The X-kit Achieve! Literature series offers a unique series of visually attractive, high-quality exam preparation tools. The series has been written by top South African educationalists. The books cover all the knowledge and skills tested in the final English Home Language and First Additional Language literature exams for the FET phase.
Plot, theme, character, style, symbolism and imagery are all discussed in detail, and thoroughly taught and tested. Study and exam preparation techniques are covered and exam questions provided. Answers are also provided for all the questions to allow learners to monitor their own understanding.
This study guide aims to provide you with sufficient support for doing really well in your Grade 12 English examination. This study guide will provide:
• All the background information needed for a full understanding of Macbeth;
• Summaries, including a précis of the whole play, plus details of acts and scenes;
• Important quotes for use in exams;
• An analysis of the play that will help you understand the plot and develop insight and appreciation;
• Pointers about the characters for quick and easy revision;
• A summary of the key themes;
• Comprehensive exam preparation assistance, including test-yourself questions, sample contextual questions and full answers; and
• A glossary explaining literature terminology.
About the playwright, William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) is widely considered to be the greatest writer in the English language. In total, he wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets. Although Shakespeare is recognised as one of literature’s greatest influences, we actually know very little about him. The information we do have about his life comes from court records, wills, marriage certificates and his tombstone.
Macbeth is a tragedy set in Scotland a very long time ago. In a tragedy, the flaws of the main character lead to their downfall. A well written tragedy makes the audience respond with empathy for the hero. We understand how they were misled by their own character to do something that led to their downfall and we realise that we can make mistakes like that in our own lives.
There was a real ‘Macbeth’ who was king of Scotland in 1050. He took the throne after killing his cousin, Duncan. Duncan’s eldest son, Malcolm, ended Macbeth’s reign in 1057 by killing him in battle and later assuming the throne as Malcolm III. Shakespeare wrote the play, Macbeth, in the early 1600s when most of Europe was Christian. The Christian beliefs about heaven and hell and Judgement Day, when all souls would be judged, were accepted by most people. These beliefs underlie the action in Macbeth. Anyone committing the crime of murder would be damned to hell. There was also a firm belief that the king of a country was God’s representative on Earth, and so should be revered and treated as holy. Thus killing the king, which is the central crime in Macbeth, was seen as a double sin.
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