The Witches
How many witches are there?
Three
What is the "nickname" Macbeth is given during battle?
Brave Macbeth
What does Lady Macbeth fear about her husband after receiving the letter from Macbeth?
That he is "too full of the milk of human kindness." That he is too kind-natured.
With the idea of Fate, there is also the opposite choice which is called?
Free Will
Banquo says [to Macbeth], "But 'tis strange. And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray 's In deepest consequence." What does this mean?
The instruments of darkness, meaning the witches, can sometimes tell us bits of the truth, to ultimately lead us to our destruction.
The Witches are also called by a different name, which is what?
The Weird Sisters
What is the new title Macbeth is given?
Thane of Cawdor
Lady Macbeth wants to be filled with what by the "spirits"/witches?
Direst cruelty
What is a Monologue?
A long uninterrupted speech given by one character that other characters can hear.
Macbeth says, "Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires." What does this mean?
Macbeth does not want "the stars" (could symbolize goodness = light, or heaven = in the stars), to see his dark and deep thoughts - murder.
Banquo says the witches should be women, but what prevents him from believing that?
They have beards and look ugly.
What are the three prophecies Macbeth gets from the witches?
Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, King.
When Lady Macbeth and Macbeth first talk, how does she want her husband to act in front of their guests (Duncan)?
"Like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it." She wants him to act innocently, and keep his desires under wraps.
What is a Soliloquy?
A long uninterrupted speech given by one character that no other characters can hear.
Macbeth says, "This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor. If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs Against the use of nature?" What does this mean?
The supernatural/magical prophecies that the witches gave him cannot be good and cannot be bad. If bad, why have they come true? He is not Thane of Cawdor. If good, why are horribly images flooding his mind, causing his hair to stand and heart to beat unnaturally fast?
What does "fair is foul and foul is fair" mean?
What's good is bad and what's bad is good. Things aren't always what they seem. Good is bad and bad is good.
What is driving Macbeth to want to be King? He has no motivation other than what?
Ambition
What does Lady Macbeth attack (in Act 1 Scene 7) when she is trying to convince her husband to go through with killing Duncan?
His masculinity/ Him being a man
The theme of Ambition can sometimes negatively turn to what?
Greed
Lady Macbeth says, "That I may pour my spirits in thine ear And chastise with the valor of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden round, Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem To have thee crowned withall." What does this mean?
Lady Macbeth wants to pour her own thoughts and words into Macbeth's ear to help him become King. She believes that fate and the supernatural/witches/spirits want Macbeth to become King as well.
The Witches can represent what mythological three characters? (seen in the movie Hercules)
The Fates
Legends say that a person may become cursed if they say, "Macbeth" in a theatre. What must one do to rid themselves of this curse?
Run out of the theatre, spin around in a circle, spit over left shoulder, recite a line of Shakespeare.
What does Lady Macbeth says she would have done if she promised to do so.
She would have dashed her babies brains out while it was smiling up at her.
What is the central conflict of Act 1?
Duncan’s possible murder and who will be king/Macbeth deciding if he will kill King Duncan
Macbeth says [talking to Lady Macbeth], "Bring forth men children only, For thy undaunted spirit should compose Nothing but males." What does this mean?
He believes that Lady Macbeth could only produce male children because her spirit is so masculine.