Macbeth Study Guide
From William Shakespeare’s Macbeth
Locations in the play:
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Scotland: The Country in which the play takes place
Glamis: Macbeth begins the play as the Thane of Glamis
Cawdor: Macbeth is promoted to Thane of Cawdor after the former thane is executed for treason
Fife: Macduff is the Thane of Fife
England: Malcolm flees here after his father is murdered
Ireland: Donalbain flees here after his father is murdered
Birnam Wood: The forest
Dunsinane Hill: The location of the castle where Macbeth reigns as king
The Witches FIRST set of Prophecies:
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To Macbeth:
o Thane of Glamis
o Thane of Cawdor
o King of Scotland
To Banquo:
o Lesser than Macbeth but also greater.
o Not as happy as Macbeth, yet much happier.
o Your decedents will be kings even though you will not be one.
At the time of the prophecy, Macbeth IS the thane of Glamis. He doesn’t yet know that he will be
named Thane of Glamis. He is intrigued that the witches say he will be made king because he is not in
line for the throne.
Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth about the prophecies in a letter. He also tells her that King Duncan is
coming to the castle for a visit.
After Macbeth’s letter, Lady Macbeth devises a plan to kill King Duncan to allow Macbeth to be king. Despite planning
to kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth is an excellent hostess when he visits. Macbeth kills Duncan. When others discover the
king has been murdered, an alarm is sounded and Macbeth reacts by killing Duncan’s guards because it appears that
they murdered the king.
The Porter, who appears after the murder of Duncan, serves as comic relief after an upsetting part of the play.
A change happens in Macbeth when he plans to have Banquo and Fleance murdered to secure his place as king and he
does not tell Lady Macbeth of this plan. After the Banquo is murdered and Fleance escapes, Macbeth imagines that
Banquo’s ghost appears that the feast. Lady Macbeth dismisses the guests because she is afraid Macbeth will tell about
killing Duncan.
Macduff and England- Macduff goes to Malcolm in England. Malcolm is worried that Macduff is a spy for Macbeth.
Malcolm asks Macduff questions to prove if he is loyal and not there as a spy.
The Witches’ Second Set of Prophecies
The scene begins with the witches creating a potion.
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For Macbeth:
o From a helmeted head: “Beware Maduff. Beware the Thane of Fife.”
o From a bloody child: “None of woman born shall harm Macbeth.”
o From a crowned child with a tree in hand: “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great
Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.”
Important Quotations:
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The first and second set of prophecies from the witches. See above.
Lady Macbeth’s response to Macbeth’s letter about the first set of prophecies from the witches.
Macbeth’s dagger soliloquy
Malcolm and Donalbain’s conversation after Duncan’s murder
Macbeth’s plot to kill Banquo
Banquo’s last words to Fleance
Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking
Macbeth’s words after Lady Macbeth’s death
From Roman Polanski’s film, Macbeth
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How are the witches’ scenes in the play different than the witches’ scenes in the film?
o The Heath
o The Cave
o Hecate- is she in both versions?
o What does Macbeth do before the second set of prophecies?
Duncan comments on the pleasantness of the air as he arrives at Macbeth’s castle, but the weather becomes stormy
and foreshadows that bad events might be happening soon.
Review the events that occur as Macbeth is named King.
The caged bear in the film represents Macbeth waiting for his death.
In the film, Banquo is axed in the back by the murders. Macbeth punishes the murders for allowing Fleance to escape.
Review the way that Macduff kills Macbeth.
What is the setting of the last scene?
Important Terms
Aside: A character on stage is speaking, but none of the other characters on stage can hear him. This allows the
audience to know what the character is thinking.
Soliloquy: A long speech given by a character, who is usually alone on stage, expressing his or her feelings.