Jones
English 10 H
Macbeth: Act I and II review
Name:
Below are things you should understand about Acts I and II. Use this as a guide to study for your quiz. The presentation
on the history surrounding the play is available on the class website if you need to review the information.
History:
1.) Who is on the throne of England in 1606? How is he related to the play?
2.) What is the Gunpowder Plot and why is it so important?
3.) Be able to discuss (know who they are, important traits, why they are important to the plot, etc.) the following
characters:
- Macbeth
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Lady Macbeth
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Banquo
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Duncan
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The Weird Sisters
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Malcolm
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Macduff
Macbeth: Act I
4.) What kind of man is Macbeth at the beginning of the play? Why do you think we start with this image?
5.) What issue is King Duncan, Macbeth, etc. dealing with? Why is this so important in terms of context of the play?
6.) What are the two prophesies from the Weird Sisters? What issues do these prophesies create?
7.) How does Macbeth change after his visit with the Sisters? Why?
8.) How does Lady Macbeth take the news of the witches’ prophesy? How does this affect her relationship, feelings
toward her husband?
9.) What plan is in action at the end of the Act? Who is the major catalyst for this action? What does this say about
their relationship?
Macbeth: Act II review
10.) Explain the motivation of Macbeth’s soliloquy in II.i. What does this imply about his mental state?
11.) How does nature react to the death of Duncan?
12.) How does Lady Macbeth deal with the death? Macbeth? What do the differences say about them as characters?
13.) When Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are told by Macduff King Duncan has been murdered, how do they respond?
What connection can be made to earlier in the play?
14.) In II,iii when Macbeth’s motives for killing the chamberlains is questioned, what is his response? How does this
fit into the impression the Macbeth’s are looking to make?
15.) Why is there suspicion of Malcolm and Donalbain for Duncan’s murder?
16.) At the end of Act II, what role is Macbeth going to be assuming?
Literary vocabulary: Words you should know from class
1.) Soliloquy:
2.) Aside: