| blank verse | unrhymed iambic pentameter |
| iamb | consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. there are five feet to the line |
| prose | lower-ranking characters as a form of comic relief |
| external conflict | a struggle between two characters or groups |
| internal conflict | a struggle within a character |
| dramatic irony | the audience knows something the character does not |
| What is Macbeth asking and promising Banquo in Act II, scene i, lines 25-26? How does Banquo respond? (2.1.25-26) | ‣ Macbeth is promising honor to Banquo if Banquo helps him. ‣ Banquo says in response to Macbeth he will if he can do so with a clear conscience without doing anything wrong. • This means that Macbeth has to keep his plan of killing the king away from Banquo but this could be hard because Banquo knows about the profess of becoming king so he could piece two and two together. |
| In Macbeth’s famous soliloquy in Act II, scene i, lines 33-64, what does Macbeth think he sees? How does he interpret this vision and what do you think its significance is? (2.1.33-36) | – Macbeth seeding a bloody dagger – interpreting as a sign to kill the king (is he hallucinations, is it supernatural) |
| In Act II, scene ii, lines 1-13, what has Lady Macbeth do as part of the murder plot? ◦ 2.2.1-13 | Drugs guards, lays their daggers out for Macbeth, leading manipulating of the whole situation |
| How do you think Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are feeling in Act II, scene ii, lines 14-19? ◦ 2.2.14-19 | ‣ Macbeth’s conscience is disturbed, they are feeling fear, anxiety, paranoia about the murder. ‣ Collectively creating partnership in the lines in iambic pentameter (team, partners) |
| • In Act II, scene ii, line 42, Macbeth states, “Macbeth shall sleep no more.” What do you think he means by this? What does Lady Macbeth’s response to this statement reveal about her character? ◦ 2.2.42 | ‣ Macbeth won’t be able to sleep any more due to guilt ‣ Lady Macbeth isn’t concerned doesn’t feel guilty ‣ sleep= innocence, peace, freedom, heals mind, restores body ‣ brain sickly is a symbol for Macbeth being week, if you are week it is viewed as feminine, telling him to buff up ‣ Macbeth has blood blood on hands Guilt wrong Can’t wash it off ‣ Murdering Duncan •God anointed |
| In Act II, scene iii, the porter delivers a speech in prose, which typically served as a form of comic relief. What do you think is comical about his speech? What might be taken more seriously? | ◦ Comic relief ‣ Breaking tension◦ Porter pretending to be opening gate of hell ‣ Mock each person coming through hell ◦ Prose ‣ Lower- raking character ‣ Comic relief ◦ Equivocate ‣ Using double meanings to deceive |
| • What does Lennox’s speech in Act II, scene iii, lines 55-62, reveal about the role of Nature? ◦ 2.3.55-62 | ‣ Nature reacting to the characters’ actions • Setting the scene, evoking death ‣ Mirrors emotions of the characters ‣ Nature •Overwhelmed,confused, upset • Earthquake• Strong winds • Noisy owl |
| In Act II, scene iii, what evidence do we have that the control has shifted from Lady Macbeth to Macbeth?- 2.3.107-108 | ‣ Macbeth takes initiative and kills guards ‣ Lady Macbeth faints • Macbeth is taking control, so she could be overwhelmed and • Lady Macbeth could be making sure to show she cares and acting as if she has nothing to do with the murder • Could be a diversion so someone will not question Macbeth killing the guards |
| How do Banquo’s words in Act II, scene iii, show that he has doubts about the nature of Duncan’s death? ◦ 2.3.127-133 | ‣ Banquo has questions, fears, doubts • Suspects treason |
| What do Malcolm and Donalbain decide to do in Act II, scene iii ◦ 2.3.136-147 | ‣ They decide to run away for their safety but this makes them looks guilty. |
| In Act II, scene iv, what is discussed as being “unnatural”? ◦ 2.4.4-9 | ‣ God/sky disturbed by murder of king ‣ Dark in day time • Unnatural ‣ Light • Life • Good‣ Dark/night • Death ‣ Nature is reflecting how Duncans death is unnatural • Similar to events after death of Jesus ◦ Duncan could possibly be a christ like figure |
| In Act II, scene iv, what is discussed as being “unnatural”? (2.4.10-13) (2.4.14-19) | (2.4.10-13) ‣ Falcon killed by an owl is unnatural ‣ Macbeth is the owl because he should be going after rodents but he went after the King (falcon) (2.4.14-19) ‣ Horses ate each other |
| In Act III, scene i, lines 1-10, why might Banquo have kept the information about the witches to himself? ◦ 3.1.1-10 | ‣ Banquo keeps info to self b/c he doesn’t want to seem linked to the murder but Banquo knows Macbeth is murderer |
| In Act III, scene I, lines 49-57, and then lines 57-72, what do the two parts of Macbeth’s soliloquy reveal about his view of Banquo? ◦ 3.1.49-72 | ‣ Macbeth is afraid that Banquo will find out/ tell others he is murderer. • Knows that Banquo is honorable ◦ Banqou knows about the witches ‣ Macbeth is paranoid, dissatisfied, jealousy • Which leads him to his next crime of murdering Banquo |
| In Act III, scene i, what can be inferred from the information that Macbeth gives to the murderers? Why do you think that the First Murderer replies, “We are men” (line 91)? ◦ 3.1.88-91, 3.1.92 | ◦ 3.1.88-91 ‣Macbeth tells murderers that Banquo is their enemy and that the reason for bad things that have happened to them ‣ Wants to challenge them to murder Banquo ◦ 3.1.92 ‣ Murderers saying they won’t let it go, will fight back ‣ Macbeth challenging their manhood |
| • What reasons does Macbeth give for not killing Banquo himself in Act III, scene i? ◦ 3.1.121.126 | ‣ Macbeth says he and Banquo have friends in common and Macbeth needs to seem like he’s morning Banquo |
| • In Act III, where do we see evidence of Lady’s Macbeth encroaching sense of guilt? ◦ 3.2.5-10 | ‣ Lady Macbeth would rather be Duncan (dead) than live with guilt/fear of being found out ‣ We have nothing if we get title without content/peace • 2 rhyming couplets ◦ turning point for Lady Macbeth ‣ foreshadowing their destruction or death |
| • In Act III, where does the audience see evidence of the recurring theme of sleep? ◦ 3.2.17-25 | ‣ Feeling so uncomfortable that he is saying it is better to be with the dead so they can sleep peacefully • So basically they are somewhat jealous of Duncan’s death because he is at peace while they are not. ‣ Macbeth and Lady Macbeth sleep badly because of murder, so they are not at peace • They are not satisfied because they are afraid they will be found out and guilt • Since he can’t sleep he will not be able to think about what he and not be able to ward off the danger ‣ Duncan “sleeps” well • Dead in peace |
| In Act III, where is there evidence of dramatic irony in the information that Macbeth provides to Lady Macbeth? ‣ 3.2.45-51 | • Lady Macbeth does not know Macbeth ordered Banquo’s murder, but the audience does. ◦ This is an example of Lady Macbeth of not being in control, Macbeth is and also not telling her about it. |
| • How do the “asides” made by Macbeth give the audience insight into his developing internal conflict? ◦ 3.4.30-34, 3.4.22-26 | ◦ 3.4.30-34 ‣ Macbeth is very vicious and frustrated in these lines ‣ Grown serpent lies dead= Banqous death, worm= cleanse will grown up and breed venom which is danger for Macbeth ◦ 3.4.22-26‣ Macbeth has just heard the from the murderer that Banquo is dead but Fleance got away. • Fit= trouble is back, he is disturbed, Since Fleance is alive the witches predictions about Banquos sons becoming king can still come true ◦ If Fleance were killed he thinks everything would have been perfect ‣ Macbeth: marble simile for whole, unbreakable • Rock ◦ Stable foundation ‣ “Cabinned, cribbed, confined” • Macbeth feels trapped by his doubts and fears, he is doubting his kingship ◦ Internal Conflict ‣ Macbeth vs. his doubts, fears, frustration |
| How does the banquet scene make things move to external danger? | up against his actual fear, Banquo’s ghost |
| • In Act III, scene vi, where do you see that there is rising tension between Macbeth and the other noblemen? How do we know that we are moving toward external conflict? ◦ 3.6.1-25 | ‣ Lennox starts to realize Macbeth is murderer, he sarcastically questions Macbeth’s story.‣ External conflict: Macbeth vs. Nobles ‣ Macduff has gone to get Malcom to come back and fight Macbeth |
Macbeth Act II and III
September 9, 2019