Download Macbeth Act I Study Guide

English I Mr. Paulis
Macbeth Act I Study Guide
Name:
Period & Date:
Answer the questions below with at least two to three complete sentences.
Scene 1:
1. What atmosphere is established in I.i? Provide details that support your description.
2. In Scene 1 the Witches say, “Foul is fair and fair is foul.” How can such a seemingly contradictory
statement be true?
Scene 2:
3. Explain how this scene is different than scene 1? What does the bloody captain say about
Macbeth’s exploits?
4. How is Macbeth’s dark side demonstrated in this line?, “Till he unseamed him from the nave to
th’chops And fixed his head upon our battlements”
Scene 3:
5. Why did Shakespeare open Scene 3 with the Witches’ evil deed? Despite all their
power what are the witches unable to accomplish?
6. How does Macbeth’s reaction to prophecy demonstrate he may be “foul”? How does Banquo’s
reaction demonstrate he is “fair”?
Scene 4:
7. What obstacle does King Duncan create for Macbeth? How does Macbeth respond to
this obstacle?
8. Why does King Duncan compare Malcolm to a shining star? How does this compare to
the imagery Macbeth’s uses in his aside?
Scene 5:
9. Explain Lady M’s statement, “Yet do I fear thy nature. It is too full o’ the milk of
human kindness To catch the nearest way”?
10. Describe Lady Macbeth, referring to specific actions that illustrate the qualities you
identify.
Scene 6:
11. What animals does Banquo refer to at the beginning of this scene? Why does
Shakespeare include this reference?
12. What does the audience know that makes this scene ironic?
Scene 7:
13. According to Macbeth’s speech, how does he feel about committing evil? Is the
problem committing the act or are the consequences the real problem?
14. What reasons does Macbeth provide for having second thoughts about killing Duncan? What is
the “double trust” under which Duncan is in the castle? What “spur” motivates Macbeth?
Based on these reasons what does he decide?
15. Explain Lady M’s statement: “Was hope drunk Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since? And
wakes it now to look so green and pale”?
16. What decision does Macbeth make at the end of Act I? What has Lady Macbeth said
to influence his decision?