| Why does King Duncan decide to make Macbeth Thane of Cawdor? | Because he has defeated the Thane of Cawdor who was an enemy of the king |
| What is Banquo’s reaction when Macbeth receives his new title? | He is suspicious and hopeful |
| After reading the letter from her husband, Lady Macbeth calls upon the spirits to “make thick my blood, / Stop up the’ access and passage to remorse….” What is she asking for? | She is asking to not be bothered/sensitive to the evil plan she is going to execute |
| Define paradox and know how to identify one in the text. | A paradox is a statement that sounds self-contradicting but is actually true. A paradox in Macbeth is one from the witches.The paradox in Macbeth is ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair.’ which means that what is fair to man is foul to the witches, but what men may see as foul, the witches see as fair. |
| Near the end of Act I, why does Macbeth express doubt about murdering the king? | Because Duncan is his cousin and his subject, which would be violating his trust in the eyes of god and, overall, Duncan has been a good king and admired by all of his subjects |
| When Macbeth talks agitatedly about the murders, what does Lady Macbeth urge him to do? | Lady Macbeth tells him not to think about it. |
| Define irony and explain its usage in the porter’s cursing. | A rhetorical device, literary technique, or situation in which there is an incongruity between the literal and the implied meaning;The porter invokes the devil without knowing about the crime |
| When Lennox and Macduff arrive at Macbeth’s castle in the morning, what is their initial impression of the state of the guests and residents? | if the porter had stayed up late and slept in |
| Why do Malcolm and Donalbain flee Scotland as soon as the murder becomes known? | Because they are scared for their lives |
| What do the natural disturbances that continue all night (the screaming owl, chimneys being blown down, and Duncan’s horses turning wild) symbolize? | The evil of macbeth’s plans |
| What does the “barren scepter” Macbeth refers to symbolize? | It means that he cannot produce an heir (can’t have a kid |
| Why does Macbeth tell the hired murderers that they must keep his plan to kill Banquo a secret? | he and Banquo have friends in common who would be upset |
| How does Macbeth react when he hears that Fleance has escaped the murders? | He is very anxious. |
| How does Lady Macbeth explain what is happening when Macbeth begins talking to Banquo’s ghost at the dinner party? | She tells the guests that he has an illness. |
| Define figurative language. Find an example of vivid figurative language in Act III. | non-literal language that refers to words, and groups of words, that exaggerate or alter the usual meanings of the component words “We have scorched the snake, not killed it.” the meaning is The “snake” represents the dangers Macbeth has being the king. He says he only “scorched” it means that they have not completely eliminated the danger. |
| What do the Witches tell Macbeth? | The witches show Macbeth 3 apparitions:An “armed” head (wearing a battle helmet) telling Macbeth to beware of MacDuff.A “bloody child” telling Macbeth that he should be fearless because “no man born of a woman will ever be able to defeat him.A child with a crown on his head, and a tree in his hand. He tells Macbeth to be brave and proud like a lion because he will never be defeated until Great Birnam Wood to Dunsinane Hill marches to fight against him. |
| Regarding Macduff, what does Macbeth decide to do when he learns that no one born of a woman will harm him? | He decides that he should not be afraid and feels unthreatened by anyone because they are “born of a woman” |
| What was Lady Macduff’s last chance for escape? | A messenger comes in and warns lady macduff and tells her to escape. She doesn’t listen and she ends up dying |
| When Ross joins Malcolm and Macduff in Scene 3, he says to Macduff, “Let not your ears despise my tongue forever, / Which shall possess them with the heaviest sound / That ever yet they heard.” What does he mean? | He is about to tell him that his family is dead and he doesn’t want Macduff to hate him for bringing the terrible news |
| Why does the gentlewoman in Scene 1 refuse to repeat Lady Macbeth’s sleep talk to the doctor? | There is no witness to confirm the truth of the gentlewoman’s words |
| How does Macbeth reassure himself that Malcolm and Macduff are not a threat to him? | He says that since they are born of a woman, they can not harm him |
| As Macbeth’s anxiety grows, what does he ask the doctor to do? | Cure Lady Macbeth |
| What does Macbeth’s reaction to his wife’s death reveal about his feelings about life and death? | Thinks life is a meaningless path to death |
| Why does Macduff declare that he must kill Macbeth? | He must avenge his family members’ murders |
Macbeth
November 14, 2019