Act 1, Scene 2
Summary: In this scene, King Duncan receives three significant reports: the death of the
rebel Macdonald at the hands of "brave Macbeth"; Macbeth's action against the
Norwegians; and the treachery of the Thane of Cawdor, who has sided with the enemy.
In each case, Macbeth's heroism shines out.
Activity 1: General Comprehension
1. What is currently happening in Scotland?
2. How have Macbeth and Banquo fought in the battle?
3. What news does Ross bring with him?
4. What does King Duncan decide to do as a result?
5. Do you think Duncan is a strong or weak king?
Captain
Doubtful it stood,
As two spent swimmers, that do cling together,
And choke their art. The merciless Macdonald
(Worthy to be a rebel, for to that
The multiplying villainies of nature
Do swarm upon him) from the Western Isles
Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied,
And Fortune, on his damned quarry smiling,
Showed like a rebel's whore. But all's too weak:
For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that
name),
Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel,
Which smoked with bloody execution,
Like Valour's minion, carved out his passage,
Till he faced the slave,
Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to
him,
Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’
chops,
And fix'd his head upon our battlements.
Activity 2: Complete the tasks based on the passage and image above.
1. Find and highlight a line which shows the Captain was not sure which side
would win. What does he compare the situation to?
2. Find a word the Captain uses to describe the rebel, Macdonald. What
impression do we get of his character?
3. What is our first impression of Macbeth in this scene based on the language
and the visual? Write down 5 words to describe his character.
4. Find two lines that describe what Macbeth does to Macdonald. What is the
effect of this graphic description?
5. Macbeth’s actions were particularly bloody. Why is Macbeth associated with
violence so early in the play?
Visual Technique
How does the illustrator use visual techniques to portray Macbeth in the image
above?