| augment | to make greater; enlarge |
| palpable | capable of being touched or felt |
| stealthy | sly; furtive |
| multitudinous | existing in great numbers |
| equivocate | to use term tat have two or more meanings o mislead purposely or deceive |
| predominance | superiority |
| Describe the vision that Macbeth has at the end of scene 1. What details foreshadow the action to come? | He sees a dagger covered in blood. It foreshadows the murder of Duncan with a dagger |
| In scene 2, as Macbeth kills Duncan, what does Lady Macbeth hear? What does Macbeth hear? | Lady Macbeth hears an owl and crickets. Macbeth hears the guards praying and a voice saying ” sleep no more, Macbeth murders sleep..Macbeth will sleep no more.” |
| In scene 2, how does Macbeth respond to Lady Macbeth’s suggestion that he go wash the ” filthy witness” from his hands? | He says that all of the great Neptune’s ocean could not wash away the blood |
| Why has Macduff come? | Macduff comes to wake the king |
| What reason does Macbeth give for killing Duncan’s two guards? | He was so angry that he had to avenge Duncan’s death |
| In scene 4, whom does Macduff suspect of Duncan’s murder? | Macduff suspects Macbeth |
| Though Macbeth encounters no actual opposition until long after Duncan is murdered, Shakespeare must foreshadow some trouble for him. To build up suspense, Shakespeare edges on character, and what inkling does he give of his dissatisfaction with Macbeth? | Macduff is suspicious of Macbeth. We know this because he does not want to go to Macbeth’s coronation |
| In act 1 , Lady Macbeth seemed to be planning to murder Duncan herself. But at the last moment, in act 2 she is unable to wield her dagger. What reason does she give? What do her actions and explanation reveal about her character ? | Lady Macbeth says she cannot kill Duncan herself because he looked like her father in his sleep. She is all talk and no action |
| Lady Macbeth’s fainting spell, like everything else she has done so far, had a purpose. What message do you think Lady Macbeth wants he fainting spell to convey? | She wants to take attention off of Macbeth and t show how upset she is about Duncan’s death |
| Macduff becomes an important character in the three remaining acts. Describe how Shakespeare characterizes him in act 2. | Macbeth is loyal to Duncan, suspicious, and cautious |
| What would you say is the mood of act 2 ? What images and actions help to create this mood ? Why might images of blood and water appear in scene 2, and what do they symbolize? | The mood is depressing, tragic. Images of blood include murder of Duncan, blood dagger, the blood on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s hands. Macbeth says Neptune’s ocean couldn’t wash away the blood. (Blood= death) ( Water= cleansing of guilt) |
| A terrible murder is committed in this act. How do various characters respond to the violence ? How would people today react to the news that a ruler has been assassinated in cold blood and that a nation is in political chaos? | Macbeth kills the guards, lady macbeth faints, macduff becomes suspicious, and Malcolm and donalbain leave the country |
macbeth act 2
July 8, 2019