1a. What does Macbeth imagine that he sees in scene 1? To what does he attribute this illusion?
2a. In scene 2, Macbeth reports hearing a voice cry out. What does he think he hears the voice say about sleep?
3a. In scene 3, Lennox reports strange disturbances in nature on the night of Duncan's murder. In scene 4, Rosse and the Old Man likewise speak of disturbances. What are these disturbances?
4a. Analyze Macbeth's state of mind in scene 2, giving examples from the text to support your conclusion.
5a. At the end of the act, Rosse says of Malcolm and Donalbain that "thriftless ambition" will devour greedily their "own live's means." Evaluate the truth of these lines when applied to Macbeth.
1b. What is Macbeth's state of mind immediately before the murder? How can you tell?
2b. What do you think might be the consequences for Macbeth of having committed this murder?
3b. In what sense is Macbeth's deed unnatural? What are the consequences of the murder on the natural order?
4b. Given this state of mind, what do you predict for Macbeth as he takes the throne and attempts to rule Scotland?
5b. Do you believe that a person can be tempted to do something that is totally out of character? Can a good person be led down the wrong road? Explain.
Symbol.Before murdering Duncan, Macbeth imagines that he sees a bloody dagger. After the murder, he laments that he will never be able to clean the blood from his hands. What does the blood symbolize?
Hyperbole.Read scene 2, lines 57–60. What exaggeration is being made? What effect does this hyperbole have?
Verbal Irony.Review scene 3, lines 79–81. What do Macbeth's words mean to his compatriots? What meaning do they have for Macbeth? What is ironic about the statement?
Mood.Review the cluster chart you made in Literary Tools. What kind of mood do these details create? What is the meaning of these details?
1. Write two headlines to summarize the crucial events in act 2. When writing your headlines, aim for active, descriptive phrases that immediately convey the events.
2. Imagine that you are Macbeth, newly named king, and write a funeral elegy for the murdered Duncan. In it you will want to honor the king and summarize his finest qualities. Consider also that his murder has caused apprehension and instability in the kingdom. What can you say to your subjects to restore a feeling of harmony in the kingdom?
3. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are both involved in Duncan's murder. However, each reacts differently. Write a comparison-and-contrast paragraph about their roles in the murder and their reactions to it. Consider how each character acts and what each says, both in private and in public. For more information on writing a comparison-and-contrast paragraph, read the Language Arts Survey 2.27, "Choosing a Method of Organization."
Taping a Television Show. Write a brief account of the murder as it might be described on a sensationalistic television program about unsolved mysteries. Include interviews with witnesses who were close to the action. Provide theories as to who committed the murder of Duncan.
