Who is Fleance? Why might Macbeth see him as a potential threat? | -Fleance is Banquo’s son-he might be a potential threat because it was predicted by the witches that Banquo’s sons will be kings, so Fleance may be in Macbeth’s way to the throne |
Banquo says that he cannot sleep because, “Merciful powers, restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature gives way to in repose” (lines 9-11). What does this mean? | -he wants the powers to keep away the nightmares that plague him when he rests |
In lines 21-32, what are Banquo and Macbeth discussing? What is Macbeth’s response? Why do you think he responds this way? | -talking about the witches-Banquo has a dream about them-Macbeth says he doesn’t think about what they said anymore, but he will discuss them later with Banquo if he wants-He responds this way because he does not want to seem suspicious and too into what the witches told him |
After Banquo and Fleance leave, what does Macbeth see? | Macbeth sees an imaginary dagger floating before him. |
Lines 44-52: “Mine eyes are made the fools o’ th’ other senses, / Or else worth all the rest. I see thee still, / And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, / Which was not so before. There’s no such thing. / It is the bloody business which informs / Thus to mine eyes. Now o’er the one half-world / Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse / The curtained sleep.” | translation:-his eyesight is either the one sense that is not working, or the only sense that is working right-he sees blood splotches on the blade and handle-he decides he is thinking about this because the murder he is about to commit is making him think he sees a dagger-now half the world is asleep and being deceived by evil nightmares |
Who is Hecate? Why is she significant? | -Hecate is the Greek goddess of witchcraft-significant because witches are offering sacrifices to her |
Scene 1 ends with the ringing of a bell. Macbeth says, “The bell invites me. Hear it not Duncan, for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell” (lines 75-77). Why is the bell being rung? | the bell is being rung as a sign for Macbeth to kill Duncan |
What has Macbeth done at the beginning of the second scene? | He has killed Duncan |
Why didn’t Lady Macbeth kill Duncan on her own? | Duncan reminded her of her father |
What did the two guards do as Macbeth was leaving? What is Macbeth upset about? | -the guards said began praying -he was upset because he couldn’t reply “Amen” when they said “God bless us!”-needed God’s blessing, but the word “Amen” stuck in his throat |
Lady Macbeth says, “These deed must not be thought after these ways; so, it will make us mad.” What might this foreshadow? | This foreshadows that they will eventually go crazy thinking about the deeds they have committed |
What does Macbeth think he heard someone cry out? | “Sleep no more!Macbeth does murder sleep” (34-35) |
What did Macbeth forget to do? How does Lady Macbeth solve this | -he forgets to leave the daggers with the guards in Duncan’s chamber-Lady Macbeth solves this by bringing them back herself |
Lady Macbeth tries to comfort Macbeth by giving him advice on how to calm down. Translate 58-61. What is the “filthy witness”? | -these lines say that Macbeth becomes weak when he thinks of things in a cowardly way-Lady Macbeth tells him to wash his hands to get rid of the evidence (“filthy witness”)-She wonders why he took the daggers out of the room because they need to stay there and smear the guards with blood |
After finishing the scene, what other quote from Lady Macbeth relates to water? | “a little water clears us of this deed” (line 66) |
Lady Macbeth says, “My hands are of your color, but I shame to wear a heart so white” (63-64). What does this mean? Why is this significant? | -her hands are as red as his, but she would be ashamed if her heart were as pale and weak as Macbeth’s-significant because she just convinced Macbeth to kill Duncan, but she feels no remorse |
The porter pretends he is the doorman at the gate of hell. What three people does he pretend to let in? | -farmer-equivocator-English tailor |
What three things does the porter say drinking causes? | -turns nose red (nose painting)-sleep-urine |
Who are Macduff and Lennox? Why did Macduff come to Inverness so early? | -they are noblemen of Scotland-he came to wake up Duncan |
What is symbolic about the weather on the night of Duncan’s murder? | -one occurrence can affect the whole universe-humans are connected with nature |
What is the “lord’s anointed temple”? | the King’s body |
Translate lines 85-87 in which Macduff addresses Lady Macbeth. How does he view her? | -he says that the news isn’t fit for her ears-if he told her, it would kill her as soon as she heard it-thinks she is a weak woman when in fact she was the one who convinced Macbeth to kill him. |
Lines 107-112: | … |
Macbeth says, “Oh, yet I do repent me of my fury, that I did kill them.” In his “fury,” who did Macbeth kill? | the guards |
Malcolm asks Donalbain, “why do we hold our tongues?” What is the reason? What do they decide to do and why? | -they are afraid that if they say anything, danger will strike at them from anywhere-they decide to leave the country because they fear they will be the next ones to be killed |
Explain the two omens that the Old Man and Ross are discussing. | -still dark outside during the day, which symbolizes how when Jesus/someone of noble rank dies, darkness ensues-owl murdered a hawk, which symbolizes Macbeth killing the King since Macbeth has a lower rank than Duncan-Duncan’s obedient horses turned wild and ate each other, which symbolizes man and man killing each other and foreshadows people of equal status killing each other (Macbeth and Fleance maybe) |
Write down the line thats says who is now crowned the King of Scotland | Then ’tis most likeThe sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth |
Macduff says he will not go to Scone, but he will go home to Fife. Why? | he is suspicious that Macbeth killed the King |
Macbeth Act II
August 23, 2019