Great Chain of Being

The belief that creation forms a God-given hierarchy, with each being occupying its proper place. Disrupting that order threatens harmony.

A belief in a God-ordered hierarchy connecting creation, with each being occupying its proper position.

The Great Chain of Being was a belief that creation formed a hierarchy ordered by God. Human society, including the relationship between monarch and subject, was understood as part of this wider order. The idea helps explain why Shakespeare connects political disorder with disturbances in nature.

A historical belief that creation formed a hierarchy ordered by God. Disrupting that hierarchy could be understood as threatening both social and natural order.

A belief that everything in creation has a fixed position within a divinely ordered hierarchy. Disrupting that hierarchy threatens the natural and social order.

A hierarchical view of creation in which everything has a God-given place, from spiritual beings to humans, animals, plants and minerals.

The Great Chain of Being was a broader hierarchical view of creation. God stood above angels, humans, animals, plants and minerals; human society also contained ranks, with the monarch above subjects. The important connection is the belief that political order belonged within a divinely ordered universe.

A traditional belief that nature and society form a hierarchy established by God, so disrupting that hierarchy threatens the wider order.

A traditional belief that creation forms a hierarchy established by God, from God and angels through human beings to animals and the rest of nature. Disrupting one's proper place could be understood as threatening divine order.

A belief in a God-ordained hierarchy of existence, reflected in social ranks such as king, noble and commoner; disrupting this order was associated with disorder.

A traditional belief that creation forms a hierarchy under God, with everything occupying an appointed place.

The Great Chain of Being imagined creation as an ordered hierarchy under God. Human society belonged within that order, with rulers above their subjects. Breaking an appointed relationship could therefore be understood as disturbing the wider universe.

A belief in a God-ordered hierarchy of creation, with people occupying their proper places and the monarch above other humans.

A belief in a God-ordered hierarchy linking all creation, from spiritual beings to human society, animals and plants. Disrupting an established position could be understood as disturbing the wider order.

The related idea of the Great Chain of Being imagined creation as a God-given hierarchy in which each being had its proper place. The king occupied the highest earthly position in the political order. Macbeth’s seizure of Duncan’s crown can consequently be read as an overturning of the order on which the whole kingdom depends.

A belief that creation forms a hierarchy established by God. Defying this order could be understood as defying God's will.

A traditional belief that all matter and life form a God-given hierarchy, descending from God through angels, humans, animals and plants to minerals.

Definition

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE English Literature · 8702

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Edexcel GCSE English Literature · 1ET0

OCR GCSE English Literature · J352

Eduqas GCSE English Literature · C720