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Macbeth
Study questions Act 1-3
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Macbeth was first performed for James I. How does Shakespeare use this play to compliment his monarch? | reflects James I's interest in the occult |
| The opening scene establishes an atmosphere of foreboding. What does the riddle "fair is foul, and foul is fair" hint at upcoming events. | those things that at first seem good but are actually bad and vice versa |
| In scene 2 the Sergeant recounts Macbeth's actions in battle. What images does he associate with Macbeth. | eagles, lions, and canons. |
| During Act 1 scene 3 what prophesies do the witches make for Macbeth? | Thane of Glamis, thane of Cawdor, King |
| What precautions do they make for Banquo? | Lesser but greater, not so happy but happier, wont be king, but will get kings. |
| When Macbeth enters in Act 1 Scene 3 why does he say, "so foul and fair a day i have not seen" | foul= weather, fair= won battle |
| With double trust Duncan comes to Macbeths house. Name 3 relationships that bind Duncan and Macbeth | 1. king 2. cousin 3. guest |
| of what does Duncan ask the sergeant to report | the state of the battle |
| what does the report indicate about the state of Duncans kingdom | it is in confusion |
| what does the sergeant tell Duncan that Macbeth did to the rebel Macdonwald | unseamed him from the nave to the chops |
| what happened in the final battle | king of Norway supplies fresh troops but Macbeth and Banquo defeated them |
| how does Duncan reward Macbeth for his action | makes him Thane of Cawdor |
| what does Duncans actions tell us about his personality | he's generous |
| In act 1 scene 2 what have the first and second witches been doing | killing swine |
| when the sailors wife refuses to give the witch a chestnut, where does the witch decide to go | Aleppo |
| what do the witches say of the charm | it is wound up |
| how has Duncan reacted to the news of Macbeths exploits? what does this reaction indicate about Duncan | he was pleased and quick to reward those who are loyal |
| what does Macbeth believe the witches have given him | Thane of Cawdor |
| what did the thane of cawdor do before his death | repented, confessed, and asked for forgiveness |
| how had Duncan regarded the treacherous thane of cawdor | with absolute trust |
| why has Macbeth written to Lady Macbeth | tell her about witches prophecies, and that Duncan is on his way to their house. |
| what does Lady Macbeth call on spirits and thick night to do | to unsex her |
| What does Lady Macbeth tell Macbeth to do about "this night's great business" | leave it to her |
| what does Macbeth say is his only real reason to kill Duncan | ambition |
| who reports the news of the outcome of the battle | bloody sergeant |
| the sergeant cannot go on with his tale. Why? | he's bleeding to death |
| what does the king do when he learns of the treason of the thane of cawdor | he orders his execution |
| Where do the witches meet Macbeth and Banquo | upon the heath |
| what does Duncan announce that disturbs Macbeth | he names Malcolm Prince of Cumberland |
| What is Lady Macbeth determined to do as she reads her husbands letter | kill Duncan |
| what does Lady Macbeth tell Macbeth to persuade him to kill the king | she questions his manhood and ability to follow through |
| what is the atmosphere established by the 3 witches in the opening scene of the play | forboding |
| with what 3 natural phenomena are the 3 witches associated | thunder lightning and rain |
| what does Macbeth not know when he first meets the witches | the thane of cawdor is a traitor and Duncan has given his possessions to Macbeth |
| what are Macbeths 1st words on stage | so foul and fair a day i have not seen |
| who is the person whom Duncan names to succeed him to the throne of Scotland | Malcolm |
| the battle described at the opening of the play is between scotland and ? | Norway |
| Before Macbeth returns home, what indication is there that he already has some evil purpose in mind | his letter to lady macbeth |
| when lady macbeth reads macbeths letter in Act 2 scene 5 her reactions to the letter show that she is eager for her husband to be king. What is her criticism of Macbeth | to full of milk of human Kindness |
| how do Lady Macbeth's speeches characterize her | evil |
| how does lady macbeth greet her guests in Act 1 scene 6 | with hospitality |
| in Act 1 scene 7, Macbeth is on the verge of giving up his plan to murder Duncan. how does lady macbeth ecourage him | screw his courage to the sticking place |
| what does Banquo say when macbeth says he wishes the witches had not vanished in in Act 1? what do their reactions indicate about their characters | he asks of they actually saw them, if they are real, Banquo is realistic, Macbeth is suspicious |
| in act 1 scene 4 what does Banquo say of Macbeth to Rosse? what is wrong with Macbeth | he is rapt; obsessed with prophecies, and how they might come true |
| in scene 1 how are the actions of Banquo and Macbeth similar? | neither can sleep both are thinking about the witches |
| what does Macbeth imagine that he sees | bloody dagger |
| what does Macbeth imagine murder doing | Killing sleep |
| What do Macbeth and Lady Macbeth discuss right after the murder | the voices macbeth heard |
| what word could macbeth not say | Amen |
| what does lady macbeth say she will do to the faces of the grooms | smear them with blood |
| where does the drunken porter imagine that he is | Hell |
| how does the porter spend the night | drinking and chasing women |
| what does Lennox say happened the previous night | the screams of the air, wind blowing down chimneys, earthquakes. |
| what terms does macduff use to describe murder | horror |
| what does macduff answer when Lady Macbeth asks him to speak | what he has to say is to horrible for a womans ears |
| what does Lady Macbeth do when Macbeth announces that he has killed the grooms | she pretends to faint |
| what do donalbain and malcolm decide to do | Malcolm goes to England, Donalbain goes to Ireland |
| what unnatural events do the old man and Rosse describe. | what happens to Duncans horses |
| who are implicated in Duncans murder | Malcolm and Donalbain |
| where is macduff going | Fife (home) |
| what does Macbeth mean when he says "to be thus is to be nothing but to be safely thus" | it's enough to be king if he cant be secure |
| what are 2 reasons for macbeths fears about Banquos character | 1. he's a good man. 2. he knows about the witches |
| what is macbeths main reason for wanting to be rid of Banquo | he knows about the witches |
| Macbeth meets with 2 murderers and in secret instructs them to do what | kill Banquo and fleance |
| what reason does macbeth give for his mind being "full of scorpions" | Fleance is still alive |
| the murderers succeed in killing Banquo but what happens to Fleance | he runs and gets away |
| what unwelcome guest appears at Macbeths banquest | Banquos ghost |
| what is macbeths reaction to this sight which he alone can see | he is horrified |
| what explanations does Lady Macbeth give for her husbands behavior | he has had an illness since childhood |
| in scene 6 Lennox and a lord discuss the events in scotland. what do we learn about Malcolm? About Macduff? | Malcolm is making an army. Maduff went to see the Pope |
| What does Banquo fear Macbeth has done to get what the witches promised | killed Duncan |
| what does Macbeth say his cousins (Malcolm, Donalbain) are doing | spreading lies |
| for what has Macbeth defiled his name and murdered Duncan | for Banquos sons to be king |
| what does Macbeth do to convince the murderers that Banquo is their enemy | he blames all their misfortune on Banquo |
| what explanations do the murderers give for their willingness to risk their lives | they have nothing to lose |
| how does lady macbeth describe her state of mind | she cannot be content as long as her safety is in doubt |
| what does macbeth say happens nightly | nightmares |
| what does macbeth ask his wife to do at the banquet | make everyone welcome |
| According to Macbeth how does "bad things begun" make themselves strong | ill |
| what does Banquo tel Fleance when he is attacked | leave and get revenge |
| what does Macbeth do and say to begin the banquet | sit down and he will mingle |
| what does Macbeth say to the murderer at the door | there is blood upon thy face |
| where does the ghost sit | Macbeths chair |
| what does macbeth say to the ghost | ghost cannot blame him(macbeth) |
| what does lady macbeth say that macbeth is looking at? | an empty chair |
| what does macbeth say happens to the dead and buried | they come back to haunt |
| what does lady macbeth say to macbeth after the ghost vanishes and he bids the guests to sit still | he has broken up the party |
| what does macbeth keep in each lords house | spies |
| what does macbeth decide he will do tomorrow | go back to see the witches |
| according to Hecate what effect will the witches predictions have on macbeth | they will lead him further down the road of destruction |
| according to Hecate what is mortals cheifest enemy | security |
| what does the lord hope that they will be able to do again with the help of the English army | go back to their normal lives |