Macbeth Theme Notes

This is to help you identify themes, ideas and quotes in Macbeth. We will turn in whatever you use on this as part of your drafting process for your rough draft. You do not need to fill in the entire worksheet, just the parts that could be helpful to you. Macbeth Theme Notes During our reading of Macbeth, we have been studying the various themes presented in the play. This sheet is designed for you to keep notes about the themes we discuss. Keeping track of when themes appear in the play and which characters embody them will help you complete your final Macbeth compare and contrast essay. Please note that your references at the end of your quotations should refer to act, scene and line numbers, not to page numbers. You may either use Roman numerals or Arabic ones as you prefer. Example: (1.1.12-23) or (I.i.12-23) -- In this reference, the quotation would come from Act I, scene i, lines 12-23. The period should always appear at the end of your sentence, that is, after the parenthetical reference. Theme: Power and Corruption Does power have the ability to corrupt people? Act/Scene: Brief summary of scene: Quote that exemplifies theme (make sure to cite it correctly): Theme: Ambition When is ambition a negative and positive trait? Does the world need more or less ambition? Do the means justify the end? Act/Scene: Brief summary of scene: Quote that exemplifies theme (make sure to cite it correctly): Theme: Fate/Superstition Are our lives governed by fate or free will? Do our beliefs in superstitions or “predictions” cause us to behave differently than we would have otherwise? Act/Scene: Brief summary of scene: Quote that exemplifies theme (make sure to cite it correctly): Macbeth’s reaction to the predictions: Quote: Your explanation: Banquo’s reaction to the predictions: Quote: Your explanation: Theme: Appearance vs. Reality Are things really what they seem? Are people really who they seem? Act/Scene: Brief summary of scene: Quote that exemplifies theme (make sure to cite it correctly): Theme: Guilt How does guilt affect us? Act/Scene: Brief summary of scene: Quote that exemplifies theme (make sure to cite correctly):