1a. What is the result of the murder plot against Banquo and his son?
2a. What does Macbeth see at the banquet which no one else sees?
3a. What indication does Macbeth give, at the end of scene 4, that he will continue to kill anyone who stands in his path?
4a. Lady Macbeth says to her husband, "You lack the season of all natures, sleep." What lines of Macbeth's from act 2, scene 2 does her statement recall? Why can't Macbeth sleep, and what consequences does sleeplessness have for him?
5a. The word "weird" is derived from the Old English word "wyrd," which means fate. It has been suggested by some critics that the predictions of the "Weird sisters" represent Macbeth's fate, which arises out of his character. The witches do not cause it, they merely report it. Other critics have pointed out that Shakespeare's audience would have believed in witches and black magic and therefore we should see the witches as representations of evil that cause Macbeth's downfall. Which interpretation seems right to you? Be sure to provide reasons for your evaluation.
1b. What is Macbeth's reaction to the news of the outcome of the murder plot?
2b. Why is Macbeth the only one who sees this?
3b. How does Macbeth react to the news that Macduff refused to come to the feast? What do you think Macbeth has planned for Macduff? What do you think will happen to Macduff in the next act?
4b. What indications are there in this act that Macbeth is on a course from which he cannot turn? What indications are there that this course will bring him to complete madness or despair?
5b. Macbeth admits that "vaulting ambition" is the reason for his killing Duncan. Besides ambition, what other characteristics can lead to a character's downfall? Describe the downfall of a TV or movie character or a character from fiction. To what character trait do you attribute the character's downfall?
Simile. Review scene 4, lines 20–21. What things are being compared in this simile? What traits do they have in common? Why is Macbeth not, at this point in the play, like a rock?
Climax and Crisis. What event in this act is a major blow for Macbeth, a reversal of his fortunes that may well bring about his downfall? What is the point of highest interest or suspense? Support your answers with evidence from the play. Bear in mind that readers and critics disagree about the answers to these questions.
Motif. Discuss the motifs of ambition, deception, disturbances in nature, blood, madness, and sleep. How are these motifs interrelated?
1. Imagine you are Macbeth, needing a murderer. Write a classified ad to recruit the right person for the job of killing Banquo and his son.
2. Imagine you are a reporter present at the banquet and you witnessed the king's hysterical imaginings. Write an article about Macbeth's mental health. How did the king embarrass himself? In your opinion, is he fit to rule the kingdom? Whom would you support to replace Macbeth as ruler?
3. Imagine you are Macbeth. Write a letter of apology to one of the Scottish lords at the banquet. Be sure to provide some plausible explanation for the strange and incriminating things you said.
Editing for Commas. Rewrite and revise the sentences below, adding or deleting commas as necessary.
1. Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, for a royal performance before James I England's king.
2. James I was one of the Stuarts of Scotland a line of kings descended from Banquo.
3. James's mother was Mary Queen of Scots and his father was Lord Darnley.
4. Shakespeare's emphasis on the supernatural may have been in honor of King James who had an interest in the subject.
5. The fact that the king's brother-in-law the king of Denmark also attended the performance, may have influenced Shakespeare's decision to eliminate the detail of Denmark's defeat from the opening scene.
Studying Transitions to Power. In medieval Europe, the death of a monarch frequently set off civil war between factions vying for the throne, sometimes even when there was a clear, legitimate successor. Research a European king or queen's transition to power.
1. Research Findings:
2. Sources Used:
