1. Macbeth Act 1, Scene 1 Quick Review
The First Witch asks, “When shall we three meet again?” What is the answer to that question and who will they meet with?
Look at the last two lines of this scene: “Fair is foul, and foul is fair,/ Hover through the fog and filthy air.” What literary device is used?
Given that the first scene features witches, what predictions can you make about the play?

2. Macbeth Act 1, Scene 2
Captain tells Duncan about the battle. Paraphrase his story into your own words.
Find lines that show Macbeth’s heroism. Write these lines on your paper as direct quotations.

3. Act 1, Scene 4 Dramatic Irony
Occurs when the audience knows something that the characters in the play do not.
Where do we see dramatic irony in Act 1, Scene 4?

4. Act 1, Scene 5
Examine the letter that Lady Macbeth reads from her husband. What information does he tell her?
Look at lines 13 – 19. Does Lady Macbeth believe that Macbeth has ambition? Or does he lack it? Support your answer with a direct quote.
In lines 38 – 52 Lady Macbeth addresses the spirits in a sort of prayer. With your partner, alternate speaking these lines aloud. Then summarize what she says.
In lines 58 – 68 find the line that urges Macbeth to look innocent but act ruthless.

5. Macbeth – Act 1, Scene 6
Duncan and Banquo comment on Macbeth’s castle. What is their opinion of it?
2) What is Duncan’s demeanor towards Lady Macbeth? What words are repeated by Duncan?

6. Macbeth Act 1, Scene 7 Macbeth’s Soliloquy:
Macbeth rarely speaks directly of killing Duncan. Instead he uses less brutal language (euphemisms): it, tis, assassination, his surcease, this blow, these cases, ingredience, the deed, bear the knife, his taking-off, horrid deed, my intent.
Read over the soliloquy aloud saying “killing Duncan” instead of each euphemism.
Macbeth lists the reasons for not killing Duncan. What are they?

7. 4) What is Lady Macbeth’s plan for the murder of Duncan?
Macbeth Act 1, Scene 7
3) Lady Macbeth refuses to accept her husband’s decision not to kill Duncan. What does she say to him in lines 48 – 59?
4) What is Lady Macbeth’s plan for the murder of Duncan?
(lines )

8. Macbeth Act 2, Scene 1
Read lines 1 – 32. Describe the difference between Banquo and Macbeth. Explain the use of dramatic irony in these lines.
2) Macbeth’s soliloquy:
Choose the 10 most important words/phrases that his thoughts.

9. Macbeth Act 2, Scene 2
Find and record lines that show how conscience-stricken Macbeth is over the murder of Duncan. Look for the following:
The voice about sleep
Putting the daggers back
The blood on his hands
His ability to say “Amen”
2) Why is Lady Macbeth not able to kill Duncan herself? Write the line that tells us.
3) Who is the more dominant partner? Who has the stronger moral core?

10. Macbeth Act 2, Scene 3 Reaction to the murder
Look at how each character reacts to the news of Duncan’s murder. Write the first thing that comes out of their mouth.
Macduff
Lady Macbeth
Banquo
Macbeth
Malcolm
Lennox
Donaldbain
Whose reaction is the most surprising? The least surprising? Why?

11. Macbeth Act 2, Scene 3
Following the murder of Duncan, Shakespeare includes a humorous scene involving a porter.
First this porter speaks of Hell.
What three people does he say end up in Hell? What have they done to get there?
Next the Porter speaks about the effects of alcohol.
What does he claim alcohol does to a person?

12. A worthy Scene?
Some productions cut the porter’s scene all together. What do you think? How important is this part to the play as a whole? What purpose does it serve? As a group, make a case for or against it.

13. Macbeth Act 2, Scene 4
Various unnatural or strange events are discussed in this scene.
List three.
What might each event symbolize?
This old man only appears once in the play. His dramatic function is similar to the chorus in a Greek tragedy. There, the chorus comments on the action, shows its universality, and represents the point of view of the ordinary people.
Does the old man fulfill these functions?
How is his part significant to the play?

14. Macbeth Act 3: Skit Performances
While reading your assigned scene in your groups, each of you take on different character roles. Imagine how the conversations and the scenes would be different today. Going line-by-line, rewrite/translate this scene from Shakespearean dialect to modern English on a separate sheet of paper (to be included in your notebooks tomorrow). The plot should not change, only the way it is written (Think about the setting—Are they in Brooklyn or South Georgia?). Be creative!

15. Macbeth Act 3, Scene 1
Summarize Banquo’s short soliloquy (lines 1-10).
Read over Macbeth’s soliloquy (lines 49-73).
What does he fear?
What is meant by a “barren scepter”and “unlineal hand”?
By the end Macbeth is bitter and angry. Why?
3) How does Macbeth convince the Murderers to go after Banquo? (77-107)
4) Macbeth has the power (as King) to kill Banquo, but he says he can’t. Why?

16. Macbeth Act 3, Scene 2
How is Lady Macbeth feeling at this point? Macbeth is king. Is she happy? (lines 4 – 7)
Macbeth enters. What’s Lady Macbeth’s advice to him? Compare her thoughts before he arrives to her sentiment to him.
What does the snake represent in that metaphor? (lines 13 – 15)
Choose words and phrases which show that Macbeth is haunted. (lines 17 – 21)
According to Macbeth, how is Duncan better off? (lines )
What is the gist of the conversation between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in lines 27 – 46?

17. Macbeth Act 3, Scene 3
Are the Murderers successful? Support your answer with a quotation from scene 3.

18. Act 3, Scene 4
How does Macbeth express his anxiety over Fleance’s escape? Summarize in your own words. (lines )
Lines depict the famous scene where Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost. How does the audience know something strange is happening to Macbeth?
Only Macbeth sees the ghost. In Shakespeare’s time and after the ghost was present on stage. But, in more recent productions, the ghost was not present. Which is better? How would you stage this scene?

19. How does she handle Macbeth in private? (60 – 68)
Act 3, Scene 4 continued...
How does Lady Macbeth handle this embarrassing situation in public? (lines 53 – 58)
How does she handle Macbeth in private? (60 – 68)

20. Act 3, Scene 4 the end
Macbeth insists the ghost is real. Which lines prove this?
When the ghost returns, what does Macbeth say to it?
Again, how does Lady Macbeth react?

21. Macbeth Act 4 Scene 1
Enter Macbeth: “I’ll conjure you…”
What phrase is repeated twice in this section?
What word is repeated six times? Why?
Enter Apparition:
What message does the first Apparition bring?
What message does the second Apparition bring?
And the third?

22. Act 4, Scene 1 continued
4) Look at lines Write down words that show Macbeth is feeling confident. But what is the one thing he wants to know?
5) The witches have an answer for Macbeth. How do they communicate it?
Enter Lennox:
6) When Macbeth finds out from Lennox that Macduff has fled to England, who does he decide to go after?

23. The famous Lady Macbeth scene!
Macbeth Act 5, Scene 1
The famous Lady Macbeth scene!
What is happening to Lady Macbeth here? Explain in your own words.