Birds in Macbeth Flashcards

Eagle

• Represents inspiration, masculinity, strength, and pride.
• Featured in Act I, Scene ii.

Sparrow

• Killed by birds of prey, highlighting the eagle's strength.
• Mentioned in Act I, Scene ii.

Raven

• Symbolizes darkness, destruction, and evil.
• Acts as an ill omen; referenced in Act I, Scene v.

Martlet

• A mythical bird similar to a swallow, lacking legs due to short tufts of feathers.
• Represents the constant quest for knowledge; mentioned in Act I, Scene vi.

Crow

• Signifies magic, mystery, and death; often seen as a trickster and manipulative.
• Considered an ill omen; appears in Act III, Scene ii and Act III, Scene iv.

Magpies

• Viewed as prophets or discoverers of evil, stereotyped to steal shiny objects.
• Symbolically parallels Macbeth's act of seizing the crown by murdering Duncan, seen in Act III, Scene iv.

Chough

• Related to magpies and similarly represents prophets of evil.
• Shares symbolic parallels with Macbeth's actions; found in Act III, Scene iv.

Jackdaw

• Same family as magpies; functions as a prophet of evil in the narrative.
• Reflects the theme of stealing despite the modern belief against this behavior; referenced in Act III, Scene iv.

Owl

• Symbolizes wisdom but is also associated with death and witchcraft.
• Its cry heralds death, welcomed by Lady Macbeth as a sign of Duncan's murder; includes multiple scenes.

Falcon

• Emblematic of royalty, speed, and swiftness; favored by the elite for hunting.
• The owl's act of killing the falcon emphasizes a bad omen, seen in Act II, Scene iv.

Wren

• Noted in various Shakespeare texts, small in size yet courageous.
• Lady Macduff likens herself to a wren defending her young against the deadly owl, found in Act IV, Scene ii.

Kite

• Kites equated to hawks; symbolizes ancient fears of carrion birds disturbing the dead.
• Macbeth expresses a desire for the dead to remain at peace, discussed in Act III, Scene iv and Act IV, Scene iii.

Goose

• Symbolizes guidance and stability but carries a reputation of sluggishness.
• Macbeth's reference to "10,000 geese" reflects overconfidence and his belief in his invincibility, seen in Act V, Scene iii.

Hawk

• Represents war and has a hard, unyielding nature.
• Often associated with malevolence; Macduff refers to an evil "Hell-kite" that preys on the innocent, found in Act III, Scene iv and Act IV, Scene iii.