| “Fair is foul and foul is fair.” | – the witches-Anything related to goodness is also disieving/evil-purity=evil, evil=purity-Situations appear to be good but in reality are evil-All people are capable of being good and looking evil |
| What does the Sergeant report about Macbeth? | He is brave and considered a hero |
| Based on what King Duncan has heard about Macbeth, what does he instruct Ross to do and why? How does this connect to the previous scene with the witches? | – “Go pronounce his present death/And with his former title greet Macbeth.”- past Thane of Cawdor is being executed bc a traitor- witches have knowledge of this |
| Macbeth’s first line in Act 1 Scene 3 is “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” What does this mean? | – he has never seen a day so good and bad at the same time- fighting battle, lost men, 2 enemies, exhausted- won battle |
| What prophecies do the witches make regarding Macbeth? | – live a man accursed- won’t sleep at night or day- cursed- 81 weeks of agony |
| What news does Ross bring to Banquo and Macbeth as they are discussing the prophecies? | – King was happy to hear of successes- shocked that he fought 2 enemies and not afraid of death- messengers deliver how he defended the country |
| How does Malcolm describe Cawdor’s execution? How does Duncan respond? | – confessed treasons- set forth deep repentance- nothing reflected so well on his life like learning it – no way to discern inner from outward |
| How do Duncan and Banquo regard Macbeth’s home? | Duncan: pleasant location, pur airBanquo: guest of summer, delicate air |
| What arguments does Macbeth raise for not committing the murder? What does he mean when he says that Duncan is “here in double trust?” | – he is kinsman and subject- host, so should not have to commit murder |
| Lady Macbeth reveals the details of the murder plot. What are they? | – make him drunk while Duncan is asleep- make guards drunk to get sword to look like the soldiers killed Duncan |
| Why can’t Banquo sleep? | – believes human nature is most evil at night- attentive>knows something isn’t right |
| When Banquo says he dreamed of 3 weird sisters, Macbeth responds “I think not of them.” Why is this line ironic? | – Macbeth is about to kill the king and fulfill the prophecy |
| What is the thematic significance of the porter’s pretending to be a gatekeeper of hell? | – gatekeeper of castle- confirms Macbeth’s moral wrong duty>going to hell |
| Who is it that discovers the king’s dead body? | Macbeth |
| How is Macduff’s lines ironic? “O gentle lady…” | – wanted to be less motherly and more tough/manly- contradicts “gentle lady” |
| What reason does Macbeth give for having killed the guards? | – acted impulsive graz of distress and loyalty to the King- blind fury |
| Why does Lady Macbeth faint? | – to distract others and stop people from further questioning Macbeth…change focus |
| What plans Malcolm and Donalbain make? Why? | – Malcolm goes to England (Scotland)- Donalbain goes to Ireland- safer if not together-fear for their lives…dangerous because their father was killed |
| “A falcon, towering in hr pride of place/was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed”- Old Man | – king’s death=unnatural- owl=Macbeth- falcon=King- normality has been destroyed |
| “And Duncan’s horses-a thing most strange and certain…Turned wild in nature…contending against obedience…” – Ross | – Macbeth was loyal to the king and then he went bad- horses disrupted and go crazy, wild |
| What news does Macduff bring regarding Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, and Macbeth? | – Brings news that sons have fled- takes attention off Macbeth- makes sons seem guilty |
| Where does Ross choose to go, upon hearing this news? | – goes to Scone, where Macbeth is being crowned |
| What does Macduff determine to go? | – not to go to Scone with Ross- goes to Fife because he is Thane of Fife- doesn’t trust Macbeth, doesn’t want to watch him |
| Banquo soliloquy act 3 scene 1 | – suspects Macbeth of the murder- his ambition keeps him silent- thinks maybe what the witches predicted about himself would come true too |
| Macbeth admits to being afraid of only one man | – Banquo because of his kingly quality- doesn’t want him to have descendants |
| When Macbeth meets with the murderers, he asks them if they have thought about what he told them the last time they met | last time: told them that they should know it was Banquo who committed to the murder; they were thwarted and deceived |
| Why aren’t Lady Macbeth and Macbeth happy after he is crowned king? | – slashed the snake, not killed it- desire has gone without content |
| Why are the murderers only successful with half of their plan? | -the light of the torch went out, so the son fled- it was raining that night which caused the failure- Fleance had escaped |
| What does the first murderer tell Macbeth? | – successfully killed Banquo but not Fleance- Macbeth says the first murderer is the best, but still worried about Fleance |
| What does the ghost of Banquo do? | – sits in Macbeth’s place- shows how Macbeth is guilty, Banquo should have been in king’s chair |
| How does Lady Macbeth try to cover for her husband’s strange behavior at the feast? | – explains how Macbeth has acted like this since his childhood, and that he will be fine soon |
| “draw Macbeth on to his confusion” – Hecate | – tells the witches to meet her in hell with Macbeth- she will spend the night making something horrible happen- magic spells will trick Macbeth with illusions- he will feel overconfident in his fate |
| “security is mortals’ chiefest enemy” – Hecate | – overconfidence is a man’s greatest enemy- death comes when a mortal least expects it – people’s desires to feel safe often leads to their downfall |
| Why is Macduff living in disgrace? | – failed to show up at Macbeth’s feast |
| Where has Macduff gone? | -went to English court to ask King Edward for help- to form an alliance with the people of Northumberland and their lord Siward |
| first apparition | – an armed (helmet) head- Macduff is going to do something evil |
| second apparition | – a bloody child- Macbeth thinks he cannot be killed (by any man born to a woman)…invincibility |
| third apparition | – a child with a crown and a branch-don’t fear until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane |
| fourth apparition | – 8 Kings with Banquo- Banquo’s descendants will be Kings- Macbeth’s paranoia |
| Why is Lady Macduff upset with her husband for leaving Fife for England? | – makes him look like a traitor- left his wife, children, house, title is in unsafe place- doesn’t love them |
| “wants the natural touch; for the poor wren will fight, her young ones in her nest against the owl” – Lady Macduff | – Macduff lacks natural instinct to protect his family- even a small weak bird would fight |
| What does Malcolm confess to Macduff? | – Malcolm shouldn’t be king- no good qualities for being a king- he can hide the truth from everyone (desires)- greedy and would steal land, jewels, and houses- Macduff says that greed has lento the death of Kings |
| “These evils thou repeats thyself, have banished me from Scotland. …Thy hope ends here!” – Macduff | – evils of which Malcolm accuses himself has driven Macduff out of Scotland forever |
| “Macduff, this noble pass, child of integrity, hath from my soul….” – Malcolm | – this noble outburst can only be result of integrity, and has removed the doubts about Macduff from Malcolm’s soul, proving Macduff’s honor and truthfulness |
| Who kills Macbeth? | Macduff |
| Who discovers Duncan’s body? | Macduff |
| Which nation’s army invades Scotland at the end of the play? | England |
| Who kills Lord Siward’s son? | Macbeth |
| Where are Scottish kings crowned? | Scone |
| Who flees Scotland to join Malcolm in England? | Malcolm |
| Who does Duncan name as his successor? | Malcolm |
| The 2 murderers are joined by: | a 3rd murderer |
Macbeth Test
October 7, 2019