Tuesday, January 29, 2013

ACT 3 Study Questions


ACT 3 Study Questions

Scene 1

1) What is Banquo’s opening soliloquy about? Please translate it line by line.

Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weird women promised, and I fear
Thou played’st most foully for ’t. Yet it was said
It should not stand in thy posterity,
But that myself should be the root and father
Of many kings. If there come truth from them—
As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine—
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well,
And set me up in hope? But hush, no more.

You have it all: king, thane of cawdor, thane of Glamis
Which the
I believe you played foul for it,
But they said that your posterity will not be kings
But mine will be
Many of my sons and gransons will be, if the witches are telling the truth
As they did for you, Macbeth
Maybe they’ll be telling the thruth for me too.
But ah, I’ll shut up now.

2) Why does Macbeth wish Banquo dead (name at least 2 reasons)—look at his speech in lines 50-76?
Reason One: Macbeth wants his future relatives to be kings, not Banquo’s.
Reason Two: Banquo knows

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,”
He’s saying that he killed Duncan only for the benefit of Banquo’s heirs. He’s ruined his peace of mind and in the end it won’t matter, because his offspring will not rule the throne


4) How does Macbeth convince the murders?
He blames all of their troubles on Banquo and states that it’s his fault they’re living this kind of life.




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?
We have not killed off all opposing forces, so they will become powerful once again and we are still in danger.

2) Why does Macbeth tell his wife, “Be innocent of the knowledge dearest chuck,/ till thou applaud the deed.”?
It’s better that you don’t know about it until the deed is done.

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?
He’s saying for night to kill Banquo, because Banquo causes him to live in fear.

4) Explain the symbolism of crows, night and sleep in this scene. What does it suggest?
Sleep: healing
Crows: death
Night: where every thing bad happens
It suggests that the dark element to the play is not over yet and that there will be many more bad things happening.

Scene 3

1) What happens in this scene? What is botched?
Banquo is killed, but Fleance escapes. The murder is botched.

Scene 4

1) What event is most important in this scene?
Banquo’s ghost!
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?
It shows that Banquo’s ghost wants revenge. Macbeth is frightened because of it and weirding out his guests. I believe it is an illusion created by the witches.
4) Discuss how blood is used in this scene. What does it symbolize?
Banquo’s ghost wants revenge; blood causes more blood to be shed.
5) How does Lady Macbeth react to Macbeth’s visions?
She breaks up the party and tells him to go to bed.

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?
I agree because it doesn’t to do anything to enhance the plot. Also, it is written differently from the rest of the play.

Scene 6

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

Vocabulary 2


Surfeited – excess; noun

Incarnadine – blood red; adjective

Augur – forsee a good or bad outcome; verb

Jocund – cheerful, merry; adjective

Perturbation – a state of anxiety; noun

Laudable – deserving praise; adjective

Abjure – to renounce or retract; verb

Rancor – bitter; noun

Sundry – various or diverse; adjective

Voluptuous – relating to or characterized by luxury or enjoyment; adjective

Friday, January 18, 2013

Macbeth Act II Questions


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?

Banquo, he has a bad feeling about something and cannot sleep because of it. He thinks something bad is going to happen, and the castle has a more foreboding feel to it.

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

Banquo states that part of what the witches predicted for Macbeth was true. It shows that he was really thinking about it and that it bothered him.

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

Banquo’s dream about the witches

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

Macbeth is hallucinating about a dagger that is leading him towards Duncan.

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

Daggers don’t typically appear out of thin air, so I think it is a hallucination. Macbeth is very stressed out because of this whole I’m-going-to-become-a-murder ordeal, and he’s going a bit crazy because of it.

Scene ii

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

The more alcohol that people drink the more confident she becomes with her actions

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

The bells that ring before an execution

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?

She doesn’t want to have any feelings, but this shows that she has emotions

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”?

He says that he heard this. He kills Duncan in his sleep, so this is a sort of a curse caused by the witches

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

He brought the dagger back

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

God knocking

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

She says that washing the blood off her hands will clear her of the horrible deeds. No, the thoughts of it will haunt her for the rest of her life

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?
He’s pretending to be the gatekeeper of hell, and makes up people and has conversations with them. He talks about how drinking gets your hopes up but doesn’t let you get what you want. He shows that the castle has become a hell, but is also used as comic relief.


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

Macduff (the agent of god) and Lennox

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

He’s saying that something horrible has just happened.

4) How does Macbeth react to the news of the king’s murder? How does Lady Macbeth react?

Macbeth acts surprised and then confesses to killing the guards because of it. Lady Macbeth distracts everyone by “fainting”

5) Where do Donalbain and Malcolm decide to go? Why?
Donalbain decides to go to Ireland
Malcolm decides to go to England
They are the runners up for the throne and do not wish to be assassinated also.

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.
The Falcon is the king, while the owl is Macbeth

2) What does Macduff say about Malcolm and Donalbain?

They paid the servants to kill Duncan, then ran away.

3) What does Macduff say about Macbeth?

He is to be crowned

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

“Let’s hope things don’t get worse”

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

He goes home because he is suspicious


Thursday, January 17, 2013

Vocabulary 1

1) Mirth – amusement or laughter; noun

2) Liege – a lord; noun

3) Parricide – the act of killing one’s father, mother, or other close relative; noun

4) Verity – something that is true as a principle, belief, idea, or statement; noun

5) Avarice – insatiable greed for riches; noun

6) Avaunt – away; adverb

7) Posterity - succeeding or future generations collectively; noun

8) Homage - respect or reverence paid or rendered; noun

9) Cloistered - secluded from the world; sheltered; adjective

10) Equivocator - to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; verb

11) Eminence – a high ranking; noun

12) Avouch – to make frank acknowledgement or affirmation of, declare or assert with positiveness; verb

13) Thralls – a person who is in bondage, slave; noun

14) Malevolence – the feeling of hatred; noun


Act I Study Questions


  Macbeth Study Questions
ACT I

Scene I:

1) The play opens with thunder and lightning as the three witches enter.  What does this tell us about the mood of the play?  What do the witches symbolize beyond just superstition?  Do you really believe that they are witches?

It shows that it is going to a dark, mysterious play.
They symbolize darkness, chaos, and conflict. You can tell because they seem right at home on the battlefield.
Yes.

2) What do the witches mean when they say, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”?  What does this tell you about what is likely to go on during the play?

What seems fair might actually be foul, and what seems foul might actually be fair.
I think it sort of sets up the theme “Appearance Versus Reality.”

3) How can a battle be “Lost and won”?  What foreshadow might this set-up?  What is the real battle in this play?

It goes hand-in-hand with the "fair is foul” part. In every battle, there is a loser and a winner.
Winning and losing will become a major theme in the play.
It is a moral battle between what is right and what is wrong.

4) Graymalkin and Paddock are familiars (a cat and a toad).  What does this suggest about the action of the play?  What might they symbolize?

This suggests that the three women are witches. They are spirit animals created by Satan. The might symbolize evil, and that this might suggest the action of the play.

Scene II:

1) What does the bloody man report?

He says that it was a difficult battle and Macbeth killed Macdonwald

2) Why is Macdonwald a worthy rebel?

Because he had foot soldiers and horsemen and was very lucky


3) What similes or metaphors does the captain (the bloody man) use to describe Macbeth and Banquo?  What is significant about these descriptions?

Macbeth and Banquo are describes “as sparrows, eagles, or the hare, the lion” “As cannons over charg’d with double cracks” “They meant to bathe in reeking wounds” The bird motif appears multiple times throughout the play.

4)  “Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds, or memorize another Golgotha.”  What is the allusion?  What is significant about the statement?   What does it suggest?  Please keep in mind the religious/superstitious images/symbols already presented.

This is an allusion to Golgatha, which is where Jesus was crucified. They were going to make this battle more famous than that. It suggests that this will be a very important part of Scottish history and a large part of the storyline.

5) Who was Scotland fighting?

Norway with a smidge bit of Ireland


Scene III

1) Why do the witches talk in poetry?

Because it’s like they’re casting a spell

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

They predict that he will be the king. The dramatic irony of this is that they predicted Banquo's children to be kind

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

The second witch says that he will be “Not so happy, yet much happier” than Macbeth. This is ironic because Macbeth feels that the more powerful he is, the happier he will be, when, in fact, Banquo will be less powerful but happier.

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

I don’t really like Macbeth, but maybe that’s because I know he kills someone just because he wants to be king.
Banquo is okay. I like him more than Macbeth because he seems nicer and more down to earth. Also, he has a pretty cool name.

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

Macbeth is a bit confused, but hopeful whereas Banquo doesn’t believe it to be true and is skeptical. It shows us that Macbeth is more of a dreamer whereas Banquo is more realistic.

6) What message does Ross bring?

The news that Macbeth has been appointed Thane of Cawdor


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?


Banquo is telling Macbeth that the agents of evil often tell us part of the truth to lead us to our own destruction. They earn our trust by telling us the truth about little things, but then they betray us when it will damage us the most.


Scene IV

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

“I have spoke with one that saw him die, who did report that very frankly he confessed his treasons, implored your highness' pardon, and set forth a deep repentance. Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it. He died as one that had been studied in his death to throw away the dearest thing he owed as ’twere a careless trifle.”

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

There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust.

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

Malcom. Macbeth responds by saying to the King he would only be happy when working for him, but knows that he will either have to give up or get rid of Malcom

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?

Macbeth. He is afraid that he won’t stop until he becomes king, no matter how bad of a person he will become.

ACT 1 
1. What is the point of the first scene (literally) and in reference to the whole play? 
  
It is foreshadowing and shows how dark the play is going to be. Also, it makes for a pretty spooky character introduction.

2. What does Duncan call Macbeth when he hears Macbeth has defeated Macdonwald? 
  
O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!

  
3. Who is sentenced to death? 
  
The original thane of Cawdor 

4. What do the witches predict in Act I, Scene 3 for Macbeth?  For Banquo? 

Macbeth they tell him that is currently the Thane of Cawdor and will become King in the near future.

Banquo: they are more vague, but they tell him He will be “lesser than Macbeth but also greater. Not as happy as Macbeth yet much happier. Your descendants will be kings, even though you will not be one.” Which foreshadows Macbeth’s future downfall
  
5. Who news does Ross bring Macbeth? 
  
That he is now the Thane of Cawdor (yippee)

6. Banquo, like Macbeth, is surprised that the witches have predicted Macbeth’s new title.  He is, however, leery.  What does he say about the motives of the “instruments of darkness” ? 
  
7. Malcolm describes Cawdor’s last moments before execution.  What is Duncan ’s reply? 

“There’s no way to read a man’s mind by looking at his face. I trusted Cawdor completely.
  
8. Macbeth says, “Stars, hide your fires.  Let not light see my black and deep desires.”  What are Macbeth’s desires? 
  
To become king, no matter what it takes. (bad call, dude.)
  
9. After Lady Macbeth reads the letter, what does she tell us is her opinion of Macbeth, and how does she plan to help him? 
  
She thinks that he may not have the ability to become king. She plans to talk him into taking the king down and taking the throne for himself.
  
10. What is Lady Macbeth’s “prayer” to the spirits after she learns Duncan is missing? 
  
She’s asking to become more like a man so she can not feel guilty for helping cause someone’s death.

11. What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth when he arrives home? 
  
“Smile and wave, Macbeth. Smile and wave.”

12. What are Macbeth’s arguments to himself against killing Duncan ? 
  
He wants to just pause for a while and be The Thane of Cawdor because that’s a huge honor, and that killing someone after they reward you is not the right thing.

13. What arguments does Lady Macbeth use to convince Macbeth to commit the murder? 
  
That Macbeth would be a total sissy if he didn’t go along with the plan.

14. What is Lady Macbeth’s plan? 

1) Get the king’s servants absolutely wasted
2) Kill the king
4) Put blood all over the servants

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Hyphen Corrections


1. The little lost girl had that I'm-going-to-cry-again look on her face.

2. Spies must have the I-like-danger attitude to be successful.

3. We found many interesting things in a forty-year-old trunk.

4. He gave an I-dare-you-to-touch-me sneer to the others.

5. Did you read that hair-raising story last night?

***

1. In the woods we saw many flowers including a jack-in-the-pulpit.

2. One old toy that everyone used to have was a jack-in-the-box.

3. The sergeants-at-arms will escort him from the courtroom.

4. The ship's captain enjoyed using the cat-o'-nine-tails on disobedient sailors.

5. Finding the man seemed to be just a will-o'-the-wisp


***

1. Jim was the runner-up in the race.

2. The sailors attached the ship to the tie-up.

3. Let's get something to eat at a drive-in.

4. The jump-off was the beginning of the war.

5. This meal is certainly first-rate.

***

1.     It was hard to find an anti-imperialist among the rulers of ancient Rome.

2. I believe that man had a pre-existence before this life.

3. Can you de-energize that bomb in time?

4. If you take that medicine, it could cause the body to be anti-immune.

5. The concerned group was starting an anti-immoral movement.

***

1. We studied the Franco-Prussian War in our history class.

2. For tomorrow read chapters 6-9 in your geography book.

3. The decade 1950-1959 was a great time to grow up.

4. The New York-Paris flight will leave on time.

5. Study your letters l-z for the next quiz.