Macbeth Revision Cards

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'Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under't'
Act 1 Scene 5
Analysis
Lady Macbeth asks Macbeth to show one face to the world but keep another in secret hiding his true nature. The snake is a reference to the bible and the connection with the devil and ultimately evil.
1 of 12
'I have no spur to ***** the side of my intent, but only vaulting ambition'
Act 1 Scene 7
Analysis
Initially Macbeth denies his desire to kill Duncan and describes how he has 'no desire' to kill Duncan and take the throne. We know that he ultimately goes back on this promise later in the play. He is soon convinced by Lady Macbeth that he shoul
2 of 12
'Yet I do fear thy nature. It is too full of the milk of human kindness'
Act 1 Scene 5
Analysis
Lady Macbeth suspects her husband is not up to the job of killing Duncan. She fears he has no ambition and is too weak willed.
3 of 12
'Will all great neptune's ocean wash this blood from my hand?'
Act 2 Scene 3
Analysis
Macbeth describes his guilt after killing Duncan. The blood, symbolic of guilt, won't was away from his hands and so he fears that he will never again be clean and free from sin.
4 of 12
“Fair is foul and foul is fair”
Act 1 Scene 1
Analysis
In the opening of the play, the witches show that not everything is as it appears, and appearances can be deceiving. This is important in regards to the relationship between Macbeth and Duncan, as Macbeth appeared as a loyal soldier, but he was a
5 of 12
“Brave Macbeth – Well he deserves that name – Confronted him with brandished steel”
Act 2 Scene 1
Analysis
Ross describes Macbeth as a very strong and loyal soldier, and a hero on the battlefield who fought bravely to protect his king. This is important, as by showing Macbeth to be so loyal to Duncan, it makes his downfall more obvious and shows the
6 of 12
'Oh full of scorpions is my mind dear wife!'
Act 3 Scene 2
Analysis
Macbeth uses a metaphor to explain that his guilty conscience is attacking and stinging him. His mind feels full of poison and the word 'full' suggests that his guilt is inescapable.
7 of 12
'I think our country sinks beneath the yoke. It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash is added to her wounds'
Act 4 Scene 3
Analysis
Malcolm describes how Scotland is suffering under the weight of Macbeth's brutal leadership. His personification of Scotland highlights the suffering and damage Macbeth has done to it.
8 of 12
“Stars hide your fires; let not light see my dark and deep desires”
Act 1 Scene 4
Analysis
Macbeth says this after Duncan announced his son Malcolm as his heir to the kingdom. This announcement makes Macbeth both angry and jealous, but he hopes nobody will see his deep desires as he knows he will get into severe trouble if found out.
9 of 12
“Come you spirits, that tend on mortal thoughts. Unsex me here, and fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelty”
Act 1 Scene 5
Analysis
She is asking the spirits to ***** her of all her feminine weakness and to instead fill her with masculinity, as she fears that her husband, Macbeth, is not strong enough to kill Duncan on his visit, and so she must be ready to kill him herself.
10 of 12
“I am in blood, steeped in so far, that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er”
Act 3 Scene 4
Analysis
'Steeped' is the key verb here, as Macbeth feels that the blood has steeped into his body and into his soul, so will remain there forever. Yet this quotation also shows that the decisions Macbeth has made have led him to this point, yet if he do
11 of 12
“Here’s the smell of blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”
Act 5 Scene 1
At this point in the play she deeply regrets her actions and feels remorse for what she has done. She feels that she will forever stink of blood, and no matter what she does that smell will never go away. Remembering that blood represents guilt, this show
12 of 12

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

'I have no spur to ***** the side of my intent, but only vaulting ambition'
Act 1 Scene 7

Back

Analysis
Initially Macbeth denies his desire to kill Duncan and describes how he has 'no desire' to kill Duncan and take the throne. We know that he ultimately goes back on this promise later in the play. He is soon convinced by Lady Macbeth that he shoul

Card 3

Front

'Yet I do fear thy nature. It is too full of the milk of human kindness'
Act 1 Scene 5

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

'Will all great neptune's ocean wash this blood from my hand?'
Act 2 Scene 3

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

“Fair is foul and foul is fair”
Act 1 Scene 1

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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