INTRODUCTION
Scotland in the year 1040
At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is praised for...
his bravery and fighting skills. He and Banquo have defeated the allied forces of Ireland and Norway, led by Macdonwald, and the Thane of Cawdor.
"I have something to tell everyone", says King Duncan to all the people in his castle. (an important decision for the future of the country)
He names his son Malcolm as his heir.
Macbeth is afraid of what he´s going to do. He is so scared that he has a hallucination. Describe it.
What strange and unnatural things happened when Duncan died?
Heavens were angry, it was dark when it should be light.
Duncan´s horses went wild and ran away.
They say they ate each other.
Why isn´t Scotland a peaceful country then?
It has been divided in two for centuries: Vikings, in the north and Saxons, in the south. They both have strong leaders. They fight against Duncan because they want to be independent.
What does the king decide to do with Macdonwald?
He asks his men to arrange his death and give his title to Macbeth.
Where does Macbeth live? Who is waiting for him there?
in Inverness castle. His wife is waiting for him.
"My hands are the same colour as yours", said Lady Macbeth. why?
She has to take the daggers back to the guards´ room and paint their faces with blood
Who are the main suspects of Duncan´s death?
Who helped Vikings and Saxons to fight against Duncan?
Fighters from Ireland and Norway
What are the witches´ prophecies for Macbeth and Banquo?
They hail Macbeth as "Thane of Glamis," "Thane of Cawdor," and tell him that he will "be King".
They tell Banquo that his sons will be kings, but he will not.
How does lady Macbeth learn about the prophecies?
Macbeth sends her a letter before he arrives at Inverness castle.
How do people at Inverness castle discover that the king has been killed?
Two noblemen (Macduff and Lenox) come to the castle early in the morning and ask to see the king. Macbeth takes them to his room and Macduff finds him dead.
Where does Macbeth go after Duncan´s death?
To Scone, for the coronation ceremony.
Duncan is a good king. What does he want to do?
He wants to make all the groups come together and form a single nation.
When does Macbeth realise that his first prophecy has been fulfilled?
After the witches vanish, another thane, Ross, arrives and informs Macbeth of his newly bestowed title: Thane of Cawdor. The first prophecy is thus fulfilled, and Macbeth, previously sceptical, immediately begins to harbour ambitions of becoming king.
What is Lady Macbeth´s reaction when she learns about the witches´ prophecies?
She will try to persuade Macbeth to kill the king, who will be visiting them.
What does Macbeth do with the two guards? Why? How did Macbeth justify their murder?
He kills them to prevent them form telling truth (they are innocent) but claims he did so in a fit of anger over their misdeeds.
At the end of act II, Rosse and Macduff take different destinations. Where do they decide to go?
Rosse goes to Scone, to Duncan´s coronation ceremony and Macduff goes back home in Fife.
What does king Duncan do to fight against the groups who do not accept him as a king?
He sends a powerful army, led by some of his noblemen, to fight against them.
When Macbeth arrives at the King´s palace, what does the king ask him first?
What is their plan to kill the king?
They´ll kill him while he is sleeping. The guards will be drunk, so they will put blood on their daggers. Everybody will think they are guilty.
What do Duncan´s sons decide to do?
Duncan's sons Malcolm and Donalbain flee to England and Ireland, respectively, fearing that whoever killed Duncan desires their demise as well.
"We´ll be safer if we aren´t together. Here there are knives in men´s smiles"...Who said this sentence?
One of Duncan´s son. They decide to run away to avoid being killed.