Quote Interpretation
“For brave Macbeth…unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops, And fixed his head upon our battlements.” (Captain, Act 1, Scene 2)
Macbeth gutted a man and then displayed his head.
Macbeth's wife
He wrote the play Macbeth.
Who is William Shakespeare?
On his way to murder the king, Macbeth imagines this object floating in front of him.
What is a dagger?
“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.” (Banquo, Act 1, Scene 3)
Banquo is warning Macbeth that sometimes the truth can be used to manipulate us and cause us harm.
Macbeth's best friend
Who is Banquo?
This is the country where the play takes place.
Where is Scotland?
King Duncan declares that this person will take his place as king when he retires.
Who is Malcolm?
“Block my veins from all feelings of regret, so that no natural feelings of guilt or doubt can sway me from my dark desires, or prevent me from accomplishing them!” (Lady Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 5)
Lady Macbeth is asking to not feel remorse, so that she can fulfill her goals.
These are the first characters the audience is introduced to.
Who are the witches?
Macbeth is this kind of story.
What is a tragedy?
These are the three prophecies the witches bring to Macbeth.
Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and King hereafter?
“Bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue. Look like th’ innocent flower, But be the serpent under ’t.” (Lady Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 5)
Look friendly/welcoming in your gestures and your words, but be a deceiver underneath the facade.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth frame these men for the murder of King Duncan.
Who are the guards?
This type of characterization tells conclusive details about a character to the reader with little or no ambiguity.
What is direct characterization?
After the king's murder, Macbeth admits to killing .....
Who are the guards?
“But even as the baby was smiling up at me, I would have yanked my nipple from its mouth and dashed out its brains if I had sworn to do it in the same way you have sworn to do this.” (Lady Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 6)
Lady Macbeth says that even though she knows what it feel like to breastfeed a baby/ love a baby, she would rip the baby off of her and bash its brain in if she said she would.
King Duncan's sons.
Who are Malcolm and Donalbain?
This type of characterization reveals details about a character without stating them explicitly.
What is indirect characterization?
These characters flee to Ireland after the king's murder.
Who are Malcolm and Donalbain / the King's sons?