Demonstration of Knowledge

Demonstration of Knowledge

Track Macbeth's relationship to gender identification (in the Elizabethan sense of spheres of masculinity and/or femininity) by referring to several lines from each act...

Argue that, ironically, Macbeth is most masculine in the last act.

Discuss, by three references to lines in the play, how Lady Macbeth is clearly an archetypal witch character.

Discuss how Lady Macbeth returns to a feminine sphere of behavior at the end of the play.

Discuss one example of comic relief found in the play.

Compare Lady Macbeth to Nurse Ratched.

Be ready to respond to at least one other prompt from the shmoop website.

What are three moments in the play that Shakespeare uses to make us sympathize with Macbeth--despite his tyrannical ways.

How do two of the three final prophecies unravel and lead Macbeth on "to his confusion"?

Discuss several of the more evil ingredients used to make the witch's final charms.

Old Siward's definition of manhood is eerily similar to Macbeth's. Explain.

How does Malcolm test Macduff's loyalty?

List two moments in the play where it is clear that Shakespeare has his mind on his money and his money on his mind.

Discuss the recurring references to "blood" throughout the play--literal and figurative. Why are they so important?

List three examples of the clothing trope.

List three examples of direct references to the "false faces" trope used in "Macbeth." Stepping back from the play a bit, what does Shakespeare seem to be saying about humanity in general with this trope?

Discuss three examples of dramatic irony found in the play. What do we know that the characters don't?

Obviously, I am not asking you to answer all of these questions. But I reserve the right to choose any five of these for your test. It should be fairly obvious which question will be on every class's test...but each class will have a different test.