Hensley-English IV
Macbeth
Act I Questions
Act I scene i
1. What images come to mind as you read this scene?
2. What is the mood?
3. What are some examples of superstition?
Act I scene ii
1. What is the setting?
2. Who are they fighting?
3. What does the Captain report?
4. What happens after Macbeth killed Macdonwald?
5. What does Duncan do?
Act I scene iii
1. What do we learn about the author’s attitude about witches and witchcraft?
2. Describe the three witches.
3. How do the witches address Macbeth and what is significant about this?
4. What do the witches tell Banquo?
5. What do the messengers tell Macbeth? What does he think?
6. What is Banquo’s warning?
7. What is Macbeth thinking? (and “aside”—when an actor is speaking to himself beyond other’s hearing)
8. What act has crossed his mind?
Act I scene iv
1. What is Duncan saying in the beginning of the scene?
2. What does Duncan do?
3. What is Macbeth thinking?
Act I scene v
1. Explain what Lady Macbeth is thinking.
2. What does Lady Macbeth do?
3. What does Lady Macbeth tell her husband?
Act I scene vi
1. Why Lady Macbeth is being so attentive and gracious toward Duncan?
Act I scene vii
1. Discuss Macbeth’s soliloquy (speech given while a character is on stage alone).
2. What does Lady Macbeth tell her husband?
3. What is her plan?
4. What does Macbeth tell his wife?
5. What is he saying about the role of women?
6. What else will they do as a part of their plan?
Quotes to known (explain their meaning):
Witches: “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” (pg. 350, line 10)
Duncan: “What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.” (pg. 353, line 70)
Banquo: “The instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles” (pg. 357, line 124-125)
Lady Macbeth: “Yet do I fear thy nature / It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness / to catch the nearest way” (pg. 361, lines 13-15)
Macbeth: “But this blow / Might be the be-all and end-all here” (pg. 364, line 5)
Macbeth: “False face must hide what the false heart doth know! (pg. 365, lines 82)