Macbeth
Act Two
Scene One:
Banquo and Fleance are talking to one another—Banquo
notes that there are no stars out (symbolism of light and
dark) Evil prevailing—his evil thoughts restrained (tempted
by ambition but does not give in to it)
Macbeth enters and they talk—Macbeth says that he has
not thought about the weird sisters again and he sends
Banquo and Fleance to bed
MACBETH’S SOLILOQUY:
He sees a ghostly dagger before him that leads him to Duncan’s
chamber
Sees blood on the dagger—BLOOD KEY SYMBOL
MOTIF: recurring symbol in a piece of literature
Blood = Evil deeds
Bell rings and Macbeth says on line 62 “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”
Macbeth’s major tragic flaw=His ambition
Scene Two:
Lady Macbeth says that the guards have been drugged
An owl has shrieked (symbol of witchcraft)
Lady Macbeth is unable to kill Duncan because he looks like her father
Macbeth goes and murders Duncan but brings the daggers back with
him
Donalbain is sleeping in the next chamber—they wake, but say their
prayers and return to sleep
Lines 36-39 “Methought I heard a voice cry ‘Sleep no more!/ Macbeth
does murder sleep….”
Macbeth will be unable to sleep because of the evil deed of killing
Duncan
Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that he need only wash his hands to be
free of the deed
BLOOD=GUILT
Lady Macbeth goes and plants the daggers on the guards
Macbeth says that he cannot wash his hands clean
Lady Macbeth returns and says that her hands are covered with blood
as well.
ASSIGNMENT FOR
ACT 2 SCENE 1-2
Identify the following lit terms by recording the lit term, the quotation
with line number, and an explanation of how this lit term adds to the
dramatic effect of the scene. You will also point out what the lit term is
(underline the lit device in the quotation and explain it)
Alliteration: “The painted pig flew miles” line 254 The alliteration here
is used to draw attention to the symbolism of pig throughout this story.
This is significant in this scene because the pig will soon be gone from
farmer John’s field.
Literary devices: CHOOSE FIVE TO DO Two marks per lit device.
Due tomorrow. /10
Alliteration
Metaphor
Allusion
Simile
Repetition
Rhyme
Motif
Scene Three:
Begins with the porter (doorman) and he provides
comic relief—after a dramatic scene, Shakespeare
provides a humorous scene to help relieve the
tension
Porter talks about how drinking can make
someone feel desire, but takes away performance
Lennox and Macduff meet with Macbeth in the
courtyard
Lines 55-63 the night was a stormy and evil night
(connects with idea of nature being out of balance)
L. Macbeth and Macbeth’s murder is unnatural
Macduff has gone into Duncan’s room and found
him dead
Lennox and Macbeth go to witness Duncan’s
death and Macbeth kills the guards—not a good
idea, Malcolm and Donalbain are immediately
suspicious
Macbeth starts making a speech about why he
killed the guards which only makes him seem
more suspicious
L. Macbeth pretends to faint to take away attention
from Macbeth
Banquo—wants to meet and talk about the murder
to find out what happened and what they should
do about it
Malcolm is going to England and Donalbain is
going to Ireland because they fear for their lives
due to the suspicion that they have of Macbeth
Scene Four:
Just outside the castle with a random old man and
Ross
The old man has never seen such a terrible night
And the morning comes and there is no light KEY
IMAGERY: DARKNESS=evil
Duncan’s horses ate each other last night
(nature’s out of balance)
Duncan’s body has been taken to Colmekill (and
island where Scottish kings are buried)
Macduff is going to Fife and Ross to Colmekill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZQOyiHDptU&feature=related