ENGLISH 4TH

QUARTER
MACBETH
Author: William Shakespeare
It is set in medieval Scotland and tells the story of Macbeth, a brave and loyal Scottish general,
who is prophesied by three witches that he will become king. Driven by ambition and the
encouragement of his wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth murders King Duncan and ascends to the
throne.

As Macbeth's guilt and paranoia grow, he becomes increasingly tyrannical and paranoid, causing
him to commit more murders to maintain his power. Eventually, his actions lead to his downfall
and death, as he is overthrown by a coalition of Scottish lords.

The play explores themes of ambition, power, guilt, and the consequences of one's actions. It is
one of Shakespeare's most popular and frequently performed plays, and has been adapted into
numerous films, operas, and stage productions over the years.
 BACKGROUND
It is set in medieval Scotland and tells the story of Macbeth, a brave and loyal Scottish
general, who is prophesied by three witches that he will become king. Driven by ambition and
the encouragement of his wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth murders King Duncan and ascends to
the throne.

As Macbeth's guilt and paranoia grow, he becomes increasingly tyrannical and paranoid,
causing him to commit more murders to maintain his power. Eventually, his actions lead to
his downfall and death, as he is overthrown by a coalition of Scottish lords.

The play explores themes of ambition, power, guilt, and the consequences of one's actions.
It is one of Shakespeare's most popular and frequently performed plays, and has been
adapted into numerous films, operas, and stage productions over the years.
 BACKGROUND
The Tragedy of Macbeth is William Shakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest tragedy. It was most
likely written in 1606 during the early reign of James the 1st. Macbeth reflects on the
playwright’s close relationship with the sovereign. Shakespeare paid homage to King James’
Scottish lineage and the theme of bad versus good kingship resonates with the theory of
divine right being developed by James.

It tells the story of Macbeth, a brave Scottish general who receives a prophecy from a trio
of sinister witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed with ambitious
thoughts and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and seizes the
throne for himself. He begins his reign racked with guilt and fear and soon becomes a
tyrannical ruler, as he is forced to commit more and more murders to protect himself from
enmity and suspicion.
 BACKGROUND
The bloodbath swiftly propels Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to arrogance, madness,
and death. Macbeth is not Shakespeare’s most complex play, but it is certainly one
of his most powerful and emotionally intense stories. Macbeth tumbles madly from
its opening to its conclusion. It is a sharp, jagged sketch of theme and character;
shocking and fascinating audiences for nearly four hundred years.

 CHARACTERS
Macbeth - a brave Scottish General who received the title of Thane of
Glamis for his military service for the king, then he got the title Thane
of Cawdor after defeating one of the rebels.
Lady Macbeth - she is an ambitious woman who’s eager to proclaim
power and position. She and Macbeth are deeply in love with one
another and she will do anything to help Macbeth claim King Duncan’s
throne
Three witches or the three weird sisters - they are the ones who cast
spells and prophesy. They foretell Macbeth and Banquo's fate.
Banquo - a Scottish general, known for his bravery.
Fleance - Banquo's son, who luckily survives Macbeth's attempted
assassination.
King Duncan - a good king of Scotland. He has two young sons and
was the victim of a well-planned regicide in a power grab by his
trusted captain Macbeth.
Macduff - he is loyal to king Duncan. He was the one who
convinces Malcolm to lead an army against Macbeth, challenges him
one-on-one, and slays him.
Malcom - one of King Duncan’s sons, He is supposed to proclaim
heir to his throne. He became a serious competitor of Macbeth.
Donalbain - the second son of Duncan, Malcolm’s younger
brother.and one of the brave participants who fought in the final
battle.
The assassins - A group of murderers enlisted by Macbeth to
assassinate Banquo & Fleance.
 ACT I
BLEAK SCOTTISH MOORLAND
Macbeth and Banquo, two of King Duncan's generals, discover
three weird women who are witches. The witches gave two
prophecies to Macbeth, and one of the prophecies said that King
Duncan will reward Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor, and
eventually become the king of Scotland.

 ACT I
Soon afterward, King Duncan names Macbeth Thane of Cawdor as a
reward for his success in the recent battles.

The promotion seems to support the prophecy. The King then proposes
to make a brief visit that night to Macbeth's castle at Inverness.

Lady Macbeth receives news from her husband about the prophecy and
his new title. She vows to help him become king by whatever means are
necessary

 ACT II
IS THIS A DAGGER WHICH I SEE BEFORE ME?
King Duncan accompanied Macbeth to his castle so they could have
dinner together and discuss the next heir to the throne “Malcolm”.
After hearing that, The Macbeth's plot together to kill King Duncan
while in his sleep. At the appointed time, Lady Macbeth gives the guards
strong wines so Macbeth can infiltrate and kill King Duncan. He
regrets this almost immediately, but his wife reassures him and reminds
him about the prophecy that the witches gave.

 ACT II
IS THIS A DAGGER WHICH I SEE BEFORE ME?
She leaves the bloody dagger by the murdered king’s body and pins the
blame on his sons. Then suddenly King Duncan’s loyal nobleman,
Macduff, arrives at the scene. When Macduff discovers the King’s
murdered body, Macbeth kills the drunken guards out of outrage and
retribution. Meanwhile at the castle, Duncan's sons, Malcolm and
Donalbain, flee, fearing for their own lives; nevertheless, they are
blamed for the murder of their own father.

 ACT III
After King Duncan's death, both of the heirs to the throne fled, fearing
for their own lives. And the one left nearest to the throne is Macbeth,
Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth becomes King just like what the prophecy said,
But after murdering King Duncan he was plagued by fear and guilt. King
Macbeth remembers another prophecy that the witches gave that Banquo’s
descendants will inherit the throne, and after remembering what the
prophecy said King Macbeth immediately arranges assassins to put an end
to Banqou's lineage. Meanwhile Banqou and his son, set a camp to rest,
Fleance is asleep while Banquo was on guard, then immediately–

 ACT IV
King Macbeth and his King's knights searched for the weird sisters that
gave him the prophecy. After looking for many days, they found a weird-
looking tree out of which the three sisters came out. Then, the three
sisters tell him he will be safe until Birnam Wood marches into battle
against him. The witches also assure him not to fear any man born of a
woman and give him another prophecy that the true successor to the
throne will come from Banquo's bloodline. Out of fear and worry King
Macbeth and his guards embark on a reign of terror, slaughtering many
including Macduff's family.
 ACT IV
King Macbeth thought that he would be safe in his remote castle at Dunsinane, but
little did he know that Malcom, Donalbain, and Macduff were already planning to
attack that night. When one of the guards noticed that Birnam Wood was getting
closer and closer, they fired a burning arrow toward it out of curiosity. The light
of the flame revealed that they were soldiers of Macduff's army using branches
from the forest as camouflage. King Macbeth is quickly alerted of the assault and
immediately prepares a defense against it. Meanwhile, the 3 weird sisters visit Lady
Macbeth in her room without the king knowing and give her a prophecy, stating that
she will die when Birnam Wood starts to march. Ridden with fear and guilt, she
confesses all her wrongdoings to her doctor and commits suicide afterward. As the
final battle commences, King Macbeth hears of his wife's death and mourns.

 ACT V
In the midst of a losing battle, favoring Malcolm's army, Macduff
challenges King Macbeth to a duel. King Macbeth confidently accepts the
challenge because of what the weird sister said to him about not fearing
any man born of a woman. While dueling, Macduff mentioned to Macbeth
that he is the birth of a cesarean. When King Macbeth realizes that
Macduff is born a cesarean, he realizes that he is doomed and submits to
his enemy. Macduff triumphs and brings the head of the traitor Macbeth
to Malcolm. Malcolm sighs in relief, declares peace and goes to Scone to
be crowned king.
 THEMES
AMBITION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
LOYALTY AND BETRAYAL
FATE AND FREE WILL
 AMBITION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Macbeth’s ambition is his tragic flaw causes his downfall.

Two factors stoke the flames of his ambition: the
prophecy of the Three Witches and the attitude of his
wife.
 LOYALTY AND BETRAYAL

Loyalty plays out in many ways in Macbeth. King Duncan

rewarded Macbeth with the title Thane of Cawdor for his
victory in many battles. He must kill King Duncan in order to
become king himself.
Betrays Banquo out of paranoia. after seeing the king’s
corpse, he suspects Macbeth of killing him
 FATE AND FREE WILL

The witches show Macbeth his future and his fate, but
Duncan’s murder is a matter of Macbeth’s own free
will, and, after Duncan's assassination, the further
assassinations are a matter of his own planning.
SYMBOLISMS
LIGHT AND DARKNESS
SLEEP
BLOOD
 LIGHT AND DARKNESS

Light symbolizes what is good and noble and the moral

order brought by King Duncan.

Darkness is represented by the three witches known as

“weird sisters,” and Lady Macbeth who asks the night to
cloak her actions.
 SLEEP

Sleep symbolizes the ignorance that many characters find

themselves facing throughout the play, and the ways in
which this leaves them vulnerable.

Sleep also promotes the notion of a spiritual world, far

beyond the everyday experience of the characters..
 BLOOD

Blood symbolizes murder and guilt, and imagery of it

pertains to both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

Blood also symbolizes Macbeth’s own acceptance of

his guilt.
FORESHADOWING
The rebellion of the first Thane of Cawdor
The witches’ prophecies to Banquo and
Macbeth
Macbeth heard a voice cry “Sleep no more!”
FORESHADOWING
Macbeth’s bloody hands
Predictions about threats to Macbeth
 FORESHADOWING
The rebellion of the first Thane of Cawdor
The story opens with the Thane of Cawdor, a Scottish nobleman,
attempting to raise a rebellion against Duncan and gain the throne for
himself.

Macbeth heard a voice cry “Sleep no more!”

When Macbeth tells his wife about his experience murdering Duncan,
he says that he thought he heard a voice cry out “Sleep no more!”
 FORESHADOWING
Macbeth’s bloody hands
When Macbeth first meets his wife after murdering Duncan, his hands are
covered in blood.

Predictions about threats to Macbeth

In Act 4, Scene 1, the witches make a number of predictions that
Macbeth interprets as being in his favor. They predict that no one born
of a woman will harm him.
AS MACBETH AND LADY MACBETH EXPERIENCE THE TASTE OF
THEIR OWN MEDICINE, WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THEIR
GUILTY CONSCIENCE?

insomnia and sleep-walking

HOW DID MACBETH BECOME THE THANE OF

CAWDOR?
He was promoted after the old
Thane of Cawdor’s betrayal.
 WHY DID MACBETH KILL DUNCAN’S
GUARDS?
He killed the guards out of
outrage and retribution.

WHAT CONVINCED MACBETH THAT HE CAN ONLY

BECOME KING BY KILLING KING DUNCAN?

King Duncan named Malcolm

his successor.

 WHY DID MALCOLM AND DONALBAIN FLEE

SCOTLAND?

They fear for their lives after they were

blamed for the death of their father.

WHAT IS THE REASON WHY MACBETH WANTS

BANQUO’S SON KILLED?

The prophecy stated that the future

king will come from Banquo’s lineage.

WHAT DID MACBETH THINK OF DOING TO KNOW

MORE ABOUT HIS FATE?

He wants to visit the weird

sisters again.

WHAT DID THE WEIRD SISTERS TELL MACBETH

ABOUT MACDUFF?

He should beware of Macduff.

 WHAT DID THE WEIRD SISTERS ASSURE
MACBETH?
He need not fear anyone born
of a woman.

WHY DOES LADY MACBETH REPEATEDLY MAKE

THE GESTURE OF WASHING HER HANDS?

She remembers the horror she and

Macbeth did to others.

WHY DID MALCOLM ORDER THE SOLDIERS TO

CARRY A BOUGH FROM THE FOREST?
He wanted to conceal their number
from Macbeth.
 LITERARY DEVICES

LITERARY TECHNIQUES
 LITERARY DEVICES

It refers to specific tools that writers use to

create meaning and enhance their writing. In
addition to that, it makes the pieces more
complete, complex, engaging, and interesting for
the audience.

 LITERARY TECHNIQUES

These are specific, deliberate language

constructions that authors use to convey
meaning. Moreover, it is somehow similar to
Literary Devices; writers use literary techniques, to
create effects and engage the reader more into
their works.
 Literary Techniques

Sound Figurative Narrative Poetic Rhetorical Symbolic

Devices Language Devices Devices Devices Devices

Anthropomorphism
Consonance Dialogue Blank Verse Parallelism Allegory

Personification

Aliteration Exposition Fixed Verse Satire Deus ex

Machina
Irony

Onomatopeia Foreshadowing Free Verse

Oxymoron

Paradox Flashback

Simile
 SOUND DEVICES
These are techniques that use language in a
non-literal or imaginative way to create a
specific effect.

Assonance, Alliteration, and Onomatopeia are

few examples of sound devices.
 ALLITERATION
VS
ASSONANCE
Alliteration is the repetition of
consonant sounds, usually used

consecutively in the same

sentence.

Assonance is the repetition of

vowel sounds, usually used
consecutively in the same
sentence.

 ONOMATOPOEIA

Words imitate certain living things, such as

people, animals, and objects with no life.
It is when a word imitates or evokes the
sound it refers to

Examples: Car sounds “Vroom~.” The dog barks, “Arf-Arf.”

Wind as “Whoosh”

 FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
Techniques that use language in a non-literal
or imaginative way to create a specific effect

anthropomorphism, personification, irony, oxymoron,

paradox, metaphor, and similie
 ANTHROPOMORPHISM
VS
Anthropomorphism- the attribution of human PERSONIFICATION

characteristics, behaviors, and emotions to

non-human entities, such as animals, objects,
or natural phenomena. In a literal sense.

Ex: Winnie the Pooh,

Personification- the attribution of human

characteristics to abstract ideas, natural
phenomena, or inanimate objects in a
figurative manner.

Ex: The waves danced.

 SIMILE
VS
METAPHOR
Metaphor - a comparison between
two things that are otherwise
unrelated. This doesn’t use words
such as like or as.

Examples: His attitude was pure ice.

Simile - a comparison between two

unlike things using the words “like”
or “as.”

Examples: She looks like an angel.

 OXYMORON
VS
PARADOX
Oxymoron - describes words or phrases
that when placed together, create
paradoxes or contradictions

examples: Sweet sorrow, faith unfaithful, falsely true.

Paradox - a statement that

appears to contradict itself but
reveals a more profound truth,
meaning, or joke upon further
inspection

 IRONY
The contradictory statements or
situations reveal a reality different
from what appears to be true.

Types of Irony
Verbal Irony
Dramatic Irony
Situational Irony
 Verbal Irony
TYPES OF IRONY
When words are used to mean something
different from what it actually appears to.
Dramatic Irony
Example: A weatherman says that it’s not like he
knows when it will rain next.
When the audience is more aware of what
is happening rather than the characters.

Example: When Romeo thought Juliet is dead, so

Situational Irony Romeo killed himself.

When something is happening far from what

was expected. Expectation vs. Reality.

Examples: A doctor who graduated with a high

degree only died of a heart attack.
 NARRATIVE DEVICES
These are techniques that affect the way a
story is told or structures

Dialogue, Exposition, Foreshadowing, and Flashback

 DIALOGUE

It refers to a conversation between two

or more characters, exchanging ideas and
opinions.

Example: The dialogue of the three witches for finding

Macbeth.
 EXPOSITION

It refers to the introduction of characters

and the plot.

It also sets up the mood or tone for the

rest of the story.

Example: The introduction of the three witches from the story

"Macbeth."

 FORESHADOWING

It hints to readers of something to follow

or appear later in a story.

Example: When the three witches gave 2 prophecies to

Macbeth that turned him to be a savage.

 FLASHBACK

It is an interjected scene that takes the

narrative back in time from the current point in
the story.

Example: While Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking, she experiences a

flashback to when she assisted in assuaging her husband's guilt
after the planned murder of Banquo.
 FORESHADOWING

It hints to readers of something to follow

or appear later in a story.

Example: When the three witches gave 2 prophecies to

Macbeth that turned him to be a savage.

 POETIC DEVICES
These are techniques that are specific to
poetry or verse

Types are: Blank Verse, Fixed Verse, and Free Verse

 Blank Verse
POETIC DEVICES
It refers to poetry with no rhyme scheme.
Often written in Iambic-Pentameter

The most famous example of Blank Verse poetry Fixed Verse

is the epic poem "Paradise Lost" by the English
Poet John Milton.
It refers to poetry written in a specific
template or formula.

Example: Haiku, Sonnets, and Limericks.

Free Verse

A poetry that does not rhyme or

have a regular meter.
 RHETORICAL DEVICES
These techniques uses language to persuade
or influence an audience.

Types are: Parallelism and Satire.

 PARALLELISM

It uses similar or identical language,

structures, events, or ideas in different
text parts. It adds symmetry, effectiveness,
and balance to a sentence

Examples: John prepared his bag for school, ate breakfast,

and left home for school.

 SATIRE

It is the use of humor, irony, or exaggeration

to hammer and expose foolishness or
wrongdoing. Often focused on politics, but
this is not required at all.

Example: "The Simpsons", a TV show that revolves around

family, religion, politics, and the American lifestyle.

 SYMBOLIC DEVICES
These are techniques that use something to
represent something else entirely.

Allegory and Deus ex Machina.

 ALLEGORY

Means of symbolic fictional figures and

actions of truth.

It uses characters and a plot to relate

abstract ideas and themes.

Example: "Animal Farm" by George Orwell

 DEUS EX MACHINA.

Latin for "God out of the machine"

The primary conflict is being solved out of

nowhere as if God could only solve that said
conflict

LITERARY ELEMENTS

Commonly defined as the aspects or characteristics of a

whole text.

 CHARACTERIZATION

The character's personality, life history,

values, physical attributes, etc.
Description of a character.

Example: "Samson was a legendary Israelite warrior and judge, a member of the
tribe of Dan and Nazirite.
 CONTEXT

Facts and conditions surrounding a given

situation.

Example: The context of why Macbeth killed King Duncan is due to the
witches' prophecies

 MOOD

The atmosphere or emotional condition

created by the piece within the setting.
What the reader feels.

Example: The Mood of “The Tragedy of Macbeth starts off as dark and ominous.”

 TONE

The author's attitude towards work, events,

characters, or the reader/audience.
What the author feels.

Example: The tone of Macbeth is "dark, elegiac and depressing."

 MOTIF
VS
SYMBOLISM
Motif is an important idea or
image is sometimes expressed as

a word or phrase.
Appears repeatedly

Symbolism is the use of specific

Theme is a main universal
objects or images to represent
idea or message conveyed by
the piece abstract ideas.

Appears once

 POINT OF VIEW

It refers to who is narrating or

telling the story. Also known as
"POV"

Types of POV:
First Person - there is no narrator
Third Person - narrated by a
character or direct observer in the
story.
 STRUCTURE

It organizes a story's elements,

including the plot, characters, and
themes.
 CLIMAX

The highest point of the story. The most

exciting part. Protagonist must face the
greatest challenge

example: Macbeth murders King Duncan and becomes the King of Scotland.
 CONFLICT

A struggle between opposing

forces which drives the story

 PLOT AND
SETTING
Setting - Time and place
in which the story occurs

Plot - sequence of events

in the story

 PROTAGONIST
VS
Protagonist - The main ANTAGONIST
character in the story.

Antagonist - counterpart to
the main character and
source of a conflict. Not
necessarily a person

 TRAGIC HERO
VS
Tragic hero - Protagonist in a
tragedy. They make mistakes
TRAGICAL FLAW
that lead them to their own
downfall.

Tragical Flaw - It is the flaw

that makes a character or
protagonist a Tragic Hero