SHAKESPEARE’S MACBETH:

What to Study for the Test

BACKGROUND TO SHAKESPEARE, GUNPOWDER PLOT & THE

RENAISSANCE (10-20 QUESTIONS)Q: What was the Gunpowder Plot?

A: A conspiracy by the catholic church to blow up Parliament(NOTE: This served as partial inspiration to the play. Some of Shakespeare’s relatives may have been involved in the plot, prompting Shakespeare to write a play that would please the king)

STUDY: Background class notes, textbook reading

PLOT TO MACBETH (35-45 QUESTIONS – MULTIPLE CHOICE & 10-20 QUESTIONS – ORDER OF

EVENTS)

STUDY: ALL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS, summaries of scenes in textbook, cast of characters, helps on website

Q: Why is Macbeth surprised when Ross addresses him as Thane of Cawdor?

A: Because it appears one of the witches’ prophecies has immediately come true.

STUDY: Review Literary Terms (A-H), examples in Macbeth, examples particular to Shakespeare, drama, and tragedy

LITERARY DEVICES (10-20 QUESTIONS – EXAMPLES FROM

MACBETH)

“fair is foul, and foul is fair” is an example of a

PARADOX

MATCHING CHARACTERS & QUOTES (20-30 Questions)

Q: Who said, “See, see, our

honored hostess! The love that

follows us sometime is our

trouble…”

A: King DuncanSTUDY: Quotes related to themes, specific speeches

and passages mentioned in class

MATCHING THEMES & QUOTES (20-30 Questions)

THEMES FOUND IN MACBETH:• Ambition is a human quality that can be used for good or for evil• Appearances can be misleading and deceptive; therefore, don’t judge

others by appearances• A guilty conscience cannot be avoided and can effect the body

physically, emotionally, and psychologically• Bloodshed is an evil that always leads to more darkness and

bloodshed• When God’s natural order of the universe is disturbed, the result is

madness, chaos, and destruction until proper order is restored by justice or mercy

• Fear that is unchecked drives the hopeless to commit acts of desperation

THERE WILL BE ONE SHORT ANSWER QUESTION

REGARDING THEMES; BRING YOUR BOOK!