What's Macbeth's only title at the start of the play?
Thane of Glamis
What have Macbeth and Banquo just done when the play begins?
They won a battle.
It is reported to King Duncan that there was a traitor who turned on Scotland. Who was he?
The (now former) Thane of Cawdor
What's the plan to Kill Duncan, in its simplest form?
Get his servants drunk, sneak in, stab Duncan, then blame it on the servants. They also say they will act incredibly upset when hearing that Duncan is dead so that they deflect suspicion.
[aside] "Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme."
What does Macbeth reveal for the first time in these lines?
It's the first time in the play that he reveals that he has desires to become King and thinks it could happen. The use of the word "imperial" suggests this.
How does Macbeth realize that the witches' prophecy is (at least partly) true?
Read the excerpt:
"Fair is foul and foul is fair."
This line is an example of which of the following:
A- Personification
B- Metaphor
C- Alliteration
D- Simile
C- Alliteration
Alliteration- The repetition of a sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. In this case, it's the "f" sound.
Duncan says the following to Macbeth:
"I have begun to plant thee, and will labor To make thee full of growing." (1.4.30-31).
What is ironic, or awkward, about this statement?
In Soliloquy #2, Macbeth says that King Duncan is at Inverness in "double trust". What are the two "trusts" that he is referring to?
He is part of Duncan's hierarchy of rulers and is his subject, and therefore should try to protect Duncan. Duncan is also his guest, and therefore Macbeth as a host should shut his door to murderers, not become one himself.
Read the following excerpt:
"Was the hope drunk...?"
This is an example of which of the following:
A) Personification
B) Metaphor
C) Simile
D) Alliteration
A) Personification
Personification is when a non-human thing is given or described as having human-like traits. In this case, "hope" can not get drunk, because it's not human.
It is a whispered comment spoken directly to the audience. No other characters hear it. It often reveals a character's inner thoughts.
What is Lady Macbeth's biggest worry when it comes to the idea of Macbeth's potential Kingship?
She fears that he is too kind to rule. She mentions that he doesn't strike at the first chance to gain something, and that even though he has ambition he lacks the mean streak that being a king requires.
Banquo says the following to Macbeth:
"...oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths [...] to betray 's In deepest consequence." (1.3.124-128)
Summarize his warning.
He's telling Macbeth to be cautious, because sometimes evil tells us partial truths in order to lead us on and eventually harm us.
List ALL THREE predictions the witches tell Banquo and Macbeth. No partial credit.
1. Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor
2. Macbeth will be King of Scotland
3. Banquo won't be king, but his sons will