Macbeth overview
Act I
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Three witches make plans to meet Macbeth
“Fair is foul, foul is fair” (theme)
King Duncan hears about Macbeth and Banquo’s heroic actions
Three witches predict to Macbeth and Banquo
– Thane of Cawdor (Macbeth)
– King (Macbeth)
– He will “beget” kings (Banquo)
• Lady Macbeth hears of predictions and King Duncan’s visit
• Macbeth hesitates to do what needs to be done in order for him to
be king
• Lady Macbeth shames Macbeth by questioning his manhood if he
does not follow through with plan for Duncan to die
Act II
• Macbeth hallucinates a dagger before committing the
murder
• King Duncan is murdered
• Lady Macbeth places bloody daggers with Duncan’s guards
• Drunken porter scene with Macduff (provides comic relief)
• Macduff discovers Duncan’s body
• Macbeth kills Duncan’s guards
• Malcolm leaves to England; Donaldbain to Ireland
(Duncan’s sons)
• People question Duncan’s sons motives for leaving
• Macbeth is King
Act III
• Banquo suspicious of how Macbeth earned title of King
• Macbeth hires murders to kill Banquo and Fleance (his
son)
• Banquo is killed; Fleance escapes
• Macbeth sees ghost of Banquo at dinner
• Hectate arranges with witches to “trick” Macbeth
• Lennox questions Macbeth’s innocence
• Macduff travels to England to ask King Edward for help
to free their kingdon; refused to come to Macbeth’s
house
Act IV
• Witches make predictions to Macbeth
– Beware Macduff, Beware the Thane of Fife
– None of woman born shall harm Macbeth
– Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam
Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him
• Macbeth orders lady Macduff and children killed
• Malcolm and Macduff are in England; Macduff
learns of his family’s fate
• They will fight to overthrow Macbeth
Act V
• Lady Macbeth sleepwalks and tried to wash the
imaginary blood off her hands
• Macbeth is overconfident that he cannot be defeated
due to the witches predictions
• Lady Macbeth dies by her own hand
• Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane because the
soldiers use it as camouflage
• Macbeth vows to fight to the end; he kills Young Siward
• Macduff announces he was ripped from his mother’s
womb then kills Macbeth
• Malcolm named king
Portfolio Assignments
Due: Tuesday, 4/1/14
• Drama vocabulary
• Pre-reading questions
• Character chart
• Act I questions
• Act II questions
• Act III questions
• Act IV questions
• Act V questions
• Macbeth quiz
• Study guide
** Late points will be deducted from portfolios not turned in
before the test begins