The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act
1
Shakespeare, 10th English p.210-230
Read pages 210-211
1. What are archetypes in literature?
2. What is a tragedy?
3. In a tragedy, the main character, who is usually involved in a catastrophe,
is called a
hero.
4. What is it called when the main character has an error in judgment or a
defect?
5. What is dramatic irony?
6. What do we call a speech given by a character when he/she is alone on
stage?
7. Describe an aside in a play.
8. What type of play did Shakespeare write?
9. What is blank verse and how does it relate to iambic pentameter?
10. Give two examples of rhetorical devices.
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Read pages 212-213
Although Shakespeare wrote his tragedies, comedies, and histories
centuries ago, they explore characters and universal themes that speak
to people across the ages and around the world – not just Elizabethan
England. His works continue to be widely read in schools and by casual
readers and scholars, and his plays are frequently staged and regularly
adapted to film. His popularity is not limited to the English-speaking
world – his works have been adapted across a wide range of languages
and cultures. Because of his timeless characters and themes, as well as
the beauty of his language and style, Shakespeare is considered one of
the most influential and famous English authors.
11. Why do we continue to read Shakespeare? What makes his writing
so popular?
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Read page 214
Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth has been performed on stage
and in film countless times. The play has even been adapted to settings
other than 11th century Scotland. In a 2010 adaptation, the play was set
in a mid 20th century military society. In a 2006 adaptation of the play,
all main characters are gangsters in modern-day Australia.
Shakespeare’s plays, like most dramas, include a cast list, as well as brief
descriptions noting societal roles or relationships between major
characters. Some playwrights also include brief descriptions of the
characters to help readers visualize them.
12. Identify who Duncan is.
13. Explain who Macbeth is in relation to Duncan.
14. How will understanding this relationship help you as you read?
What can you predict based on the character descriptions?
15. Identify what additional information is provided on this page.
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Read page 215
The theme is the message about life or humanity the author wants to share
with the reader. A work of literature, especially one as complex and intense as
Macbeth, can have multiple themes.
16. Scene 1, Line 10: What do the three witches mean?
17. What prediction could you make about the significance of the statement
from line 10 to the drama as a whole?
Figurative language is not to be read literally. An author uses figurative
language, such as metaphors and similes, in order to compare two things to
help a reader better understand difficult or unfamiliar ideas. Read the lines
that compare the battle to two exhausted swimmers clinging to each other.
18. Scene 2, Lines 8-9: Identify the figurative language in these lines and
explain what comparison Shakespeare is making.
19. Explain what idea Shakespeare is trying to communicate through this
simile.
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Read page 216
Authors don’t always explicitly say what they mean. Readers must
use details from the text to make inferences, or logical
assumptions, about the characters or actions.
20. Lines 16-23: Explain what the Captain says Macbeth has done
to Macdonwald.
21. Use details in the Captain’s description of the act to make
inferences about Macbeth, citing the evidence in the text to
support your inferences.
22. Compare your inferences to the description of a tragic hero in
the introduction to Shakespearean tragedy.
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Read page 217
When reading difficult or complicated text, it is helpful to stop
periodically and paraphrase or summarize what they are reading.
23. Lines 66-70: Summarize the exchange between Duncan and
Ross.
24. Why is Macbeth given this reward?
A character’s actions and how he or she interacts with other
characters can provide a reader with insight into the character’s
motivations.
25.Scene 3, lines 4-25: What are the witches discussing?
26.What does this act suggest about the witches?
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Read page 218
Authors develop their themes over the course of a text. Readers
must use details throughout the story to recognize how the author
continues to refine it. Recall your discussion on page 215 about
the witches’ line “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” and how this line
hints at one theme. Relate this line and discussion to what
Macbeth says in line 38.
27. Line 38: Why does Macbeth call the day both foul and fair?
28. Explain how the line relates to the theme and why it is relevant
that Macbeth says this in line 38.
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Read page 219
What characters say and do and how others react to them reveals a
great deal about their personalities and motivations. Reread lines
48-61 and lines 65-76.
29. What do the witches say to Macbeth?
30. How does Macbeth respond?
31. Explain what Macbeth’s response reveals about his character.
A tragic hero comes to ruin because of a tragic flaw, which can be
an error in judgment or a weakness in character.
32. Lines 48-50, 70-76: How could the witches’ greeting and
Macbeth’s reaction to it foreshadow his tragic flaw?
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Read page 220
Paraphrasing and summarizing are important reading strategies that you
should employ throughout a text to ensure that you understand the plot
and the characters.
33. Lines 79-85: Summarize the exchange between Banquo and
Macbeth.
34. What do these different reactions suggest about their characters?
Another way an author reveals a character’s personality and motives is
through what others say about him or her. However, since characters
are not always reliable, readers must consider what they know about all
the characters to understand which characters are reliable, which ones
are naïve, and which ones may have hidden motives.
35. What does Ross say in lines 89-100?
36. Do you think this is a fair and accurate assessment of Macbeth?
Why or why not?
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Read page 221
When analyzing a character, readers must consider the character’s words and
their reactions to situations. Readers need to continually analyze these
character details because a character’s motivations may change or conflict.
37. Contrast Banquo’s and Macbeth’s reactions now that the first part of the
witches’ prophecy has come true (Lines 118-126).
38. What do these reactions tell you about Macbeth’s ambition?
A literary work may have multiple themes that are intertwined or that build on
each other. One theme that has emerged involves appearance vs. reality.
39. (Lines 143-144) Identify another theme that has emerged involving
Macbeth specifically.
40. Lines 143-144 suggest another theme. What does Macbeth mean in these
lines?
41. Explain what theme this helps to establish.
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Read page 222
A character’s beliefs may direct his or her actions. Read Macbeth’s
aside in lines 146-147.
42. What do these lines reveal about Macbeth’s beliefs?
Authors develop their themes throughout the text. Recall the
theme related to the witches’ “fair is foul, foul is fair” statement.
Consider how the king’s statement about the rebellious former
Thane of Cawdor relates to this theme.
43. (Lines 11-14) What does Duncan say about the former Thane of
Cawdor?
44. Use text evidence to explain how Duncan’s first line supports
the theme about appearance vs. reality.
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Read page 223
A character’s words can reveal personality and motivations. A writer can also
use a character’s words to foreshadow events or develop the theme. Recall
Duncan’s statement on the previous page about how he had placed his
absolute trust in the former Thane of Cawdor.
45. (Lines 27-30) What does Duncan plan to do?
46. Given Duncan’s earlier statement, what does this reveal about Duncan’s
nature? How do his words help develop the plot or hint at future events?
A story’s theme is its message about life or human nature. Recall one of the
play’s themes suggested by Macbeth’s earlier statement “if chance will have
me king, why, chance may / crown me / Without my stir.”
47. Paraphrase lines 48-53.
48. How do these lines contrast with his earlier thoughts about his destiny?
49. How do Macbeth’s thoughts help develop the theme?
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Read page 224
A soliloquy is a speech made when a character is alone on the stage.
Playwrights use soliloquies to reveal a character’s inner thoughts and
emotions. In lines 12-27, Lady Macbeth reveals her thoughts about the
prophecies, herself, and her husband.
50. What can you infer about Lady Macbeth based on her soliloquy?
Another way readers can learn about a character is through the way
others perceive him or her. Look at Lady Macbeth’s line regarding her
husband, “Yet do I fear thy nature.” (line 13)
51. Explain what “nature’ of Macbeth the Lady Macbeth fears. Use text
evidence to support your response.
52. Based on Macbeth’s words and actions so far, do you believe Lady
Macbeth has a reason to be concerned?
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Read page 225
Authors choose words carefully to reveal information about
characters and set the mood, or atmosphere. Shakespeare uses
descriptive details and words with powerful connotations in Lady
Macbeth’s soliloquy.
53. Identify words or phrases with strong connotations in Lady
Macbeth’s soliloquy (lines 35-50).
54. What mood do these words create and what do they reveal
about Lady Macbeth?
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Read page 226
Longer literary works often have multiple themes that may relate to
each other. Authors refine their themes as the plot unfolds. Reread
lines 60-63 and recall some of the themes that have been discussed.
55. How do these lines reflect one of more of the themes? How do
these themes relate to one another?
Figurative Language, such as similes, metaphors, and allusions, help
readers understand or visualize complex ideas or emotions.
56. What does Lady Macbeth tell her husband to act like? (Scene 5, lines
62-63)
57. Share who you think is more like a serpent – Macbeth or Lady
Macbeth – and support your answer with evidence.
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Read page 227
In dramatic irony, the audience is privy to information of which a
character is unaware. Reread the dialogue between Duncan and
Lady Macbeth (Scene 6, lines 24-31).
58. How does the way the kind addresses Lady Macbeth show
dramatic irony?
Scene 7 begins with a famous soliloquy in which Macbeth
acknowledges that ambition alone drives him to kill Duncan.
59. (Lines 1-28) What change has occurred in Macbeth’s
character?
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Read page 228
In dramas, another character may act as a catalyst, someone who drives
the hero into action. Lady Macbeth plays this role, as the “spur” who
will “prick the sides of [Macbeth’s] intent.”
60. Predict what lines 25-28 foreshadow.
A well-developed character is complex and often has multiple or
contradictory motivations. In tragedies, the hero, while in some ways
noble, is also flawed. This contradiction leads to internal conflict as the
hero struggles to decide which motivation is more important.
61. (Lines 30-35) What do Macbeth’s thoughts and his declaration to
Lady Macbeth reveal about his motivations and internal conflict?
Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
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Read page 229
Sarcasm is a type of verbal irony. Sarcasm is a critical remark in the
form of a statement in which literal meaning is opposite actual
meaning. Sarcasm is mocking and intended to hurt someone.
62. What is the effect of the sarcasm in Lady Macbeth’s lines? (3645)
Pausing to paraphrase or summarize text will help ensure that you
understand complex plots and characters.
63. Paraphrase what Macbeth says to Lady Macbeth in lines 73-75.
64. Explain how this line reflects Lady Macbeth’s earlier request
(Scene 5, line 38) that dark spirits “unsex her.”
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Read page 230
A story’s theme, or its message about life, can be revealed through
the character’s words, thoughts, and actions. Consider the themes
that have been discussed so far.
65. (Lines 77-82) How does the dialogue between Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth reflect one of the themes of the play? Use text
evidence to support your response.
66. Compare how Banquo and Macbeth each react to the witches’
words. What might be the reason for Macbeth’s reaction? Cite
evidence.
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