1. Macbeth, Act V
Review for the test

2. Tragedy Aristotle defined tragedy in his Poetics
Term does not refer to a sad play with an unhappy ending
Word actually comes from Greek tragos (goat) and aedein (to sing), so it means “singing of the goat”
Dionysus festival in ancient Greece

3. Tragic Hero A person of noble stature, but not a god
Both good and evil traits, like real people
In Aristotle’s and Shakespeare’s times, a ruler.

4. Hamartia “Tragic flaw” A character flaw, often excess pride
Or even just a poor choice or error in judgment
Leads to his downfall, though his punishment may be even more than he “deserves”

5. What is Macbeth’s hamartia?

6. The ending
The terrible events in the hero’s life lead him to gain knowledge about himself/life
In other words, the hero learns something
Aristotle called this knowledge catastrophe
Hero suffers, becomes aware of where he went wrong, faces his situation, and proclaims defiance

7. How does this relate to Macbeth
How does this relate to Macbeth? What lines show his catastrophe and his defiance?

8. Audience Response
Tragedy is ironic—audience is aware of what is going to happen and waits for the protagonist to reach awareness
Audience should feel emotional involvement—pity, fear
Catharsis is Aristotle’s term for the audience’s feeling of relief—this could have happened to me! But it didn’t!

9. Lady Macbeth’s Death How does she die? How do you know?
How does Macbeth react?

10. Plot What part of the plot diagram does Act V represent?
What specific event is the most important?
How do Banquo’s sons get to be king?

11. Themes in Macbeth
After the death of Duncan, what happens to Macbeth’s mind? To Lady Macbeth’s?
What does this say about guilt?

12. What terrible things did Duncan’s murder lead to?
The play ends on a positive note, Malcolm’s final speech. Why is it positive?
What does this say about violence and disorder?

13. If Macbeth’s tragic flaw was ambition, how did that ambition change his character?
How had power corrupted him?