The Supernatural in Macbeth

What does the term "supernatural" mean?

• Anything which does not happen as you might expect.

• Anything which is attributed to a force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature

• Something which is more powerful than nature

• Anything dark and mysterious

Why were the Jacobeans so frightened by supernatural things?

• They did not have good scientific knowledge and so believed that evil was the cause

• The King was fascinated by it

• Jacobeans believed in the Natural Order and appreciated the role of witches within it

• It made good theatre

Who was on the throne at the time that Shakespeare wrote "Macbeth"?

• Elizabeth I

• Charles I

• James V

• James 1

James I was obsessed with which element of the supernatural

• Witches and Witchcraft
• Fairies
• Ghosts
• Magic

James wrote a book about the supernatural called

• The true and historical lives of Scotland's witches

• Daemons and Magick

• Daemonologie

• Sorcery's Secrets

The witches' main role in the story is

• to scare the audience
• To give Macbeth ambition
• To bring out and expose Macbeth's inner ambition
• To confuse the audience

The play begins with The witches because

• It's a way to create the feeling of unease in the audience

• James 1 demanded it

• They are the main characters in the play

• It's the easiest way to set up the stage

When Banquo's ghost appears at the banquet

• It is Macbeth's guilt that creates the illusion
• It is Lady Macbeth's guilt that creates the illusion
• It is a trick played by Macduff to catch Macbeth out
• It is one of the witches' first prophecies 

Just after Banquo's ghost appears Macbeth realises he is:

'in blood Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er'. This means

• He has killed so many people that he might as well continue

• He realises what he has done and is seeking forgiveness

• He finds killing people really tedious when he used to enjoy it

• Spilling blood is just part of what it means to be a ruler

How do the witches greet Macbeth at the start of the play?

• All hail Macbeth, mighty warrior

• All hail Macbeth, that shall be King hereafter

• All hail Macbeth, your vaulting ambition will make you King

• Hail Macbeth, Thane of Fife