Upgrade to remove ads
Only $35.99/year

Macbeth Act 1

Terms in this set (46)

when, where and with whom do the witches plan to meet next?
where - on a heath in the field
when - after the battle
with - Macbeth
who does the captain say is "brave"? what did this brave man to do deserve the title?
Macbeth because he fought and defeated Macdonwald and cut off his head and walked around with it on a sword
Who was he fighting against?
Mcdonwald
from where has ross come? what news does he bring?
- Ross comes from Fife
- he says that the Thane of Cawdor tried to go against Duncan by joining forces with Norway, but Scotland won
what did ross say Scotland demanded from the king of norway? what did they promise in return?
- Ross says Scotland demanded ten thousand dollars from the King of Norway
- they promised to bury the men in return
who gains the title of thane of cawdor?
Macbeth
Summarize the story the first witch tells. what do the witches plan in revenge?
- fat woman was eating chestnuts and would not give her any/share so the witch put a spell on the woman's husband
- the witches plan to create a storm while he is at sea
why is banquo confused by the witches when he first sees them?
- the witches don't look like inhabitants of the earth and yet they are on it and they have beards but they are women
when the witches first speak to Macbeth and banquo, what do they say?
"all hail-thane of glamis, thane of cawdor, & king"
what do they prophesy for banquo?
he will not be king or thane but a little lesser than macbeth and his children will be kings
what does Macbeth mean by "the greatest is behind"?
behind means still to come, so Macbeth thinks because he is Thane of Cawdor he is going to become King soon
why is Macbeth confused by the witches' prophecies?
the Thane of Cawdor isn't dead
why have ross & angus come?
to tell macbeth that he is the new thane of cawdor and the king wants to meet with him
what does Macbeth mean when he says "why do you address me in borrowed robes"? what does Angus tell Macbeth is the reason?
- Macbeth is confused because they're giving him the Thane's robes, but he thinks the Thane is still alive
- Angus tells him the Thane was a traitor and was executed, so now Macbeth is the Thane of Cawdor
In lines 127-129, Macbeth says "Two truths are told/as happy prologues to the swelling act/of the imperial theme." what "imperial theme" is he talking about? what are the "happy prologues"?
- the imperial theme is that he will become King soon
- the happy prologues are what witches told him
in his asides, (lines 130-142), what problems does Macbeth mention? what does he decide to do about his issue (lines 143-144)?
- his problem is that he's starting to think about murdering the King
- he decides to knock himself out of it and decides to think/talk about it
- decides to let Fate take over
what do we learn at the beginning of scene four?
Cawdor is dead and that he admitted his sins and repented for them
What does the king say about Cawdor?
he was a trustworthy man
Who gains the estate?
Malcolm
What is Macbeth's immediate reaction? What does Macbeth now feel he has to do?
- he says he's either gonna let Malcolm take over or take over Malcolm
- he feels he has to beat him
what does Macbeth mean by "stars, hide your fires,/Let not light see my black and deep desires"? (lines 50-51)
he means he feels ashamed for what he thinks he's going to do
summarize what Macbeth tells his wife in his letter to her
witches told him that he is going to be King
what is lady Macbeths reaction to this news?
happy but she does not think macbeth can do it
what does lady Macbeth say about her husband? why is her description surprising, considering the description of Macbeth in scene 2?
- he is a coward
- surprising because he is a warrior
after she hears that macbeth is on his way home and that the king is coming over (lines 33-53) what does lady macbeth want? what does she have planned?
- wants Duncan dead
- she plans on getting his servants drunk, killing Duncan, and putting his blood on his servants to place the blame on them
what does she want Macbeth to do?
Kill Duncan in order to become king
how does duncan feel at the macbeth estate? why is this ironic?
- Duncan feels comfortable and says it is a pleasant environment
- ironic because they are planning to kill him
in his soliloquoy, Macbeth says "If it were done when 'tis done, then 'there well if it were done quickly." what is "it"?
killing Duncan
why does Macbeth say Duncan is "here in double trust"? Why does this bother Macbeth?
hosts should protect guests
why does Macbeth second-guess the "deed"?
he likes the king bc the king honored him
when macbeth tries to call off the murder, what is lady macbeth's reaction?
she questions whether or not he is manly
when trying to convince Macbeth, Lady Macbeth says "I have given suck and know/how tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me; / I would while it was smiling in my face / have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums/ and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you/ have done to this." (lines 54-59) what is she saying? why is she being so dramatic?
to show him how much of a coward he is and if she made a promise she would keep it
what is lady Macbeths answer when Macbeth asks "if they fail"? (line 60)
they won't because she has a plan
what is her plan?
Get the guards drunk and frame them of killing the king
what is your impression of the relationship between lady Macbeth and Macbeth? why do you think lady Macbeth has so much control over Macbeth?
Lady Macbeth is manipulative
were lady macbeth's fears about macbeth legitimate? why or why not?
lady Macbeth was right because she knew macbeth would change his mind
What does "fair is foul, and foul is fair" mean?
Good things can do bad thing and bad things can do good
What prophecy do the witches give Macbeth?
They call him the thane of glamis, thane of cawdor and the soon king
Why is Macbeth upset that Malcolm is made prince of Cumberland?
Malcolm now stands between him and the crown; he wanted to be crowned prince
What does "i have no spur to prick the sides of my intenet but only vaulting ambition, which o erleaps itself and falls on the other"
Macbeth has no desire to murder, he is only doing it because he's being ambitious
What does lady Macbeth mean by asking the spirits to "unsex" her?
She believes she must become more manly in order to have no compassion in her ambitions
What does "to be all and to end all" mean?
Macbeth can't just murder the king because there will be lasting consequences; either becomes king (to be all) or to be killed (to end all)
What does Macbeth mean when he says "false face must hide what the false heart doth know"
He's portraying he's innocent although he knows he's guilty; he'll put on a false face and act as if everything is normal
What does lady macbeth mean by "yet do I fear thy nature. It is too full o the milk of human kindness. To catch nearest way."
She fears that Macbeth is too good to seize the thrown by murder
Who is Duncan? How is he related to Malcom and donalbain?
King of Scotland; dad of malcolm and donalbain
Why is Duncan upset about the thane of cawdor and his betrayal?
He was a gentleman whom he trusted
Sets found in the same folder