Macbeth Short Answer Questions Quiz and Study Guide

Questions and Answers

What is the tragic flaw of Macbeth that leads to his downfall?

Ambition

How does Lady Macbeth influence Macbeth's decision to murder King Duncan?

She questions his manhood and manipulates his sense of honor.

Discuss the role of the supernatural in Macbeth's actions and the overall outcome of the play.

The witches' prophecies and supernatural elements fuel Macbeth's ambition and influence his decisions, leading to tragic consequences.

What is the significance of the green light at the end of Daisy's dock in The Great Gatsby?

Hope and the American Dream Signup and view all the answers

How does the character of Jay Gatsby embody the theme of the American Dream in the novel?

Gatsby's rise from poverty to wealth showcases the belief in the possibility of self-improvement and success in America. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the significance of the Valley of Ashes in The Great Gatsby and its symbolic representation.

The Valley of Ashes represents the moral and social decay resulting from the pursuit of wealth and the corruption of the American Dream. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Macbeth

Macbeth's tragic flaw is his ambition, which drives him to commit a series of brutal murders, ultimately leading to his downfall.
Lady Macbeth's influence on Macbeth is significant, as she goads him into committing the murder, questioning his masculinity and courage, and eventually, taking control of the situation herself.
The supernatural elements in the play, including the witches and their prophecies, play a crucial role in shaping Macbeth's actions, as they spark his ambition and fuel his paranoia.

The Great Gatsby

The green light at the end of Daisy's dock symbolizes the elusive and unattainable American Dream, which Gatsby longs for, and serves as a reminder of the class divide between the old money and the new rich.
Jay Gatsby embodies the theme of the American Dream, as he is a self-made man who has reinvented himself to achieve success, but ultimately, his pursuit of wealth and status is empty and unfulfilling.
The Valley of Ashes, a desolate wasteland between Long Island and New York City, represents the moral decay and corruption of society, and serves as a symbol of the consequences of the American Dream's excesses and superficiality.