Macbeth Acts 1 - 3 Test Review Package

Macbeth Acts 1 – 3 Test Review Package Characters Character Macbeth Lady Macbeth The Witches Banquo Duncan Malcolm Donalbain Fleance Macduff Ross Lennox About the character Summary of the plot thus far: As the play begins, three witches gather in a stormy field, planning to meet Macbeth, as he returns from an important battle. Macbeth is a Thane—one of the lords that serve the king of Scotland, Duncan. At the military camp of King Duncan, a soldier describes the defeat of another Scottish lord—the traitorous Thane of Cawdor—by Macbeth. Duncan announces that, as a reward for his valor, Macbeth will receive Cawdor’s title and property in addition to the territory he already rules, Glamis. While traveling to the king’s camp, Macbeth and another lord, Banquo, encounter the witches. They hail Macbeth as Thane of Glamis and Cawdor, and tell him he “shalt be King hereafter.” They also prophesy that Banquo will be the father of kings. The witches disappear, and Banquo and Macbeth are greeted by two other noblemen, who announce that Duncan has appointed Macbeth the new Thane of Cawdor. Later, Duncan thanks Banquo and Macbeth for their loyalty and announces his intention to make his son Malcolm his heir. Macbeth hints at the evil actions he may take to secure the throne for himself. Macbeth’s wife receives a letter from her husband that describes the prophecy of the witches. She fears that he will not have the courage to do what’s required to seize the throne. When Macbeth arrives, Lady Macbeth urges him to put on a pleasant face for Duncan, who will soon arrive at their castle. The king arrives and is welcomed by Lady Macbeth. Alone, Macbeth wonders whether he can commit murder to gain his ambitions. He is joined by Lady Macbeth, who chastises him. She tells him her plan: she will get the king’s attendants drunk, Macbeth will murder Duncan, and they will blame the act on the attendants. As Lady Macbeth takes wine into the king’s chamber, Macbeth sees a bloody dagger that leads him into the room to commit the murder. When Duncan’s murder is discovered, Lady Macbeth faints, and Macbeth kills the attendants. Duncan’s sons Malcolm and Donalbain suspect foul play and flee the country. In Malcolm’s absence, Macbeth takes the throne, and Banquo wonders whether the new king was involved in Duncan’s death. Fearing these suspicions—as well as the witches’ prediction that Banquo will be the father of kings—Macbeth sends a trio of assassins to kill his loyal friend. The assassins succeed, but Banquo’s son Fleance escapes. Later, Macbeth hosts a banquet, where he sees Banquo’s bloody ghost. Meanwhile, one of the noblemen, Macduff, rejects Macbeth’s authority and flees to England. Macbeth seeks out the witches to learn more about his fate. Ambition Judging by Appearances Guilt Manhood / Masculinity Nature Supernatural Blood Water Sleep Dagger & Banquo’s Ghost Dramatic Irony Soliloquy Aside Dramatic Monologue Allusions Tragic Hero Themes Motifs Symbols Literary Devices Questions Act 1, Scene 1 1. What mood is conveyed with the first scene? Name three details that help set the play’s tone. 2. What do the witches plan to do, and when? 3. The line “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” is one of the most memorable of the play. It is also an example of a paradox, which is the connection of ideas that are seemingly contradictory to one another, but that hold a greater meaning when placed together. What greater meaning might this line suggest? Act 1, Scene 2 1. Who is the “bloody man” questioned? What does he reveal to King Duncan and his entourage about Macdonwald? 2. What has the Thane of Cawdor done, and what will happen to him? 3. What does Duncan mean when he says of the Thane of Cawdor, “What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won”? 4. What view of Macbeth is presented in this scene? What characteristics are ascribed to him? 5. How does this scene serve as explanation? Act 1, Scene 3 1. What have the witches been doing since they last appeared? 2. What in the witches’ conversation suggests they are not all powerful? 3. What sort of day is it, according to Macbeth, and what does he mean? Which of the play’s themes does his remark emphasize? 4. Describe what the witches look like, according to Banquo 5. What do the witches tell Macbeth will happen to him? 6. The witches inform Banquo that while he will not be king, he will father kings. They also say he is “lesser than Macbeth, and greater,” and “not so happy, yet much happier.” What might these lines mean? What literary device do they exemplify? 7. Describe Macbeth’s ruminations about the witches’ prophecies. What conclusion does he ultimately reach? 8. The audience knows about Macbeth’s elevation to Thane of Cawdor before Macbeth knows. Why is this significant? What effect does it have on the beginning of Scene Three? 9. Macbeth reveals his thinking in an aside: This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good: if ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor. If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs Against the use of nature? … Explain how this aside is an example of a paradox, and how it contributes to the play’s rising action. Act 1, Scene 4 1. What regrets does Duncan have about the executed Thane of Cawdor? 2. How does Duncan feel about Macbeth? 3. Duncan designates his son Malcolm as the Prince of Cumberland and announces he will be the next successor to the throne. Why might Duncan choose this moment for his announcement? 4. Macbeth says in an aside, “Stars, hide your fires, / Let not light see my black and deep desires.” What can we infer from the passage? Act 1, Scene 5 1. Macbeth misquotes the witches’ prophecy, telling his wife in a letter that they said, “Hail, King that shalt be!” and not “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!” What does this misquote reveal about where Macbeth stands on the subject of the prophecies? 2. Contrast Lady Macbeth’s response to the prophecy with her husband’s. 3. What is Lady Macbeth’s view of her husband’s nature? 4. How does Lady Macbeth feel about the supernatural? 5. In her famous speech, why does Lady Macbeth ask spirits to “unsex me here”? What does her sex have to do with her plans? 6. Why is Lady Macbeth pleased that the king is spending the night? 7. Describe the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Act 1, Scenes 6 and 7 1. What does Duncan think of Macbeth’s castle? 2. Describe Lady Macbeth’s behavior toward Duncan. What does her behavior reveal about her? 3. In his soliloquy, why does Macbeth think of killing Duncan? 4. What reason does Macbeth give his wife about why he has changed his mind about killing Duncan? 5. How does Lady Macbeth manipulate her husband to go through with the plan? 6. When Macbeth refuses to proceed with murdering Duncan, Lady Macbeth says she knows how “tender” it is to nurse a baby, but she would have “dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you / Have done to this.” What does this assertion reveal about Lady Macbeth? How does Macbeth react, and what does it reveal about him? 7. How do Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plan to get away with killing Duncan? 8. Act One ends with Macbeth’s declaration, “False face must hide what the false heart doth know.” What does he mean, and what can be inferred about his feelings toward the impending murder? 9. Describe the balance of power between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act One’s final scene. Act 2, Scene 1 1. As Act Two opens, Banquo passes his sword and his cloak to his son Fleance. What does this gesture foreshadow? 2. Why can’t Banquo sleep? 3. Why might Banquo be troubled by the witches’ visit? 4. Describe in some detail what Macbeth sees in the air when he is alone, and explain why he might see it. What does it symbolize? 5. By the end of the scene, has Macbeth determined to kill Duncan, or is he still unsure? What action does he take at the end of the scene? Act 2, Scene 2 1. What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, “That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold”? 2. How is Lady Macbeth different in this scene from the way she’s presented herself before? 3. Macbeth is distraught that he could not say “Amen.” Why would this upset him? 4. Macbeth thinks he hears a voice saying “sleep no more, / Macbeth does murder sleep. . . .” For what is sleep a metaphor? 5. Describe Macbeth’s mental state in this scene. How is it different from Lady Macbeth’s? Act 2, Scene 3 1. To what does the porter compare Macbeth’s castle? Why is the reference significant? 2. Characterize the interaction among Macduff, Lennox, and the porter when the porter lets them in. What purpose might this exchange serve? 3. Who finds Duncan’s body, and what is his response? 4. What is Banquo’s response to the news of Duncan’s death? 5. What are Donalbain and Malcolm’s reactions to their father’s murder, and what do they decide to do? 6. Malcom says, “To show an unfelt sorrow is an office / Which the false man does easy.” Based on his observation, in what way is Malcolm different from his father? 7. What role does the weather play in Scene Three? Act 2, Scene 4 1. What happened to Duncan’s horses? What theme does this further? 2. Who is assumed to have murdered Duncan, and why? 3. What does Ross mean when he says, “Gainst nature still: / Thriftless ambition, that will ravin up / Thine own life’s means!” What is a second meaning for this? 4. Ross and Macduff discuss how Macbeth is going to Scone to be crowned, whereas Duncan is going to Colmekill to be buried. Why might Macbeth choose not to attend Duncan’s burial, when presumably for appearances’ sake his attendance would be expected? Act 3, Scene 1 1. How does Banquo feel about the witches’ prophecies, now that two of them have come true? 2. Why does Banquo distrust Macbeth? Why doesn’t’ he show his distrust? 3. How does Macbeth turn Banquo into a villain in the scene? Why might he do this? 4. How does Macbeth convince the murderers to kill Banquo? What reason does he give for keeping his own involvement a secret? Act 3, Scene 2 1. What suggests that Lady Macbeth is not happy, though she holds the title of Queen? 2. Why doesn’t Macbeth tell his wife what he’s planning for Banquo? 3. Describe Macbeth’s state of mind in this scene. Act 3, Scenes 3 and 4 1. What in Scene Three suggests that the prophecy about Banquo might be fulfilled? 2. What does Macbeth see at the feast that no one else can? How does he react and how does his reaction reflect his mental state? 3. What does Lady Macbeth claim is wrong with Macbeth? 4. In his paranoia, Macbeth questions why Macduff hasn’t come and reveal that he is paying noblemen’s servants to spy on them. Why might he be so paranoid? 5. Why does Macbeth want to see the witches again? Act 3, Scenes 5 and 6 1. Who is Hecate, and why is she angry? 2. What are Hecate’s plans for Macbeth? 3. How does Lennox feel about Macbeth? Why? 4. Where is Macduff, and why?