Macbeth - Study Questions Act 4 and Act 5

Act 4

4.1

1) What are the four visions that Macbeth sees?
2) Which visions does he misread or misunderstand and why?
3) What news does Lennox bring Macbeth?
4) What does Macbeth decide from Lennox’s news?
5) How might this scene be a possible climax for the play?


4.2

1) Why does Shakespeare include a scene with Lady Macduff and her son?
2) What is important about this scene?
3) List one motif or symbol from this scene?


4.3

1) Why has Macduff come to England?
2) What is Malcolm’s fear in lines 10-19?
3) Who does the lamb represent in these lines?
4) What is significant in the lines “Angles are bright still, though the brightest fell./Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace,/ yet grace must still look so.”
5) What is significant in the line, “Bleed, bleed, pour country!”
6) What does Malcolm call Macbeth? What list of adjectives does he use?
7) How has Malcolm changed since Act II?
8) What is the atmosphere of this scene? Why is this important?
9) What news does the doctor bring? How is this symbolic to the scene, especially to Malcolm?
10) How many men did England lend Macduff?
11) What does Macduff mean when he says, “But I must also feel it as a man.”  

 

MACBETH: Study Questions—ACT 5

Scene 1

1) What do the nurse (gentlewoman) and the doctor see?
2) What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!...will these hands never be clean.”
3) What is wrong with Lady Macbeth at this point of the play?

Scene 2

1) What happens in this scene? What new characters are introduced? Why?
2) What is the significance of the scene?
3) What is meant when Caithness says, “Some say he’d mad; others that lesser hate him do call it valiant fury”?

Scene 3

1) How would you describe Macbeth’s attitude and mood in this scene?
2) Why isn’t Macbeth afraid? Do his soldier’s seem afraid? Why or why not?

Scene 4





1) What does Malcolm order the soldiers to do?

Scene 5

1) What is meant when Macbeth says, “She should have died here-after”?
2) What is the significant of the following quote, “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is told no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing.”

Scene 6

1) What is important about this scene?

Scene 7

1) Who does Macbeth kill in this scene? What is significant about this death?

Scene 8

1) What happens in this scene?
2) Why does Macbeth lose heart in the fight against Macduff?
3) Who is named king at the end of the play? 

Macbeth - Act 3

Today we are going to finish Act 3 of Macbeth and work on Vocabulary words.

If you have Act 3 done, work on the following: a) look up vocabulary words; b) work on Act 3 English projects below (these will be due next Wednesday).


NEW VOCABULARY

1)    Surmised

2)    Bounteous

3)    Consort

4)    Corporal

5)    Prate

6)    Dauntless

7)    Chastise

8)    Chalice

9)    Undivulged

10) Surfeit

Macbeth – Act 3 Projects

In groups rewriting/interpret everything that happens in ACT III in a short (5-10 minute) skit.  What you are doing to looking at each scene and interpreting the events in your own words and with your own dialogue.  You can do this any way you want but be sure to keep the idea of sleep/sleeplessness and the supernatural in the piece.

Be prepared to act this out on Wednesday.

Tuesday - ACT III

ACT 3 Study Questions

Scene 1

1) What is Banquo’s opening soliloquy about? Please translate it line by line.
2) Why does Macbeth wish Banquo dead (name at least 2 reasons)—look at his speech in lines 50-76?
3) What is significant about the following quote, “For them the gracious Duncan I have murder;/ Put rancors in the vessel of my peace/ only for them,”
4) How does Macbeth convince the murders?

Scene 2

1) What is significant about the quote, “We have scotched the snake not killed it./ She’ll close and be herself, whilst our poor malice/ remains in danger of the former tooth.” What does Macbeth mean?
2) Why does Macbeth tell his wife, “Be innocent of the knowledge dearest chuck,/ till thou applaud the deed.”?
3) What is significant in the quote, “Come, seeling night, Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day,/ and with bloody and invisible hand/ cancel and tear to pieces that great bond/ which keeps me pale.” What is Macbeth saying and what is the great bond?
4) Explain the symbolism of crows, night and sleep in this scene. What does it suggest?

Scene 3

1) What happens in this scene? What is botched?


Scene 4

1) What event is most important in this scene?
2) Why does Macbeth say, “There the grown serpent lies; the worm that’s fled/ hath nature that in time will venom breed,/ no teeth for the present.” What is he talking about? Who is he talking about?
3) What is significant about Banquo’s ghost? What does it suggest? How does Macbeth react to it? Is it real or in Macbeth’s mind?
4) Discuss how blood is used in this scene? What does it symbolize?
5) How does Lady Macbeth react to Macbeth’s visions?

Scene 5

1) Most critics think this scene was placed into Macbeth by a different/later author (someone other Shakespeare). Do you agree or not? Why?

Scene 6

1) What does Lennox say in this scene about Fleance and Banquo?
2) What would have happened to Duncan's sons if Macbeth had them under lock and key?
3) Where did MacDuff go?

Macbeth Act 2

Today we will begin Aet 2. 

Study questions for this act are below:

MACBETH: ACT II Questions

Scene i

1) Who says the following: “Their candles are all out. Take thee that too. A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, and yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers, restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature gives away in repose.” What is significant about the quote? How has the atmosphere of the castle been changed?



2) Why does Banquo mention his dream of the Weird Sisters? Hint: Ironically this is his last dream.


3) What does Macbeth say he and Banquo will talk about later in private?


4) Reread lines 42-70. Briefly summarize what Macbeth is saying in this soliloquy.


5) How does the illusion of the dagger play into the mindset of either witchcraft or Macbeth losing it.

Scene ii

1) What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, “That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold”?


2) Symbolically what does the fatal bellman toll? More than one thing here. And who is the fatal bellmen—the one Lady Macbeth hears?


3) How do you read the lines, “Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done ‘t.” What does this say about Lady Macbeth?


4) Sleep is an important symbol in this play. Please keep a list of all the times (with line numbers) that sleep is mentioned in Act II. Attach and turn this list in with these questions.

5) What is meant when Macbeth says, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep”?


6) Why is Lady Macbeth upset with Macbeth towards the end of scene ii?


7) What is symbolic about the knocking that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hear?


8) What does Lady Macbeth say about washing of hands at the end of the scene? Do you believe her?


Scene iii

1) How is the Porter a humorous character? What does he say about drink? How does he metaphorical set the atmosphere of the scene?


2) Who is at the gates? (more than 1 person)



3) What does Macduff mean when he says, “Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!”?


4) How does Macbeth react to the news of the king’s murder? How does Lady Macbeth react?
5) Where do Donalbain and Malcolm decide to go? Why?


Scene iv

1) What is meant by the old man when he says, “On Tuesday last, a falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place, was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed”? What is symbolically suggested here? Hint: Relate the birds to scene ii.


2) What does Macduff say about Malcolm and Donalbain?

3) What does Macduff say about Macbeth?

4) What is meant by the line, “Lest our old robes sit easier than our new”?

5) Why doesn’t Macduff go to the coronation?

POETRY OUT LOUD

Questions for scenes 5-7

1. After Lady Macbeth reads the letter, what does she tell us is her opinion of Macbeth, and how does she plan to help him?


2. What is Lady Macbeth’s “prayer” to the spirits after she learns Duncan is missing?

3. What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth when he arrives home?

4. What are Macbeth’s arguments to himself against killing Duncan ?

5. What arguments does Lady Macbeth use to convince Macbeth to commit the murder?

6. What is Lady Macbeth’s plan?

POETRY OUT LOUD

The POL competition is on Thursday 1/29 at 6:30 pm on the school stage.  This is a requirement.  You must have a poem memorized and ready to perform.  This is also an easy grade:

50 points for the memorization
30 points for showing up to the performance
20 points for the acting of the poem.

The winner of POL receives a $50 gift certificate to Radio Shack and has a chance to go the State Championship in March.

Here is a link to the POL judging guidelines
This rubric is also how you will be graded on the "acting" portion.

Poetry Out Loud website can be found here

Tips for performance can be found here

Macbeth scenes 4-5

Today we are going to look at Macbeth Act 1 scenes 4-5.  We will also look at your vocabulary words and show you were to find notes, videos and other materials.   Note, you will have a quiz on Act 1 on Friday.  So, let's start will what has happened so far!

Scene iv

1) What is Malcolm’s description of Cawdor’s execution?



2) What is the King’s response to this description?



3) Who does the King name as his successor?  How does Macbeth react to this information?




4)  “Stars hide your fires!  Let not light see my black and deep desires.  The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be, which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.”  Who speaks this quote and what is the significance of it?

Questions for scenes 5

1. After Lady Macbeth reads the letter, what does she tell us is her opinion of Macbeth, and how does she plan to help him?


2. What is Lady Macbeth’s “prayer” to the spirits after she learns Duncan is missing?

3. What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth when he arrives home?

Macbeth Act 1 Scenes 3-5

Today we are going to look at Act 1 scenes 3-5 and then work on Poetry Out Loud.

I will need you to write the title of your poems on the board.

HOMEWORK: Finish the study questions below and look up your vocabulary.

Scene iii

1) Why do the witches talk in poetry?



2) What do the witches predict for Macbeth?  What is the dramatic irony involved?





3) What do they witches predict for Banquo?  What irony is involved in this promise?





4) What is your first impression of Macbeth in scenes ii-iii?  What is your first impression of Banquo?



5) How do Macbeth and Banquo differ in their reactions to the witches predictions?  What does this tell us about their characters?





6) What message does Ross bring?



7) “But ‘tis strange!  And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray us in deepest consequence.”  Who speaks the above quote?  What is the significance or meaning of the quote?





Scene iv

1) What is Malcolm’s description of Cawdor’s execution?



2) What is the King’s response to this description?



3) Who does the King name as his successor?  How does Macbeth react to this information?




4)  “Stars hide your fires!  Let not light see my black and deep desires.  The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be, which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.”  Who speaks this quote and what is the significance of it?

Questions for scenes 5

1. After Lady Macbeth reads the letter, what does she tell us is her opinion of Macbeth, and how does she plan to help him?


2. What is Lady Macbeth’s “prayer” to the spirits after she learns Duncan is missing?

3. What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth when he arrives home?