| 1. What is the effect of beginning the play with the witches? | There shouldn’t be witches–they are unwanted in society (divine theory)– it sets the precedent for a conflict in the play. |
| 2. Whom are the witches going to meet and when? | The witches are going to meet Macbeth on the heath. |
| 3. What are Graymalkin and Paddock? | Graymalkin is a cat and Paddock is a toad. |
| 4. Define couplet. | A couplet is two lines of verse, usually in the same meter and joined by rhyme, that form a unit. |
| 5. What view or image do you have of the witches? Write down a description of how you would show them in a performance. | I picture the witches as scraggly and withered. I would portray them as nasty and dark in a performance to truly capture the idea that they are unwanted and at the bottom of the societal chain. |
| 1. Why is the man described as “bloody Captain” ? | He is described as a Bloody Captain because he was fighting in the war for the King of Scotland. |
| 2. Who is Macdonwald and what has he done? | Macdonwald is from the Western Isles and he betrayed the King of Scotland (Duncan). |
| 3. What has been done to Macdonwald and by whom? | Macdonwald has been slaughtered by the great and mighty Macbeth. |
| 4. Does that man’s death end the problem with rebels ? | No, there are still two other significant forces leading the rebellion against the King of Scotland (Norweyan Lord and Thane of Cawdor) |
| 5. Through this scene identify two similes that are used to describe Macbeth. What main idea to these similes accent about Macbeth? | “like cannons double charged” conveys Macbeth’s perseverance, determination, and will to sacrifice”like valor’s minion” conveys Macbeth’s bravery |
| 6. What does the King of Norway have to do to have his men buried? | He has to pay King Duncan 10 thousand dollars. |
| 7. What does King Duncan say about the traitor and his title? | He says that the title of Thane of Cawdor shall be stripped of the traitor and given to Macbeth. |
| 8. Define iambic pentameter. | A line of verse with five metrical feet, each consisting of unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable |
| 9. List one example of iambic pentameter from scenes one or two. | “And with his former title greet Macbeth” |
| 1. Why is First Witch mad at the sailor’s wife? | Because the sailor’s wife would not give her any chestnuts. |
| 2. What does the witch do to punish her? | She curses the woman’s husband to be stranded at see and not return home for over a year. (allusion to Odyssey) |
| 3. What is the meaning of the phrase weird sisters? | It is used to define the three witches and their importance in predicting Macbeth’s fate. (allusion to Greek mythology and sisters of fate) |
| 4. What is Macbeth’s first line? | “So foul and fair a day I have not seen” |
| 5. Why might this line be important? | It refers back to the motif: “fair is foul and foul is fair” |
| 6. Does the witches’ description fit your original idea or image? | No, I did not picture them to have beards. |
| 7. What do the witches tell Macbeth? | They tell Macbeth that he is the thane of glamis, cawdor, and soon to be king. |
| 8. What happens to Macbeth when he hears this? | He is confused, and demands to hear more from the witches. |
| 9. What do the witches tell Banquo? | That he shall not be as happy as Macbeth, yet be much happier, and he shall bear kings, but never rule as one. |
| 10. What does Macbeth learn from Ross and Angus? | Macbeth learns that he is Thane of Cawdor. |
| 11. What is an aside? | An aside is a remark or passage by a character in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but unheard by the other characters in the play. |
| 12. List an example of an aside from this scene. | EXAMPLE: Can the devil speak true? (page 21) |
| 13. What antithesis/juxtaposition does Macbeth begin to echo? | He starts to question whether or not he should kill the king. |
| 14. What thoughts does Macbeth not share with Banquo? | He thinks about murdering King Duncan. |
| 15. Why could the first scene be cut or removed from the play? | Because the first seen does nothing but establish that the witches will encounter Macbeth later and hint at a theme that is already prevalent throughout the entire play. |
| 1. How does Cawdor die? | The Thane of Cawdor is executed. |
| 2. How does the King greet Macbeth and Banquo? | He praises them for their great accomplishments and says he owes them everything. |
| 3. What announcement does the King make? | He announces that his son, Malcolm, is the heir to the thrown. |
| 4. Where does the King intend to go? | Macbeth’s dwelling: Inverness |
| 5. How does Macbeth react to the King’s announcement of his heir? | He hides his disappointment, but is secretly very upset by the news and excuses himself. |
| 1. What information does Macbeth tell Lady M in his letter? | He tells Lady Macbeth that strange witches told him he would be Thane of Cawdor and King, and he was given the title of Thane, so there’s a great possibility he’ll become king too. |
| 2. What is a soliloquy? | The act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play. |
| 3. What are Lady Macbeth’s plans for her husband? | She plans for her husband to become King of Scotland. |
| 4. What does Lady Macbeth tell her husband to do? | She tells her husband to man up, hide his true intent, and leave the rest to her. |
| List several examples of imagery which support the idea of hidden agendas or the that appearances can be deceiving. | King Duncan says: “This castle hath a pleasant seat”King Duncan: “fair and noble hostess, we are your guest tonight” |
| 2. What things does Lady Macbeth call Macbeth to get him to change his mind or to take action? | She calls him a coward. |
| 3. List two metaphors or similes that Lady M uses to prove her dedication to killing Duncan. | She says she would deny her own child milk from her breast and bash it’s brains in |
| 4. List the steps of Lady M’s plan for killing the King? | -getting his guards drunk-killing Duncan in his sleep -blaming it on the drunk guards |
| When the hurlyburly’s done,When the battle’s lost and won. | Witch |
| Yet do I fear thy nature;It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness. | Lady Macbeth |
| Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts! unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top full Of direst cruelty; make thick my blood, Stop up the access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose. | Lady Macbeth |
| Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower,But be the serpent under ‘t. | Lady Macbeth |
| I have no spurTo prick the sides of my intent, but onlyVaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself,And falls on the other. | Macbeth |
| Screw your courage to the sticking-place,And we’ll not fail. | Lady Macbeth |
| False face must hide what the false heart doth know. | Macbeth |
| Bring forth men-children only;For thy undaunted mettle should composeNothing but males. | Macbeth |
| What time period did Shakespeare live in? | late 1500s early 1600s |
| What are three to four effects Shakespeare has on the current world? | -3,000 words into the English language-Credited to be the first writer to use modern prose -incorporated many genres of writing: comedic, tragic, romantic |
| What are three to four connections of Shakespeare to the Greeks? | (ask rathe) |
| How was Shakespeare’s relationship with Queen Elizabeth and King James? | Very good–without their support many of the plays would not have been possible (costumes, performance area) |
| Name 3 to 4 historical truths about Macbeth | -Macbeth became ruler after he murdered King Duncan -King Duncan was a good King-Took place in Scotland |
Macbeth ACT 1
August 25, 2019