Act I
What causes one of the witches to curse the Sailor?
The Sailor's wife wouldn't share her nuts.
What hallucination does Macbeth have before killing Duncan?
A floating dagger pointing toward Duncan’s chamber
Banquo.
Macbeth is...
Ambitious.
How were women of Lady Macbeth's time seen, and how does she contradict that?
Women of the 11th century were seen as tenderhearted caretakers, while Lady Macbeth is cruel and ambitious like her husband.
What title does Duncan give Macbeth after the battle?
Thane of Cawdor
Who discovers Duncan’s murdered body?
Macduff
[DOUBLE JEOPARDY]
How does Macbeth act towards the idea of killing Banquo? (Think his tone)
He's excited about it.
What is Lady Macbeth concerned about when it comes to Macbeth's nature?
She thinks he's too tenderhearted
How is dramatic irony used when it comes to Duncan's attitude towards Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?
The audience knows that the couple is planning to murder him.
What 3 prophecies do the witches give Banquo?
He's greater than Macbeth, he's happies than Macbeth, and Banquo’s descendants will be kings, but he will not be one
Why do Malcolm and Donalbain flee after their father’s death?
They fear they’ll be murdered next
Who does Macbeth specifically want the murderers to target besides Banquo?
His son, Fleance
Why does Macbeth hesitate to kill Duncan at first?
Duncan is a good king and he trusts Macbeth
[DOUBLE JEOPARDY]
What literary device highlights Macbeth's exaggeration of turning "the whole green ocean red" ?
Hyperbole.
What does Lady Macbeth call on the spirits to do in her soliloquy?
Fill her with cruelty
What does Macbeth forget to do after killing Duncan, and what does Lady Macbeth do instead?
He forgets to leave the daggers; she returns to the scene to place the knives.
What is Macbeth most concerned about in his sililoquy in Act III Scene 1?
He's concerned about Banquo and the fact that his sons will be king rather than his own.
What is Macbeth's reaction to the witches?
What is Banquo's reaction to the witches?
Why (for both)?
Macbeth is excited and deep in thought about the prophecies. It shows his ambition and hunger for power.
Banquo is hesitant because he thinks the witches are evil. It shows his good nature.
Describe what Macbeth means when he says he feels his blood stained hands could stain the whole green ocean red. What do the colors mean?
He feels that his good nature has been corrupted because he committed murder. Red represents violence and corruption, while green represents purity and good nature.
What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says “unsex me here”?
She wants to be stripped of her femininity to commit murder without remorse
How does the Porter scene serve the play?
It provides comic relief
What is Banquo wondering/thinking about at the start of the scene? What does he feel he’s entitled to?
He feels that since Macbeth's prophecies came true, his should too; his sons should be kings.
After becoming king, how does Macbeth feel at the start of Act III, and what does this reveal about his character?
He's still unsatisfied and paranoid about Banquo. It further shows his ambition, and how he'll never be truly happy.
How is the motif of blood used after Duncan’s murder?
Blood represents Macbeth's guilt.