Macbeth Study Guide Student Copy Act I, Scene I Vocabulary hurlyburly – turmoil ere – before heath – a tract of open land with sparse vegetation anon – soon When are the witches planning to meet again and for what purpose? Describe the setting of this scene. How might it be significant considering this is the first scene of the play? What sort of mood does it create? The witches say together, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” This is one of the most famous lines in Macbeth. What do you think it means? 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 – fleeing furbish’d – shining sooth – truth flout – 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? Who had Macbeth and Banquo been fighting? The Sergeant uses many similes to describe the battle. Identify two. What does Ross mean when he calls Macbeth “Bellona’s bridegroom?” What does King Duncan instruct Ross to do and why?
Why does Lady Macbeth pray to be “unsexed”? How else does she asked to be altered and why? What does this say about Shakespeare’s view of the nature of masculinity and femininity? When Macbeth enters, how does Lady Macbeth again echo the words of the Witches? What instructions does Lady Macbeth give to her husband? What metaphor does she use to describe her advice? What role has Lady Macbeth adopted in their relationship? Act I, Scene VI Vocabulary Hautboys – loud, double-reed woodwind instruments shaped like clarinets seat – location martlet – a martin, a bird known to nest in churches approve – prove jutty – projection frieze – a decorative engraved band along the upper portion of a room or building buttress – stone or brick support coign of vantage – a protruding corner used as a lookout point pendant – hanging 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 1. How do Duncan and Banquo regard Macbeth’s home? How are their comments an example of dramatic irony? 2. 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 confi ne 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 bought – won prithee – please; “if you please” enterprise – a promise durst – dared adhere – suitable make – have taken fi tness – convenience unmake – unnerve screw – pull tight chamberlain – a servant in charge of a particular part of an estate wassail – a festivity involving the consumption of alcohol convince – overpower warder – a watchman or sentry limbec – part of a still drenched – drowsy spongy – drunken mettle – courageous spirit, fortitude settled – determined bend up – summon corporal agent – bodily strength mock – deceive
Vocabulary bestride – defend birthdom – homeland dolor – pain redress – correct sole – mere deserve of – gain from recoil – to submit transpose – to change rawness – an unprotected state affeer’d – confi rmed to boot – as well fear – distrust confi neless – boundless luxurious – lecherous sudden – violent continent – containing; confi ning convey – to secretly tend to cold – indifferent time – population stanchless – insatiable summer-seeming – youthful sword – downfall foisons – plenty will – greed portable – tolerable lowliness – humility relish – trace concord – harmony untitled – usurping; unworthy interdiction – admittance breed – name; breeding passion – a display trains – schemes unspeak – to retract forsworn – dishonest point – prepared goodness – success quarrel – cause convinces – eludes strangely-visited – affl icted mere – utter mark’d – noticed 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 1. What various reasons does Malcolm give for being suspicious of Macduff? How does Macduff react? 2. 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? 3. How does Malcolm cleverly test Macduff’s loyalty? What is Macduff’s initial response? What finally indicates to Malcolm that Macduff is truly loyal? 4. What support has Malcolm arranged for their cause? 5. What strange power does the King of England possess? What qualities seem to make him a good king? 6. What news does Ross bring to Macduff? 7. Why do you think Macduff comments about Macbeth’s lack of children? 8. What is Macduff’s resolve? Act V, Scene I Vocabulary meet – proper taper – a candle
guise – route go to – for shame charged – burdened dignity – worth practice – expertise annoyance – self-injury mated – bewildered 1. What problem has the Gentlewoman reported about Lady Macbeth to the Doctor? Why do you think she refused to tell the Doctor what Lady Macbeth has said? 2. What strange physical action of Lady Macbeth’s does the Doctor observe? 3. What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, “All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”? What earlier line in the play does her comment parallel? How do her words contrast with her comments about bloody hands in Act II, Scene II? 4. How does Lady Macbeth’s character in this scene contrast with her behavior in earlier scenes? 5. What secrets does Lady Macbeth speak about in her sleepwalking? What calls her back to her bed? 6. How does the Doctor account for Lady Macbeth’s behavior? What does he suggest for her? Act V, Scene II Vocabulary grim – desperate alarm – a call to battle mortifi ed – dead file – a list gentry – members of the upper class unrough – beardless protest – declare distemper’d – swollen from disease minutely – each minute start – fl inch 1. Who do Lennox, Angus, Menteith, and Caithness support? Where are they headed, and why is that location signifi cant? 2. What does Angus say about the men that Macbeth commands? 3. How is the plant metaphor begun by Duncan in Act I, Scene IV, continued in this scene? Act V, Scene III Vocabulary epicures – lovers of fi ne food and wine loon – a fool patch – a fool disseat – to dethrone sear – withered and dry mouth-honor – words said but not meant skirr – scour oblivious – unaware physic – medicine dispatch – hurry purgative – a cleansing bane – destruction 1. What are Macbeth’s troops doing? Why does he remain so confident? 2. What is Macbeth’s lament in his speech beginning, “my way of life is fallen into the sear…”? 3. What is Lady Macbeth’s condition, and how does Macbeth believe it could be cured?