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Student Study Guide
Name: ________________
Mr. Valentin
English 10
Fall 2013
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Vocabulary terms: Act One
1. plight- n. bad condition or situation that someone is in
2. disdain- n. strong feeling of hate or dislike, also v. to hate or regard with a feeling of
superiority
3. brandish- v. to wave around (usually a weapon, sword)
4. hurly-burly- n. noisy disorder, confusion, commotion
5. dwindle- v. to become smaller, shrink, decrease
6. corporal-adj. of or relating to the physical body
7. surmise- v. to guess that something must be true without much evidence, to infer
8. repentance- n. regret for any past action
9. dire- adj. dreadful, terrible, indicating a disaster
10. beguile- v. to influence by trickery, to charm
11. meek- adj. very gentle, kind, tame
12. ambition- n. strong desire to do something
13. harbinger- n. anything that foreshadows a future event
SAT Word of the week:
Key literary terms
Soliloquy: (How is this different from a monologue?)
Stage Directions:
Aside:
Dramatic Irony:
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Instructions: Complete each question at the end of each act. Answer questions in complete
sentences. If the question acts for a quote, indicate a page number.
Act One Scene One:
Explain what is occurring in Act One Scene Once.
What quote seems like a paradox? What does this quote mean?
Act One Scene Two:
What is the name of the King of Scotland, and what is the name of his two children?
What did Macbeth do to Macdonwald?
What is happening to the Captain?
What is Macbeth the current thane of? What will he soon become the Thane of?
Define the following word: Exposition
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Act One Scene Three:
Explain the story the first witch tells.
What does the first witch reveal? What might this object show the audience about the witches?
What are the three greetings the witches give Macbeth?
What do the witches tell Banquo?
What do Ross and Angus tell Macbeth?
Define the following word: Aside
Act One Scene Four:
What new title is bestowed upon Malcolm.
Macbeth shows that he has desire to become King. What quote best provides this information?
Provide the line number.
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Act One Scene Five:
Define the following word: Omen
Define the following word: Simile
What type of speech does Lady Macbeth give at the beginning of scene five? Define this literary
term.
What item is Lady Macbeth reading. What does it say?
How does Lady Macbeth feel about the news?
What literary term is the raven? What does the raven croak?
Explain what Lady Macbeth means by “Unsex me here” (lines 41 and following).
At the end of the scene, how does Macbeth respond to Lady Macbeth’s inquiries?
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Act One Scene Six:
Explain how Duncan treats Lady Macbeth during scene six. What literary term is this an example
of? Define this literary term.
Act One Scene Seven:
Define the following vocabulary word: Regicide
What does Macbeth talk about in his first soliloquy?
Explain the plan to kill Duncan.
Define the following literary term: Inciting Incident
Define the following literary term: Tragic Hero
Define the following literary term: Tragic Flaw
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Act II Vocabulary
1. Augment v. - to make greater, enlarge
2. Palpable adj- capable of being felt or touched
3. Stealthy adj.- acting in a sneaky or secretive manner, sly
4. Multitudinous adj.- existing in great numbers
5. Regicide n- murder of a king or monarch (What does the root cide mean?)
6. Equivocate v- to attempt to mislead, or hide the truth
7. Predominance n- superiority
8. Allegiance n- loyalty or the obligation of loyalty to a nation, a cause, etc.
9. Largess n- generosity in terms of gift-giving
10. Dishearten v- to weaken or destroy one’s hope
11. Minion n- a follower who is very eager to please his superior
SAT Word of the week:
Key Literary Terms
Blank Verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter used to reflect natural speech patterns (Macbeth is written
mainly in this type of writing/meter).
Comic Relief: writing (often within a play) that provides a humorous break from a very tense mood.
Lower-ranking characters like servants or porters typically offer the comic relief.
Prose: non-poetic writing, or writing not divided into poetic lines, has no formal rhythm.
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Act Two Scene One:
Define the following literary term: Complication
Who is Banquo?
Who is Fleance?
What image does Macbeth see that is not really there? What literary term is this an example of?
Define this literary term.
What quote shows that Macbeth’s deteriorating mental health?
The line: “Mine eyes are made the fools” is an example of what literary term. Define this literary
term.
The story mentions Hecate. Who is Hecate?
Why is it important that the stage directions indicate that a bell is ringing?
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Act Two Scene Two:
What does Lady Macbeth reveal in her opening soliloquy?
What Macbeth says, “I have done the deed” (line 14), what has he done?
Why might Shakespeare not show King Duncan’s death?
After the death of Duncan, what seems to be the problem with Macbeth?
What did Macbeth forget to do that upsets Lady Macbeth greatly?
Why does Macbeth make an allusion to Neptune?
Define the following literary term: allusion
What sound do both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hear?
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Act Two Scene Three:
The Porter is an example of what literary term? Define this literary term.
What is the Porter’s problem?
What does the knocking turn out to be?
What does Macduff discover? Who is Macduff?
What did Macbeth do when he left the stage?
How does Lady Macbeth react to finding out the news?
Where do Malcolm and Donalbain go when they hear the news?
Act Two Scene Four:
Explain the story of the owl and falcon. Why is this important?
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Act III Vocabulary
1. Indissoluble adj.not able to be dissolved or undone
2. Dauntless adj- fearless, unable to be intimidated
3. Jocund adj.- cheerful
4. Infirmity n – a physical or mental defect
5. Malevolence n- ill will, spitefulness, evil
6. Barren adj- unproductive, sterile
7. Vile adj.- morally or physically offensive, horrible
8. Incense v- to cause to become extremely angry
9. Malice n- desire to inflict harm on another
10. Treachery n- betrayal, immoral and/or sneaky activity
11. Tedious adj-. marked by dullness, boring, requiring much labor
SAT Word of the Week:
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Act Three Scene One:
Define the following literary term: Climax
What does Banquo’s soliloquy show at the beginning of the scene?
Name the use of kennings in this scene. Indicate the line number. Then define kennings.
What does Macbeth mean when he says, “To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus” (lines 4849).
What other play is referenced in The Tragedy of Macbeth. Provide the quote, and indicate the
line number.
What does Macbeth tell the two murderers to do?
Act Three Scene Two:
What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, “Tis safer to be that which we destroy than by
destruction dwell in doubtful joy” (lines 7-8).
What is Macbeth’s mind full of? Why does he say this? This is an example of what literary term?
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Explain what the following Latin quote means: “Per scelera simper sceleribus tutum est iter”
Act Three Scene Three:
What happens in Act Three Scene Three?
Define the following word: Affliction / Infirmity
Explain what occurs with Macbeth at the dinner scene? How does he act? What does he see?
What literary terms are shown throughout the scene?
Write down a line that shows verbal irony. Define verbal irony.
What does Macbeth mean when he says, “We are yet but young in deed” (line 144).
Define the following word: Novice
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Act Three Scene Five:
Who is the author who is often credited with Act Three Scene Five?
Who is Hecate? Why does she mention Acheron?
Act Three Scene Six:
What does Lennox think occurred between Fleance and Banquo?
Act Four Scene One:
Define the following literary term: Denouement
What is the famous line or lines from this scene. Indicate a line number(s).
Name seven ingredients thrown into the cauldron.
What does the first apparition look like, and what does it say?
What does the second apparition look like, and what does it say?
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What does the third apparition look like, and what does it say?
What visions do the witches show Macbeth? What could the vision possibly mean?
Act Four Scene Two:
What three things govern a character?
Explain the interaction between Lady Macduff and her son?
What happens at the end of this scene?
Act Four Scene Three:
What does Macduff discover in this scene?
What does Malcolm reveal about how he rule Scotland?
What is Malcolm so upset?
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Act Five Scene One:
Define the following literary term: Resolution
What is a Gentlewoman?
What does the Gentlewoman and the Doctor witness?
What does Lady Macbeth reveal?
The Doctor is concerned about “annoyances” – why?
Act Five Scene Two:
What is the purpose of Act Five Scene Two?
Act Five Scene Three:
Scene three shows Macbeth’s tragic flaw. What is his tragic flaw? Indicate a quote that shows
his tragic flaw, and provide a line number.
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Act Five Scene Four:
Explain how the audience sees one of the prophecies come true in this scene?
Act Five Scene Six:
Scene five begins with a yell from a woman. What happened?
Macbeth gives a soliloquy after this – what does he say in his soliloquy?
Act Five Scene Six:
What does Scene Six show?
Act Five Scene Seven:
What is bear-bating? Why does Macbeth make reference to this sport?
What does the Young Siward try to do?
Act Five Scene Eight:
Why does Macbeth make reference to the “Roman fool” (line 1)?
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How is Macduff not born of woman?
What occurs between Macduff and Macbeth?
Who gives the final speech of the play? Why?
What prophecy does not come true?