Macbeth Review Sheet
Your test format will be as follows:
Part I - 30 multiple choice questions
These will be based on setting, characters, key events, themes, and other important information.
Setting:
medieval Scotland
Major Characters (provide point-form descriptions of the following)
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
King Duncan
Banquo
Fleance
Malcolm
Donalbain
Macduff
Lady Macduff
Three Witches
Some Key Events:
the three witches' prophesies for Macbeth and Banquo; Macbeth's hallucination of the dagger; Lady
Macbeth's “unsex me” speech; the deaths of King Duncan, Banquo, Macduff's family, and Macbeth;
Macbeth's crazy behaviour at the banquet and how Lady Macbeth handles it; Malcolm and Donalbain's
exile to England; Dunsinane Wood “approaching” Macbeth's castle; Lady Macbeth's mental breakdown
and eventual suicide; why Macduff is able to kill Macbeth; the restoration of world order with the
crowning of Malcolm at the end of the play.
Themes:
Macbeth explores some interesting themes such as the following:
 blind ambition
 absolute power corrupts
 the difference between kingship (Duncan) and tyranny (Macbeth)
 the exploration of gender roles (consider Lady Macbeth's "unsex me" speech, Macbeth
questioning the "manhood" of the murderers, and Macduff's refusal to be ashamed of his grief
when Malcolm questions his "unmanly grief")
 the influence of the supernatural on human behaviour
 the role of fate versus free will
What other themes do you see explored in the play?
Other Important Information
tragedy – Macbeth is a tragedy, a type of drama of human conflict which ends in defeat and suffering.
Often the main character has a tragic flaw (a weakness of character or error in judgement) which leads
to his or her destruction.
soliloquy – a speech given by one character on stage revealing their inner most thoughts and feelings.
Review Macbeth's and Lady Macbeth's soliloquies carefully.
dramatic irony – this occurs when the audience knows something that a character (or characters) do
not. What are some examples of dramatic irony in the play?
Elizabethan World View and the “divine right of kings” - Elizabethans (people of Shakespeare's time)
believed in an ordered universe in which all people could be ranked in order of superiority. This
“common sense” view permeated their religious beliefs, political system, and limited scientific
understanding. When related to Macbeth, the world could be divided as follows: God, angels, Duncan,
Malcolm, other nobles (including Macbeth, Macduff and Banquo), knights, gentlemen, peasants,
animals, plants, inorganic matter, chaos. When Macbeth kills Duncan, he violates this order which is
not restored until the end of the play. Thus, killing the king is not just a personal nor a societal action;
it is a cosmic crime, and the universe reflects the disorder that Macbeth initiates.
Plot – refer to the handout which summarizes the plot structure of Macbeth
Shakespearean Heroes and Their Tragic Flaws – There are some specific traits about Shakespearean
heroes:
 They are often kings or military leaders – therefore their downfalls have great consequences for
a nation.
 They often cause their own downfalls through their actions.
 They all possess a character flaw (hamartia). What is Macbeth's tragic flaw?
Part II - Short Essay (minimum 2 body paragraphs, brief introduction and
conclusion). You will assessed according to the English 11 rubric.
1. You may choose from one of the following topics for a short essay:
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Who is more to blame for Macbeth's downfall: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, or the three
witches? Justify.
Compare and contrast the characters of Macbeth and Macduff.
Choose a theme from the play (e.g. “Being overly ambitious can lead to a person's
downfall.”, “Guilt can drive a person mad.”, or "Never trust the supernatural.") and explore
how it is developed in the play. You may choose your own theme, if you wish.
Choose a character from real life or modern fiction that somehow parallels Macbeth's.
Compare and contrast him or her with Macbeth.
2. In your essay be sure to plan your essay first, have a clear thesis, use a minimum of 3 quotes to
support your ideas, and edit for clarity and conventions. You may bring in a prepared outline, if
you wish.