Ms Paine
11 English Studies
Name:_______________
KEY IDEAS
Tragic Hero
 fatal flaw (ambition)
 personal weakness
 sympathy for M and
LM
Macbeth – Summary of Key Ideas and Techniques
Instructions: Find at least 2 examples for each idea
How is this idea explored by Shakespeare in
Find 2 quotations in the play that you think
the text?
clearly comments upon this idea. Explain in
your own words the relevance of this example.
The play Macbeth reveals how a good man in
Macbeth can be tragically corrupted because
of a fatal flaw in ambition.
QUOTATION 1: “For brave Macbeth, well he
deserves that name”.
“…an untitled tyrant, bloody sceptr’d”
QUOTATION 2:
“It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury/
Signifiying nothing
Masculinity vs
Femininity
QUOTATION 1:
Shakespeare argues in Macbeth that only
“…Come to my women’s breasts and take my milk
men are capable of violence and taking
power. For LM to aid her husband, she must for gall, you murd’ring ministers.”
ask the spirits to “unsex” her, as in remove her
motherly feelings and emotions that make her
weak. He also associates women with the
supernatural in the figures of the three witches
who lead Macbeth astray, whereas Malcom
and Macduff are responsible for restoring
order to Scotland at the end of the play.
QUOTATION 2:
“When you durst do it, then you were a man.”
Identify at least one technique that
Shakespeare employs in one of the
quotations you have selected. Explain how
this technique is used to comment upon this
idea.
TECHNIQUE(S):
Soliloquies and use of iambic pentameter to show
the audience M’s innermost thoughts
Narrative structure – highlights the development
of Macbeth’s character
Blood imagery – constantly associated with
Macbeth’s character.
Characterization – how Shakespeare has created
the character of Macbeth so that we see his
development.
MY EXPLANATION:
Shakespeare employs the techniques of
soliloquies and asides to reveal Macbeth’s
changing character in the play. At the end of the
play, he reminds us of Macbeth’s humanity when
after the suicide of his wife, he philosophizes on
the fact that everything he has done to achieve
the throne, that of “sound and fury”, ultimately
signifies “nothing”.
TECHNIQUE(S):
Soliloquy – featuring iambic pentameter
Imagery – LM asking for her breast milk to be
changed to poison so as to feed evil spirits
Contrast between the presentation of men and
women in the play.
MY EXPLANATION:
Shakespeare uses shocking imagery to highlight
the extent to which LM is willing to go too, so as to
ensure that Duncan is murdered and M becomes
Power Corrupts
QUOTATION 1:
In Macbeth, Shakespeare explores what
“From now on every deed that my mind imagines,
happens when power is gained through evil
actions, in the murdering of King Duncan. To will be carried out by my hand at once”
maintain his throne, Macbeth must keep on
murdering those whom he sees as a threat as
well as their wives and children. These
actions show how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
both are corrupted by power, because as a
consequence they begin mentally disintegrate.
QUOTATION 2:
I am in blood, stepp’d in so far
That should I wade no more
Returning were as tedious as go ‘over
Order & Disorder
 supernatural
 disease
 chaos
Shakespeare explores the effects on a
country when the natural order is disrupted by
the killing of a divinely chosen King in Duncan
by Macbeth.
QUOTATION 1:
“Eye of newt and toe of frog/ Wool of bat and tongue
of dog”
QUOTATION 2:
“Our country sinks beneath the yoke, it weeps it
bleeds/ And each new day a gash is added to her
wounds”
King. In her soliloquy, LM asks to have her
motherly feelings removed, which is symbolized in
the image of her asking the “murd’ing’ ministers”
to “take my milk for gall”.
TECHNIQUE(S):
Blood imagery
MY EXPLANATION:
Macbeth describes how he has become so
corrupted by power, when he says, “I am in blood,
stepp’d in so far” . The metaphoric blood
represents the many murders that Macbeth has
committed to maintain his hold on the Scottish
throne. When he states “That should I wade no
more/ Returning were as tedious as go ‘over”, he
is explaining that he is beyond redemption, and
must keep committing his crimes to survive.
TECHNIQUE(S):
Use of animal imagery
Rhyming couplets
MY EXPLANATION:
Shakespeare employs animal imagery to highlight
the suffering, chaos and disorder that has
happened in Scotland, when Malcom likens the
country to a suffering plough ox that “sinks
beneath the yoke, it weeps it bleeds”.
Macbeth key ideas & techniques summary sheet.doc