1. By William Shakespeare
Macbeth
By William Shakespeare

2. Key Facts Time and place written: 1606 England
Setting (time): The Middle Ages, 11th c.
Setting (place): Various locations in Scotland; also England briefly
Protagonist: Macbeth
Internal Conflict: The struggle within Macbeth between his ambition and his sense of right and wrong

3. Themes The corrupting nature of unchecked ambition
The relationship between cruelty and masculinity
The difference between kingship and tyranny

4. Symbols Blood Weather Blood is everywhere in Macbeth
Symbolizes guilt that sits like a permanent stain on the consciences of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Weather
Thunder and lightening accompany the witches
Terrible storms on the night of Duncan’s murder.

5. Characters Duncan-King of Scotland
Macbeth-General of the king’s army, afterwards King of Scotland
Lady Macbeth-Wife of Macbeth
Banquo-General of the king’s army (and later a ghost)
Macduff-Thane of Fife; suspicious of Macbeth from the start
Lady Macduff-Wife of Macduff
Hecate-Head witch
Siward-Earl of Northumberland, General of the English forces.

6. Literary Terms
Tragedy-A story in which a heroic character dies or comes to an unhappy end, because of a tragic flaw, an error in judgment; or circumstances beyond his control.
Tragic Flaw-a character weakness
Macbeth’s tragic flaw is too much ambition
Foil-a character who sets off another character by strong contrast, or being almost opposite.

7. Literary Terms
Monologue-a long speech given by a character in a story, movie, play, etc. or a performer.
Soliloquy-A long, usually serious speech that a character in a play makes to an audience and that reveals the character’s thoughts.
Aside-A comment spoken by a character in a play that is heard by the audience but is supposedly not heard by other characters on stage.

8. Vocabulary
Solemn-very serious or formal in manner, behavior, or expression.
Rebuked-to speak in an angry and critical way to someone.
Rancor-an angry feeling of hatred or dislike for someone who has treated you unfairly.
Barren-not able to bear children; providing no shelter or sustenance; incapable of sustaining life.
Patricide-The act of murdering your own father.
Jovial-full of, or showing high-spirited merriment and cheerfulness.

9. Macbeth Plot Diagram Macbeth’s murder of Duncan.
Macbeth and Banquo’s encounter with the witches initiates both conflicts; Lady Macbeth’s speeches motivate Macbeth into murdering Duncan and seizing the crown.
Macbeth’s murders.
Macbeth’s 2nd meeting with the witches.
Macbeth’s final confrontation with Macduff and the opposing armies.
The entirety of Act I
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