AP Literature, Elaine Kaye, GCHS


12.3a recognize major literary forms and their elements

12.7f Apply grammatical conventions to edit writing for correct usage of language, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.


Given the power point, questions, summary of play, vocabulary, and movie clip: students will be able to analyze an introduction to
“Macbeth,” and complete a quiz on the introduction with 80% accuracy.

You were out running in the woods when you fell down and hit your head. You wake up to find yourself in a dark hole, surrounding by small woodland creatures who are talking amongst themselves excitedly. You realize that you can understand what they are saying, and they are all suggesting different ways to kill you. The rabbits suggest putting you in a large trap, the fox suggests letting you go and chasing you down, etc. Write this scene.
Or, choose your own to write about!


Think of a time when you or someone you know would stop at nothing to get what they desired the most. Even if it meant hurting someone else. Describe that time and explained what happened.


Connection: Today, we are going to analyze an introduction of the play, “Macbeth” by William
Shakespeare.

Relevancy: If you have ever been elbowed aside by a team member eager for glory, you have experienced the effects of fierce ambition. In
Macbeth, ambition causes a brave soldier to become an evil plotter (text: page 299).


1. Who wrote “Macbeth?”

2. Who are the main characters in the story?

3. Where does this story take place?

4. What is the plot of this story?

10.
11.
12.
13.
6.
7.
8.
9.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
14.
15.
16.
Thane
Flaw
Fatal
Beget
Predict
Dagger
Ambition
Valor
Treasons
Imperial
Liege
Sovereign
Soliloquy
Elizabethan Drama
Irony
Symbolism

Directions: Before beginning your journal into
Shakespeare’s
Macbeth, copy and define the following terms. Draw a picture of number
6.

Introduction to Macbeth
Macbeth is another one of Shakespeare’s great tragedies, based on
Holinshed’s
Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland . It was written around 1605 but was not published in the first Folio until
1623. It tells about the fall of the ambitious couple, Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is the tragic hero, a character who has a fatal (tragic)flaw within himself that he cannot change. He is not a bad person; he is just too ambitious. Macbeth is a story about the murder of a king by his brother, the revenge of a son (Macbeth), three witches who plot against Macbeth, and Macbeth’s rise and fall.

Macbeth is an interesting character to follow. As you read, you can see how he has changed. We first meet Macbeth as a brave soldier and later find him as a murderer who kills everyone who is in his way of the throne. Lady Macbeth is also a well-developed character. She is conniving and ruthless, though she does seem to have some humane qualities.












1. What are the witches planning at the beginning of Act I?
2. What title is given to Macbeth in bravery of battle?
3. What happened to the original Thane of Cawdor and why did he lose his title?
4. How do the witches greet Macbeth?
5. What is the message the witches give to Banquo?
6. Macbeth decides against committing what act to the King, after the witches greet him?
7. In which country does this play take place?
8. What has lady Macbeth schemed to do to the King?
9. Why has the King come to Macbeth’s castle?
10. What kind of person is Lady Macbeth?
11. How sure is Lady Macbeth that this plot will succeed? Explain your answer.

The play opens in Scotland. Macbeth and Banquo have defeated their enemies in battle, leading King Duncan to give the title of thane of Cawdor to Macbeth (who doesn’t know this yet). While Macbeth and Banquo are walking, they encounter three chanting witches. The witches speak to
Macbeth and greet him as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and king hereafter. They also tell Banquo that though he will not be king, he will beget kings (i.e., his sons will be kings). Macbeth wonders about this prediction as the king’s messenger arrives. The original Thane of Cawdor had his title taken away from him, because he had betrayed his country. (His punishment was execution.) The messenger tells him that he has been appointed Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is momentarily tempted to kill the king in order to fulfill the prophesy, but decides not to.

Lady Macbeth, however, urges her husband to kill the king. Since the king is staying at their castle overnight
(wanting to congratulate Macbeth on his victory and becoming Thane), that must be when they kill him. She plans the whole thing, making the king’s guards drunk. By using their daggers to kill the king and putting the king’s blood on them, Lady Macbeth will frame the guards. It is now time for Macbeth to stab the king. Though he has bad visions and feelings, Macbeth kills the king.
Afterwards, he is troubled. "I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on ‘t again I dare not," he says.

Act II & III Murder of the King : Copy
Questions and Answer in Notebook





What does Macbeth ask of Banquo at the beginning of Act
II?
How guilty does Macbeth feel after the murder?
What does Macbeth wish the knocking could do?
What symbolism does Lady Macbeth’s fainting have on the audience and how is it ironic?
Why do Malcolm and Donalbain decide to flee?

The next morning, the murder is blamed on the guards. Macbeth kills them before they can protest, explaining that he killed them out of rage. The king’s sons, however, are still fearful for their lives and runaway. Macbeth is crowned king. Macbeth knows that Banquo is suspicious of him. When Macbeth learns that Banquo and his son are riding, he sends men out to kill them. They are only half successful in their job, and Banquo’s son escapes. Meanwhile, at Macbeth’s ball, the seat for Banquo is empty (because he’s dead). In the empty seat, the ghost of Banquo appears, frightening Macbeth to death.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
What are the witches doing at the beginning of Act 4? What are they chanting?
What three things do the witches and goddess Hecate plan to tell Macbeth?
How does Macbeth act to Macduff’s departure?
What does Macduff and Malcolm decide to do?
What secrets does Lady Macbeth tell in her sleep? Who hears it?
How is the prophecy fulfilled?
What is said that frightens Macbeth before he is killed?
Who kills Macbeth?
Who becomes the new king of Scotland?

Macbeth also learns that King Duncan’s son Malcolm and Lord
Macduff are attempting to kill him. Unsure of what to do,
Macbeth visits the three witches again. The witches, along with the moon goddess Hecate, have planned what they will tell
Macbeth in order to destroy him. They prepare a brew, singing
"Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble." When Macbeth arrives, they give him a false hope, telling him three things. First, beware of Macduff. Second, "none of woman born shall harm Macbeth." Third, Macbeth will not be conquered until Birnam wood comes to the hill of Dunsinane.
They also tell Macbeth that Banquo’s descendents will become kings.

Macduff has left for England, so Macbeth sends people to kill his wife and children. In England, Macduff befriends the dead king’s son, after they are sure of the other’s loyalty.
Lady Macbeth has begun sleepwalking because her conscience weighs too heavily on herself. She tells about her crimes and the murder of the king, unaware that her doctor and waiting woman are watching her. She later dies, possibly from suicide.

The invaders from England have come to defeat Macbeth. The soldiers carry boughs from Birnam Wood in order to camouflage themselves. So, the witch’s prophesy of defeat when "Birnam forest come to Dunsinane" starts to become true. Macbeth then faces Macduff, but isn’t really scared. He has been told that he will not die from anyone woman born. But then Macduff tells him that he was not woman born; he was "from his mother’s womb untimely ripp’d" (C-section). When Macbeth realizes that he has been tricked, he gives up and is killed. Macduff decapitates him and King Duncan’s son Malcolm becomes the new king of
Scotland.

Macbeth: brave general under Duncan who becomes too ambitious after three witches prophesy that he will be King of Scotland. He turns to evil, killing the King, the guards, Banquo, and others.
Macbeth dies at the hands of Macduff.
Lady Macbeth: vicious wife of Macbeth, even more ambitious than
Macbeth. She convinces Macbeth to murder the King. Later, she becomes insane from her wrongdoings and sleepwalks. She dies.
Macduff: general, believes that Macbeth killed the King. His family is murdered by Macbeth; he later kills Macbeth.

Banquo: Macbeth’s friend and general, suspected Macbeth of killing the King. He is killed by murderers sent by Macbeth, though his son escapes.
King Duncan: King of Scotland, murdered by Macbeth who was one of his generals whom he had just promoted.
Malcolm: Duncan’s eldest son, runs away to England after he learns of his father’s murder in order to escape the same fate. Becomes
King of Scotland at the end of the play.
The three witches: They tell Macbeth that he is to become King, leading him to evil. They also tell him that he will be defeated, but they disguise it in a way as to give him false confidence.

Hecate: moon goddess and goddess of the witches, directs supernatural occurrences. Makes plan to give Macbeth false security.
Donalbain: Duncan’s youngest son, runs away to Ireland after he learns of his father’s murder in order to escape the same fate
Ross: Macduff’s cousin, messenger who carries news to people like
Macbeth and Macduff throughout the play.
Lennox: nobleman, suspicious of the murder of the king
Seyton: Macbeth’s lieutenant.
Porter: watches Macbeth’s castle; when drunk, thought that he was the keeper of Hell’s Gates and that sinners were knocking at the door to be admitted.
Old Siward: Earl of Northumberland, ally of Malcolm and
Macduff against Macbeth.
Young Siward: Old Siward’s son, killed by Macbeth in an encounter at the end of the play.

Seyton: Macbeth’s lieutenant.
Porter: watches Macbeth’s castle; when drunk, thought that he was the keeper of Hell’s Gates and that sinners were knocking at the door to be admitted.
Old Siward: Earl of Northumberland, ally of Malcolm and
Macduff against Macbeth.
Young Siward: Old Siward’s son, killed by Macbeth in an encounter at the end of the play.
Begin excerpt of Macbeth, produced by Notley HS
Click link for other character references.
http://www.shakespeareonline.com/plays/macbeth/macbethchars.html


Directions: In your notebook, write a brief summary of each movie clip.
Click the link below.
http://learnonline.splinder.com/post/2
3888596/reading-and-watchingmacbeth

Directions: Write each question in your notebook and the answer. Use the literature book to help you with questions and your notes.
http://www.icteachers.co.uk/children/ macbeth_quiz.htm


Go on this website. Write down the questions and the correct answers concerning the play, “Macbeth.” http://www.shakespeare-online.com/quiz/macbethquiz/macbethquiz1.html

DO NOT COPY
This powerpoint was kindly donated to www.worldofteaching.com
http://www.worldofteaching.com
is home to over a thousand power points submitted by teachers. This is a completely free site and requires no registration. Please visit and I hope it will help in your teaching.