Act 1
What does Duncan call Macbeth when he hears Macbeth has defeated Macdonwald?
He calls him "valiant Cousin! Worthy gentleman!" This is ironic, being said to the man who will be his murderer.
What is Macbeth's lie to Banquo about the witches' predictions?
He says he doesn't even think about them.
Why does Macbeth want Banquo and Fleance dead?
He knows they suspect him of foul play, and he is furious that he has done all of the work (so-to-speak) of becoming king, and Banquo's descendants will benefit from it.
Witch 2 says, "By the pricking of my thumb, Something wicked this way comes." Who comes?
Macbeth comes.
What do the doctor and gentlewoman see Lady Macbeth doing? What do they decide to do?
She is sleepwalking and talking about the murders. The doctor decides his best move is to not mention that he heard anything, and he tells the woman to keep an eye on Lady Macbeth.
Who is sentenced to death?
The Thane of Cawdor is sentenced to death.
What is the signal Lady Macbeth is to give Macbeth to let him know that she has taken care of the guards (grooms)?
She will ring a bell.
What is Macbeth's plan for killing Banquo and Fleance? Does it work?
He gets two convicted murderers to wait along the road to ambush them. The murderers kill Banquo, but Fleance escapes.
What is Macbeth's attitude towards the witches this time?
He is demanding, trying to take charge.
What does Macbeth want the doctor to do for his wife?
He wants the doctor to ease her suffering, to give her something to make her oblivious to her weighty troubles.
What news does Ross bring Macbeth?
Ross tells Macbeth that Macbeth now holds the title of the Thane of Cawdor.
What excuse does Lady Macbeth give for not killing Duncan herself?
He looked like her father sleeping there.
Macbeth says, "The worm that's fled Hath nature that in time will venom breed, No teeth for the present." What does that mean?
Fleance will be a problem in the future, since he will have children who will become kings, but for now Macbeth can let him go and deal with other things because Fleance is of no immediate threat to him personally.
What four things did the witches show Macbeth? What does each show/say? What is Macbeth's reaction?
They showed him an armed head, a bloody child, a crowned child with a tree in its hand, and, finally, eight kings followed by Banquo's ghost. Respectively, they showed/told Macbeth to beware of Macduff, that he would not be harmed by anyone "born of woman," that he would not be vanquished until Birnam Wood would come to Dunsinane, and that Banquo's descendants would be kings.
What trick does Malcolm use to hide the number of men in his army?
He has his men cut off tree branches and use them as camouflage.
Banquo, like Macbeth, is surprised that the witches have predicted Macbeth's new title. He is, however, leery. What does he say about the motives of the "instruments of darkness"?
He says they often tell of good things which may happen without telling the bad consequences.
After Macbeth kills Duncan, he goes to Lady Macbeth and is concerned about not being able to say "Amen." What is her advice to him?
She tells him not to think about it so much, or it will make them crazy. (Notice that she does later, in fact, go mad and commit suicide.)
Who (what) did Macbeth see at the banquet table?
He saw Banquo's ghost
Macbeth says (about the witches), "Infected be the air whereon they ride, And damned all those that trust them!" What is Macbeth, in effect, saying about himself?
He is damned
Malcolm says, "And none serve with him but constrained things Whose hearts are absent, too." What does that mean?
Macbeth's armies are there in body only, not in spirit, and there should not be any serious opposition.
Malcolm describes Cawdor's last moments before execution. What is Duncan's reply?
You can't tell what is in a person's heart by looking at his face
Then, Macbeth is worried about hearing a voice saying, "Macbeth does murder sleep." What does Lady Macbeth then tell him to do?
She tells him to go get some water and wash "this filthy witness" from his hands. In other words, get cleaned up and forget about it.
How does Lady Macbeth cover for Macbeth at the banquet? What excuses does she give for his wild talk?
She tells the guests that he often has these fits, that those who know him well have learned to ignore them. When Macbeth really gets out of hand, she sends the guests home
Where is Macduff?
He is in England helping Malcolm.
What is Macbeth's reaction to the news that Birnam Wood is moving?
"Arm, arm, and out!" He's going to fight to the bitter end and take down the whole universe with him, if necessary.