger, battle, blood, water Contrasting ideas People or things that oppose each other, Duncan/Malcolm vs Macbeth in Kingship, Macbeth’s outward allegiance vs inner ambition Exposition, Conflict/Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Denouement Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth talk about how they hope night will protect them, Duncan’s murder is at night Opening battle, Macbeth’s hand after murder, Lady Macbeth’s visions of blood later on – links to guilt Raven, Magpie, Choughs and Rooks – bad omen. Duncan’s murder is symbolized by the Falcon (Duncan) being killed by the Owl (Macbeth) – unnatural The way nature behaves shows the state of events in the Kingdom. Duncan’s murder disrupts natural order and this is reflected in the weather and behavior of animals. Plant imagery also compares Macbeth to the ‘weeds’ and Malcolm as the ‘sovereign flower’ Cleanliness is linked to innocence. Macbeth and especially Lady Macbeth use water to try and purify themselves – to rid themselves of the guilt (blood) of killing Duncan. Symbolized through violence in the play. Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth’s masculinity and Macbeth uses a similar tact to persuade the murderers to kill Banquo. Macduff challenges ideas of masculinity by suggesting men should show compassion too. Traditional enemies, united by James I, unpopular with many English lords. The play attempts to promote Scotland. Elizabeth I died leaving no heir to the throne. This changed the optimistic mood of Elizabethans who feared a civil war might break out. The throne passed to James I, a distant cousin of Elizabeth – it was not a popular choice for everyone. James I (a Scottish King), new to the throne of England faced many plots in his early reign. Some resistance came from relatives of Elizabeth who believed they had a claim to the throne, others had more religious motives such as the Gunpowder Plot. Elizabeth I was a Protestant and part of the reason for James’ ascension to the throne was his Protestant upbringing. His mother, Mary Queen of Scots, who was imprisoned by Elizabeth, was however a devout Catholic. Catholics hoped that James I might support them because of his mother’s beliefs, when he didn’t plots such as the Gunpowder Plot sought to remove him. This was the belief in a natural order that God had for both nature and humankind within which every creature and person had an allotted place. It was considered an offence against God for anyone to try to alter their position in the chain. This was the belief that the power of monarchs was given directly by God, and thus monarchs were answerable only to God. Any opposition to the King was an attack on God himself, and therefore sacrilege, the most heinous of sins. James I wrote a book called Basilikon Doron, on the theme of kingship. In the book, James identifies the ideal king as one who does his duty to God and to his country and who is also a man of spotless personal integrity. James I intensely fascinated by witchcraft, terrified that they would threaten his reign. He wrote a paper called Daemonologie and participated in trials. People believed that witches could cause natural disasters and disease. Defined by Aristotle: "A man doesn't become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall." Someone seen as cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics or in advancing one's career. Derives from the work ‘The Prince’ by Machiavelli, an analysis of how to acquire and maintain political power Key Quotations: Quotation: Techniques Context 34.The Witches (act 1) Fair is foul, and foul is fair, Hover through the fog and filthy air First scene of the play 35.Captain (act 1) Brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name Rhyme / Paradox Pathetic Fallacy Adjective Alliteration Introduces idea of subverting the natural order Establishes the audience’s view of Macbeth. Makes his fall from grace more shocking Macbeth Knowledge Organiser 36.Macbeth (act 1) Why do you dress me in borrow’d robes? Metaphor Shakespeare introduces imagery of clothing here as concealment and disguise 37.Macbeth (act 1) Stars hide your fires let not light see my black and deep desires Shakespeare contrasts Macbeth and King Duncan in this scene. He emphasises how good a king Duncan is – making it seem even more appalling for Macbeth to be hardened to regicide 38.Lady M (act 1) It is too full o' the milk of human kindness Motif: Light and dark Adjectives Plosive alliteration Rhyming couplets Gender roles Metaphor 39.Lady M (act 1) Unsex me here Imperative Connects Lady Macbeth with the supernatural 40.Lady M (act 1) Come to my woman’s breast and take my milk for gall Imperative Symbolism Rejection of gender – she feels her womanhood impedes her 41.Lady M (act 1) Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't Simile Metaphor Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth about how to behave before Duncan arrives at the castle 42.Lady M (act 1) But screw your courage to the sticking place (Act 1) Metaphor Lady Macbeth is frustrated that Macbeth has doubts and she manipulates him 43.Macbeth (act 1) False face must hide what the false heart doth know Alliteration Macbeth has been convinced again by Lady Macbeth 44..Banquo (Act1,Sc3) You should be women, And yet your beards forbid me to interpret Gender Roles Banquo see that the witches defy gender boundaries and are outside the boundaries of society – they are different and isolated. 45.Duncan (Act 1,Sc 4) I have begun to plant thee, and will labour To make thee full of growing Metaphor To Macbeth – shows that Duncan wants to nurture Macbeth. He wants to reward his loyalty & honour. A fair king. 46.Duncan (Act 1,Sc4) But signs of nobleness like stars shall shine On all deservers Simile Light imagery A good, fair, just, honourable king. 47.Macbeth (Act 1,Sc 7) I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself, And falls on th'other. . Is this a dagger I see before me Metaphor Tries to rationalise Duncan’s murder, there is no justification. Macbeth recognises his hamartia- a tragic hero. Symbolism First glimpse of Macbeth's powerful imagination – that’s responsible for his mental torment 49.Macbeth (act 2) Sleep no more: Macbeth does murder sleep Metaphor Alliteration After killing Duncan, Macbeth imagines a voice has says this to him 50.Macbeth (act 2) Will all great Neptune’s oceans wash this blood clean from my hands? Interrogative Allusion Macbeth worries that there is not enough water to clean his hands. There is so much blood that he will turn the green sea red 51.Lady Macbeth (act 2) A little water clears us of this deed Irony Symbolism Lady Macbeth wishes to wash away Duncan’s blood to feel innocence again 52.Lady Macbeth (Act 2,Sc2) My hands are of your colour but I shame to wear a heart so white Irony Speaking to Macbeth – recognising that she is different to him. She is already corrupted. 53. Lennox (Act 2,Sc3) The night has been unruly Pathetic Fallacy On the night of Duncan’s murder even nature changed. Nature is God’s presence on earth. 54. Macduff (Act 2,Sc 3) Most sacrilegious murder Religious connotations The murder of Duncan has just been discovered, Macduff’s reaction is one of loyalty to King & Scotland. 55. Banquo (Act 2,Sc 3) In the great hand of God I stand and thence Against the undivulg’d pretence I fight Religious metaphor Banquo upholds the religious ideals of society and reinforces that he is a character of ‘good’ and unaffected by superstition. 56.Old Man (Act 2,Sc4) A falcon tow’ring in her pride of place Was by a mousing owl hawk’d at and kill’d Natural imagery Metaphor Duncan is the falcon and Macbeth is the owl. 57.Macbeth (act 3) Fruitless crown Metaphor Macbeth realises his children won’t be kings 58.Macbeth (act 3) Never shake thy gory locks at me! Exclamative Macbeth hallucinates again 59.Macbeth (act 3) Blood will have blood Macbeth worries the dead will get their revenge 60. Macbeth (Act 3,Sc1) We have scorched the snake, not killed it Symbolism Repetition Metaphor 61.Banquo (Act 3,Sc1) Thou played’st most foully for ’t Adverb Repetition ‘foul’ Banquo explicitly expresses his suspicion that Macbeth has done something bad in order to rise to the position the Weird Sisters predicted. 48.Macbeth (act 2) Lady Macbeth has just read Macbeth’s letter and started to plot – her ambition is revealed After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth still recognises a threat to his kingship – Banquo. Macbeth Knowledge Organiser 62.Donalbain (Act3,Sc2) There’s daggers in men’s smiles. The near in blood, The nearer bloody. Metaphor Comparative Donalbain and Malcolm can trust no one. D flees to Ireland and M flees to England. 63.Macbeth (Act 3,Sc 2) O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Metaphor Exclamative Macbeth is telling Lady Macbeth that he cannot rest or enjoy his kingdom because his mind is unsettled. Just as a scorpion sting would hurt and make a person restless, so too do Macbeth's thoughts. Scorpions inflict much pain; they cause Macbeth pain but they also give him the courage to cause others pain in the pursuit of absolute power. 64.Lady Macbeth (Act 3,Sc2) What’s done is done Lady Macbeth is advising Macbeth to forget the evil act he has committed. Strength and power. Lack of conscience. 65.Apparition (act 4) None of woman born shall harm Macbeth Gender roles Contrast to Act 5 Repetition Irony Equivocation 66.Apparition (Act 4,Sc1) Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him. 67. Lady Macduff (Act 4,Sc 2) Our fears do make us traitors Gender roles Lady Macduff believes her husband ran away to England out of cowardice, a traitor to his family. Lady Macduff accusing him of being a coward; a real man would not sacrifice his family’s safety for the good of his country. 68.Malcolm (Act 4,Sc3) I think our country sinks beneath the yoke. It weeps, it bleeds Personification Malcolm is discussing the oppression that Macbeth has put on the country through his actions 69.Macduff (Act 4,Sc3) Bleed, bleed, poor country Personification Macduff and Malcolm are speaking of the fate of Scotland in Macbeth’s hands. Macduff believes Scotland is “wounded” from all the tyranny that Macbeth has caused. 70.Malcolm (Act 4,Sc 3) Devilish Macbeth Religious Macbeth is linked to the devil, which is against God, lowest place in the natural order. By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes Equivocation Metaphorical language On hearing Macbeth approaching, the witches recognise the change in Macbeth’s character. 72.Lady M (act 5) Out, damned spot! Out, I say! Imperatives Sleepwalking - Lady Macbeth’s guilt overcomes 73.Lady M (act 5) What, will these hands ne’er be clean? Symbolism Sleepwalking – Lady Macbeth’s guilt overcomes 74.Macbeth (act 5) A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing Metaphor Macbeth is realizing that all his machinations to become king and to keep the throne have come to nothing. What good was having the throne for so limited a time? 75.Macbeth (act 5) Accursed be that tongue that tells me so for it hath cow’d my better part of man Anagnorisis Macbeth realises the witches use of equivocation and how he has been tricked 76. Macbeth (Act 5) A mind diseased Irony Metaphor Macbeth talking about Lady Macbeth. Her anxiety, hallucinations and lack of sleep brought on from sleepwalking eventually cause her to commit suicide. Metaphor for state of the country. 77.Macbeth (Act 5,Sc3) I am sick at heart Metaphor 78.Lady Macbeth (Act 5,Sc1) Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.’ Symbolism Preparing to battle Malcom and Macduff. He decides that this attack will determine the throne is his forever or this attack will dethrone him Illusion. Lady M is overcome with guilt. 79.Lady Macbeth (Act 5,Sc1) What’s done, can not be undone Contrast Contrast to Act 3 ‘What’s done is done’. LM now feels guilt for planning the regicide of Duncan. 80.Malcolm (Act 5,Sc 9) This dead butcher and his fiend-like queen Metaphor Refers to Macbeth as a ‘butcher’ due to sheet amount of people he has murdered or ordered to be murdered. LM ‘Fiendlike’ – her body seems possessed by demons 71.The Witches (Act 4, Sc12) Equivocation Macbeth believes he is invincible The witches have told him he is safe until the forest storms his castle. Since forests do not generally move, he is giddy with relief. All the prophecies seem absurd to Macbeth.
