| what type of meter is Macbeth written in? | Written in unrhymed iambic pentameter. The witches speak in rhyme to distinguish themselves as ‘different’ and ‘magical’ |
| aside | actor speaks directly to audience |
| soliloquy | actor speaks their innermost thoughts |
| Act 1, Scene 1 | Witches are planning something”Fair is foul, foul is fair” –> DECEPTION (major theme) |
| Witches – weird sisters | Weird –> comes from the Anglo Saxon word ‘wyrd’ meaning fate |
| Act 1, Scene 2 | – The Captain gives readers the first image of Macbeth from a description of him in battle – he is a great, loyal, and noble warrior –> “unseemed from the nave to the chops”- Macbeth and Banquo described as “cannons overcharged with double cracks”- Scots are fighting traitors McDonwald and the Thane of Cawdor – Scots win and Macbeth is rewarded with the title “Thane of Cawdor” for his bravery (bravery was also rewarded with money, land, etc.) |
| Act 1, Scene 3 | – witches were killing pigs for fun and recount a story where a witch asked a lady for some chestnuts and she said no, so the witches decide to mess with the woman’s husband’s fate in his travels – witches couldn’t completely change a person’s fate but they could mess with it- Banquo and Macbeth meet witches in woods and the witches give them 3 prophecies each – Macbeth kills McDonwald in battle- Thane of Cawdor captured to be executed – Macbeth will get his title |
| Macbeth’s prophacies | Thane of Glamis – already had this title from his father when he diedThane of Cawdor – gets this title in next sceneKing – ?!?! – Macbeth tells the witches to tell him more, he’s invested |
| Banquo’s phophacies | lesser than Macbeth, but greaternot so happy, but happierwill not be king but his children will – will this cause bloodshed between Macbeth and Banquo’s children? – Banquo hesitant about prophecy |
| Act 1, Scene 4 | – Thane of Cawdor confessed his treasons and repents before being executed – “…he threw away the dearest thing he owned (life) as if it were a trifle” –> shows bravery, king somewhat impressed by this- Duncan’s son Malcolm announced Prince of Cumberland – Macbeth’s soliloquy |
| Clothing Imagery | … |
| Deception Imagery | … |
english 11 – macbeth act 1
September 1, 2019