The 5cotlan~ of Macbeth..(

Transcription

1 . " The 5cotlan~ of Macbeth..(. (I The North Sea \ ENGLAND \ \ \ I Cumberland I ~,

2 English 2 CP Name Study Guide: Macbeth by William Shakespeare While reading the play, respond to the following questions. Act One Scene 1 1. What characters are introduced in this scene? 2. How would you interpret the line "Fair is foul and foul is fair"? 3. Wbat specific plan is mentioned? Scene 2 4. What three men are leading troops into battle against Duncan? 5. Who defeated and killed Macdonwald? 6. What is to be tbe Thane of Cawdor's punishment for his traitorous aclivities? 7. Wbo will receive his title? Scene 3 8. What revenge does the witch plan for tbe sailor whose wife wouldn't share her chestnuts? \ 9. What do lines indicate about the witches' power?

3 \ 10. What predictions do tbe witches make for Macbetb? 11. Why docs Macbeth react the way he does to the witches' predictions? 12. What prediction do the witches make for Banquo? 13. In lines , what is the "horrid image" of which Macbeth speaks? Scene What further reward does Macbeth hope to receive from Duncan? 15. In lines 40-45, who is named to succeed Duncan to the throne? 16. In lines 55-60, bow does Macbeth react to the announcement'? 17. Where is Duncan to spend the night? Scene What does the nature of the letter reveal about Macbeth's relationship with his wife'! 19. In lines 13-22, how does Lady Macbeth characterize he husband? 20. In lines 45-50, why does Lady Macbetb call upon the spirits to "un-sex her"? 21. In lines 70-80, what warning does she give Macbeth? Scene What action takes place in Scene 6?

4 23. How does Lady Macbeth greet Duncan? Scene 7 24, In his soliloquy in lines 1-28, what reasons does Macbeth give for not wanting to kill Duncan? 25. What reason against the murder does he give Lady Macbeth'! 26. In lines 40-50, what does Lady Macbeth imply about Macbeth's love for her'! 27. What finally causes Macbeth to decide to commit the murder? Thinking About Act One, 28. What seems to be Macbeth's weakest character trait? 29. An aside is a speech spoken by a character apart from other characters. It cannot be heard by tbe other characters on tbe stage. What do such speeches reveal? Act Two Scene 1 1. Wbat "cursed thoughts" does Banquo have? 2. What lie does Macbeth tell Banquo? ( 3. What is the meaning of Banquo's answer to Macbeth in lines 35-40? f '\

5 , 4. What causes Macbeth to think he sees a dagger? 5. At the end of Scene 1, a hell rings. What do you think is the significance of this? Scene 2 6. What omen of death does Lady Macbeth hear? 7. Why does Lady Macbeth say she didn't commit the murder herself! 8. What words about himself does Macbeth believe he hears in lines and 54-57? 9. II ow did Macbeth mismanage the murder? 10. Both Macbeth and his lady comment upon the effectiveness of water in cleansing away their involvement in the deed. How do they differ? Scene Why has Macduff come to Macbeth's castle? 12. What unusual things happened to Macduff and Lennox during the night? 13. Who discovers the murder? 14. Why does Macbeth kill the king's men? " _.. _.---

6 15. Why might Lady Macbeth pretend to faint'! 16. In lines , what actions do Malcolm and Donaldbain take? Scene In lines 5-20, Ross and the Old Man discuss the strange events occurring. How are these strange events similar'! 18. How does popular opinion account for the murder? 19. Who has been named king? 20. Why does Macduff Dot plan to attend Macbeth's coronation'! 1(\ ( Thinking About Act Two 21. Name the characters who have shown they are suspicious of Macbeth's rapid ascent to the throne. Act Three Scene 1 1. What suspicions does Banquo voice? What does he say that lets us know what be suspects? 2. Who besides Banquo knows of the witches' propbecies? 3. Why does Macbeth question Banquo about his plans'! 4. In lines 52-75, what suspicions does Macbeth harbor?

7 5. What does Macbeth tell tbe murderers about Banquo? 6. According to Macbeth, why docs he himself not kill Banquo? 7. Who else are the murderers to kill? Scene 2 8. What is the meaning of Lady Macbeth's saying, "Naught's had, all's spent,iwhere our desire is got without content"? 9. In lines 20-25, from what affliction does Macbeth suffer? 10. In line 40, Lady Macbeth says, "You must leave this." What does she mean? 11. Is Lady Macbeth aware that Macbetb has planned the death of Banquo and Fleance? 12. How is the planning of Banquo's murder different from that of Duncan's? Scene Who is murdered in this scene? 14. Who escapes? 15. What is Banquo's dying request to Flcance? Scene 4, \. 16. What activity opens tbe scene? _.- _ , ---

8 17. Who joins the assembled group, sitting in Macbeth's place? 18. How does Lady Macbeth explain Macbeth's reaction? 19. What is Lady Macbeth's reaction to Macbeth's claim of seeing Banquu's ghost? 20. To what other event in the play is this ghostly appearance similar? 21. Why docs Lady Macbeth ask everyone to leave? 22. Who refused the banquet invitation? I I. 23. What is Macbeth's plan for the next day? 24. To what docs Macbeth attribute his condition (Iine 176)? Scene What does Hecate plan to do? Scene What is implied in Lennox's speech at the opening of the scene? 27. Where has Macduff gone? 28. What docs he hope to do? 29. What purpose does this scene serve? ( \ -_ _.

9 Thinking about Act Three 30. Macbeth thinks that his agitation and sleeplessness will lessen in time. Do you believe this will happen? Explain your decision. Act Four Scene 1 J. What docs each of the three apparitions say to Macbeth? Include the shape of the apparition. 2. Why do the witches show Macbeth the eight kings? 3. What does Macbeth order to be done when he hears that Macduff has fled to England? 4. How would you describe Macbeth now, as compared to his earlier ambivalence? Scene 2 5. What has Ross just told Lady Macduff? 6. How does Lady Macduff react to this news?, ''\ 7. In line 71, a messenger enters. What does the messenger tell Lady Macduff to do?

10 8. Who is killed in tbis scene? 9. Why are the murders even more terrible than those previously committed? Scene Why is Macduff's speech in lines 4-6 ironic? 11. Why doesn't Malcolm trust Macduff? I 2. In lines 32-35, what docs Malcolm ask Macduff! r I 13. What forces has Malcolm promised? 14. Summarize Malcolm's confession to Macduff in lines Identify the three vices he claims to have and Macduff's responses? 15. Why does Malcolm say these things to Macduff? ( 16. In lines , what does Malcolm teu Macduff?

11 In lines , what news about the condition of Scotland docs Ross bring? 18. What personal information does Ross bring to Macduff? 19. In lines , what docs Malcolm tell Macduff to do? Thinking about Act Four 20. Is the dialogue between Lady Macduff and her son in Scene 2 essential to the plot'! What purpose does it serve?.>: <, Act 'Five Scene 1 1. What docs he." sleepwalking reveal about Lady Macbeth's conscience'! 2. How is her hand- washing symbolic? Scene 2 3. Where 'arc tbe noblemen to meet Malcolm? 4. What is reported about Macbeth? Scene 3 5. Why docs Macbeth claim to feel no fear? _o_,. - --

12 6. In lines 25-35, how does Macbeth indicate what he really feels? Scene 4 7. Where does this scene take place? 8. What are Malcolm's instructions to his soldiers? Why does he have them do this? How is this order connected to the third apparition's prediction? 9. According to Malcolm in lines 15-19, what is the quality of Macbeth's troops? I \, Scene 5 to. What news does Seyton give Macbeth? 11. What do lines mean? 12.0fwhat does the messenger inform Macbeth? Why is this information important? Scene What is accomplished in this scene? I I

13 Scene How docs Macbeth feel in lines 1-4? 15. Who is slain by Macbeth? 16. What has happened to some of Macbeth's men? Scene What does Macduff tell Macbeth about his(macdufps) birth? Why is this information important? 18. Who kills Macbeth? 19. Who will be King of Scotland? Thinking about the play 20. What was the character flaw that resulted in Macbeth's downfall? 21. As Macbeth becomes increasingly obsessed with protecting his position, he also becomes more and more isolated and alienated. How i~that demonstrated in his relationship with his wife?.. _---_._--

14 22. Do you believe that the witches controlled Macbeth tbroughout the play and manipulated him into committing acts which he would never have done on his own or did he secretly harbor a desire to be king which the witches simply identified but be controlled? Explain your choice. ( -- - _