Act 1
What is the point of the first scene literally and in
reference to the whole play?
To establish the dark and dramatic mood, imagery and themes of the play.
What is Macbeth's lie to Banquo about the witches' predictions?
He says he doesn't even think about them.
Why does Macbeth want Banquo and Fleance dead?
He knows they suspect him of foul play, and he is furious that he has done all of the work (so-to-speak) of becoming king, and Banquo's descendants will benefit from it.
Witch 2 says, "By the pricking of my thumb, Something wicked this way comes." Who comes?
Macbeth comes.
What does Macbeth want the doctor to do for his wife?
He wants the doctor to ease her suffering, to give her something to make her oblivious to her weighty troubles.
What does Duncan call Macbeth when he hears
Macbeth has defeated Macdonwald?
He calls him "valiant Cousin! Worthy gentleman!"
This is ironic, being said to the man who will be his murderer.
What is the signal Lady Macbeth is to give Macbeth to let him know that she has
taken care of the guards (grooms)?
She will ring a bell.
What is Macbeth's plan for killing Banquo and Fleance?
Does it work?
He gets two convicted murderers to wait along the road to ambush them. The murderers kill Banquo, but Fleance escapes.
What is Macbeth's attitude towards the witches this time?
He is demanding, trying to take charge.
What is Macbeth's reaction to Lady Macbeth's death?
He takes it very calmly, saying she would have died sooner or later, anyway.
Who is sentenced to death?
Who is sentenced to death?
What excuse does Lady Macbeth give for not killing Duncan herself?
He looked like her father sleeping there.
Who (what) did Macbeth see at the banquet table?
He saw Banquo's ghost.
Where is Macduff?
He is in England helping Malcolm.
What trick does Malcolm use to hide the number of men in his army?
He has his men cut off tree branches and use them as camouflage.
What do the witches predict in I.iii for Macbeth?
For Banquo?
What do the witches predict in I.iii for Macbeth?
For Banquo?
After Macbeth kills Duncan, he goes to Lady Macbeth and is concerned about not being able to say "Amen." What is her advice to him?
She tells him not to think about it so much, or it will make them crazy. (Notice that shedoes later, in fact, go mad and commit suicide.)
Who else was missing from the banquet table (besides Banquo)?
Macduff is missing.
Macbeth says (about the witches), "Infected be the air whereon they ride, And damned all those that trust them!" What is Macbeth, in effect, saying about himself?
He is damned.
Malcolm says, "And none serve with him but constrained things Whose hearts are absent, too."
What does that mean?
Macbeth's armies are there in body only, not in spirit, and there should not be any serious opposition.
What news does Ross bring Macbeth?
Ross tells Macbeth that Macbeth now holds the title of the Thane of Cawdor.
Then, Macbeth is worried about hearing a voice saying, "Macbeth does murder sleep." What does Lady Macbeth then tell him to do?
She tells him to go get some water and wash "this filthy witness" from his hands. In other words, get cleaned up and forget about it.
Macbeth says, "The worm that's fled Hath nature that in timthe present." What
does that mean?
He will venom breed, No teeth for Fleance will be a problem in the future, since he will have children
who will become kings, but for now Macbeth can let him go and deal with other things because Fleance is of no immediate threat to him personally.
Malcolm says, "Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell. Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace, Yet grace must still look so." What does that mean?
The devil was, of course, at one time the brightest angel. The point is that things aren't what they seem. One can't judge the book by its cover, so to- speak
Macbeth says to Macduff,
"But get thee back, my soul is too much charged With blood of thine already."
To what is he referring?
Macbeth doesn't want to fight Macduff; he has
already killed Macduff's family.