1. SHAKESPEARE’S MACBETH: What to Study for the Test

2. 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

3. 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.

4. STUDY: Review Literary Terms (A- C), examples in Macbeth, examples particular to Shakespeare, drama, and tragedy (definitions in notes: aside, soliloquy, tragedy, etc.) LITERARY DEVICES (10-20 QUESTIONS – EXAMPLES FROM MACBETH) “fair is foul, and foul is fair” is an example of a PARADOX

5. 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 Duncan STUDY: Quotes related to themes, specific speeches and passages mentioned in class

6. 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

7. FIND THE AMBITION TO STUDY FOR THIS TEST!! CALL ON THE POWERS OF THE SUPERNATURAL! IT’S NOT SOMETHING TO CAUSE BLOODSHED OVER, BUT GUILT MAY FOLLOW YOUR GRADE!