1. “The Scottish Play”

2.  11 th century Scotland  Based on Holinshed’s History titled Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland  Shakespeare takes history and shapes it into tragedy – makes some characters more innocent, others more guilty.

3.  Holinshed’s History titled Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland is an historical account of the areas/nations based on what was known at the time.  People did believe in witches, and Holinshed’s History actually does include a report of Macbeth’s encounter with witches.  Additionally, King James I of England (King James VI of Scotland) had written Daemonlogie, a book which made clear his belief in the existence of witches and that they should be hunted and executed.

4.  The tanist system was used in Scotland at this time. In Literature, see p. 382.  The tanist system/tanistry- In this system, the position of ruler shifted from tribe to tribe/clan to clan, not from father to son; the next ruler was chosen prior to the current ruler’s death; the next ruler had to be of age (at least 16) and had to be worthy (a strong warrior).  Therefore, Macbeth had a legitimate reason to expect the position of king to be his.

6.  Macbeth:  Throughout, he holds the titles of Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and King of Scotland  Kills Duncan  Has Banquo killed  Has Macduff’s family killed  Over the course of the play, his mental state deteriorates.  Is killed by Macduff (Macbeth’s death occurs off- stage.)

7.  Lady Macbeth  Wife of Macbeth  Deeply ambitious, desires power  Urges Macbeth to kill King Duncan  Exerts incredible influence over Macbeth  Eventually goes mad with guilt  Dies (off-stage)….Most think that she committed suicide, but we don’t have proof in the play.

8.  The Three Witches  Also called “the weird sisters” (*The word “weird” originates from “wyrd.” “Wyrd” is an Old English word that means fate—and a fate that cannot be resisted.)  Make predictions about future – tempt Macbeth  Are presented as evil and perverse  Are ruled by Hecate

9.  Banquo  Witches predict his children will inherit throne of Scotland  Is killed by murderers that Macbeth convinces to kill him  He’s a foil to Macbeth – has opposite character traits.  King Duncan  King of Scotland – virtuous and kind  Is killed by Macbeth (His death occurs off-stage.)  His death symbolizes disruption of order in Scotland

10.  Macduff  Scottish nobleman who opposes Macbeth  Kills Macbeth  Malcolm  Eldest son of King Duncan  Is declared heir to the throne by his father/Duncan  Challenges Macbeth  Restores rightful throne in Scotland – return to order

11. Macbeth Literary Terms, Genre, and Devices

12.  Elizabethan drama  Tragedy  Tragic flaw

13.  Symbols (e.g. the owl)  Characters (e.g. foils, internal conflict, and external conflict)  Plot  Overall structure (Freytag’s Pyramid)- exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution  Internal conflict vs. external conflict

14.  Language of contradiction (3 witches)  Gender play/gender shifting  Prose (vs. poetry)  Rhyming couplets  Blank verse  Dramatic irony  Prose (vs. poetry)  Soliloquy  Monologue  Pathetic fallacy