Macbeth
Act I
1.

What are the witches planning at
the beginning of the act?
They plan to meet Macbeth when the battle
is over.
What does the Captain report about
Macbeth’s bravery during the battle?





He send up sprays of blood
Macbeth acted like Bravery’s favourite child.
He cut Macdonald open from his naval to his
jaws.
In the second battle Macbeth was like an
overcharged cannon.
He wanted to bathe in the sprays of blood.
3.

What simile does the Captian use
to describe the first battle?
The battle could be compared to two tired
swimmers in deep water, clinging to each
other.
4.
What simile does the Captain use to describe
the extra energy Macbeth and Banquo found
for the second battle?

They were like cannons loaded with a double
charge.
5.
What happened to the original Thane of
Cawdor and why did he lose his title?
He rebelled against Duncan and was
caught.
 Duncan ordered that Cawdor should be
executed.

6.
What prophecies do the witches
give Macbeth?
He will be Thane of Cawdor
 He will be King

7.

What prophecy does the witches
give Banquo?
His children would be kings.
8.
Which of Macbeth’s prophecies he
received came true naturally?
 Becoming
the Thane of Cawdor
9.
How do the witches make sure that
Macbeth believes the lie that he will be king?
 They
tell him they know he is the
Thane of Glamis. The prediction of
Thane of Cawdor comes true.
Macbeth now thinks the third
prediction must also come true.
10.
Banquo says: But ‘tis strange, and oftentimes, to win us to
our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with
honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence.’ What does
Banquo really say?
Most of the time the instruments of
darkness tells us the truth in matters of
little importance.
 This truth is small in comparison with
how they will betray us later.
 This matter might lead us to betray our
souls, to commit a greater sin.

11.
Macbeth tries to convince himself that he can believe
the witches. Look at the speech that he makes in Act I, Scene
3, line 128. What is his argument?
 If
the predictions were bad, why did
he become the Thane of Cawdor,
which is something good.
12.
What did Duncan do when he bestowed on Malcolm
the title of “Prince of Cumberland”?
 He
said Malcolm would succeed
him as king.
13. Why was Macbeth upset when
Duncan gave Malcolm this title?
 Macbeth
thought he would become
the next king.
14.
What did Macbeth think he had to do when
Malcolm was made “Prince of Cumberland”?
 He
could allow it to prevent him
from becoming king or he could
ignore it and still make sure he
becomes king.
 He could murder someone.
15. How does Duncan feel about
Macbeth?
 He
owes Macbeth a lot.
 Macbeth is like a young tree that
Duncan will tend until it’s big.
 Macbeth is brave.
16. Shakespeare uses the image of clothingin Act I.
Explain each of these images:
16. A. The Thane of Cawdor lives: why do
you dress me in borrowed robes.
 Giving
Macbeth the title while the
Thane of Cawdor is still alive is like
dressing Macbeth in clothes
borrowed from someone else.
16. B. New honours came upon him like a
strange garment cleave not to their
mould but with the aid of use.
 The
new title that Macbeth
received is like a new piece of
clothing. It will only fit you nicely
once you have worn it for some
time.
17. What does Macbeth write in the letter
that he sends to Lady Macbeth?
 The
successful battle
 The witches predictions
 He became Thane of Cawdor
 They said he would be king
18. Lady Macbeth thinks Macbeth will not do
everything that he can to become king.
Why does she think this?
He is too kind hearted.
 He doesn’t have a corrupted character
to follow his ambition at all costs.
 He will only become something if God
wants it.
 He will not kill to become king.

19. Why does Lady Macbeth invoke evil spirits into
her life when she hears Duncan is going to stay
at their castle?
 She
doesn’t want to experience
feelings of guilt.
 Her plans must be covered by
darkness.
 She wants courage to kill Duncan
20. Lady Macbeth says Macbeth must look like the
innocent flower but be the serpent under it.
 Macbeth
must appear innocent on
the outside but on the inside he
must be as dangerous as a snake.
21. Why does Lady Macbeth say Duncan will
not leave their castle?
 She
plans to kill him
22. What is Duncan’s opinion of Inverness
castle?
 The
castle is situated very nicely.
 It is surrounded by a pleasant
smell.
 It seems inviting.
23. How does Lady Macbeth seem when she
receives Duncan at the castle and why is the act
of receiving Duncan, ironic?
 She
is very friendly and says
everything they have belong to
Duncan.
 It is ironic because she looks like
the perfect hostess but she is
going to kill him.
24. In scene 7, Macbeth does not want to kill
Duncan anymore. Give the reasons why he
doesn’t want to kill Duncan.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
It should be done quickly.
He must know he would become king.
If he kills Duncan, he will pay for the murder. If not on earth in
the afterlife.
Duncan trusts him.
Duncan is related to him.
Macbeth is his subject.
Macbeth is his host.
Duncan is a good king and heaven would make sure the killer
is found out.
Nothing motivates Macbeth to commit the crime.
25.
Lady Macbeth says: “I have given suck, and know how tender ‘tis to love the babe
that milks me – I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked the nipple
from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have
done to this.” Why does she use this argument?
 She
is trying to show Macbeth that
if she made a promise she would
keep it even if it meant having to
do something terrible.
26. How does Lady Macbeth plan for
them to kill Duncan?
When Duncan is asleep, she will give
the guards a potion that will make them
sleepy.
 They can sneek into the room and kill
Duncan with the knives of the guards.
 They can put the bloody knives on the
guards and everybody would suspect
the guards.

27. Macbeth says: “False face must hide, what the
false heart doth know.” What does he mean?
 Don’t
show your real feelings on
your face.
 Don’t let Duncan see in your
actions that we are planning to
murder him.