Macbeth Act 1
pp. 322-39
Literary Terms, Elements, & Techniques to know:
Elizabethan Drama
Tragedy
Soliloquy
Scene 1:
1. Identify the following:
Graymalkin—
Paddock—
2. Why might Shakespeare have chosen to end most of his scenes with couplets?
3. What examples of alliteration are found in the closing couplet?
4. Reading Check: Where, when, and with whom will the witches next meet?
5. Does the mood of Fuseli’s painting on page 324 correspond with the mood in scene
1? Why/Why not? (connections between art & literature)
*6. Consider and explain the paradoxes in lines 4 and 10.
*7. Line 10 reads: “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” This statement, which is proverbial,
sets out one of the major themes of the play. What do you think it means? (Refer to #6)
Scene 2:
1. What offstage scene does the Captain describe in his speech in ll. 7-23?
Reflection: Why would Shakespeare have chosen to have a character relate this scene
rather than have it performed?
What role has Macbeth played in the battle?
2. What are stage directions? Why are they necessary?
Scene 3:
1. What details of the setting enhance the eerie mood of the scene?
2. What does the first witch mean by “I’ll do, I’ll do, and I’ll do”? (interpret)
3. What can you conclude about the witches based on scene 3?
4. What descriptive details does Banquo use in his speech about the witches? (ll.39-47)
5. How can the witches be linked back to the Fates of Greek mythology? (allusion)
6. What do Macbeth & Banquo learn from the witches in scene 3? (comprehension)
7. What does Banquo mean by “insane root”? (ll.83-4)
8. Paraphrase ll. 120-1 in modern English.
9. How do Banquo’s words in ll. 123-6 exhibit foreshadowing?
10. What does the stage direction for l. 153 indicate to the actor playing Macbeth?
11. Reading Check: As Macbeth thinks about what the witches have promised, what
“horrid image” frightens him?
12. Compare/Contrast Banquo’s and Macbeth’s reactions to the witches.
13. How does Macbeth’s encounter with the witches show that the play will probably be
a tragedy? (craft & structure)
*14. Lines 19-26 introduce the theme of sleeplessness in the play. What can make
people sleepless?
*15. Weird (as in weird sisters) derives of the Old English word wyrd, meaning “fate” or
“destiny.” How is this usage appropriate?
*16. Line 22 contains the first clothing metaphor with the use of the word “unseamed.”
The metaphor is reintroduced in lines 108, 109 by Macbeth. What does the phrase he
uses mean?
Scene 4:
1. What is King Duncan saying in lines 10-14? (main idea)
2. Why is it ironic that he says this just before Macbeth enters?
What type of irony is that? How do you know?
3. As you read ll. 28-33, focus on the imagery in the dialogue. From what area of
human activity do King Duncan and Banquo draw their imagery?
What are they really saying? (interpret; draw conclusions)
4. What do the stage directions with l. 48 tell you about how Macbeth is to deliver this
speech?
5. Reading Check: What action of Duncan’s upsets Macbeth?
Scene 5:
1. How is Lady Macbeth’s speech in ll. 1-30 a soliloquy?
2. What do ll. 11-14 tell us about Macbeth’s feelings for his wife? (drawing
conclusions)
3. What do ll. 15-30 reveal about Lady Macbeth’s ambitions, plans & motivations?
4. Based on ll. 18-25, how does Lady Macbeth assume her husband will approach the
situation?
5. Compare/contrast the reactions of Lady Macbeth & Macbeth?
*6. In line 39, why does Lady Macbeth ask the spirits to “unsex” her?
Scene 6:
1. What details does Banquo use in ll. 3-10 to paint a word picture of Macbeth’s castle?
(imagery)
2. Paraphrase Lady Macbeth’s speech in ll. 14-20.
Knowing what we know about Lady Macbeth’s plans for King Duncan, why would she
show such humility and respect for him? (motivation)
Scene 7:
1. What doubts does Macbeth reveal in his soliloquy? (interpret, infer, draw
conclusions)
Analyze cause/effect: Which of these arguments against killing Duncan seems to
influence him the most?
2. To what is Lady Macbeth referring with the figure of speech, “ornament of life” in
line 42?
3. What arguments does Lady Macbeth use to convince Macbeth to carry out the
murder in ll. 47-59?
Opinion: Do you think she is persuasive? Why? Why not?
Indirect characterization: Considering her words and deeds, what adjectives would
you use to describe Lady Macbeth?
*4. What comparison (metaphor) is Macbeth using in lines 12-28?
*5. Once again, a clothing metaphor surfaces in lines 33-36; how does Lady Macbeth
turn the metaphor against Macbeth?
CONCLUSION:
1. In Act 1, which type of speech directed to the audience is more effective in revealing
Macbeth’s thoughts: asides or a soliloquy? Explain. (craft & structure)
2. Denotation: Dictionary definition of a word
Connotation: Set of associations & feelings a word “stirs up”
Consider the denotation & connotation of each of the following words. How are
they different? How are they similar?
Reign (n.)
Imperial
Monarch
Realm
Dominion
Majesty
*3. In plays, characters are defined by appearance, actions, and words. Examine the
characterization of Lady Macbeth.
What seems to motivate Lady Macbeth?
Does Shakespeare describe Lady Macbeth as a feminine woman? Why is this
Important?
How would the play be different if she did not exist, or did not know her
husband’s plans? (prediction)
*4. How does Act I fulfill the role of exposition?
*5. Scan the following line:
Banquo: Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear. . .
What is the meter?
Charting a Plot
Macbeth Act 1
In addition to creating the setting and mood and introducing the characters in Act One,
Shakespeare establishes the conflicts that will be central to the plot. For each of the
characters listed below, fill in the information you learned from Act One about the
conflict in the past, the current of present conflict, and hints about what will happen in the
future. The first one is done as an example.
Past
. . . have been overseeing
the battle.
Past
The Witches. . .
Present
. . .reveal future for
Macbeth and Banquo.
Macbeth
Present
Future
. . .probably will enjoy
watching what Macbeth and
Banquo do with knowledge.
Future
Past
Banquo
Present
Future
Past
Lady Macbeth
Present
Future
Past
Duncan
Present
Future