Scenes 1 & 2
Who does King Duncan send to inquire about the battle?
King Duncan sends a captain to report about the battle.
What three titles do the witches greet Macbeth with?
Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and King.
What news does Malcolm report to the king in the beginning of the scene?
The Thane of Cawdor has been executed.
What news does Lady Macbeth receive from Macbeth in this scene?
Lady Macbeth learns that Macbeth is coming home and that he has been named Thane of Cawdor.
How does Duncan describe Macbeth's castle upon arrival?
Duncan describes Macbeth's castle as a pleasant and inviting place, oblivious to the danger he faces.
What is a familiar in Act 1?
A supernatural entity that assists the witches in their magical practices. The witches' familiars are animals in the play.
How does Banquo react to the witches' prophecies?
Banquo is skeptical and questions whether the witches are telling the truth, showing caution towards their prophecies.
What title does Duncan bestow upon his son Malcolm?
Prince of Cumberland which means he will one day become King.
What does Lady Macbeth mean by "unsex me here"?
Lady Macbeth means she wants to rid herself of feminine weakness and be filled with cruelty to pursue Macbeth's ambitions.
What internal conflict does Macbeth experience in Scene 7?
Macbeth is conflicted about killing King Duncan, weighing the consequences against his ambition.
How does King Duncan respond to the news about Macbeth's bravery?
The captain praises Macbeth's bravery and valor in battle, describing him as a fierce warrior. He then goes on the crown Macbeth Thane of Cawdor.
What is Macbeth's initial reaction to the title of Thane of Cawdor?
Macbeth is surprised and questions why he is being given a title that is already fulfilled by someone else.
How does Macbeth react to the news of Malcolm's title?
Macbeth feels a mix of surprise and ambition, realizing he must take action to fulfill the witches’ prophecy.
How does Lady Macbeth plan to help Macbeth achieve his ambitions?
She plans to manipulate Macbeth into committing the murder.
What does Macbeth first decide to do about Duncan? What does he decide to do at the end?
At first, he decides not to kill him and then after talking to Lady Macbeth he decides to go through with the plan and kill Duncan.
Describe the significance of the witches' prophecy in the context of Macbeth's character.
The witches' prophecy sets the stage for Macbeth's rise to power and foreshadows his eventual downfall.
How does Macbeth react to being crowned Thane of Cawdor?
With a mix of shock, confusion, and growing ambition.
How does King Duncan feel about Banquo? Find a quote from the scene to support your reasoning.
He sees him as loyal and honorable. "True, worthy Banquo. He is full so valiant, and in his commendations I am fed."
Summarize scene 5 using 3 complete sentences.
In Act 1, Scene 5 of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband describing the witches’ prophecy that he will become king. Excited by the news, she immediately begins plotting Duncan’s murder and worries that Macbeth is too kind to do what is necessary to seize the crown. When Macbeth arrives, she urges him to hide his true intentions and leave the plan to her.
Lady Macbeth says, “But screw your courage to the sticking place,/ And we’ll not fail.” Explain what this means in your own words.
Stick with the plan and you will not fail.
What do the three witches mean by "Fair is foul, and foul is fair"?
The witches imply that appearances can be deceiving, and what seems good may actually be bad, and vice versa.
What might the witches encounter with the sailor tell us about their character?
The encounter highlights the witches' cruel and vengeful nature, showing that they will go to great lengths for revenge over a minor offense, such as the sailor's wife refusing to share chestnuts.
Explain the following lines in your own words: “Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires.”
Macbeth is asking for darkness to conceal his wicked ambition to become king. The light symbolizes goodness and truth, which he does not want to see his sinister plot.
Macbeth is portrayed as brave and strong in the first four scenes; however, in this scene his wife portrays him as weak. What does this juxtaposition of character traits reveal about the real Macbeth?
This juxtaposition reveals that Macbeth’s bravery and strength on the battlefield do not necessarily translate to moral or emotional strength. While others see him as a fearless warrior, Lady Macbeth exposes his inner doubts and hesitation when it comes to committing murder and seizing power. This contrast shows that Macbeth’s courage is dependent on context—he is bold in war but uncertain and easily influenced when faced with moral choices.
What arguments does Lady Macbeth use to persuade Macbeth to commit murder?
Lady Macbeth argues that Macbeth must overcome his doubts and fears, emphasizing their ambition and desire for power.