MWilliam Shakespeare acbeth M KEY TO THE EXERCISES,TAPESCRIPT AND EXIT TEST SHAKESPEARE S ENGLISH THE THREE WITCHES Page 14, 2 a. whisper b. shout c. laugh d. cackle LANGUAGE PLAY LETTER TO LADY MACBETH Page 30, 1 a. must/ happened b. was/ on/ saw c. spoke/ names d. second/ thought e. But/ said f. children g. he/ didn t understand h. disappeared/ arrived i. give/ said j. witches/ know k. King
K E Y T O T H E E X E R C I S E S K E Y T O T H E E X E R C I S E S UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT Page 36, 1 a. The three witches. b. Two possible answers: Macbeth and Banquo / the King s messenger. c. Vikings from Norway. d. A Scottish nobleman, a captain in the Scottish army, Macbeth s friend. e. Macbeth. f. Macbeth is the new Thane of Cawdor. g. Duncan. h. Macbeth. i. Banquo s sons. j. Banquo, you will be happier than Macbeth but less happy. This question is intended to provoke discussion not to arrive at a concrete answer. As seen in the text, the witches are contradictory and ambiguous: it is important that the students notice this. Page 36, 2 a. One witch is speaking to the other two. b. King Duncan is speaking to the messenger. c. Banquo is speaking to Macbeth. d. Macbeth is speaking to himself. e. Lady Macbeth is speaking to Macbeth. Scotland Page 38, 1 a. Hogmanay b. haggis c. heath d. bagpipes e. Loch Ness monster f. kilt Some Scottish History Page 41, 1 a. Hadrian built a wall to mark the northern border of the Roman Empire. b. Braveheart is about the life of William Wallace and the defeat of the English soldiers. c. Mary Queen of Scots was James VI s mother. d. The English people invited James to become King because Queen Elizabeth had no children or brothers or sisters when she died. e. Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in around 1605. LANGUAGE PLAY Page 60, 1a worse, more courageous, crueller, more determined, happier, more impatient, more intelligent, more loyal, madder, more powerful, more relaxed, more scared, more serious, stronger, more unsure, more worried. Page 60, 1b Possible answers - Macbeth: serious, unsure, scared, worried. - Lady Macbeth: mad, serious, courageous, determined, impatient, powerful, strong. Page 60, 1c Possible answers happy, relaxed, loyal. Page 61, 2 b. Who is more ambitious? Lady Macbeth is more ambitious than Macbeth. c. Who is braver? Lady Macbeth is braver than Macbeth. d. Who is more nervous? Macbeth is more nervous than Lady Macbeth. e. Who is more powerful? (This answer depends on the student s interpretation of powerful. Physically: Macbeth, influentally: Lady Macbeth.) Lady Macbeth is more powerful than Macbeth. f. Who is happier? (There is no obvious answer to this question. Students can justify either Lady Macbeth or Macbeth.) Page 61, 3 Possible answers b. We must do something You will be King, Macbeth and you will be King soon. c. If you want to be King we must kill Duncan to get the throne. / Leave all the rest to me. d. You are mad woman, we can t kill the King. / I m not sure it s a good idea. / What will I do if the guards hear me? / What if I fail? e. Leave all the rest to me. / Are you afraid my husband? Are you a man or a mouse? f. The answer will depend on the interpretation of the students. answer to ex. 2, f. UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT Page 68 1. b 2. b 3. a 4. c 5. c 6. c 7. a 8. a 9. b 10. c SHAKESPEARE Page 70, 1 a. 9 b. 1 c. 6 d. 2 e. 5 f. 8 g. 4 h. 3 i. 7 INTERPRETING THE ROLE Page 91, 1 As the exercise depends on the interpretation there is no one fixed answer. Whilst some students may feel Macbeth is surprised others may find him angry or irritated. The important thing is that the exercise generates discussion and gives ideas for interpretation when acting the scene themselves. Possible answers: b. I m not well at the moment. I think I ll have a rest. c. Who is responsible for this? d. Get out both of you. e. Look, don t you see? A dead man at our table. f. But there is no place for me. g. Who are you? Where do you come from? What do you want from me? h. Come Husband. Forget Fleance for this evening. Dinner s ready. i. Here s your place my dear. j. My husband is not well. Please excuse him. 2 3
K E Y T O T H E E X E R C I S E S K E Y T O T H E E X E R C I S E S k. It s in your imagination, the chair is empty. l. The others are feeling very confused and surprised as the King seems to be talking to an empty chair. Perhaps they look at each other or whisper to each other. They might look at the chair to try to understand why Macbeth is talking to it. m. Angry, worried, sorry. n. Confused, surprised, worried, scared. o. Suspicious, worried, scared, determined. SERIOUS OR FUNNY Page 92, 3 a. The murderers make us laugh because: - they repeat each other s words but never say anything important; - they have a very serious job to do but are not intelligent enough to do it. They are more interested in a sort of rivalry between them to see which is the best or the cleverest; - they argue together and miss the chance to kill Fleance; - their voices and faces show that they are more like clowns than murderers. d. To make the murders funnier you could: - dress them in the same clothes to make them more of a double act; (Laurel and Hardy is a good example.) - try to make their voices sound unintelligent ; - whereas Macbeth and the others are real people these two are caricatures and should exaggerate in their movements and their gestures. The facial expressions should be very expressive and every reaction exaggerated; - like two cartoon characters they might hit each other over the head, trip over, bump into each other etc. e. There are in fact three soliloquies: - the first soliloquy is at the end of Act III, scene iii, when Macbeth decides to visit the witches again. Macbeth: (Speaking to himself) Tomorrow I will go to the heath - the second is directly after the first, in which Macduff speaks of his fears and suspicions. Macduff: (Speaking to himself) I don t trust Macbeth... He speaks alone because he is trying to understand what he saw during the banquet. He doesn t trust anyone at this point and so he doesn t want anyone to know his plans. Unfortunately Lady Macbeth hears everything. - the third is at the end of scene iii. Lady Macbeth: (Speaking to herself) So Macduff is going to England. She speaks alone because she doesn t want anyone else to know what is happening. The soliloquy is used both as a narrative and a theatrical device. It helps to tell the story and it also helps the audience understand what is happening in a situation where people usually think rather than speak out loud. UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT Page 95, 1 a. False - they said his children will be kings. b. False - Fleance is Banquo s son. c. False - they kill Banquo but Fleance escapes. d. True e. False - only Macbeth can see the ghost. f. True g. False - she pretends that he s ill because she doesn t want people to suspect the truth. h. False - Macbeth speaks to himself. He doesn t tell anyone his plan. i. False - Macduff wants Malcolm to be the next King of Scotland. j. True UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT Page 110, 1 a. Macduff. b. Macduff s wife is dead. c. She will never be able to forget the murders that she instigated. Her hands will always have the blood of Duncan and the others on them. Page 110, 3 a. It s impossible to go back in time and change the things she did. b. Suggested answers: mad, tired, scared, guilty, ill. UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT Page 121, 1 a. The witches are making a spell. b. Macbeth is not afraid because he knows Macduff was born of woman; He knows a wood can t move; he thinks the things the witches said can never come true. c. Macbeth wants revenge on Macduff after discovering that he has gone to England to get Malcolm s help. d. Macduff wants to kill Macbeth; he wants Malcolm to help him get revenge; he wants Malcolm to be the next king of Scotland. e. He wants to protect the soldiers with branches cut from Birnam wood. f. They are watching her because she is acting strangely; they think she is mad; they think she is ill. g. (Open to interpretation) She is acting strangely because she is mad; she is feeling guilty; she is ill. h. People think that the King is mad now. They suspect he has murdered a lot of people. i. Macbeth is angry because it is a sign that the witches tricked him. j. Yes he did, but he was born in an unusual way. PREPARATION AND ORGANISATION Page 123 4 5
K E Y T O T H E E X E R C I S E S T A P E S C R I P T Act I.i Act I.ii Act I.iii Act I.iv Act II.i Act II.ii Act II.iii Act III.i Act III.ii Places The wild heath The King s camp near the battlefield The wild heath Macbeth s castle Macbeth s castle Macbeth s castle Macbeth s castle Macbeth s castle The forest Act III.iii Macbeth s castle Act IV.i Act IV.ii Act IV.iii Act IV.iv Act IV.v The wild heath Macduff s Castle England Lady Macbeth s bedroom Scotland Sound effects The wind on the heath Music to create a mysterious atmosphere The sound of shouting and fighting The wind on the heath Music to create a mysterious atmosphere Medieval music Letter Medieval music Trumpets, tables, chairs and food for the banquet. Bell, owl, thunder and lightening Medieval music The wind on the heath Music to create a mysterious atmosphere Props and costumes Cauldron Swords, fake blood Cauldron Dagger, fake blood Bows and arrows for hunting Tables, chairs and food for the banquet. Special white make up for the ghost of Banquo Cauldron Branches of Birnam wood 4 ACT I Scene i - A wild heath near the battlefield. The witches know that Macbeth will pass by the heath when the battle is finished and plan to meet each other again at that time. Witch 1: Let s meet again Sisters. Witch 2: Yes, when the battle s finished. Witch 3: But where? Witch 1: Here, on the heath. Witch 2: We will meet Macbeth. Witch 3: Yes Sisters, we will meet when Macbeth comes. All: Fair is foul and foul is fair Hover through the fog and filthy air. 5 Scene ii - The King s camp near the battlefield. Malcolm: Look Father, someone s coming: he s covered in blood. A messenger arrives to tell the King how the battle is progressing. He says that the Scottish army is defeating the Norwegian Vikings thanks to Macbeth. Duncan decides to give Macbeth another title to thank him for his good service and his bravery. (King Duncan is with his sons and other attendants off stage. They come out when they hear a trumpet sounding.) Messenger: Your Majesty, I bring you news from the battlefield. King: Well man. Are we winning? Messenger: Don t worry Your Majesty. Macbeth has everything under control. The battle will soon be finished. King: Macbeth is a very brave captain, I m sure we will defeat the Vikings thanks to him. I will give him the title Thane of Cawdor. Messenger: I ll go and give him this good news Your Majesty. (The messenger exits and the others go back inside the camp.) 6 Scene iii - A wild heath near the battlefield Macbeth and another captain, his friend Banquo, are returning from the battle. Suddenly they see three strange women dancing around a cauldron: the three witches. When they see Macbeth and Banquo the witches stop dancing and greet them. Their greeting is very strange and the two captains are confused by what they hear. (Wind and howling.) Macbeth: Well Banquo, another day finished. We didn t do badly did we? Banquo: Not at all, but I ll be happy to get home. What about you? Macbeth: Wait a minute Banquo, look over there. Who are those three horrendous old women? (The witches are dancing round their cauldron but stop when they hear Macbeth and Banquo approaching. There is the sound of a drum.) Witch 2: Listen Sisters. Witch 3: A drum, a drum, Macbeth will come. Witch 1: Hail Macbeth, Thane of Glamis. Witch 2: Hail Macbeth, Thane of Cawdor. Witch 3: Hail Macbeth who will be King one day. Macbeth: Are they talking to me? I m 6 7
T A P E S C R I P T T A P E S C R I P T the Thane of Glamis it s true but I m not the Thane of Cawdor and I m certainly not the King! Banquo: It s strange, they seem to know you. Witch 1: Banquo. You will be happier than Macbeth but less happy. Witch 2: Your sons will be Kings but you will not. Witch 3: Hail Banquo and Macbeth. All: Hail Macbeth and Banquo. (The witches disappear.) Macbeth: Who were they? Banquo: How did they know our names? Macbeth: They said your sons will be Kings. Banquo: They said you will be King. Macbeth: They called me by three names. I am the Thane of Glamis, not Cawdor and not King. (The sound of galloping hooves as the messenger approaches.) Banquo: Look Macbeth. A messenger is coming. The messenger arrives. He tells Macbeth about the King s decision to make him Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is now very surprised as the witches told him the same thing and more. He decides to write a letter to his wife, Lady Macbeth and tell her of the strange witches and their prophecy. Messenger: Greetings from the King. Macbeth I have some good news for you: His Majesty King Duncan of Scotland honours you with the title Thane of Cawdor for your bravery in battle. Macbeth: What?? Banquo: What?? Messenger: I said that His Majesty Macbeth: Yes, we heard you the first time, but are you sure he said Thane of Cawdor? Messenger: Of course I m sure. Banquo: That s incredible. The witches were right. Macbeth: (Speaking to himself.) And if they were right once perhaps they will be right a second time. I must write to tell my wife what happened. 7 Scene iv - Macbeth s castle. (The same day) Lady Macbeth waits for her husband to return. She is very ambitious and impatient. When she reads Macbeth s letter, she believes the witches prophecy and wants her husband to be king immediately. There s only one problem Scotland already has a King! She starts to form a plan. (Lady Macbeth is alone. She has Macbeth s letter in her hand.) Lady Macbeth: So, you are the Thane of Glamis and now you are the Thane of Cawdor too exactly like the three strange sisters promised but it s impossible, Scotland has a King we can t wait for him to die we must do something The witches were right, you will be King Macbeth and you will be King soon. When Macbeth gets home she tells him her plan: to kill King Duncan and get the throne quicker. Macbeth is not convinced but his wife continues to persuade him. He tells her that the King and his two sons, Donalbain and Malcolm, will be guests in their castle that night. (Macbeth arrives home. His wife is waiting for him.) Macbeth: Did you read my letter? Do you know what happened? Lady Macbeth: Yes, I read your letter. We must move quickly. Macbeth: What do you mean move quickly? Lady Macbeth: If you want to be King we must kill Duncan to get the throne. Macbeth: You are mad, Woman! We can t kill the King. Lady Macbeth: It s the only way. If not you must wait for ten or perhaps twenty years for the King to die. Lady Macbeth: Well! What s the problem? Are you afraid? My husband, are you a man or a mouse? If you want to be King we must kill Duncan to get the throne. (Macbeth is silent. He s thinking but finally speaks. His voice is cold and serious.) Macbeth: My dearest love, Duncan comes here tonight. Lady Macbeth: And when will he go? Macbeth: Tomorrow. Lady Macbeth: He will never see tomorrow s sun. Leave all the rest to me. 11 ACT II Scene i - Macbeth s castle. (The next day) The King and his sons arrive and there are grand festivities to celebrate their arrival. (The sound of trumpets announces the arrival of King Duncan, his two sons, Banquo, Macduff, the Thane of Fife and other attendants. The King is very happy to visit Macbeth in his castle.) Macbeth: Your Majesty, welcome to our humble home. Duncan: The pleasure is all mine, my dear Macbeth. It is my honour to be guest in the house of a faithful subject. Lady Macbeth: You don t know how happy we are that you and your sons decided to stay with us this evening. Macbeth: Come, the banquet is ready, let s eat and drink together. Duncan: Your hospitality is great Macbeth. I thank you again. (They all go into the great hall where a wonderful banquet is waiting for them. Macduff and Banquo are the last to enter.) Banquo: I don t know Macduff. There s something strange in all this. Macduff: What do you mean good Banquo? Banquo: It s a long story. We met some witches and they told us Macduff: Witches? Ha ha ha, Banquo, you drink too much wine! Banquo: Perhaps you re right. But keep an eye on Macbeth. Macduff: Alright, I ll watch him. In the great hall there is much singing, dancing and eating. Finally the King stands up and says goodnight to everyone. The others follow. Duncan: I m tired. Sorry to leave the party but I must sleep. Goodnight everyone. Everybody: Goodnight Your Majesty. Everybody: Goodnight Your Majesty. 12 Scene ii - Macbeth s castle. (Later that night) When everyone is asleep Macbeth, encouraged by his wife, goes into King Duncan s bedroom and kills him with a dagger. He is very afraid and starts to imagine things. Lady Macbeth: Well husband, they re all sleeping. Here s 8 9
T A P E S C R I P T T A P E S C R I P T the dagger. Are you ready? Macbeth: Dearest, I m not sure it s a good idea. Lady Macbeth: Of course it s a good idea. It s the only way Macbeth. Macbeth: But what will I do if the guards hear me? Lady Macbeth: They won t hear you. I put a special sleeping powder in their wine. They will sleep like babies until tomorrow morning. Macbeth: But what will I do if he wakes up? Lady Macbeth: You must be quick. He won t wake up. Macbeth: Right. Yes I ll go and do it now then Lady Macbeth: When you return, give the dagger to me. Macbeth: Yes but what? Lady Macbeth: Go, now!! Macbeth: What if we fail? Lady Macbeth: If you are courageous we will not fail. Now go. (They look at each other for the last time and Lady Macbeth goes out.) Macbeth: Is this a dagger which I see before me? The handle toward my hand. Come, let me clutch thee. Macbeth: I can t take you but I can see you. Are you a dagger of the mind? A false creation? (A bell sounds midnight Macbeth runs out and the stage is empty. An owl cries. Thunder strikes and then there is silence.) Macbeth: I ll go now and do it. The bell invites me. Hear it not Duncan for it is the bell that calls you to Heaven or to Hell (Macbeth runs back onto the stage with a bloody dagger in is hand. Lady Macbeth arrives at the same time but from another direction.) Macbeth: He s dead I killed the King. Lady Macbeth: Good Macbeth: (Very nervously.) Did you hear that noise? Lady Macbeth: What? Macbeth: Did you speak? Lady Macbeth: (Starting to get angry.) No I didn t, now give me the dagger. I ll leave it near the sleeping guards and put blood on their faces. Everyone will think they killed him. Macbeth: (Looking around nervously.) I heard that noise again. Someone is here. Lady Macbeth: No one s here Macbeth. It s all in your imagination. Macbeth: I did a terrible thing how can I? Lady Macbeth: Stop this nonsense now. Let s go to sleep before someone sees us. (They both leave the stage.) 13 Scene iii - Macbeth s castle. (The morning after) The next day the crime is discovered. Donalbain and Malcolm, the King s sons, are afraid and they run away. Malcolm goes to England and Donalbain to Ireland. Everyone thinks that they are guilty. Macbeth is crowned King. (A cock crows and then a bell rings. Someone screams and we hear footsteps before the off stage voice screams.) Off stage 1: Wake up, wake up. The King is dead. Off stage 2: The King is dead. (Malcolm and Donalbain enter, followed by Macduff.) Donalbain: Who did this terrible thing to our father? Malcolm: He was a good King. Everybody loved him. I don t understand why someone wanted to kill him. Donalbain: Listen brother, I am afraid. The person who did this will not stop now. Malcolm: Do you think he will kill us too? Donalbain: It s possible. Macduff what do you think? Macduff: I don t know. I don t understand what is happening in this castle but I don t like it. Malcolm: You re right, and I don t want to risk my life. Let s escape now: I ll go to England. Donalbain: And I ll go to Ireland. We will be safe there. Macduff: Goodbye and good luck my friends. (Donalbain and Malcolm leave the stage in one direction and in the other Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Banquo and others arrive.) Macbeth: Oh Macduff your master, our King, is dead. Macduff: Yes Sir, I heard this tragic news. His sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, left for England and Ireland. They were afraid for their lives. Lady Macbeth: Afraid or guilty? Their immediate departure is very suspicious. They must be the killers. Macduff: I m sure you are wrong my Lady. Duncan had two good sons who loved him. Macduff is surprised and almost offended at this accusation from Lady Macbeth. Macbeth: No, my wife is right. The problem now is who will be King? Malcolm and Donalbain are killers, obviously they cannot take the throne. Macduff: And so obviously you will become King Macbeth. You were Duncan s favourite captain. You must be our choice too. Banquo: Yes, Macbeth must be King. Banquo: (Speaking to himself.) The witches were right again but this time I m sure Macbeth helped the hand of destiny. (His thoughts are interrupted as the people happily proclaim Macbeth the new King of Scotland. There is much cheering and clapping.) Everyone: Long live the King. Long live the King. Long live the King. Long live the King. 15 ACT III Scene i - The castle Macbeth is now King of Scotland but Banquo remembers the witches prophecy and suspects the truth. Macbeth is also worried because he remembers what the witches said to Banquo. He hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. Banquo: (Speaking to himself.) Now Macbeth has everything. He s Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and King, exactly like the three witches said. And what about me? They said that my sons will be Kings. I have a son, Fleance. Will he be King? (His thoughts are interrupted because Macbeth arrives. Banquo bows.) Banquo: Good morning, Your Majesty. Macbeth: Good morning, Banquo. How are you? It s a beautiful day what are your plans? 10 11
T A P E S C R I P T T A P E S C R I P T Banquo: I think I ll go hunting in the forest, Your Majesty. Macbeth: Ah, yes good idea And what about your son Fleance? Will you take him with you? Banquo: Yes Your Majesty. He s young but he wants to learn. Macbeth: Well, happy hunting. See you this evening at dinner. (Banquo leaves the stage. Macbeth is alone but he snaps his fingers and two men arrive.) Macbeth: Did you hear him? He said that he and the boy Fleance are going hunting in the forest. Follow them and kill them. Do you understand? Murderer 1: Yes, Your Majesty. Murderer 2: Yes, Your Majesty. Macbeth: And don t return until they are both dead. Banquo is a bad man, an enemy of the King. He must die. Murderer 1: Yes Your Majesty. Murderer 2: Yes Your Majesty. (The murderers leave and Macbeth is alone again. He speaks to himself.) Macbeth: I m sorry for Banquo but the witches said his sons will be Kings and I can risk nothing. 16 Scene ii - In the forest. The murderers follow Banquo and kill him brutally. Fleance escapes. (The two murderers arrive in the forest and spy on Banquo and Fleance, a boy about 12 years old.) Fleance: Father, I m tired. Banquo: Alright, let s rest now. Fleance: We can sit under this tree and eat our lunch. Banquo: Good idea, son. Murderer 1: Right, there they are. Murderer 2: You take Banquo and I ll take the boy. Murderer 1: No I ll take the boy. You take Banquo. (Banquo and Fleance stop walking because they hear a noise.) Fleance: Father, did you hear a noise? Banquo: Yes son, I heard a noise and I have an idea who it is. (The murderers jump out from behind the trees with daggers in their hands. Banquo and Fleance cry out.) Banquo: Fleance run. Quick. (The boy runs away but the two men take Banquo and kill him.) 17 Scene iii - The castle. (Later the same day) During the grand banquet dinner the ghost of Banquo appears, covered in blood and knife wounds. Only Macbeth can see him and he is terrified. Nobody understands why Macbeth is acting strangely or who he is talking to. His wife guesses and tries to calm the situation. Macduff sees this strange scene and starts to become suspicious. He goes to England to persuade Malcolm to return and fight Macbeth. (The murderers are explaining the problem to Macbeth. He is not happy!) Macbeth: (Shouting.) What do you mean Fleance escaped? Murderer 1: He ran away Your Majesty. I took Banquo and Murderer 2: No Your Majesty, I took Banquo and cut his throat twenty times. Murderer 1: I cut his throat, not you. Macbeth: (Angrily.) Get out both of you! (The two men go away and Lady Macbeth arrives.) Lady Macbeth: Come husband. Forget Fleance for this evening. Dinner s ready. (They go into the great hall where the dinner and the court are waiting for them. Macbeth sees all are occupied.) Attendant: Please, Your Majesty, sit down. Dinner s ready. (Lady Macbeth indicates a place at the table but it is not free.) Macbeth: But there is no place for me. Lady Macbeth: Here s your place my dear. (The ghost of Banquo, covered in blood and cuts on his face and neck is sitting in Macbeth s place. To the others the ghost is invisible. Macbeth is shocked and then angry.) Macbeth: Who is responsible for this? Macduff: (Macduff is sitting at the table.) For what Your Majesty? Macbeth: For this! (He indicates the chair but is the only person to see the ghost.) Macbeth: (Speaking to the ghost.) Who are you? Where do you come from? What do you want from me? Attendant 1: Who is the King talking to? Attendant 2: He s talking to the chair. Nobody s there. (The others look at each other in surprise. They don t understand why Macbeth is so angry. But then Macbeth understands it is a ghost and not a trick. He starts to be afraid.) Macbeth: Look. Don t you see? A dead man at our table. Lady Macbeth: (Speaking to the court.) My husband is not well. You must excuse him. (Speaking to Macbeth.) Stop this scene now. It s in your imagination, the chair is empty. (The ghost stands up and leaves the room.) Macbeth: (Speaking to the court.) Please excuse me. Like my wife said, I m not well at the moment. I think I ll have a rest. (Speaking to himself.) Tomorrow I will go to the heath and speak to the three witches. They will tell me everything. (He leaves the room. Macduff understands that something strange is in the air.) Macduff: (Speaking to himself.) I don t trust Macbeth. Banquo was right. I ll go to England and tell Malcolm what is happening. Perhaps I can convince him to return to Scotland and fight Macbeth for the throne. (Macduff leaves the stage but he doesn t know that Lady Macbeth heard everything he said.) Lady Macbeth: (Speaking to herself.) So, Macduff is going to England to get Malcolm s help. I must tell my husband. We will have revenge! 18 ACT IV Scene i - The wild heath. Macbeth visits the three witches and they make three new prophecies. (The witches are making a spell around their cauldron.) Witches: Double double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble. Witch 2: Fillet of a fenny snake, in the cauldron boil and bake. Witch 3: Eye of newt and toe of frog, wool of bat and tongue of dog. Witch 1: For a charm of powerful 12 13
T A P E S C R I P T T A P E S C R I P T trouble, like a hell-broth boil and bubble. Witches: Double double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble. Macbeth: Hail, you black, midnight women. Witch 1: Speak. Witch 2: Demand. Witch 3: We ll answer. Macbeth: Tell me what you know. Witch 1: Macbeth, beware Macduff. Witch 2: Macbeth, Macbeth. Do not be afraid of any man who was born of woman. Macbeth: Then I will not be afraid of Macduff because he was born of woman. Witch 3: Macbeth do not be afraid until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill. Macbeth: That will never be. Nobody can move a forest. The wood will never move to Dunsinane Hill. Thank you strange sisters. Now I know I have nothing to fear. 19 Scene ii - Macduff s castle. Macbeth discovers that Macduff has gone to England to get Malcolm and is very angry. As revenge he sends soldiers to kill Macduff s wife and his children. (Lady Macduff and two children are playing in their garden. They don t see the two murderers waiting behind a tree.) Murderer 1: OK, there they are. Murderer 2: Lady Macduff and the two children. Murderer 1: I don t know why Macbeth wants to kill Macduff s family but I m sure he had a good reason. Murderer 2: And we are here to follow orders, not to ask why. Right? Murderer 1: Right. (The two murders run garden, take Lady Macduff and the children by surprise and kill them.) Murderer 2: OK, let s go get them. (They return to Macbeth.) Macbeth: This time you did it right? Murderer 1: Yes, Your Majesty! Murderer 2: Yes, Your Majesty! Macbeth: Well done. Now Macduff will give us no more problems. 20 Scene iii - In England A messenger tells Macduff what happened and he decides to return to Scotland to kill Macbeth himself. Macduff: Malcolm, a messenger told me that Macbeth hired men to kill my family. Malcolm: I don t believe it. Macduff: My wife and my two beautiful children are dead. Malcolm: Let s go immediately to Scotland. Macbeth killed my father and your family. We need revenge. Macduff: I want to kill him with my own hands Malcolm. Then you will be the true King of Scotland. Malcolm: Let s go Macduff. Together, with the English army, we will defeat Macbeth. Every soldier must cut a branch from the trees in Birnam Wood. We will hide behind them for protection and advance on Macbeth. 21 Scene iv - In Macbeth s castle A doctor and a nurse observe Lady Macbeth. She is sleepwalking and talking to herself. They think she has become mad. Nurse: Look Doctor. She s speaking to herself again. Doctor: Yes, she did the same yesterday, but I don t understand what she wants to say. Nurse: Listen, she s starting to speak again. Lady Macbeth: The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now? Will my hands never be clean? Nurse: You go to her. You know more about these things. Doctor: I know nothing of things like this. I m afraid she s mad. Lady Macbeth: Banquo s dead, he will never return. Come, give me your hand. What is done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed. Doctor: Will she go to bed now? There s something strange in the air nurse. Watch her. Nurse: I will Doctor. (The doctor and nurse watch Lady Macbeth walking around.) 22 Scene v - In Scotland. The conclusion to the tragedy of Macbeth. Angus: Look, the English army s approaching in the distance. Lennox: We will meet them when they arrive at Birnam Wood. Angus: Come on, we should tell the King. Lennox: People say the King is mad now. He has many secret murders on his hands. He is like a thief in a King s clothes. Caithness: Quiet, here he comes. (Macbeth arrives followed by the doctor.) Macbeth: (Speaking to the doctor.) I am not afraid, do you understand? Macduff is not a man he s a boy. He was born of woman, he had a mother and so I have no fear. (The doctor looks at him but understands nothing. He tries to interrupt Macbeth to tell him something but there is never an opportunity.) (An attendant arrives.) Attendant: Your Majesty there are ten thousand Macbeth: Ten thousand what? Geese? Attendant: No Your Majesty soldiers English soldiers. Macbeth: Go away, you horrible boy. (The servant runs away and Macbeth speaks to the doctor.) Macbeth: Well Doctor, how is the patient? Doctor: I m sorry Your Majesty, she s not well. She has problems of the mind. Macbeth: Well cure her! I have no time for medicine. Macbeth: (Speaking to Angus and Lennox) Give me my sword, I m not afraid of death until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill. (We hear the sound of the nurse scream. An attendant arrives.) Attendant: Your Majesty. The Queen is dead. (There is silence and everybody looks at Macbeth. At this point another messenger arrives) 14 15
T A P E S C R I P T E X I T T E S T Messenger: Excuse me Your Majesty, but something very strange happened when I was on the hill. I looked towards Birnam Wood and it began to move. Macbeth: (Shouting furiously) What? Liar! If this is a joke I will cut you open alive. Messenger: Look. you can see it there Your Majesty. (Macduff, Malcolm and others arrive carrying branches. We hear the sound of a trumpet and Macduff and Macbeth prepare to fight.) Macbeth: Macduff My soul is full of your blood. Macduff: I have no words. My voice is in my sword. Macbeth: I will never be afraid of you Macduff. The witches gave me a magic life. Macduff: But they didn t tell you that I was not born in the normal way Macbeth. I was ripped from my mother s womb. Macbeth: What? Not born of woman? It was a trick! The witches tricked me. Aggghhh! (He shouts desperately and they start fighting) I will never give the Scottish crown to Malcolm. (They fight each other and Macduff wins. He cuts off Macbeth s head and takes it to Malcolm.) Macduff: Here is the head of the tyrant Macbeth. Now you are our King Malcolm. Hail King of Scotland. All: Hail King of Scotland. Hail King of Scotland. Hail King of Scotland. Hail King of Scotland. Hail King of Scotland. (There is much shouting and cheering as Malcolm is crowned King.) 1 Choose the correct word to complete these sentences and then put the sentences in chronological order to make a summary of the play. The first one is done for you. Part 1 1. The King decides to give Macbeth another title, Thane of Cawdor, because of his... a. wife b. bravery c. happiness d. horse 2. A messenger tells King Duncan that the Scottish.. is doing well thanks to Macbeth. a. Viking b. witch c. army d. castle 3. Macbeth tells his wife of the witches prophecies and she starts to make an evil... a. cake b. friend c. noise d. plan 4. They know Macbeth will pass by the.. after the battle. a. battle b. mountain c. heath d. castle 5. Three witches plan to.. each other when the battle between the Scottish army and the Norwegian Vikings is finished. a. meet b. kill c. watch d. talk 6. Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches and are very.. by what they hear. a. confused b. excited c. worried d. frightened 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 1 5th 6th Part 2 7. Everyone thinks Donalbain and Malcom killed their father and Macbeth is.. King. a. never b. your c. crowned d. done PHOTOCOPIABLE 2002 Black Cat Publishing 16 17
E X I T T E S T E X I T T E S T 8. The next day the King s two sons are frightened for their.. and run away. a. wives b. lives c. horses d. King Part 4 17. Macduff arrives with the.. army and defeats Macbeth. a. Scottish b. English c. Norwegian d. Viking 9. When everyone is asleep Macbeth takes a.. and kills the King. a. dagger b. pistol c. witch d. murderer 18. As revenge he sends soldiers to kill his.... a. soldiers b. mother c. friends d. children 10. King Duncan and his sons arrive as.. in Macbeth s castle. a. ghosts b. witches c. musicians d. guests 11. Everybody is very happy and there is lots of music and.... a. murder b. dancing c. eating d. confusion 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Part 3 12. Fleance... but Banquo is killed. a. escapes b. kills c. doesn t d. sleeps 13. Macbeth.. the prophecies that the witches made to Banquo. a. remembers b. hears c. forgets d. loves 14. Macduff is suspicious and goes to get the help of.. sons. a. his b. Banquo s c. Macbeth s d. Duncan s 19. A messenger tells Macduff the bad news and he decides to... to Scotland to kill Macbeth himself. a. return b. run c. drive d. cycle 20. Macbeth is very angry when he discovers what Macduff.... a. did b. ate c. bought d. made 21. Lady Macbeth becomes... with guilt. a. happy b. mad c. surprised d. tired 22. The three witches make three new... and Macbeth thinks he has nothing to fear. a. kings b. problems c. prophecies d. plans 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 15. Banquo s... appears to Macbeth, but only he can see it. a. son b. ghost c. dagger d. murderer 16. He hires two... to kill Banquo s son, Fleance. a. women b. soldiers c. murderers d. witches 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th PHOTOCOPIABLE 2002 Black Cat Publishing 18 PHOTOCOPIABLE 2002 Black Cat Publishing 19
K E Y T O E X I T T E S T Part 1 1. bravery 2. army 3. plan 4. heath 5. meet 6. confused 1st 5 2nd 4 3rd 2 4th 1 5th 6 6th 3 Part 2 7. crowned 8. lives 9. dagger 10. guests 11. dancing 1st 10 2nd 11 3rd 9 4th 8 5th 7 Part 3 12. escapes 13. remembers 14. Duncan s 15. ghost 16. murderers 1st 13 2nd 16 3rd 12 4th 15 5th 14 Part 4 17. English 18. children 19. return 20. did 21. mad 22. prophecies 1st 22 2nd 20 3rd 18 4th 19 5th 21 6th 17 2002 Black Cat Publishing, an imprint of Cideb Editrice, Genoa, Canterbury 20