Macbeth Historical Context

When did Shakespeare write Macbeth?

• between 525-526
• between 1056-1057
• between 1605-1606
• between 1865-1866

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Which strain of the Holinshed Chronicles did Shakespeare use for Macbeth?

• The account of Leir, a legendary King of Britain whose story is roughly set in the 8th century BCE
• An account of King Malcom II (1005-1034)
• A vivid account of King Edward's turbulent reign 1307-1327

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In addition to the Celtic tradition of succession, what else did Macbeth use to support his claim to the throne?

• his bravery in the Battle of Holinshed, where he slaughtered hundreds of enemy soldiers
• a prophecy learned from witches that he would be king after gaining the title of Cawdor
• the ancestry of his wife, who was a direct descendant of two earlier Scottish Kings

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Macbeth was not immediately hostile to the new king, Duncan. True/False

• True
• False

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Who eventually killed Macbeth?

• Duncan
• Malcom III
• Lulach

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Who is the mother of King James I?

• Victoria
• Elizabeth
• Mary

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From which character from the play is King James I supposed to be descended?

• Duncan
• Ross
• Macbeth
• Banquo

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How did the Earl of Gowrie almost kill the King?

• Deceived the King into meeting into meeting alone with a man supposedly charged with theft
• Snuck into the King's bedroom and stabbed him multiple times with a dagger.
• Poisoned the King's wine at the celebration of the country's bicentenniel

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How was Guy Fawkes found?

• in the King's bedroom with several daggers and poison
• in the basement with a match and large quantities of gunpowder
• in the King's conservatory with lengths of rope and  a wrench

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What is equivocation?

• A person being interrogated would speak words with unclear meanings so as to avoid self-incrimination.
• Convicted conspirators would be weighed and those who weighed more would be hung.
• The determination of treason through intense interrogation and convictions without concrete evidence.

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