Macbeth Literary Terms/Thematic Ideas
LITERARY TERMS: Try to match the definition to the correct term
1. Plays that turn away from religious subjects and begins to model ancient
Greek and Roman plays with sophisticated plots
2. humorous scene or passage inserted into an otherwise serious work
(emotional outlet for audience to contrast seriousness of work)
3. predicted occurrence, Fate
4. Inside force/conflict
Macbeth (ambition/greed/guilt)
Lady Mac (guilt)
5. serious play in which the chief figures, through peculiarity of character, pass
through a serious of misfortunes, eventually leading to a catastrophe and
downfall
6. a convention in drama whereby a character onstage addresses the audience
to
reveal some inner thought or feeling, inaudible to other characters onstage
7. outside forces/pressure
Macbeth (Lady Macbeth’s persistence, witches, MacDuff)
8. monologue delivered by a character while alone onstage revealing inner
thoughts, emotions, or some other information the audience needs to know
9. a statement which reveals a kind of truth which at first seems contradictory
Example: “Foul is fair and fair is foul, hover through the fog and filthy
air”