1. Macbeth context revision
Today we will:
Know why the context is important
Understand some of the ways Macbeth is a product of its context
Be able to write a paragraph linking directly to the context

2. The AQA English Literature exam requires you to ‘understand the relationship between the text and the context in which it was written’. Without writing about the context you will only get a grade 2.

3. Queen Elizabeth I
Queen Elizabeth died 1603.
Macbeth was written 1606.
During the first part of Shakespeare’s career Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne.
Possibly impress her, and get her support of his theatre, he wrote plays with a lot of strong female characters.
When she died he continued this as his audience came to expect it.
This was what led to characters like Lady Macbeth being created.

4. “I fear he is too full of the milk of human kindness.”
Copy out this quote and write a short paragraph about how it links to the context.
“I fear he is too full of the milk of human kindness.”
Lady Macbeth

5. King James
Became King 1603
Macbeth written 1606
Shortly before Macbeth was written James became king of England.
He was really into the supernatural and had written a book called ‘Demonology’ about witches and how to catch them.
Shakespeare needed to impress him to win his support.
So in Macbeth the witches are seen as evil and Macbeth a fool for listening to them.

6. Copy out this quote and write a short paragraph about how it links to the context.
“Thou has it all now, Glamis, Cawdor, King. As the weird women promised. I fear thou played foully for it.”
Banquo

7. Guy Fawkes
The Gunpowder Plot 1605
Macbeth written 1606
The Gunpowder Plot in 1605 was a failed plan to assassinate King James in order to get a Catholic King in England.
Guy Fawkes was the unfortunate man to be caught red-handed with the gunpowder in the House Of Lords.
He was tortured and confessed and was executed.
Shakespeare made in clear in Macbeth that killing a king is wrong and will only ever end badly.
Killing a king is called regicide.

8. “this dead butcher and his fiendlike queen,”
Copy out this quote and write a short paragraph about how it links to the context.
“this dead butcher and his fiendlike queen,”
(Malcolm describes Macbeth as this at the end)

9. Religion At the time people were very religious and believed in sin
Religion At the time people were very religious and believed in sin. They also believed that if you did something wrong you would pay for your sin. This is seen through Macbeth’s guilt after killing the king – Shakespeare focuses on his guilt to show how wrong it is.

10. “But wherefore could not I pronounce “Amen”?”
Religion
Copy out this quote and write a short paragraph about how it links to the context.
“But wherefore could not I pronounce “Amen”?”
After killing King Duncan, Macbeth cannot say “Amen”.

11. Great Chain of Being The Great Chain of Being is a hierarchy believed in medieval Christianity. This order of things was believed to have been decided by God and could not be changed. God – Angel/demons – stars – moon – kings – princes – noblemen – commoners. How did Shakespeare ensure that true natural order was restored?

12. Macbeth at the end (admitting he has been beaten)
Copy out this quote and write a short paragraph about how it links to the context.
“Out out brief candle. Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player who struts his hour upon the stage.”
Macbeth at the end (admitting he has been beaten)

13. Plan your answer now
2 paragraphs about the excerpt
2 paragraphs about the play as a whole
Link to CONTEXT in EACH one