ACHIEVEMENT STANDARD 2.3 ANALYSE EXTENDED WRITTEN TEXT: DRAMA
MACBETH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
There is no need to make summary notes for every scene in the play. These are already in the textbook and
are available online on sites such as www.sparknotes.com The purpose of this booklet is for you to re-read the
play and select crucial quotations for you to memorise and then use in essays.
Find suitable quotations to prove the statements made about each scene.
Act I, scene i
The play begins with an eerie, almost supernatural atmosphere.
Act I, scene ii
Macbeth has triumphed in the battle.
Macbeth is well respected by King Duncan.
Macbeth has been given the new title of Thane of Cawdor.
Act I, scene iii
The supernatural elements of the play are reinforced by Macbeth’s first words echoing those of the weird sisters
in I, i.
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Macbeth’s initial reaction to the prophecies is one of bewilderment.
Macbeth considers how he might become king sooner than expected.
Macbeth believes he should take no action to hasten his becoming king.
Act I, scene iv
The theme of appearance and reality is emphasised by Duncan.
Duncan appoints Malcolm his successor.
Macbeth sees Malcolm as a rival for the crown.
Duncan has great respect for Macbeth.
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Act I, scene v
Lady Macbeth thinks that her husband is rather weak.
Lady Macbeth believes she can influence her husband to do what she wants.
Lady Macbeth calls upon evil or supernatural powers to help her.
Lady Macbeth is aware of the need to show a friendly appearance but to be cruel and cunning in reality.
Act I, scene vi
Duncan still respects Macbeth and will reward him further.
Act I, scene vii
Macbeth has doubts about killing Duncan.
Macbeth is ambitious and really does want to be king.
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Lady Macbeth is angered at her husband’s apparent weakness.
Lady Macbeth convinces her husband to kill Duncan.
Act II, scene i
Macbeth promises honours to Banquo once he is king, in return for Banquo’s loyalty.
Macbeth’s vision of the dagger causes further doubts about the murder.
Macbeth is resolved now to murder Duncan.
Act II, scene ii
Macbeth and his wife experience ill omens.
Lady Macbeth tells her husband to “pull himself together” and get rid of the evidence.
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Macbeth shows signs of remorse and anxiety.
Lady Macbeth feels that she has more courage than her husband.
Act II, scene iii
Lennox and Macduff experienced ill omens during the previous night.
Macduff announces to all that Duncan has been murdered.
Macbeth killed Duncan’s guards because he was so enraged that they killed Duncan.
Malcolm and Donaldbain flee in case they are killed next.
Act II, scene iv
There have been more ill omens.
Macbeth is about to be crowned king.
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Act III, scene i
Banquo is suspicious of how Macbeth came to be king.
Macbeth feels insecure about being king and he is afraid of Banquo.
Macbeth is good at manipulating people to believe what he wants them to believe.
Macbeth plotted Banquo’s murder.
Act III, scene ii
Macbeth’s worries deepen. Shakespeare uses animal imagery to illustrate this.
Lady Macbeth is determined to keep up appearances.
Macbeth keeps to himself the plot against Banquo. Lady Macbeth does not know.
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Act III, scene iii
Banquo is murdered but Fleance escapes. The murderers have done half a job.
Act III, scene iv
Macbeth is disturbed by the news that Fleance lives.
Macbeth’s strange behaviour (ie he sees the ghost that no-one else can see) is explained away as an illness.
Lady Macbeth – as she has done before – tells her husband to pull himself together.
Macbeth shows signs of fear and possibly paranoia.
Macbeth contemplates ill omens.
Macbeth is resolved to get more information from the weird sisters.
Macbeth sees that he can’t turn back. He must carry on even if it means more bloodshed.
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Act III, scene v
Hecate and the weird sisters plan to lead Macbeth to his own ruin.
Act III, scene vi
Some Thanes regard Macbeth as a dictator.
Act IV, scene i
Quote the three new predictions.
Macbeth is resolved to have Macduff and his family killed.
Act IV, scene ii
Lady Macduff is cross with her husband for being absent from Fife.
Act IV, scene iii
Macduff views Macbeth as a bloodthirsty dictator who is not fit to live.
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Act V, scene i
Lady Macbeth’s “sleep-talking” reveals her and Macbeth’s crimes.
Lady Macbeth is tormented by subconscious guilt for Duncan’s murder.
Act V, scene ii
Angus realises that Macbeth is obeyed only out of obedience, not out of loyalty.
Act V, scene iii
Macbeth is hubristic.
Macbeth is violent and abusive towards his subjects.
Macbeth resolves to fight until his death.
Macbeth wishes his political problems in Scotland could be sorted out by “medicine.”
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Act V, scene iv
Malcolm and the English chop down branches from Birnam Wood to hide their army’s strength.
Act V, scene v
Macbeth is quite numb and has no fear.
Macbeth is becoming nihilistic.
Macbeth is afraid but still gives the appearance of brave determination.
Act V, scene vi
Malcolm is characterised as being worthy to be king.
Act V, scene vii
Macbeth is confident and successful in battle.
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Act V, scene viii
Macbeth is relying on the prophecy of the weird sisters and believes he is invincible.
Macduff is not “of woman born.”
Act V, scene ix
Malcolm is to be crowned king.
Malcolm is likely to be a good king, just like Duncan.
Cawdor Castle
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