Preparation for Y9 English Shakespeare exam: ‘Macbeth’
During the half-term holiday, prepare for your English exam on Tuesday 9th June by
annotating/making notes about the following extracts from ‘Macbeth’.
Focus on Shakespeare’s presentation of the good and bad characteristics of MACBETH.
As your exam will focus on certain parts of these extracts, your teacher will explore these with you
after the holiday.
Act 2 Scene 1 (BANQUO and his son FLEANCE are going to bed when they encounter MACBETH,
who is preparing himself for his grim task).
MACBETH’S castle: enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE, with a Torch-bearer before him.
Enter MACBETH, and a Servant with a torch
…
Exit Servant
Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this which now I draw.
Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going;
And such an instrument I was to use.
Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses,
Or else worth all the rest; I see thee still,
And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,
Which was not so before. There's no such thing:
It is the bloody business which informs
Thus to mine eyes…
Coming from a disturbed brain
tangible, believable
beckons, guides me
handle (of the dagger) / splashes
A bell rings
I go, and it is done; the bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven or to hell.
Exit
…
funeral bell rung to announce a death
Act 2 Scene 2 (DUNCAN has been murdered. MACBETH is already regretting his action, and LADY MACBETH
takes the daggers away from him).
LADY MACBETH
Who was it that thus cried?
…Go get some water,
And wash this filthy witness from your hand.
Why did you bring these daggers from the place?
They must lie there: go carry them; and smear
The sleepy grooms with blood.
dirty evidence
MACBETH
I'll go no more:
I am afraid to think what I have done;
Look on't again I dare not
…
To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself.
Knocking within
Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!
I wish you could!
Exeunt
Act 3 Scene 1 (BANQUO suspects MACBETH killed DUNCAN; MACBETH arranges to have BANQUO murdered).
…
MACBETH
Ride you this afternoon?
BANQUO
Ay, my good lord.
MACBETH
We should have else desired your good advice,
Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,
In this day's council; but we'll take to-morrow.
Is't far you ride?
BANQUO
As far, my lord, as will fill up the time
'Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better,
I must become a borrower of the night
For a dark hour or twain.
serious (negative consequences) and profitable
between now and supper
someone who works during the night
an hour or two after sunset
MACBETH
Fail not our feast.
BANQUO
My lord, I will not.
MACBETH
…Goes Fleance with you?
BANQUO
Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon 's.
MACBETH
I wish your horses swift and sure of foot;
And so I do commend you to their backs. Farewell.
Exit BANQUO
I send you to them (the horses - to go riding)