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Name _____________________________________
Ms. Mathews
English 10H, Period 8
Date ___________________
Introduction to Macbeth by William Shakespeare
This handout contains background information on the text and on-going assignments to prepare as we study Macbeth.
KEEP THIS HANDOUT.
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Background Information:
About the play:
The Tragedy of Macbeth, more commonly called Macbeth, is a play written by William Shakespeare between 1603 and
1607. It is considered one of his darkest and most powerful tragedies. Set in Scotland, the play dramatizes the corroding
psychological and political effects produced when its protagonist, the Scottish lord Macbeth, chooses evil as the way to
fulfill his ambition for power. He commits regicide to become king and then furthers his moral descent with a reign of
murderous terror to stay in power, eventually plunging the country into civil war.
About the author:
William Shakespeare (April 23, 1564 to April 23, 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the
greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet
and the "Bard of Avon.” His surviving works consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and
several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often
than those of any other playwright.
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Reading Schedule:
Act I, scenes i-vii
Act II, scenes i-ii
Act II, scenes iii-iv
Act III, scenes i-ii
Act III, scenes iii-vi
Act IV, scenes i-iii
Act V, scenes i-ii
Act V, scenes iii-viii
Due: Read in class on Tuesday, October 23rd and Thursday, October 25th
Due: Monday, October 29th
Due: Wednesday, October 31st
Due: Thursday, November 8th
Due: Read in class on Thursday, November 8th
Due: Read in class on Monday, November 12th
Due: Wednesday, November 14th
Due: Read in class on Wednesday, November 14th
Assignments and Assessments:
Timed Writing on Act II: Wednesday, October 31st
Quiz on Acts I-II: Friday, November 2nd
Optional Writer’s Workshop for Literary Analysis Essay: Friday, November 16th during 1st period SHIELD
Unit Test: Friday, November 16th
Macbeth Final Project: Tuesday, November 20th
Final Draft of Literary Analysis Essay: Thursday, November 29th
Quotes You Must Know to Survive Macbeth!
As you are reading Macbeth, both in class and outside of class, pay close attention to the following quotes/passages.
Most will be discussed in class; however, they are all important to the plot of the play.
Act
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
Scene
3
4
4
5
5
5
7
II
II
1
1
Speaker(s)
Macbeth
Duncan
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth
Banquo
Macbeth
II
II
II
II
II
II
II
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
IV
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
6
6
1
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
Lennox
Macduff
Macbeth
Malcolm
Ross and Old Man
Banquo
Macbeth
Macbeth
Macbeth
Macbeth
Macbeth
Macbeth
Macbeth
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
Macbeth
Macbeth
Macbeth
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
Macbeth
Lennox
Lord
Apparitions
IV
IV
IV
IV
IV
IV
1
1
1
2
2
3
Macbeth
Macbeth
Macbeth
Lady Macduff
Lady Macduff
Malcolm
Starting Words
Two truths are told…
There’s no art…
The Prince of Cumberland!
(After she reads the letter) Glamis thou art, and Cawdor…
The raven himself is hoarse
Oh, never
Just know everything… read this scene five times… no, six!
So I lose none
Macbeth’s soliloquy about the imaginary dagger…. Is this a dagger I see
before me…
I heard the owl scream
My hands are of your color but I shame
The night has been unruly
O gentle lady
Who can be wise, amazed
This murderous shaft that’s shot
Know the gist of their conversation.
Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all
We should have else desired
To be thus is nothing
So is he mine: and in such bloody distance
Your spirits shine through you
We have scotched the snake
So shall I, love, and so I pray be you
Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck
Thanks for that
Sit, worthy friends
O proper stuff!
Blood hath been shed ere now
Can such things be
It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood
I hear it by the way
You lack the season
Come, we’ll to sleep
My former speeches
The son of Duncan
Know the three apparitions and how Macbeth reacts to them. Read and
re-read this passage---it is super important!!!
Then live, Macduff
That will never be
Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo
He had none
Wisdom!
What I believe, I’ll wail
Act
IV
IV
IV
IV
IV
IV
IV
IV
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
Scene
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
1
3
4
5
5
7
7
7
Speaker(s)
Starting Words
Malcolm
It is myself I mean
Malcolm
I grant him bloody
Macduff
Boundless intemperance
Malcolm
With this there grows
Malcolm
But I have none
Macduff
Fit to govern!
Malcolm
Macduff, this noble passion
Ross
Alas, poor country
Doctor
A great perturbation in nature
Lady Macbeth
Out, damned spot!
Lady Macbeth
Wash your hands
Lady Macbeth
To bed, to bed
Doctor
Foul whisp’rings are abroad
Macbeth
Bring me no more reports
Malcolm
Let every soldier hew him down a bough
Macbeth
She should have died hereafter
Macbeth
If thou speak’st false
Macduff
That way the noise is.
Macbeth & Macduff’s conversation
All remaining lines (Malcolm & Macduff)
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Final Project
Due Tuesday, November 20th
Directions: You may choose from any of the projects/activities below, but you must choose enough activities to equal
100 points. Notice that the 75 point projects are more involved than, for example, the ones that are only worth 25
points, but you can do fewer activities with the more difficult projects.
All written work must be typed in Times New Roman or Calibri, 11 or 12 point font, double spaced, one inch margins.
25 points each
 Doctor’s Perspective - Write a journal entry from a doctor’s perspective reflecting on his visit to the Macbeth
household. You can discuss the mental state of Macbeth or Lady Macbeth. 20-25 sentences

Malcolm’s perspective- Write a journal entry from Malcolm’s perspective (after he becomes king) reflecting on
the events of the play. 20-25 sentences

Obituary - Write an obituary for either Macbeth or Lady Macbeth. Use a newspaper obituary as a model. 20-25
sentences

Eulogy- Write a eulogy (a statement of praise for someone’s life after they are dead—often read at funerals and
memorials) for Banquo. This should be an emotional speech that includes a personal story about Banquo.
Include details about his life that you learned in the play; do not fabricate scenarios and details. 20-25 sentences

Acceptance Speech - Write a short acceptance speech for Malcolm as he takes the throne. Have him reassure
the country, recall the tragedies, ask for the thanes to come back, etc. This should be an inspirational speech.
20-25 sentences

Themes - Create a detailed sketch that illustrates a theme in Macbeth. Themes can be an image of one or more
characters doing something, a place in the play, etc. Include a short description (as a caption) of the illustration
and how it depicts the theme (3-4 sentences per caption). Use a clean, white sheet of computer paper or
construction paper to draw your theme. You may not use computer generated images to assist you, unless you
created them. Themes include:
o Ambition
o Appearance vs. Reality
o Atmosphere
o Disorder
o Trust and Betrayal
o Fear and Guilt
You may only illustrate up to two themes
o Greed and Power
to equal 50 points!
o Excuses
o Visions
o Desperation
o Good and Evil
o The Supernatural
o Fate vs. Free Will
50 points
 Literary Devices - Create a poster illustrating seven literary devices that relate to the play. Be sure each literary
device is listed and you understand what they are and how they work in the play. You must include the quote
from the play that illustrates the literary device. Make sure you include the act, scene, and line number with
each quote. You cannot use the same quote to illustrate more than one literary term. If you are unsure what
these devices are, consult a dictionary or a literary terms manual. Literary devices can include: metaphor, simile,
alliteration, assonance, irony, imagery, personification, allusion, hyperbole, symbol, foreshadowing, etc.

Movie Review- Watch a movie version of Macbeth and write a short movie review. Include a sentence or two of
summary, a short discussion of the movie’s qualities and flaws, and a rating (A, B, C, D, F or number of stars).
300 words (about 1 ½ pages)

Rap/Poem/ Song - Write a rap, poem, or song of at least 20 lines about the play—can be about a character,
from his/her perspective, about the plot, a theme, etc.

Witches’ Next Adventure - Write a short story to tell about the witches’ next ‘adventure.’ Who will they trick
next? How? What character flaw will they find to use against their target? What will happen to the victim? This
can be completely imagined and does not need to use a character from Macbeth. 500 words (about two pages)

News Flash - Find a news story about a person who committed murder in hopes of gaining power or wealth.
Print the story, write a paragraph of summary about the story (7-10 sentences), and write a paragraph to
compare the story with Macbeth’s story (also 7-10 sentences). (1- 1 ½ pages)
75 points each
 Re-write a Scene - Write a two page scene based on a section of Macbeth, but set somewhere else, like an
urban ghetto or a mental ward. Be true to the plot, but make sure the characters fit the setting. Once you have
written the scene, present it to class using costumes, props, or any other additions you need.

Board Game - Create a board game for Macbeth. Involve as many characters, places, events, and images as you
can. Write a set of rules and create game pieces, a playing board, etc.

Story Board- Create a story board (using poster board) with at least twenty detailed images that tell the story of
Macbeth. Include captions for the images. You can design this like a comic book and include speech bubbles too.
This needs to be on a large poster board and I should be able to understand the entire play from the images.

Scotland Illustrated - On a poster, draw and illustrate a map of Scotland with the key places on it from the play
(Dunsinane, Inverness, Fife, Scone, Birnam Wood etc.)—draw pictures on the map and write a 5 sentence
explanation of the action that took place there.