1a. How does Macbeth describe the day of the battle in his first statement in the play (scene 3, line 38)? What earlier line from the play is echoed by Macbeth in this statement?
2a. What predictions do the witches make when talking to Macbeth and Banquo in scene 3? Which of these predictions comes true almost immediately?
3a. How does Lady Macbeth react to her husband's letter? What does she make up her mind to do?
4a. What reasons does Macbeth have for killing Duncan? What reasons does he have for not killing the king?
5a. Evaluate the notion of manliness presented by Lady Macbeth and the technique she uses to get her husband to change his mind about killing Duncan.
1b. Why is line 38 from scene 3 ominous? What does it foreshadow, or hint, about Macbeth's future associations?
2b. How do Macbeth and Banquo differ in their reactions to the witches' prophecies? What do these differences reveal about the two characters?
3b. Why do Macbeth and Lady Macbeth argue in scene 7? How do they differ in their feelings about the planned assassination of Duncan?
4b. What character traits in Macbeth could lead him to kill Duncan anyway?
5b. Discuss characteristics of manliness in popular culture. How do they compare with Lady Macbeth's notions of manliness?
Aside. What do Macbeth's and Banquo's asides in scene 3 reveal about their characters? Why are these asides necessary?
Conflict and Inciting Incident. What is Macbeth's internal conflict? What incident introduces the central conflict?
Soliloquy. What does Lady Macbeth's soliloquy in scene 5 reveal about her character?
Foil. Review the chart you made in Literary Tools. How do the foils for Macbeth––Banquo, King Duncan, and Lady Macbeth––contrast with Macbeth?
1. Review the letter written by Macbeth to his wife. Imagining you are Banquo, write a letter to your own wife in which you relate the battle and your encounter with the witches.
2. When Macbeth expresses doubts about the plan to kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth launches an emotional attack on his manhood. Imagining you are Macbeth, write a rebuttal to her words in scene 7, lines 35–78.
3. Imagine you are Duncan's court poet. Write a poem describing the heroic exploits of Macbeth, Duncan's noble gratitude, and Macbeth's winning of the title Thane of Cawdor.
Contractions. Rewrite the following sentences, spelling out the contractions.
1. I' th' shipman's card. (scene 3, line 17)
2. How far is't call'd to Forres? (scene 3, line 39)
3. If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well. . . . (scene 7, line 1)
4. We'ld jump the life to come. (scene 7, line 7)
5. Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubin, hors'd. . . . (scene 7, line 22)
Paraphrasing.Review Lady Macbeth's soliloquy in scene 5, lines 34-50. In your own words, paraphrase the soliloquy, being careful to preserve its meaning while using modern English.
