Macbeth Review Question (unfinished)

Where and at what time of day will the witches meet again? Whom will they meet at that time and place? “When the hurlyburly’s done / When the battle’s lost and won” (1.1.3-4)Hurleyburly = battle When the war is over so it is not as noisy, they will meet Macbeth before sunset.
Identify several purposes which Shakespeare fulfills with the first scene. He reveals a tone of mystery and question. He introduces the characters that will cause the events of the book. Establishes that there will be supernatural and unrealistic events.
What is being described throughout most of scene ii? In this scene all of the soldiers have gathered at King Duncan’s camp near Forres. The battle is being described and how Macbeth is a war hero. An injured Captain is speaking of the traitor Macdonald and how brave Macbeth killed him and fought hard, as well as Banquo.
What two “captains” are especially praised in ii? Why do they deserve this praise? Macbeth and Banquo. They defeated the rebel Macdonald.
Who is exposed as a traitor in ii? Who exposes the traitor? To whom is the traitor exposed? The Thane of Cawdor is the traitor. Macbeth exposes his treachery when he captured him during battle
What decision is made regarding the traitor? By whom is the decision made? Duncan orders the immediate death of the Thane of Cawdor and give the title to Macbeth. (1.2.63-65)
From the evidence in ii, who are Scotland’s enemies? Remember to learn names. Macdonald, who is rebelling against the king
What information have we been given about Macbeth in the first two scenes? He is brave, noble, loyal, and respected by the nobility of Scotland. Also, the witches wish to meet him for some reason.
Who is Duncan? King of Scotland. He is the father of two sons (Donald Bain and Malcolm). He is also killed by Macbeth.
Is there crisis in ii? Explain. Yes, there are surrounding battles and traitors discovered. The Thane of Cawdor has been discovered as a traitor and captured. Duncan sentences him to death and gives Macbeth his title.
What function in the play do these first two scenes play? The first two scenes introduce the characters and the settings. They also establish the sides that each of the characters are on.
What action is the First planning to take against the sailor? Will the sailor sleep? How does this information limit the powers of the witches? The first witch will get revenge for the sailor’s wife refusing to share chestnuts. The sailor will not sleep and will suffer for 81 weeks.
What is Macbeth’s first speech? At what point earlier in the play have we heard almost the same words? “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” “Macbeth’s first words echo the Witches’ last lines in Act 1 Scene 1.” (10-11) (SG)
In this scene what predictions or prophesies do the witches make regarding Macbeth? That Macbeth will be… 1)Thane of Glamis (true)2)Thane of Cawdor (hasn’t happened)3) Shalt be king hereafter (pg. 11 45-50)
In this scene what predictions or prophesies do the witches make regarding Banquo? Banquo’s kids will be kings, but Banquo will never be one. (p.13)
Before the witches vanish, what is Banquo’s reaction to the witches and their prophecies? He is skeptical about the prophecies “Have we eaten on the insane root, That takes the reason prisoner” (1.3.85-86) (KM)
After the witches have stated their prophecies, what information does Macbeth demand from the witches? Macbeth wants to know more about the prophecies. He wants to know how he will become Thane of Cawdor if the Thane of Cawdor is still alive. He also wants to know how he will ever become king. (p.13)
Before the entrance of Ross and Angus, what is the difference between the reactions of Banquo and Macbeth to the disappearance of the witches? Macbeth wants to know more information from the witches.Banquo thinks both him and Macbeth have gone insane due to having fought a war all day.
Why does Macbeth say to Ross and Angus, “Why do you dress/ Me in borrow’d robes?” Macbeth does not know that the Thane of Cawdor is dead. He asks them this because he is wondering why they are saying such a thing that to his knowledge, is not true yet.
Summarize briefly Banquo’s words of caution to Macbeth (120-126) as both men marvel over the news that Ross and Angus have brought them. Banquo warns Macbeth to be careful because witches sometimes inform people of the truth in order to do harm (SG).Banquo tells Macbeth that the witches tell one truth among many lies to confuse you, so that you must deal with grave consequences. Pg. 15
What considerations or thoughts occupy Macbeth’s mind from Banquo’s words of caution (120-126) to the end of the scene? He is conflicted between whether the witches prophecies hold promise of bad of promise of good. If they have truthfully promised him Thane of Cawdor then why does he question them? But at this point his heart is fixed and he in not willing to consider murder. Pg 17.
To whom does Duncan refer in his second speech in iv before Macbeth, Banquo, Ross, and Angus enter? What is the meaning of these lines spoken by Duncan. Duncan refers to the previous Thane of Cawdor and states that “He was a gentleman on whom I built/ An absolute trust.”. He is commenting on that fact that he had no idea the Thane of Cawdor was a traitor and it is hard to tell from the outside.
After expressing his gratitude and joy to Macbeth and Banquo, what announcement does Duncan make regarding his own heir? Duncan announces that his son, Malcolm, will be his heir. (page 21)
What are Macbeth’s reactions and thoughts with regard to Duncan’s announcement? Why? Macbeth sees Malcolm as something in his way because he thinks he is going to be king. (page 21)
In scene 5, when Lady Macbeth finishes reading the letter from her husband, what is her immediate appraisal of her husband and the situation he has disclosed to her in the letter? She believes that Macbeth is ambitious, but just not ambitious enough. She thinks that he is too full of “th’ milk of human kindness” to carry out the assassinate king Duncan.
On what quality in her husband does Lady Macbeth hope to capitalize? She says on lines 16-17 on pg 23, that Macbeth has ambition when it does not involve evil. He would not wrongly do something to win. Lady Macbeth plans to make Macbeth more ambitious without worrying about injustices.
What news does the messenger bring to Lady Macbeth? The messenger tells Lady Macbeth that King Duncan is coming to their home tonight for a visit.
What is Lady Macbeth’s stated wish and/or intention after hearing the messenger’s news and before her husband enters? She wants her husband to become king.
What advice does Lady Macbeth give to her husband? She tells him to “look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” (1.6.63-64)
Provided that Macbeth takes her advice, what will Lady Macbeth do? As long as Macbeth kills Duncan she will deal with the rest.
As scene 5 ends, what is Macbeth’s reaction to his wife’s greetings, declarations, and advice to him? Macbeth responds to his wife’s remarks and greetings in a nonchalant manner. He responds saying, “We will speak further-” and continues on doing his own thing; he is not invested in anything she is saying.
What happens in vi? King Duncan is in Macbeth’s castle getting ready to have dinner with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Duncan is pleased with castle and complements Lady Macbeth because she is a wonderful hostess. Lady Macbeth puts on a stellar act of welcoming Duncan to the castle and says she is honored to have the king as a guest. The scene closes with Duncan wondering where the new Thane of Cawdor is and Lady Macbeth leads him to the dinner table.
In vii, what arguments for and against the assassination does Macbeth present in lines 1-12? Pros: There is no other reason to kill Duncan other than to satisfy his own ambition. Cons: Macbeth is related to Duncan. Duncan has always been kind to Macbeth. Many people also admire the king and do not see him as a tyrant.
What further arguments against the assassination does Macbeth present in the remainder of this speech (12-28)? Macbeth is conflicted because he is Duncan’s kinsman as well as his host for the night. He should be the one protecting the King. Duncan is also a good man; everyone knows it. He also says he only has ambition to push himself to do it.
After Macbeth says to his wife, “We will proceed no further in this business,” of what does Lady Macbeth accuse her husband? What specific indication in there that Lady Macbeth feels her husband is completely bound by sworn oath to carry out the assassination? Lady Macbeth accuses her husband of being drunk because he seemed so hopeful to become king. She is wondering did he go to sleep and wake up fearful to act of his desire. Macbeth is completely bound to carry out the assassination because
As this scene ends, Macbeth has reversed the decision he has made earlier in the scene. What is the significance, beyond simply reversing his earlier decision, of Macbeth’s last speech in this scene? He makes up his mind about killing Duncan, because his wife created a plan to do so. They were going to pretend to mourn.
What significance, if any, is there in the question Banquo asks of Macbeth after the witches prophecy Macbeth’s future? (“Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear/ Things that do sound so fair?” (1.3.51-2)) The question shows Macbeth’s initial feelings and mental state at the beginning of the play. Macbeth’s response shows how he initially feels about being king before his thirst for power takes over. He seems fearful of being king because he knows that somehow, he will have to get rid of Duncan and his sons to become king
What significance has Macbeth’s question gained in light of the entire first act of the play? (“Why do you dress me/ In borrow’d robes?” (1.3.108-9)) This is the part of the scene where Macbeth realizes what the witches told him might be true. Someone has just hailed his as Thane of Cawdor, and that is one of the events that the witches predicted would happen to Macbeth.
Indicate why lines 11-14 of I.iv, spoken by Duncan, are ironic in light of the entire first act of the play. It is ironic because later in the last scenes of act I, his own, Macbeth, is thinking about killing the king. Duncan has already stated that he trusts Macbeth and has even given him titles for his work, yet in reality he has no idea that Macbeth is thinking about turning against the king.
Indicate why Duncan’s conversation in I.vi with Banquo and Lady Macbeth is ironic in light of the entire first act of the play. His conversation is ironic because he talks about how nice Macbeth’s home is and that is where he will die. Lady Macbeth treats him nicely, but really the Macbeth’s are going to betray their King just as the Thane of Cawdor did earlier.
Define “crisis.” Identify two crises in Act I. Crisis is a time of intense difficulty. One of the main crises that encompases most of the play is Macbeth’s feelings toward killing King Duncan. In act I he continuously goes back and forth with himself about killing the king. He says “If chance will have me king , why chance may crown me without my stir” (1.3.143-144). Another crisis in Act I is Lady Macbeth having to convince Macbeth to kill Duncan. She says that “when [he] durst do it, then [he] [is] a man” (1.7.49).
Who is Fleance? What is troubling Banquo as scene 1 begins and before Macbeth enters? Fleance is the son of Banquo – He is troubled by him and Macbeth’s encounter with the witches and how the recourse could have affected the events that have happened (pg 39)
What gifts, presented by Banquo, has the King sent to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth? Why has Banquo delivered these gifts instead of the King’s presenting them personally? A diamond because they are hosting the King – “The king’s abed. He hath been in unusual pleasure…” (2.1.12)
What request does Macbeth make of Banquo in this scene? What is Banquo’s reply? Macbeth tries to persuade Banquo to betray Duncan, but Banquo wasn’t having none of that.
What contradiction of his own senses does Macbeth note when he is alone near the end of this scene? What is his answer for this apparent contradiction? Macbeth is imagining a dagger in front of him and wonders if it is real or from his mind. He convinces himself that it is not real and that is all like a bad dream.
What is Macbeth’s expressed wish near the end of his soliloquy before the bell rings? At the end of this scene, where is Macbeth going? For what purpose is he going? Macbeth is trippin when he says that he wants to kill his boi Duncan but he is headed to Duncan’s crib in order to kill him. “Hear it not, Duncan, for it is knell/ That summons thee to heaven or to hell.” (2.1.63-64)
What is done to Duncan’s grooms or servants? By whom? Duncan’s grooms/servants are framed by Macbeth for killing the king, so when Macbeth “discovers” the dead king he kills them as well.
What prevented Lady Macbeth from killing Duncan? Duncan’s grooms/servants are framed by Macbeth for killing the king, so when Macbeth “discovers” the dead king he kills them as well.
Who is Donalbain? Donalbain is the son of King Duncan who runs away once King Duncan is killed.
What human utterance, evidently said as a prayer, particularly distresses Macbeth? Why does it distress him? Amen and God bless us bothers him because he feels like he has lost God’s blessing for murdering King Duncan
After the utterance (from #4,) Macbeth tells his wife that he also heard a voice make additional statements. What are these additional statements? “God bless us” “Amen” “Sleep no more: Macbeth does murder sleep” “Glamis hath murdered sleep” (page 45)
What is Lady Macbeth’s reaction to her husband’s fears? In essence she tells him to calm down and act as if nothing has happened – she aggressively tries to appease his fears by making him act as if nothing has happened, she continues to try and convince Macbeth that the fears he holds are childish.. “The sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures; ’tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted evil” (2.2.56-58)
What does Lady Macbeth take upon herself to do to help turn suspicion away from herself and her husband? Lady Macbeth frames the servants by placing the bloody daggers on them.
What is Macbeth’s somewhat delayed reply to Lady Macbeth’s specific suggestion that he “get some water/ And wash [the] filthy witness from [his] hand”? He cannot look at himself or think about what he did to his king. At the end of this scene he wishes that Duncan was alive.
Is Macbeth’s reply in any sense an accurate appraisal of his condition? Why? Yes, Macbeth is in shock from killing the King, and in the beginning the Wife was going to kill Duncan so he is very upset that he murdered Duncan. He just betrayed his King as the Thane of Cawdor did earlier.
What is Macbeth’s state of mind at the end of the scene? Support your answer with specific references to the text. He is in shock. He accidently takes the knives out of king Duncan’s rooms which shows his upset nature and franticness to get out of the room. “Why did you bring these daggers from the place? (2.2.51)
As the porter goes to open the gate, who or what does he pretend to be? The porter pretends that he is the keeper of Hell’s gate. IDK about you, but I think he had a little too much to drink.
Is his pretense in any sense an accurate or true portrayal of his condition? Why? Pay particular attention to his references to equivocation and to the numbers two and three. …
Identify those characters whom the porter admits at the gate. Macduff and Lennox
What is of special concern to Lennox as he speaks to Macbeth alone? Lennox was worried about the roughness of the night (see lines 46-53 on page 51)
Who discovers Duncan’s corpse? Macduff discovers Duncan’s corpse when he goes to wake him up. (p.51)
What is the significance of Lady Macbeth’s first speech (2.3.92-3) on publicly learning of Duncan’s murder? Lady Macbeth pretends that she does not know that he is dead, and instead she is lamentful. This shows that she will do whatever it takes to become the queen of Scotland.
What are two levels of meaning in Macbeth’s speech (2.3.96-101) as he reenters with Lennox and Ross? One meaning is that he is justifying why he had the “murderers” killed because of his love for Duncan. And the other meaning is showing how much he loved Duncan.
Between the time he leaves the scene and before he re-enters with Lennox and Ross, what does Macbeth do in this scene to turn suspicion away from himself and his wife? He kills both the guards because he tries to pin the murder of the King on them to cover for himself.
Lady Macbeth faints in this scene. Make a calculated guess as to the value or importance of her doing so to the portrayal of her character, to this entire scene, or possibly to the play as a whole. It shows that she does not agree with Macbeth’s decision to kill the guards out of anger, and she realizes that he does it because he can, not because he needs to. It shows that she is power hungry, but not murderous in the overall sense like Macbeth is.
Where do Malcolm and Donalbain intend to go as the scene ends? Why do they intend to go? Malcolm will go to England, and Donaldbain will go to Ireland. They are trying to leave Scotland because they think whoever killed their father will try to kill them too. (p.57)
According to Ross and the old man, what has been the general effect on nature of all that has happened in the play thus far? That nature is upset with the way mankind is acting. Animals were unsettled and nature was restless. (59)
What are two specific indications of the effect on nature of all that has happened in the play thus far? Macbeth’s horses went crazy and an owl killed a falcon.
Who implicates Malcolm and Donalbain in the murder? What is the basis for such implication of Malcolm and Donalbain? Macduff was the first to accuse Malcolm and Donaldbain of murdering the king. Malcolm and Donaldbain looked guilty of murder, because they ran away after the body was found. (p.61)
Who is the new King of Scotland? Where is he crowned? What has become of Duncan’s body? Macbeth is the new king of Scotland. He was crowned at Scone. And, Duncan’s body was carried to Colmkill, where the bodies of his predecessors are. (p.61)
As the scene ends, what are Macduff’s plans? To go to Fife (so home) but not to the coronation of Macbeth. He does not agree with Macbeth being King and thinks something is up.
What has Macbeth gained by the time Act 2 ends? The crown
What has Macbeth lost by the time Act 2 ends? His wifes support in a way ( she is shocked by his actions)
What are the forces which drive Macbeth to say and do the things he does? His hunger for power and complete control of the crown. The prophecies given to him by the Witches
Shakespeare makes numerous references to nature. Thus far in the play, what is the effect of those references? “A falcon tow’ring in her pride of place….mousing owl hawked at and killed” (2.4.12-13). This represents Macbeth killing Duncan and how several other animals like Duncans horses were breaking out of their stables and eating each other
Since conflict or tension is the essential element of drama, indicate the major areas of conflict in the play thus far, and explain the involvement of specific characters in the conflict. ….
August 10, 2019