1. What do you think these words and phrases mean
What do you think these words and phrases mean? Write the definitions out in your notebook.
Hallucination
Overwhelmed
Doubt
Bewildered

2. Act 2, Scene 1 What happens in this section?
Macbeth thinks he sees a dagger hanging in the air before his eyes. Is he imagining it?
The image changes: now the dagger is dripping with blood. Macbeth knows that it is not real.
Lady Macbeth has given the servants a lot of wine and they are now asleep. The time has come for Macbeth to go and murder Duncan.

3. Starter
Act Two Scene One - different versions: Act Two Scene One ‘The dagger scene’ Patrick Stewart:

4. Macbeth’s soliloquy- how would you describe his state of mind?
He speaks to the dagger before him. He wonders if the vision is coming from his head. It seems to be drawing him towards the murder.
In the last part of the speech, Macbeth pulls himself together. He realises he needs to get on with the murder. He hears the bell ringing, which is Lady Macbeth’s signal. He finally makes up his mind and goes into action.

5. Match the statement to the quotation
Quotations
In his nervous state, Macbeth imagines a dagger floating before him
‘Thou sure and firm-set earth, hear not my steps’
He reaches out for it, wondering if it is real or a hallucination
‘Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?’
It seems to be leading him to the King’s presence
‘Thou marshall’st me the way that I was going’
Blood appears on it
‘Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still’
Macbeth begs the earth not to hear his footsteps, for the sound may give him away.
‘I see thee still, And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood’

6. Match the statement to the quotation
Quotations
In his nervous state, Macbeth imagines a dagger floating before him
‘Thou sure and firm-set earth, hear not my steps’
He reaches out for it, wondering if it is real or a hallucination
‘Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?’
It seems to be leading him to the King’s presence
‘Thou marshall’st me the way that I was going’
Blood appears on it
‘Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still’
Macbeth begs the earth not to hear his footsteps, for the sound may give him away.
‘I see thee still, And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood’

7. Imagery in Act 2 Scene 1.
Animals
Weapons
Sleep
Blood
Darkness
Nature

8. Put these quotations under the right heading.
‘Is this a dagger which I see before me’
‘the wolf, whose howl’s his watch’
‘nature seems dead’
‘wicked dreams’
‘blade’
‘gouts of blood’
‘a dagger of the mind’
‘the bloody business’
‘the curtained sleep’
Animals
Weapons
Sleep
Blood
Darkness
Nature

9. How is Macbeth feeling while he is giving this soliloquy?
He is feeling nervous because...
He is feeling confused because...
He is feeling guilty because...

10. Which words and phrases show that Macbeth is feeling nervous about killing Duncan?
Analysis
Quotation
‘Bloody business’
‘hear not my steps’
‘the bell invites me. Hear it not Duncan’
Task 2: Which words and phrases suggest that Macbeth feels nervous about murdering Duncan?
Task 3: If Macbeth is a trained soldier and kills for a living, why is the thought of killing Duncan worrying him so much? (Use your knowledge of the Great Chain of Being/ Divine Right of Kings to explain your answer).

11. Which words and phrases show that Macbeth is feeling nervous about killing Duncan?
Analysis
Quotation
Macbeth asks the ground below him to not make a sound so that he doesn’t get caught going into Duncan’s bedchamber
‘hear not my steps’
Macbeth is scared that they bell will wake Duncan up. He wouldn’t have the nerve to kill Duncan while he’s awake.
‘the bell invites me. Hear it not Duncan’
The word ‘bloody’ suggests that Macbeth is worried about the violent act he is about to commit.
‘Bloody business’
Task 2: Which words and phrases suggest that Macbeth feels nervous about murdering Duncan?
Task 3: If Macbeth is a trained soldier and kills for a living, why is the thought of killing Duncan worrying him so much? (Use your knowledge of the Great Chain of Being/ Divine Right of Kings to explain your answer).

12. Why do you think Macbeth decides to go ahead and commit the murder
Why do you think Macbeth decides to go ahead and commit the murder? Chose a reason and explain why you think that.
He really is an evil man
He is so mixed up he can’t tell the difference between right and wrong
He is under the power of the witches
He does not really know what he is doing
He is acting on the spur of the moment
EXTENSION: can you think of any other reasons?

13. 9B2 - PEE Paragraph
How does Shakespeare present Macbeth’s state of mind in Act II Scene I?

14. 9Y5 - PEE Paragraph
How does Shakespeare present Macbeth’s state of mind in Act II Scene I? P: Shakespeare presents Macbeth as… E: This can be seen in the quotation… E: The use of the … suggests that Macbeth is… this makes the reader think…