Download The Tragedy of Macbeth

The Tragedy of Macbeth
Scene 3 – The Heath
The three witches wait on the heath for their predestined meeting with Macbeth. The first witch gives an account of what she has been
doing since their last meeting: She met a sailor’s wife who was eating chestnuts. She goes on to describe the incident, which
would have included elements of an “urban legend” in Shakespeare’s time, having to do with sailors, ships, spells, and
superstitions. Her story is interrupted by the coming of Macbeth and Banquo. Macbeth’s official title is “Thane of Glamis.”
1 Macbeth’s opening words are: “____________________________________________________________.”
2. These words echo those of the ________________________ in Scene 1. (**Why would this great captain be connected to these
sinister creatures?)
3. How does each witch address Macbeth? (page 307)
a. “All hail, Macbeth! __________________________________________________________________________.”
b. “All hail, Macbeth! __________________________________________________________________________.”
c. “All hail, Macbeth! __________________________________________________________________________.”
4. Macbeth’s colleague Banquo asks Macbeth why he is startled by the prophesies, which “sound so fair.” He then asks the
witches to tell his future, and they reply with three paradoxical statements:
a. “Lesser than Macbeth, _______________________________________________________________.”
b. “Not so happy (lucky), _______________________________________________________________.”
c. “Thou shalt get kings, _______________________________________________________________.”
5. Macbeth does not know that Cawdor has been arrested for treason, so he questions the witches at first. But what do Ross
and Angus tell Macbeth? __________________________________________________________________________.
6. In lines 122-126, p. 309, Banquo expresses concern about ______________________________________________________.
7. One of the prophecies the witches gave to Macbeth has come true: He is now Thane of _____________________ as well as
Thane of Glamis. So why is he now disturbed? _____________________________________________________________
7. What two ways does Macbeth imagine that he could become king (“this imperial theme”)?
a. _____________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________
Scene 4 – The royal palace at Forres
8. Malcolm tells of the noble death of _________________________, introducing the motif of dying with dignity.
9. Shakespeare introduces a flaw in King Duncan’s character in lines 11-14 and reinforces the theme of appearance versus reality
(“fair” versus “foul”). Paraphrase what Duncan says about his relationship with the now-deceased Thane of Cawdor.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Ironically, at that exact moment, Macbeth enters the stage. The king congratulates Macbeth and thanks him for his service.
Macbeth replies that he owes everything to _____________________ and would give his life to keeping Duncan “[s]afe.”
11. What honor does King Duncan bestow on his son Malcolm? ______________________________________________________
12. In lines 48-53, Macbeth views Malcolm’s new honor as a threat. Why? ________________________________________________
13. What is Macbeth’s state of mind as the scene ends? _________________________________________________________________
Scene 5 – The castle at Inverness
14. At Inverness, Macbeth’s castle, Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband telling her about the prophesies and their
implications. She immediately envisions her husband and herself as king and queen of Scotland. However, in lines 14-22,
she
worries that Macbeth will not take action because he is “too full of the milk of ________________________________________”.
She will do the deed. Her plan is made possible when she learns that ___________________________ will spend this night
Inverness. Immediately, she asks to be made ______________________________________.
15. After Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth of her intentions, what warning does she give Macbeth concerning his facial expressions?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
**Note how these lines (63-64) relate to Duncan’s statement about reading a man’s face (Act I, scene 4, lines 11-12).
16. How does Macbeth react to his wife’s plan for the night’s “great business”? ____________________________________________
**How is Macbeth different from his wife at this point?
Scene 6 – Outside the castle at Inverness
17. Dramatic irony—what do we know that King Duncan doesn’t when he says, “This castle hath a pleasant seat”?
at
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lady Macbeth courteously greets the king, his sons, his thanes, and his attendants, never giving hint of her intentions.
In line 24, King Duncan addresses Lady Macbeth as “fair and noble hostess.” (Remember the witches: “Fair is foul.”)
Scene 7 – Inside the castle at Inverness
18. The banquet hall is set for a feast honoring ______________________________________.
19. In Macbeth’s first soliloquy, what five reasons does he contemplate for not killing King Duncan?
a. _______________________________________________________________________
b. _______________________________________________________________________
c. _______________________________________________________________________
d. _______________________________________________________________________
e. _______________________________________________________________________
20. Lady Macbeth enters, and he tells her that he “will proceed no further in this business.” How does she respond to her husband’s
change of heart? ___________________________________________________________________________________
21. Macbeth fears failure; however, what fail-safe plan does Lady Macbeth introduce? _______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
22. Thus, the ambitious Lady Macbeth intimidates the great Macbeth, forcing him to obey her will. How would you describe the
state of the Macbeths’ marriage at this moment? ________________________________________________________________