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 says he can't sleep because of dark thoughts and demons. It seems mysterious. 



2) Why does Banquo mention his dream of the Weird Sisters? Hint: Ironically this is his last dream. He says that they have provided some truth. He claims that his dream was saying that something bad will happen to Duncan. Its a prediction of what will happen.


3) What does Macbeth say he and Banquo will talk about later in private? Macbeth claims that he has not thought about the three witches since they met in the woods.


4) Reread lines 42-70. Briefly summarize what Macbeth is saying in this soliloquy. He's imagining the murder weapon, its telling him to kill Duncan.


5) How does the illusion of the dagger play into the mindset of either witchcraft or Macbeth losing it. It most likely has to do with the witches, because they did tell him he'd be king. 

Scene ii

1) What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, “That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold”? The demons make her 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? He's been told to kill Duncan. The bellman Lady Macbeth is the one that hears the owl.


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 would have personally killed him, if only he didn't look like her father. 


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. Scene 1: 5,50,14. Scene 2: 13,22,42. 

5) What is meant when Macbeth says, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep”? He will never be able to sleep, no matter what. 


6) Why is Lady Macbeth upset with Macbeth towards the end of scene ii? Because Macbeth didn't leave the Daggers in the guards hands. 


7) What is symbolic about the knocking that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hear? The knocking could possibly be God.


8) What does Lady Macbeth say about washing of hands at the end of the scene? Do you believe her? She claims that if he washes his hands, all the evil would leave him. Not necessarily. 


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 goes on humorously, saying he was up late doing inappropriate things. making jokes about drinking and urination. He's trying to lighten the sad mood everyone is in. 


2) Who is at the gates? (more than 1 person) Someone who was found guilty for treason. 



3) What does Macduff mean when he says, “Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!”? Because someone broke into the castle to do something bad.


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?  She faints. If they're innocent, they want to leave because they would most likely be targeted next.

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 would be the king and the Owl would be Macbeth, he has ideas of who killed Duncan.


2) What does Macduff say about Malcolm and Donalbain? He says that they fled because they are guilty.

3) What does Macduff say about Macbeth? He is going to get Scone. 

4) What is meant by the line, “Lest our old robes sit easier than our new”? He's questioning if Duncan was a better king than Macbeth would be.

5) Why doesn’t Macduff go to the coronation? Because he is suspicious of Macbeth.

Macbeth Act 1 Summary

A lot is going on in Act 1. It starts out in Scene 1 with the three witches, giving off the feeling of trouble and creepiness when they start their spell. The witches are planning to meet with Macbeth and ask if they will meet in thunder, lighting or in rain. It goes on to the next scene where it takes place in the kings headquarters, where we are told that Macbeth has killed Macdonald. Continuing on, Macbeth and Banquo meet the three witches, they go on to tell them about the two mens future in reign. Macbeth is very pleased with their news and thinks nothing of it, but Banquo, is a tad hesitant and more level minded than Macbeth. In the next scene, Duncan learns about the execution of Cawdor, in which his son took the action. Duncan then decides that Malcom would be next in line for the throne. Macbeth is very polite about it, but he is actually angry and shows his selfishness, he believes that he should be next to hold the title. It goes on to Lady Macbeth receiving a letter from Macbeth, informing her that he has a spot to be in Reign. Lady Macbeth then makes a plan to make the processes much faster, but doesn't share the information with her husband. In the last scene it shows that Macbeth is uneasy about their idea of assassinating Duncan. Lady Macbeth shares her plan of the killing and how it will be done. Macbeth agrees to go ahead with the plan.

Macbeth defining sentences

1) Mirth: (noun)
McKenna was filled with Mirth when she made her free-throw.

2) Liege: (adjective)
Jimmy has been helping his aunt lately, he is very liege.

3) Parricide: (noun)
I couldn't imagine how the little girl felt when she was told about the parricide. 

4) Verity: (noun)
The Verity of her words were found wrong.

5) Avarice: (noun)
I appreciate the people who don't obsess over Avarice.

6) Avaunt: (adverb)
Harry just wanted his brother to avaunt from him for the rest of the day.

7) Posterity: (noun)
I hope that the posterity of my family will hold the great values I treasure.

8) Homage: (noun)
Homage was shown to our great teachers this past Friday.

9) Cloistered: (adjective)
Most homeschoolers have been known to be cloistered.

10) Equivocator: (verb)
Being a Equivocator won't get you very far in life.

11) Eminence: (noun)
When I was younger I wanted to have great eminence, now, not so much. 

12) Avouch: (verb)
When people are not avouch, I tend to second guess myself.

13) Thralls: (noun)
I have to respect the thrall my parents have over me.

14) Malevolence: (adjective)
Sometimes you just have to take a deal breathe so your malevolence doesn't show.

Macbeth Act 2

Elements of Tragedy

1) Must have a tragic hero.


2) Internal conflict


3)The character must be fated to fall or fail 


4)Dramatic foils


5)The audience learns something about human existence.


Elements of Tragic Hero

1) Noble birth


2)Loyal, virtuous, full of high moral.


3)Tragic flaw


4)Tragic flaw causes downfall


5)Audience learns something through the characters downfall



Dramatic Foils (definition): Two characters that contrast as a way to bring out their character traits (or personalities). 


Example:
Macbeth/Banquo and Macbeth/Lady Macbeth


List of Motifs from ACT 1
-Birds: Eagles, Sparrows, and Martlet.
-"Fair is foul and foul is fair"
-Weather 
-The idea of things being planted or grown.
-Blood  

MACBETH STUDY QUESTIONS

ACT 1

Scene 1:

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? That it most likely will be very dark and possibly mysterious. I believe the Witches symbolize evil beyond superstition. Yes, they seem to be planning to cast some sort of spell in the near future.

2) What doe 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? Appearance vs Reality, it means that, just because something may look good, does not mean it actually is. That some future events will probably be deceiving.  





3) How can a battle be “Lost and won”?  What foreshadow might this set-up?  What is the real battle in this play? They seem to be making the point that, there is a winning and a loss to every situation.   It is Macbeth's battle. The battle for his soul.





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? It could imply that those might be their disguises possibly. It definitely symbolizes mystery. 



Scene ii

1) What does the bloody man report? That Macbeth has both, won the battle and killed Macdonald.




2) Why is Macdonwald a worthy rebel? He has been known as an evil villain.





3) What similes or metaphors does the captain (the bloody man) use to describe Macbeth and Banquo?  What is significant about these descriptions? The Captain describes them as Eagles and Lions. It is most likely has something to do with great power or force. 







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. The Captain is telling Duncan that the army he was just battling, has similarities to the men who crucified Christ. 







5) Who was Scotland fighting? Norway


Scene iii

1) Why do the witches talk in poetry? Because poetry has a flow to it and that is how the cast their spells. 



2) What do the witches predict for Macbeth?  What is the dramatic irony involved? That he will become king. But that place is not available at the moment.





3) What do they witches predict for Banquo?  What irony is involved in this promise? It goes along 
with the winning and losing situations, that even though he will become king, it will not be very enjoyable for him.




4) What is your first impression of Macbeth in scenes ii-iii?  What is your first impression of Banquo? He seems to be very power crazy, wants to be in charge, not that smart. He seems to be pretty intelligent in some aspects so far. 



5) How do Macbeth and Banquo differ in their reactions to the witches predictions?  What does this tell us about their characters? Macbeth believes everything immediately. Banquo processes it more. Macbeth is hasty, Banquo is not.





6) What message does Ross bring? He says that Macbeth will hold the title of Thane 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. To be more observant, because again, not everything is what it seems.

What is being dramatized? What conflicts or themes does the poem present, address, or question?

        * Destiny, and the start of a beautiful relationship. 

          Who is the speaker? Define and describe the speaker and his/her voice. What does the speaker say? Who is the audience? Are other characters involved?

        *  The speaker is trying to show the difference and similarity of the snowflake and the young couple. both young, unsure, and beautiful.

          What happens in the poem? Consider the plot or basic design of the action. How are the dramatized conflicts or themes introduced, sustained, resolved, etc.?

        *  It has to do with the snowflake find its place to land. 

          When does the action occur? What is the date and/or time of day?

        * On a cold afternoon. 

          Where is the speaker? Describe the physical location of the dramatic moment.

        * A snowflake floating from above. 

          Why does the speaker feel compelled to speak at this moment? What is his/her motivation?  

its to describe how the beautiful crystalized snowflake it like the young love birds, just trying to find their place.