Macbeth Act Questions English 11- Mrs. Simpson

Transcription

1 Macbeth Act Questions English 11- Mrs. Simpson Please respond to all questions in full sentences on a separate piece of paper. Hand each Act in seperatley as we read through the play. Act I, scene i: 1. What characters are introduced in the first scene? 2. How would you interpret the line: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair"? 3. What are the witches planning at the beginning of the act? Act I, scene ii: 1. What three men are leading troops into battle against Duncan? 2. Who defeated and killed Macdonwald? Describe this traitor's death. 3. What is to be the Thane of Cawdor's punishment for his traitorous activities? Act I, scene iii: 1. What revenge does the witch plan for the sailor whose wife wouldn't give her any chestnuts? 2. What three predictions do the witches make for Macbeth? 3. What three predictions do the witches make for Banquo? 4. In lines , what is the "horrid image" of which Macbeth speaks? Act I, scene iv: 1. What further reward does Macbeth say he hopes to receive from Duncan? 2. In lines 41-45, who is named to succeed Duncan to the throne? What specific title is he given? 3. In lines 55-60, how does Macbeth react to this announcement? Act I, scene v: 1. What does the nature of the letter reveal about Macbeth's relationship with his wife? 2. In lines 15-24, how does Lady Macbeth characterize her husband? 3. In lines 43-50, why does Lady Macbeth call upon the evil spirits to "unsex" her? 4. In lines 69-73, what warning does she give Macbeth? Act I, scene vi: 1. What is the nature of Lady Macbeth's greeting to Duncan? Act I, scene vii: 1. In his soliloquy in lines 1-28, list at least 5 of the reasons he gives for not wanting to kill Duncan. 2. What sole reason does he give for wanting to murder the king?

2 3. What reason against the murder does he give Lady Macbeth? 4. In lines 38-42, what does Lady Macbeth imply about Macbeth's love for her? Act II, scene i: 1. What details are we given about the kind of night it is? 2. What has Banquo dreamt about? 3. What lie does Macbeth tell Banquo? 4. Macbeth asks Banquo for some support regarding his advancement in the kingdom, and Macbeth states "it shall make honour for you. How does Banquo respond? 5. Reread Macbeth's soliloquy at the end of the scene. a) What image taunts Macbeth's senses? b) How does the vision change in appearance? What might this signify? c) How does Macbeth describe the night? 6. At the end of scene 1, a bell rings. Why? Act II, scene ii: 1. What omen of death does Lady Macbeth hear? 2. What reason does Lady Macbeth give for not committing the murder herself? 3. How does Macbeth mismanage the murder? 4. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both comment on the effectiveness of water for cleansing away their involvement in the deed. How do they differ? Act II, scene iii: 1. List three things that excessive drinking provokes. 2. Why has Macduff come to Macbeth's castle? 3. What unusual things happened to Macduff and Lennox during the night? 4. Why does Macbeth say he killed the king's men? Why do you think he killed them? 5. At the end of the scene, what actions do Malcolm and Donalbain take? What reasons do they give for a hasty escape? Act II, scene iv: 1. Ross and the Old Man discuss the strange unnatural events that have occurred. What are they? 2. Who do the public believe are responsible for the murder of King Duncan? 3. Who has been named king? 4. Who refuses to attend Macbeth's coronation? Act III, scene i: 1. What suspicions does Banquo voice? What does he say that lets us know he suspects Macbeth? 2. Read Macbeth s soliloquy again. Why does he fear Banquo? 3. Why is Macbeth still obsessed with the prophecies? 4. According to Macbeth, why doesn t he kill Banquo himself?

3 5. Who else must embrace the fate / Of that dark hour? Act III, scene ii: 1. What is the meaning of Lady Macbeth's saying: "Naught's had, all's spent,/where our desire is got without content"? 2. What affliction is Macbeth suffering from? 3. Even though Duncan is in his grave, Macbeth envies him. Why? 4. Is Lady Macbeth aware that Macbeth has planned the death of Banquo and Fleance? Act III, scene iii: 1. Who is murdered in this scene? 2. Who escapes? Act III, scene iv: 1. How does Macbeth react to the murderer s news regarding Banquo and Fleance? 2. Who joins the banquet and sits in Macbeth s place? 3. How does Lady Macbeth explain Macbeth's strange behavior? 4. Who refused the banquet invitation? 5. What are Macbeth's plans for the next day? 6. What quote shows that Macbeth is starting to destroy his moral conscience? Act III, scene v & vi: 1. Why is Hecate upset with the other witches? 2. Where has Macduff gone? 3. What does he hope to do there? 4. What are the conditions in Scotland under Macbeth s rule? Act IV, scene i: 1. Describe the three apparitions that appear to Macbeth and list the three prophecies that accompany these apparitions. 2. Explain Macbeth's reaction to each apparition and its accompanying words. 3. What is Macbeth s plan for the Thane of Fife (Macduff)? Act IV, scene ii: 1. What does the murder of Macduff's family reveal to us about how Macbeth has changed? Do you feel any sympathy for Macbeth at this point? Why or why not? 2. Why does Lady Macduff call her husband a traitor? Who or what has he betrayed by fleeing the country?

4 Act IV, scene iii: 1. Why does Malcolm distrust Macduff at first? Please provide 2 reasons. 2. What are the three main vices Malcolm claims to possess? 3. Describe Macduff's reactions to the vices Malcolm claims to possess? 4. Why does Malcolm come to trust Macduff? 5. How does Macduff react to the news from Scotland? 6. What advice does Malcolm give Macduff to help him with his grief? Act V, scene i: 1. What does her sleepwalking reveal about Lady Macbeth's conscience? 2. How is her hand-washing symbolic? 3. About what does the doctor tell the lady-in-waiting to be watchful on Lady Macbeth's behalf? Act V, scene ii: 1. Where are the noblemen to meet Malcolm? 2. What is reported about Macbeth? Act V, scene iii: 1. Why does Macbeth claim to feel no fear? 2. In lines 22-28, what does Macbeth indicate he is in fact feeling? Act V, scene iv: 1. Where does this scene take place? 2. What are Malcolm's instructions to his soldiers? Why does he have them do this? 3. According to Malcolm in lines 13-15, what is the attitude of Macbeth's troops? Act V, scene v: 1. What news does Seyton give Macbeth? 2. Paraphrase lines What important message does the messenger deliver to Macbeth? Act V, scene vi & vii: 1. What is accomplished in scene 6? 2. In scene 7, how does Macbeth indicate he feels in lines 1-4? 3. Who is slain by Macbeth? Act V, scene viii: 1. What does Macduff tell Macbeth about his birth? 2. Who kills Macbeth? 3. Who will be the new king of Scotland?

5