Macbeth and King Duncan Essay Example
Answers must be written on a separate sheet of loose leaf paper to receive credit.
Act I scene i
1. When are the three Witches to meet again and for what purpose?
2. What do you suppose is suggested by the line, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”?
Act I scene ii
1. What do we learn of Macbeth's courage and skill?
2. What is his relationship to King Duncan?
3. Who had Macbeth and Banquo been fighting?
4. What does King Duncan tell Ross to do?
Act I scene iii
1. As the scene begins, how does the conversation of the Witches strike you?
2. When Macbeth says, “So foul and fair a day I have not seen,” to what is he referring? What could be the dramatic irony in this line?
3. Describe the physical appearance of the Witches.
4. What prophecies do the Witches make regarding Macbeth? How does he react?
5. What do the Witches see in the future for Banquo?
6. What does Banquo ask Macbeth about the experience?
7. As Banquo and Macbeth are discussing the prophecies, what news does Ross bring?
8. As the others talk, what does Macbeth's aside reveal about his thinking?
9. How does Banquo's comment support the “Fair is foul, foul is fair” theme?
10. What does Malcolm mean in his aside about two truths being prologue to the imperial theme?
11. What is Macbeth's emotional state when he hears the news?
12. To fully understand Macbeth's feelings you must visualize what is happening on stage. What is occurring?
Act I scene iv
1. Why was the old Thane of Cawdor executed?
2. What is the meaning of the plant metaphor? See if you can spot further plant references.
3. What news does the King impart to Macbeth and what is Macbeth's reaction to the news?
4. In his last speech in this scene, what does Macbeth reveal?
Act I scene v
1. After Lady Macbeth finishes reading the letter, what fear about her husband does she express?
2. When she says, “Hie thee hither,” what is it that she plans to do?
3. How does the news about King Duncan's
Act I scene i
1. When are the three Witches to meet again and for what purpose?
2. What do you suppose is suggested by the line, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”?
Act I scene ii
1. What do we learn of Macbeth's courage and skill?
2. What is his relationship to King Duncan?
3. Who had Macbeth and Banquo been fighting?
4. What does King Duncan tell Ross to do?
Act I scene iii
1. As the scene begins, how does the conversation of the Witches strike you?
2. When Macbeth says, “So foul and fair a day I have not seen,” to what is he referring? What could be the dramatic irony in this line?
3. Describe the physical appearance of the Witches.
4. What prophecies do the Witches make regarding Macbeth? How does he react?
5. What do the Witches see in the future for Banquo?
6. What does Banquo ask Macbeth about the experience?
7. As Banquo and Macbeth are discussing the prophecies, what news does Ross bring?
8. As the others talk, what does Macbeth's aside reveal about his thinking?
9. How does Banquo's comment support the “Fair is foul, foul is fair” theme?
10. What does Malcolm mean in his aside about two truths being prologue to the imperial theme?
11. What is Macbeth's emotional state when he hears the news?
12. To fully understand Macbeth's feelings you must visualize what is happening on stage. What is occurring?
Act I scene iv
1. Why was the old Thane of Cawdor executed?
2. What is the meaning of the plant metaphor? See if you can spot further plant references.
3. What news does the King impart to Macbeth and what is Macbeth's reaction to the news?
4. In his last speech in this scene, what does Macbeth reveal?
Act I scene v
1. After Lady Macbeth finishes reading the letter, what fear about her husband does she express?
2. When she says, “Hie thee hither,” what is it that she plans to do?
3. How does the news about King Duncan's