Who do the witches plan to meet once the battle is over? | Macbeth |
What kind of mood is established in the first scene of Act I? | An ominous, stormy, scary, creepy, and evil mood. |
I Because Shakespeare’s’ audience believed in witches, how would they have reacted to Act I scene I of the play? | They would’ve been scare and somewhat entertained. Shakespeare knew how to entertain. |
What news has the captain brought to Duncan? | Reports about the battle and Macbeth’s victory |
What fourth news is brought by Ross? | About the battle between Scotland. The king of Norway’s troops frightened the people and ave the title “Thane of Cawdor” to Macbeth. |
What is Duncan’s reaction to the news about Cawdor? | Kill the thane of cawdor for treason and give the title to Macbeth (Dramatic Irony) |
What do the witches discuss as they await Macbeth? | Stereotypical witch things: killing a pig, making sailor’s life miserable, and the trouble that they caused |
How do the witches surprise Macbeth and Banquo? | They speak in riddles. They’re reading titles such as Thane of Glamis and Thane of Cawdor. They’re giving Macbeth predictions, but he isn’t in those positions yet. |
What do the witches predict for Banquo? | That he’ll be lesser and greater than Macbeth, but he’ll be much happier. He’ll be a father to kings, but not a king himself |
How could Banquo be “lesser than Macbeth and greater” and “not so happy, yet much happier” | Although Banquo won’t have the title like Macbeth, he’ll make up for that in happiness. |
What does Macbeth demand of the witches? | An explanation to their predictions. |
What news does Ross relate? | The king is pleased with Macbeth’s success, so Macbeth can now hold the title “Thane of Cawdor” |
How do Macbeth and Banquo react differently to Ross’s information? | Macbeth is excited and Banquo is practical. |
What does the line “If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir” mean? | Macbeth means that he may possibly become king by doing nothing and that fate will make him king. |
How did Cawdor die? | He died with dignity. He confessed to the crime and didn’t lie his way out of it. |
How had King Duncan always felt about Cawdor? What odes this tell us about his personality? | Duncan always trusted Cawdor, including during times when he shouldn’t have It tells us that Duncan doesn’t have a good sense of judgement |
What announcement does Duncan make after he, Macbeth, and Banquo exchange warm greetings? | He will name Malcom as his successor (prince of cumberland- next person in line) |
How does Macbeth view the Prince of Cumberland? | He is very upset that he won’t be king by chance. He must give it up or must act upon it. He views Prince of Cumberland as an obstacle |
What is a symbol that Macbeth is poor? | He wrote his letter in prose |
How was Lady Macbeth advised of the witches prophecies? | By the letter from Macbeth. She likes the news that she received. |
What is lady Macbeth’s main concern about her husband? | She thinks that her husband may be too kind and too weak to do this criminal act. |
Why does Lady Macbeth want to be a man and want it to be nighttime? | So that she can be strong and unemotional so that she can do evil. |
On home does Lady Macbeth call for guidance and strength? | Evil spirits |
What does Lady Macbeth mean by “He that’s coming must be provided for”? | She is referring to killing Duncan at night. |
As Duncan arrives at Inverness, does he suspect anything might be wrong? | He is innocent and everything is pleasant. He doesn’t suspect anything and says that everything he looks and smells is nice. |
What’s ironic about the way Duncan and lady Macbeth speak? | Verbal Irony. She doesn’t trust him, but he trusts her. |
What does Macbeth’s soliloquy at the beginning of the scene mean? | He shares his thoughts after Lady talked to him. He doesn’t mind killing Duncan, but doesn’t want to face punishment and guilt. He also thinks that duncan is a good guy and it’s hard to kill a good guy. |
What does Macbeth first tell lady Macbeth? | He doesn’t want to kill Duncan and he was worried because he and the people like Duncan. |
What methods does Lady Macbeth use to goad him into action? | She calls him a coward and questions his manhood |
After reading the speech that Lady Macbeth makes about her baby, what adjectives would you use to describe her? | She wanted to take the baby and smash it into the ground. She is angry and compares the baby to Macbeth. |
What plan has Lady Macbeth formulated for Duncan’s demise? | She plans to kill him in his sleep. She wants to get the guards drunk to make it easier to murder. |
How does Macbeth add to Lady Macbeth’s plan? | He says to use the guards’ daggers to frame them for the crime |
Macbeth Act I Study Guide Questions
September 3, 2019