Macbeth Terms to Know

Tragedy: a serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (destiny) and having a sad or disastrous conclusion that arouses both pity and fear.

Protagonist: the main character of a play—he/she doesn’t have to be a “good guy.”

Antagonist: the opposing character to the protagonist.

Soliloquy: speech delivered by a character alone on stage to allow people to know what is going on in his mind.

Aside: a speech or remark addressed to the audience by one of the actors while other actors on stage pretend not to hear. It’s like a soliloquy with other people on stage.

Monologue: a long speech whose purpose is to give information to the audience. Other characters are also listening to the speech.

Paradox: a statement that seems contradictory or absurd but actually makes sense in the text. Like an oxymoron, but includes more than 2 words. Ex: “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.”

Irony:

Verbal Irony: saying one thing but meaning something else. This can be sarcasm.

Dramatic Irony: when the audience/reader knows something that the characters do not know.

Situational Irony: irony based on what the audience or reader expect. Something unexpected happens or the opposite of what is naturally expected happens.

Imagery: language which appeals to the senses—sight, feeling, hearing, touch, taste.

Wyrd: Anglo-Saxon word for FATE or DESTINY.

Prophecy: foretelling the future.

Blank Verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter.

Foil: a character that is the opposite of another character.

Dynamic Character: a character who changes throughout a story.

Static Character: a character who remains the same throughout a story.

Comic Relief: a scene in a story or play which is intended to relieve the audience from tension or heightened emotion after and just before tragic or serious scenes.

Motif: a recurring literary convention or an element that is repeated within a literary work or among literary works.

Theme: a message about life, society, or human nature. A motif may support a theme.

Prose: not poetry.

Oxymoron: figure of speech that combines contradictory terms (a paradox condensed to 2 words)… Icy Hot… Darkness Visible… Deafening Silence… Military Intelligence (ouch!)

Act I READING GUIDE

Scene 1: Meet the Witches!

1. Where is the setting?

2. What is the mood? What does this foreshadow?

3. Give an example of a paradox.

4. Who are the witches waiting to meet?

Scene 2: Battle Time

1. Notice that the word “bloody” is used several times. Blood is a motif in the play. Who is the “bloody man” mentioned in the first line?

2. The setting is a camp near Forres, King Duncan’s castle.

3. Who was fighting?

4. Ross, a messenger for Duncan, tells Duncan that another traitor has been defeated. Who is this traitor?

5. Why are Macbeth and Banquo praised? What punishments were given to the defeated Macdonwald and the King of Norway?

6. Why does Ross call Macbeth “Bellona’s bridegroom?”

Scene 3: Predictions

1. Where is the setting?

2. What picture of the witches do we get from this scene?

3. How do the witches hail Macbeth when they see him?

4. Why does Shakespeare call the witches “weird?” Remember what “wyrd” means before you answer.

5. Find a paradox between lines 30 and 45.

6. What do they predict for Banquo?

7. Which person, Macbeth or Banquo, believes the witches have real psychic powers?

8. After the witches disappear, what news makes him think the witches really might be psychic?

9. In line 109 Macbeth says “Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?” Clothing might be another motif in Macbeth. Find another example of this potential motif between lines 125 and 150. What might it mean?

Scene 4: Victory! Let’s Feast!

1. A very famous passage from Macbeth:

“Nothing in his life

Became him like the leaving it; he died

As one that had been studied in his death

To throw away the dearest thing he owned,

As ‘twere a careless trifle.”

About whom is Malcolm talking? How could dying be a glorious thing for such a man?

2. What does Macbeth say he expects to receive as payment for winning the war?

3. What do you think Macbeth really expects as payment?

4. Who does Duncan name as successor to the throne of Scotland?

5. Paraphrase Macbeth’s aside from lines 48-53.

Scene 5: Meet Macbeth’s Sweet Snookums

1. What is the name of Macbeth’s castle?

2. Lady Macbeth is reading a letter. Who sent it? What important information does it include?

3. The letter is not written in poetry. It’s written in _____________________.

4. What does she plan to do to make sure the predictions come true?

5. Note: Shakespeare uses birds to represent good and evil in this and the following scene. What bird represents evil hovering over Iverness?

6. Who will devise the plan and be in charge of executing it, Lady Macbeth or Macbeth?

Scene 6: The King Comes to Visit

1. What animal symbolizes “good” as Duncan approaches the castle?

2. Why does Duncan refer to himself as “us?”

Scene 7: Second Thoughts

1. Why, according to lines 12-16, should Duncan feel safe at Macbeth’s house?

2. Why is Macbeth hesitating to kill Duncan?

3. Why, according to lines 25-28, would Macbeth murder Duncan?

4. Who seems most powerful in this relationship? Macbeth or Lady Macbeth?

5. How are they going to avoid being named the murderers of the king? How are they going to throw blame on others?

Macbeth - Act II Reading Guide

Scene 1: A Restless Night at Iverness

1. Why can’t Banquo sleep? What do you think is worrying him?

2. Why does Macbeth want to make sure Banquo and he are close friends?

3. Banquo says that he has thought of the witches. How does Macbeth respond?

4. Why does Macbeth respond this way?

5. What happens to Macbeth as he is thinking about Duncan’s murder?

6. What does the bell signify to Macbeth?

7. Why do you think the murder takes place off-stage?

Scene 2: The Macbeth’s and the Murderous Deed

1. Why didn’t Lady Macbeth commit the murder herself? What does that tell us about her?

2. Why can’t Macbeth pray?

3. What did Macbeth forget to do?

Blood, Hands, Evidence and Guilt Below, Record the Quotes from the lines shown

Lady Macbeth (lines 46-50) Macbeth (lines 60-63)

4. From the quotes above, how do Macbeth and Lady Macbeth view the blood on their hands differently?

5. Find a line that shows Macbeth regrets killing Duncan.

Record Four Noises Macbeth Hears in Scene 2

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Scene 3: The Morning After

1. The scene with the Porter can be seen as comic or frightening.

What technique (from your terms list) is used if the Porter is a

comical, silly drunk?

2. Who does the Porter pretend to be?

3. The Porter’s lines are not written in poetry. They are written in _____________.

4. The Porter’s final lines “I pray you, remember the Porter” is a good example of a double entendre. What is a double entendre (look it up if you need to)?

5. How does nature symbolize rampant evil in this scene? What happened last night to coincide with the murder?

6. With what words does Macduff, a loyal soldier of Duncan, deify Duncan in lines 67-70?

7. Read lines 98-103 again. Is Macbeth being sincere?

8. What did Macbeth do that was NOT part of the plan?

9. Who shows better self-control after Duncan’s body is found? Lady Macbeth or Macbeth?

10. Why does Lady Macbeth faint? There are several good answers to this question.

11. Why are Malcolm and Donalbain leaving town?

Scene 4: Reaction to the Murder

1. List three big natural events that coincided with the murder of Duncan. These events symbolize evil taking over.

2. Who will be charged with the murder of Duncan?

3. Where will Macbeth be crowned?

4. Macduff, Thane of Fife, is going home rather than going to the coronation. Does Macduff think they have found the real murderers?