Macbeth Context Questions

Who was the monarch when Shakespeare wrote ‘Macbeth’?

• Elizabeth I

• Victoria

• James V

• James I

Answer explanation

King James I (first) of England was also James VI (sixth) of Scotland. He ruled England, Scotland and Wales.

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King James I was the ruler of Scotland, England and Wales at the time ‘Macbeth’ was written. What was different about his rule?

• He was a Protestant and Elizabeth I had been a Catholic.

• It was the first time these three countries had been ruled by a single monarch.

• He ruled from Scotland and not from England.

• He made England rejoin the Catholic Church.

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What was the view of witchcraft in Shakespeare’s society?

• People believed witches were real and could be anyone.

• Old women were often accused of being witches.

• Witches could be both good and evil.

• They believed witches had made a pact with the Devil.

Answer explanation

Up until the 1700s most people in England believed in witches and witchcraft.  This way of life was related to Pagan (non-Christian) beliefs, and had been tolerated for many years.

James I was obsessed with which element of the supernatural

• Witches and Witchcraft
• Fairies
• Ghosts
• Magic

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When was Macbeth performed at the Globe Theatre?

• 1606

• 1609

• 1611

• 1605

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James wrote a book about the supernatural called

• The true and historical lives of Scotland's withces
• Muggles and Magic
• Daemonologie
• Sorcery's Secrets

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This was the belief that God had designed an ordered system for both nature and humankind within which every creature and person had an allotted place. It was considered an offence against God for anyone to try to alter their station in life

• The Status Quo
• Great Chain of Being
• The Great Seal

This was the belief that the power of monarchs was given directly by God, and thus monarchs were answerable only to God

• Divination
• Divide and Conquer
• Divide and Rule
• Divine Right of Kings

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What happened to those accused of being a witch?

• People were forced to perform spells.

• People were tickled until they confessed.

• People were tried and often executed for being witches.

• Their bodies were searched for the mark of the devil.

Answer explanation

This happened all throughout Europe and America too, and the witch hunts lasted for more than 150 years.

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Which of these is NOT one of the powers witches were thought to have?

• Witches could cause bad weather and storms, affecting ships at sea and spoiling crops.

• Witches could make people ill using spells and potions.

• Witches used animals such as cats as disguises for the evil spirits who served them (called ‘familiars’.)

• Witches could bring the dead back to life.

• Witches could see into the future.

Answer explanation

People believed that witches had the following abilities: 

- Witches could make people fall ill by using spells and potions.

- Witches could fly and make themselves invisible.

- Witches used animals such as cats as disguises for the evil spirits who served them (called ‘familiars’.

- Witches could talk to the dead.

- Witches could see into the future.

- Witches could cause bad weather and storms, affecting ships at sea and spoiling crops.

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