INTRO TO MACBETH
Setting
Macbeth takes place during the 11th century in
both England but MAINLY Scotland
Opening scenes
• Scotland is at WAR with NORWAY
3 Witches
• These three women are
the supernatural element
of the play
• Tell Macbeth multiple
prophecies
• They are meddlers and
like mischief and trouble
• They speak in riddles and
paradoxical statements
Double, double toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron BUBBLE!
Macbeth
• Main character and title
of play
• When the play begins, he
is a great War General
and his title is the Thane
of Glamis ( a military
nobleman with his own
land and estate)
• He gets all “inception” on
us...
King Duncan
• As the play begins, Duncan is the
undisputed King of Scotland
• Benevolent, generous and
trusting..perhaps a bit TOO
trusting...
• He adores Macbeth and quickly
gives Macbeth a new title of
honor known as the Thane of
Cawdor in exchange for
Macbeth’s battle
accomplishments
Banquo
• Macbeth’s BFF
• Also a great War General;
fought with Macbeth by
his side
• Very level headed
• Wants the best to
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
• Macbeth’s wife
• Defies your expectations
of women during this
time period
• She wants what she
wants and will stop at
nothing to get it!
• Abigail-esque?
• Desperately wants her
husband to be what she
deems as successful
MacDUFF
-Scottish nobleman/thane and
well-respected
- Driven by rage to finally
act...
- Has a castle with many
servants; has a wife, Lady
Macduff, and children
Malcom and Donalbain
• The 2 sons of King Duncan (princes!)
• Malcolm is the heir to the throne
Focused Questions
Act I, Scene 5, lines 15-30
1. What is your first impression of Lady
Macbeth? Be critical.
Act I, Scene 5, lines 38-54
1. How does Lady Macbeth defy your
expectations of a woman during
Shakespeare’s time period?
Focused Questions
Act I, Scene 7, lines 1-28
1. Characterize Macbeth and his overall mindset
in this soliloquy. What does this reveal about
him?
Act III, Scene 1, lines 48-72
1. In this soliloquy, Macbeth decides to kill his
close confidant Banquo. What does this
suggest about his character?
Act I Critical Responses
(Please answer this on the back on the packet)
1. So far in the play, who do you think controls
Macbeth’s fate?
2. Take a look at page 347 and view the different
film portrayals of Macbeth’s character. Think
about what characteristics of Macbeth are
illustrated in each one. In your opinion, which
depiction is the most representative of
Macbeth and why?
Focused Question
• Act III, Scene 6, lines 1-24
• Act III, Scene 6, lines 24-39
Quotation Log
Quotation location: Act I Scene v lines 63-66
QUOTE #1: “To beguile the time, look like the
time; bear welcome in your eye, your hand,
your tongue; look like the innocent flower, but
be the serpent under’t” (I. v. 63-66).
Quotation Log
Quotation location: Act II Scene i lines 44, 49-51)
QUOTE #2: “Mine eyes are made the fools o’ the
other senses, or else worth all the rest...Now
o’er the one half-world Nature seems dead,
and wicked dreams abuse the curtained sleep”
(II. i. 44, 49-51).
Quotation Log
Quotation location: Act II Scene ii line 73
QUOTE #2: “To know my deed, ‘twere best not
know myself” (II. ii. 73).
Prediction??
BLOCK 2—Apparition Activity
Group 1: Armed Head
1. Casey
2. Anthony
3. Ryan
4. Nick
Group 4: Eight Kings
and Banquo
1. Zach
2. Adrienne
3. Nina
4. Sophie
Group 2 : a Bloody Child
1. Kim
2. Evan
3. Austin
4. Sierra
Group 3: a Crowned Child
1. Hannah
2. Luke
3. Jamie
4. Billy
Group 5: a Crowned Child
1. Joey
2. Peyton
3. Allie
4. Lenny
BLOCK 2 VOCAB GAME
INVENTIONS!
Group 2 :
Group 3:
Group 1:
1. Casey
2. Anthony
3. Ryan
4. Sophie
Group 4:
1. Zach
2. Adrienne
3. Nick
4. Billy
1.
2.
3.
4.
Kim
Evan
Joey
Sierra
1.
2.
3.
4.
Group 5:
1. Austin
2. Nina
3. Allie
4. Lenny
Hannah
Luke
Jamie
Peyton
BLOCK 3—Small Groups for
Apparition Activity
Group 1—Armed Head
1. Nathan
2. Kevin
3. Geena
4. Steph
Group 4—Eights
Kings and
Banquo
1. Jenna
2. Abbie
3. Nicki B
4. Rachel
Group 2—A Bloody Child
1. Hailey
2. Keara
3. Zach
4. Jess
Group 5—A
Crown Child
1. Abigail
2. Kayla
3. Nikki P
4. Bianca
Group 3—A Crowned Child
1. Elizabeth
2. Brian
3. Susannah
4. Ashley
Group 6—A
Bloody Child
1. Jeff
2. Lexi
3. Amanda
4. Kaitlynn
Group 7—Armed
Head
1. Shannon
2. Marissa
3. C.J
BLOCK Act V (scenes 1-7) Small Group
Reading
Group 1
1. Jon
2. Lina
3. Zane
4. Alysa C
Group 4
1. Taylor
2. Ari
3. Hang
4. Sean
Group 2
1. Megan
2. Tom
3. Amanda
4. Ty
Group 3
1. Ben
2. Gabby
3. Connor
4. Erin
Group 5
1. Alex
2. Macie
3. Nick
4. Gina
Group 6
1. Miranda
2. Xiomara
3. Eric
4. Jack
Banquet Activity
In your groups, you will act out the banquet
scene using only facial expressions, hand
gestures, and body movements to bring this
scene to LIFE! All the emotion and action must
be conveyed in this way so it must be a little
dramatic and OVER the TOP! You may shorten
the scene as is appropriate for a wordless
performance. Be sure to capture the MOST
important parts to fully dramatize Macbeth’s
reaction to Banquo’s ghost.
BLOCK –Banquet Activity Small Groups
Group 1
1. Jon
2. Ari
3. Zane
4. Nick
5. Alysa
Group 4
1. Emily
2. Lina
3. Ty
4. Sean
Group 2
1. Megan
2. Tom
3. Amanda
4. Erin
Group 5
1. Miranda
2. Xiomara
3. Eric
4. Jack
5. Hang
Group 3
1. Gina
2. Macie
3. Gabby
4. Connor
5. Alex