Act 1, S. 1-3
The traitorous thane defeated by Macbeth in Scene 2.
Who is Cawdor?
In this 2-part metaphor, Lady Macbeth asks Macbeth to "look" like one thing, while he should "be" something else. Name these two things.
What are a "flower" and a "serpent"? (MB is to "look like th' innocent flower, but be the serpent under't.")
In Scene 1, Macbeth meets this character walking through the castle late at night.
Who is Banquo?
The deep emotions Macbeth feels after murdering King Duncan.
What are 'guilt' and 'horror'? (or words to that effect)
This is the definition of 'multitudinous.'
What is "a great amount of quantity"?
This northern European country is invading Scotland in Scene 2.
What is Norway?
Translate this quote into modern English: "Your face, my thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters."
She means that his face looks troubled and disturbed - Macbeth does not look like his normal self.
This is to be Lady Macbeth's signal that everything is ready for Duncan's murder.
What is that she will "strike upon the bell'? (i.e. ring a bell)
He lies in the second chamber.
Who is Donalbain?
The characters this quote refers to: "One cried 'God bless us' and 'Amen' the other, as they had seen me with these hangman's hands."
Who are the Chamberlains (or door guards)?
This thane brings news to King Duncan about the outcome of the battles in Scene 2.
Who is Ross?
This is the title given to Malcolm by King Duncan in Scene 4.
What is "The Prince of Cumberland"?
The dagger, which Macbeth can see but not touch, symbolizes THIS.
What is his worry, anxiety, and guilt about killing Duncan? (or words to this effect)
Translate this quote in modern English: "The sleeping and the dead are but as pictures; tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil."
What is: just like pictures, sleeping and dead people are harmless; it is only children who are afraid of paintings and drawings.
This word means to "turn (or make) something red in color."
What is "incarnadine"?
This is the second prophecy given to Banquo in Scene 3. (Direct quote or close paraphrase, please!)
What is: "Not so happy, yet much happier"?
These are the four arguments Macbeth considers against killing Duncan in Scene 7.
What are: 1.) It is bad karma to kill him - the murder will come back on them. 2.) Duncan is Macbeth's King and kinsman (his cousin). 3.) Macbeth is Duncan's host, who should keep him safe. 4.) Duncan is good and MB has NO reason to kill him except his own ambition.
These are two things "the dagger of the mind" does when it appears to Macbeth in Scene 1.
What is "marshall'st me the way I was was going" and begin to show "gouts of blood... which was not there before"? (i.e. it leads him toward Duncan's chamber and it begins to drip with blood)
Interpret this quote from Lady Macbeth in Scene 2: "My hands are of your color, but I shame to wear a heart so white."
What is her contempt and disappointment in Macbeth for acting so frightened and horrified after Duncan's murder? (or words to that effect)
This was the ruler of England for whom Shakespeare wrote 'Macbeth.'
Who is King James I?
This is the metaphor used by the wounded soldier to describe the state of the battle in Scene 2. (Hint: It has to do with what people do in water - I will accept a paraphrase that comes close.)
What is: "Doubtful it stood, like two spent swimmers that do cling together and choke their art"?
In other words, he uses the metaphor of two tired swimmers clinging together and drowning each other.
These are the four steps in Lady Macbeth's murder plan for Duncan, which she tells him to re-commit Macbeth to killing Duncan.
What are: 1.) Get the door guards so drunk they pass out. 2.) Use the guards' own daggers to kill Duncan. 3.) Smear the guards with blood and leave their bloody daggers on them. 4.) Act totally shocked and miserable when Duncan's body is discovered.
The reason Macbeth states: "Still it cried 'sleep no more' to all the house. 'Glamis has murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.'"
What is:
1.) He is worried he will never sleep again after killing Duncan; OR...
2.) He is hallucinating voices that tell him he'll never sleep again due to his guilt over the murder.
Interpret this metaphor: "Will all great Neptune's oceans wash clean this blood from my hands? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red."
What is: Macbeth uses an ocean metaphor, saying that - if he were to wash his hands in the sea - all the water would turn red with the blood of extreme guilt and remorse.
Translate this quote into modern English: "Where we are, there's dagger in men's smiles. The near in blood, the nearer bloody."
What is: Here, we cannot trust anyone as any of them could be the killer. They may smile at us while planning to kill us. The closer we are to the king's murder (blood), the closer we are to being murdered ourselves (nearer bloody).