W I L L I A M S H A K E S P E A R E

Macbeth
Act 1
 What two main enemies does the kingdom of Scotland face?
Scene 1
Macdonwald
Macbeth killed him.
 How are they overcome?
King of Norway - Sweno
Macbeth & Banquo killed him.

Macbeth
Act 1
 What powers do the
Three Witches seem to possess?
Scene 1
Seeing the future
Macbeth will become king.
Banquo will become the father of kings.
 What do they predict will happen to
Macbeth and Banquo?

Macbeth
Act 1
 What kind of ruler does Duncan appear to be?
Scene 2-4
Kind and Generous

Macbeth
Act 1

How do Macbeth and
Banquo differ in their reaction to the witches’ predictions and the news of Macbeth’s new title?
Scene 3
Macbeth immensely pleased by the sudden reality of the two truths; he sees them as
“happy prologues.”

What does this suggest about their characters?

Act 1
Macbeth
Scene 3

Act 1

How do Macbeth and
Banquo differ in their reaction to the witches’ predictions and the news of Macbeth’s new title?

What does this suggest about their characters?
Scene 3
Macbeth has a great ambition for imperial power; vivid imagination controls his thoughts so completely that it seems to be a reality itself

Macbeth
Act 1

How do Macbeth and
Banquo differ in their reaction to the witches’ predictions and the news of Macbeth’s new title?

What does this suggest about their characters?
Scene 3
Banquo judgment is from a religious viewpoint: if the witches are indeed to be believed, they represent the Devil and may intend more harm than good.
He is more skeptical than
Macbeth.

Act 1
Macbeth
Scene 3

Macbeth
Act 1
 How does Macbeth react to Duncan’s naming of his son
Malcolm as his heir?
Scene 4
Time and opportunity are ready for him to take matters into his own hands if he is to implement the witches’ prophecy.

Macbeth
Act 1
 After reading her husband’s letter, what does Lady Macbeth say about him?
Scene 5
He needs to be encouraged to kill the king.

Macbeth
Act 1
 What does Lady
Macbeth’s reaction to the news of Duncan’s visit show about her nature?
Scene 5
She is ruthless and opportunistic; her first thought is of her husband’s ability to become king but also his weakness.

Macbeth
Act 1
 What is ironic, or
“off,” about Duncan’s first impression when he arrives at
Macbeth’s castle?
Scene 6
Lady Macbeth is gracious and cordial.

Macbeth
Act 1
 Why does Macbeth tell his wife that she should have only male children?
Scene 7

Macbeth
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Act 1

Macbeth

W I L L I A M S H A K E S P E A R E

Macbeth

Act 2
How does Macbeth attempt to gain Banquo’s support?
Scene 1
Macbeth tells Banquo if he supports Macbeth, it shall make honor for him. Banquo will benefit.

How does Banquo respond?
So long as I don’t lose my honor in trying to gain more, I will support you; I need to remain free of guilt and loyal to the king.

Macbeth

Act 2
What does Macbeth see as he prepares to kill the king?
Scene 1

What conclusion does he come to about what he sees?

Macbeth

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Act 2
Why is Macbeth so troubled by his inability to say, “Amen,” when he overhears one of Duncan’s sons say, “God bless us!”?
How does Lady Macbeth react to
Macbeth’s uneasiness?
Scene 2
He is afraid that he has been cursed; he fears he will never sleep again (nightly one would say prayers before sleep; the prayer ends in “amen.”)
Stop or you will drive us both crazy.

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Act 2
Why is Lady
Macbeth upset that
Macbeth has brought the knives back with him?
How does she fix the problem?
Macbeth
Scene 2
Macbeth was supposed to make it look as though the guards had killed them; therefore, the daggers need to be near them.
She returns to the room and gets blood from Duncan’s body and smears the guards faces with it.

Macbeth
Act 2
 Compare the way that
Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth react to the murders.
Scene 2
Macbeth is emotional and distraught.
Lady Macbeth is calm and centered; she is focused on their not getting caught.

Macbeth

Act 2
Who does the drunken
Porter imagine he is?
Scene 3
The porter at the gates of hell
 His comments add some humor to a very dark scene, but they also may be indicators of the evil that is overtaking the play.
Read his speeches to find these indications.

Macbeth
Act 2

How do Macduff’s and
Banquo’s reactions differ when the king’s murder is discovered?
Scene 3
Macduff is horrified at the assassination of the king.
Banquo seems very calm in comparison.

Act 2

How does Macbeth explain why he killed
Duncan’s servants?
Macbeth
Scene 3
He did so in a rage.
Of course, the audience knows that it was to cover up the crime.

Macbeth

Act 2
Why do Malcolm and
Donalbain decide to flee?
Scene 3
They are afraid that they will be murdered next.
They think they are guilty.

How do the other thanes respond to their flight?

Act 2

Macbeth
Scene 4
That the events signify that the world is out of balance.

Macbeth
Act 2

Scene 4
That Malcolm and
Donalbain might have paid them to kill
Duncan.

Macbeth