Act I, Scene II Vocabulary broil – battle spent – exhausted villainies – mercenaries kerns – footsoldiers gallowglasses – armed horsemen minion – a servant unseam’d – cut open nave – the navel chaps – a person’s jaws skipping – fl eeing furbish’d – shining sooth – truth fl out – mock point – swordpoint lavish – wild composition – a truce deign – offer What does the Sergeant specifically report about Macbeth? What does this news reveal to you about Macbeth’s character? What is Macbeth’s relationship to King Duncan?
Act I, Scene III Vocabulary aroint – be gone rump-fed – fed on rump meat ronyon – a fat woman sieve – a basket quarters – directions shipman’s card – compass card penthouse lid – an eyelid forbid – cursed peak – waste away bark – a ship weird – fate-manipulating posters – travelers aught – anything choppy – wrinkled fantastical – imaginary grace – title having – possessions happy – fortunate get – to beget imperfect – unclear intelligence – information blasted – blighted; cursed corporal – physical reads – considers images – methods post – a messenger earnest – pledge addition – title combined – allied prologues – predictions soliciting – temptation use – custom function – every task surmise – speculation stir – effort strange – new cleave – fit mould – body favor – pardon register’d – written to memory
procreant cradle – place of breeding ild – yield (reward) single – minor purveyor – a King’s traveling attendant holp – helped in compt – in trust audit – accounts still – ever ready How do Duncan and Banquo regard Macbeth’s home? How are their comments an example of dramatic irony? How does Lady Macbeth’s behavior in this scene contrast with what we know of her from the last scene? What does this indicate about her character? Act I, Scene VII Vocabulary sewer – a butler divers – several trammel – to catch or confine as with a net surcease – death shoal – a sandbar surrounded by water jump – a risk chalice – a bowl-shaped drinking cup; a goblet faculties – royal powers virtues – a moral excellence; an admirable quality blast – storm cherubin – a winged angel, or, in Christianity, the second highest rank of angels
Macbeth goes on to describe how he thought he heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more! Macbeth doth Murder sleep…” What is the meaning of Macbeth’s remarks about sleep? In this scene, how does Lady Macbeth criticize her husband and show herself to be stronger? In what ways is she just as weak? What does Macbeth say about cleaning the blood off of his hands? How does Lady Macbeth’s comments about their bloody hands contrast with his? What do their bloody hands symbolize? At the close of the scene, there is an incessant knocking at the door. What might this knocking symbolize? Act II, Scene III Vocabulary Porter – a gatekeeper old – plenty of Belzebub – Beelzebub (the name of the devil) equivocator – one who speaks vaguely intentionally primrose – flowery; pleasurable marry – indeed nose-painting – reddening of the nose cast – vomit
Who is suspected of setting up the murder of Duncan? Why? What does Ross have to say about the ambition that must have led to the murder? Who has been named King? Where will the coronation take place? Instead of attending the coronation, Macduff plans to travel home. How might this choice be significant? Act III, Scene I Vocabulary sennet – a trumpet call grave – substantial twain – two bestow’d – staying invention – a lie sweeter – more Sirrah – a title used to address servants without – outside genius – spirit fruitless – sterile unlineal – producing no successors filed – defiled rancors – bitterness jewel – the soul list – a combat area champion – to battle utterance – last word
under – out of favor with cross’d – shut out instruments – agents gospell’d – devoted to the Bible catalogue – a list clept – called addition – a distinction station – a rank buffets – strikes set – to risk avouch – to justify sundry – miscellaneous thought – remember rubs – flaws material – important apart – in private In his soliloquy, what suspicion and hope does Banquo reveal? Look at the dialogue between Macbeth and Banquo; how has their relationship changed now that Macbeth is King? How has Macbeth’s demeanor changed since his last scene? Macbeth seems very interested in Banquo’s travel plans. Why do suppose that is? What does Macbeth mean when he says, “To be thus is nothing,/But to be safely thus”? Why is Banquo the only person Macbeth fears? What disturbs Macbeth about Banquo’s character?
Act IV, Scene I Vocabulary brinded – striped hedge-pig – hedgehog swelter’d – exuded fillet – a slice fenny – a swamp gulf – a throat ravin’d – ravenous sliver’d – cut off drab – a whore slab – viscous chaudron – entrails yeasty – foamy bladed – unripe lodged – beaten down warders – guards slope – to let fall germens – seed sicken – to become engorged farrow – a litter gibbet – the gallows office – purpose harp’d – guessed issue – the shape impress – to compel bodements – prophecies glass – a mirror start – to burst; bulge treble – triple blood-bolter’d – matted with blood amazedly – entranced sprites – spirits anticipatest – prevents o’ertook – accomplished firstlings – first thoughts How would you characterize Macbeth’s behavior as he interacts with the Witches?
What is the first apparition, and how does it warn Macbeth? How does Macbeth respond? What advice do the Witches give Macbeth about speaking with the apparitions? What is the second apparition, and what does it reveal to Macbeth? What is Macbeth’s response? What is the third apparition, and what is its message? How does Macbeth respond? What is Macbeth’s final question? What answer does he receive, and what is his response? What news does Lennox bring to Macbeth? How does he plan to change his behavior in response? What is Macbeth’s resolve at the end of this scene? How do his plans differ from previous actions? Act IV, Scene II Vocabulary titles – authority wants – lacks coz – cousin
Vocabulary (Cont.) ecstasy – commonplace relation – a report power – an army doff – to rid oneself of latch – to catch fee-grief – personal woe quarry – a heap fraught – overburdened naught – a wicked person intermission – a delay leave – deployment What various reasons does Malcolm give for being suspicious of Macduff? How does Macduff react? Interpret the following quote. “Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell./Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace,/Yet grace must still look so.” What larger theme might this passage support? How does Malcolm cleverly test Macduff’s loyalty? What is Macduff’s initial response? What finally indicates to Malcolm that Macduff is truly loyal? What support has Malcolm arranged for their cause?
What are Macbeth’s troops doing? Why does he remain so confident? What is Macbeth’s lament in his speech beginning, “my way of life is fallen into the sear…”? What is Lady Macbeth’s condition, and how does Macbeth believe it could be cured? How would you describe Macbeth’s demeanor in this scene? In what way does Macbeth acknowledge in this scene that Scotland is suffering?
Act V, Scene IV Vocabulary chambers – bedrooms host – forces more – the rich less – the poor censures – hopes attend – to await strokes – battle arbitrate – to resolve 1. What tactical strategy does Malcolm implement? What is its purpose, and why is it significant to the play? Act V, Scene V Vocabulary ague – a disease forced – reinforced cool’d – chilled with fear treatise – a tale cling – wither sooth – true pull – to decrease estate – present state wrack – ruin harness – armor How does the sound of the woman’s cry affect Macbeth?
Act V, Scene VIII Vocabulary terms – words impress – to mark untimely – prematurely cow’d – checked palter – to equivocate gaze – spectacle baited – ridiculed go off – to perish reckon – to consider Why does Macbeth at first not want to fight Macduff? What information does Macduff reveal about himself that makes Macbeth frightened? What spurs Macbeth to continue fighting Macduff after he at fi rst indicates he will not? What comforts Siward about his son’s death? What is the final resolution of the play?