Download The British Tradition: Unit Two Resources

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The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, by William Shakespeare
Literary Analysis: Blank Verse, Prose, and Comic Relief
Blank verse consists of lines of poetry written in iambic pentameter. Each line contains five
poetic feet of stressed and unstressed syllables. The form is flexible and versatile and can
produce the effect of smooth, natural speech in a way that other metrical patterns cannot. For
this reason, Shakespeare relied primarily on blank verse throughout his plays. However,
Shakespeare occasionally used prose, especially for the speech of characters from lower stations
in life. He often uses these characters, and their break from “lofty” language, as a source of
comic relief. He also employed occasional rhymes when it seemed appropriate to a particular
character: The witches in The Tragedy of MacBeth, for example, often speak in rhymes. Finally,
like most dramatists of the English Renaissance, Shakespeare often used one or more rhymed
lines of dialogue to signal that a scene had ended or that new players must make their
entrances, in this way alerting offstage players or other members of the company.
A. DIRECTIONS: Following is a series of passages from The Tragedy of Macbeth. On the line
below each passage, identify it as “rhyme” or “blank verse.” Then scan the lines that are in
blank verse by marking the stressed and unstressed syllables.
1.
SECOND WITCH. When the hurlyburly’s done.
When the battle’s lost and won.
2.
ROSS.
KING.
3.
I’ll see it done.
What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.
ROSS. The King hath happily received, Macbeth,
The news of thy success. And when he reads
Thy personal venture in the rebel’s fight,
His wonders and his praises do contend
Which should be thine or his.
B. DIRECTIONS: Read the following excerpt from the Porter’s speech in Act II, scene iii.
Paraphrase the lines and explain how the use of prose and its content provide comic relief
following the intense scene with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
PORTER. Here’s a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of hell gate, he should have old
turning the key. [Knock.] Knock, knock, knock! Who’s there, i’ th’ name of Beelzebub? . . . Faith,
here’s an equivocator, that could swear in both the scales against either scale; who committed
treason enough for God’s sake, yet could not equivocate heaven.
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The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, by William Shakespeare
Reading Strategy: Patterns of Organization
Some readers see that a text is written in verse and automatically assume they will have a
difficult time understanding it. Verse texts can indeed seem more complicated than prose.
However, there are many tools a reader can use to break verse down into manageable and
understandable ideas. A good strategy is to read verse passages for the ideas that they present
rather than simply as individual lines of poetry. Look at the way the author uses patterns of
organization to present ideas. The main ways that Shakespeare organizes his text are the
meter, the line breaks, the punctuation of sentences, and the occasional use of rhyme. To clarify
the meaning of a passage, first read it in sentences to understand the complete thought. Then,
analyze the meter and line breaks. Ask yourself What does Shakespeare want to emphasize by
breaking the line here? Finally, look for rhyme to see how particular lines and ideas are
connected. If you reach the end of a passage and don’t understand what you’ve read, go back
through the passage slowly, paraphrasing as you go.
DIRECTIONS: Read this passage from Act II, scene iii. Answer the questions that follow.
MALCOLM.
This murderous shaft that’s shot
Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way
Is to avoid the aim. Therefore to horse;
And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
But shift away. There’s warrant in that theft
Which steals itself when there’s no mercy left.
1. How many sentences are there in this passage?
2. Does Shakespeare use a particular meter in this passage? If so, what is it?
3. What ideas does Shakespeare emphasize with the line breaks he uses in this passage?
4. How does Shakespeare connect and emphasize ideas with rhyme in this passage?
5. What is the basic idea of the passage?
As you continue reading The Tragedy of Macbeth, use the elements and patterns of
organization to analyze the meaning of the text.
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The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, by William Shakespeare
Vocabulary Builder
Using the Root -vocA. DIRECTIONS: The word root -voc- means “voice” or “calling.” Read each definition and then
choose the word that best completes each sentence.
evocative (adj.), calling forth an emotional response
provocative (adj.), serving to provoke or stimulate
vocation (n.), a summons or strong inclination to a particular state or course of action; the
work at which a person is regularly employed
vociferously (adv.), marked by or given to insistent outcry
vocalize (adj.), to give voice to
1. The witches speak to Macbeth
; they will not be quieted.
2. Macbeth finds the witches’ predictions very
.
3. The setting of the first scene in Macbeth is
of loneliness.
4. Macbeth’s
warrior.
at the beginning of the play might be said to be that of a
Word List
augment
equivocate
multitudinous
palpable
predominance
stealthy
B. DIRECTIONS: Each question below consists of a pair of words in CAPITAL LETTERS followed
by four lettered pairs of words. Choose the pair that best expresses a relationship similar to
that expressed in the pair in capital letters.
___ 1. MULTITUDINOUS : MANY ::
A. gigantic : large
B. some : few
C. up : down
D. survive : prosper
___ 4. PALPABLE : TANGIBLE ::
A. stealthy : furtive
B. shy : outgoing
C. few : multitudinous
D. ambitious : lazy
___ 2. AUGMENT : PREVENT ::
A. terrify : frighten
B. beg : plead
C. hollow : empty
D. help : hinder
___ 5. EQUIVOCATE : DECEPTION ::
A. whine : exhibit
B. beautiful : attractive
C. death : die
D. sing : song
___ 3. STEALTHY : OBVIOUS ::
A. quiet : healthful
B. adventuresome : timid
C. fat : heavy
D. polluted : filthy
___ 6. PREDOMINANCE : WEAKNESS ::
A. valor : courage
B. success : failure
C. happiness : gladness
D. selfishness : miserliness
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The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, by William Shakespeare
Support for Writing
Support for Writing
Use the graphic organizers to record your responses to the Porter’s speech in Act II, scene iii,
and Thomas de Quincey’s responses. Underline or highlight similar responses.
The Tragedy of Macbeth Act II, scene iii
Porter’s speech
My Responses
Thomas de Quincey’s Responses
On a separate page, write an essay comparing your responses to the Porter’s speech to Thomas
de Quincey’s. Use your notes in the chart to help you organize ideas.
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The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, by William Shakespeare
Selection Test A
Critical Reading Identify the letter of the choice that best answers the question.
1. What is the main idea of Act II of The Tragedy of Macbeth?
A. Ambition makes people mad.
B. No one can escape tragedy.
C. Murderers must live with guilt.
D. Crime does not pay.
2. Banquo is the last person Macbeth talks to before he kills King Duncan. Why does
Shakespeare bring Banquo and Macbeth together at this point in the play?
A. Shakespeare uses Banquo to persuade Macbeth to go ahead with the murder.
B. Shakespeare wants to provide comic relief before the murder takes place.
C. Shakespeare wants to introduce the character of Fleance, who accompanies Banquo.
D. Shakespeare uses Banquo to represent a last chance for Macbeth to change his
mind.
3. Why does Lady Macbeth drug the servants in Scene ii?
A. She wants to stop them from killing King Duncan.
B. She wants them to sleep while she kills King Duncan.
C. She does not want their help in killing King Duncan.
D. She wants them dead so they will not tell what they saw.
4. What characteristic of blank verse can you find in this line?
“To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself.”
A. The pause in the middle creates the singsong rhythm of poetry.
B. The stress pattern is irregular and ends with a two-syllable word.
C. The use of old-fashioned language makes it sound classical.
D. It has ten syllables, with a stress falling on every second syllable.
5. How should you read blank verse to make sense of it?
A. Pay little attention to punctuation.
B. Stop at each punctuation sign.
C. Read each line as a separate thought.
D. Read in complete sentences.
6. Why does Lady Macbeth choose not to kill King Duncan herself?
A. She thinks the king, as he sleeps, looks like her father.
B. She thinks Macbeth should do it to prove he is a strong leader.
C. She does not believe a woman should kill a king.
D. The witches said she should not.
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7. What does Macbeth mean when he says he will “sleep no more”?
A. His conscience will never let him sleep.
B. He must run away and always look out for people chasing him.
C. He will soon die.
D. He will have heavy responsibilities as king.
8. What does Macbeth mean when he says the blood on his hands will redden all the
seas?
A. People will see the blood on his hands and know he is the killer.
B. He can never get over his guilt about killing Duncan.
C. He is afraid to wash the blood from his hands.
D. He is not the only one who wanted Duncan dead.
9. What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says to Macbeth, “My hands are of your
color, but I shame / To wear a heart so white”?
A. Her hands are also red with King Duncan’s blood, and she is ashamed.
B. Her hands are also red with King Duncan’s blood, and she is afraid.
C. Her hands are red with King Duncan’s blood, but unlike Macbeth, she is not afraid.
D. Her hands are red with King Duncan’s blood, but unlike Macbeth, she is relieved.
10. What is another name for blank verse?
A. unstressed trochaic foot
B. rhymed prose
C. unrhymed iambic pentameter
D. anapestic foot
11. Why do Ross and Macduff think King Duncan’s sons have killed their father?
A. The sons were jealous of how their father honored Macbeth and Banquo.
B. Both sons have run away, which makes them look guilty.
C. The sons had not wanted Macbeth to become king.
D. The sons were jealous of King Duncan’s victory in the war with Norway.
Vocabulary
12. Choose the vocabulary word that best completes this sentence.
Macbeth used words that
in order to deceive Duncan.
A. equivocate
B. augment
C. predominate
D. palpate
13. Which word is closest in meaning to predominance?
A. hatred
B. anguish
C. superiority
D. enlargement
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14. Which sentence uses the word palpable correctly?
A. The mood of fear in the room was palpable.
B. The dream is frightening and palpable.
C. None of the men has a palpable reason for killing King Duncan.
D. Ambition is the palpable cause of Macbeth’s action.
15. Choose the vocabulary word that best completes this sentence.
Macbeth did not want to wake anyone, so his steps had to be
.
A. augmented
B. stealthy
C. multitudinous
D. palpable
Essay
16. It is clear from Acts I and II that Macbeth has an active imagination. Explain how Macbeth’s
imagination works in Act II. What things does he imagine? How do the things he imagines
affect how he acts?
17. Macbeth speaks the following lines in Act II, just after he has killed King Duncan.
Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more! / Macbeth does murder sleep”—the
innocent sleep, / Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, / The death of each day’s
life, sore labor’s bath, / Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, / Chief nourisher
in life’s feast—
In an essay, explain what these lines mean. Tell how they show that Macbeth is stricken by
a guilty conscience. Then, explain why you think Shakespeare wants Macbeth to feel guilt.
How would the play be different if Macbeth’s conscience did not bother him?
18. Thinking About the Essential Question: What is the relationship of the writer to
tradition? In Scene iii of Act II of The Tragedy of Macbeth, the porter speaks in prose,
breaking with the Elizabethan tradition of using blank verse. In an essay, explain
Shakespeare’s purpose in including this speech in prose. Use details from the speech to
support your ideas.
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