Study Questions Act 2

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 says the following because he is afraid that nightmares are going to fill his dreams. The atmosphere of the castle went from happy to dark and gloomy.


2) Why does Banquo mention his dream of the Weird Sisters? Hint: Ironically this is his last dream.
Banquo dreams of the three weird sisters because he says that they are speaking some truth of what they last told Banquo and Macbeth.


3) What does Macbeth say he and Banquo will talk about later in private?
He says that they will talk later about his dream and the weird sisters predictions.

4) Reread lines 42-70. Briefly summarize what Macbeth is saying in this soliloquy.
He sees a dagger and the handle is pointing toward Duncan. The dagger is telling him to go kill the king. Macbeth then keeps telling himself that he is seeing things but it wont go away.

5) How does the illusion of the dagger play into the mindset of either witchcraft or Macbeth losing it.
It ties into the witchcraft because they tell Macbeth that he will be king and now all of a sudden the dagger is in front of him telling him that he needs to kill the king. So its like putting a spell on Macbeth so its most likely related to witch craft.

Scene ii

1) What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, “That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold”?
The drink that made the guards drunk has made her stronger and brave.


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 owl is a bad omen that rings bells outside of prisoners tombs who have been sentenced to death. The fatal bellman would be the owl and Macbeth.


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?
It was reminding her of her father, and if he didn't look like he father she wouldn't kill him or she would have someone else kill him for her.


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”?
Macbeth killed Duncan while he was sleeping, so therefor he will not be able to sleep. So really Macbeth has murdered his own sleep.

6) Why is Lady Macbeth upset with Macbeth towards the end of scene ii?
Lady Macbeth is upset because Macbeth for got to leave the sword and smear the blood so it looked like the guards killed Duncan.

7) What is symbolic about the knocking that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hear?
It symbolizes god knocking on the door when someone dies.


8) What does Lady Macbeth say about washing of hands at the end of the scene? Do you believe her?
She thinks by washing her hands it will take away the sins of her murder. No because people will still think she is suspicious.


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?
The Porter is a humorous character because he is drunk, he says that drinking makes people happy, urine, and sleep.


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


3) What does Macduff mean when he says, “Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!”?
He is confused because everything was going so great and now the king has just been killed.



4) How does Macbeth react to the news of the king’s murder? How does Lady Macbeth react?
Macbeth says that he kills the guards, and Lady Macbeth reacts to the news by fainting, and then people have to help her up.


5) Where do Donalbain and Malcolm decide to go? Why?
Malcolm goes to England and Donalbain goes to Ireland because the dad just got killed so the next ones to be killed will be the rest of the family.

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.
A falcon(majestic bird) was killed by the owl. This is saying the king was just killed by Macbeth.


2) What does Macduff say about Malcolm and Donalbain?
He says that they ran away, so it is putting suspicion of the deed among them.


3) What does Macduff say about Macbeth?
He is going to be crowned.

4) What is meant by the line, “Lest our old robes sit easier than our new”?
He thinks that Duncan is a better king than Macbeth.


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

He doesn't go because he suspicious of him. 

Summary of Act 1

A lot happens in Act 1, we first meet the three witches and they talk about when they will meet again thunder, lighting, or, rain. We then learn about the battle scene and how Macbeth killed Macdonwald. In scene three Macbeth and Banquo meet the three witches. They explain to Macbeth that he will be King, so Macbeth instantly gets happy and doesn't really think about what they are talking about. Banquo on the other hand is told that his children will become kings. In scene four Malcolm gets named the kings successor, but Macbeth doesn't get upset because he is just happy to be working for the king. Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth's letter and then she thinks that Macbeth doesn't have what it takes to be king. She then makes he own plan to kill the king and wants Macbeth to just listen to her and follow her lead. The king then arrives, and Macbeth starts to doubt killing the king, but Lady Macbeth doesn't let him quite. He has to kill the king in order to be king himself.

MACBETH

Elements of Tragedy


1) Must have a tragic hero


2)Must be fated to fall


3)Internal and External conflict

4)Dramatic Foils


5)The audience learns something about the nature of human existence


Elements of Tragic Hero


1)Noble Birth


2)Loyal, virtuous, full of high morals


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, Marlet

*Fair is foul, Foul is fair* 

Weather 

The idea of things being planted or grown

Mirth and Liege

Hailey was unable to control her mirth after she missed he free throw.

Mason the liege of the kingdom through a party his 16 year-old daughter.

MACBETH

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?
She worries if he has what it takes to be King, and she thinks he won't do what it takes to be King.

2. What is Lady Macbeth’s “prayer” to the spirits after she learns Duncan is coming to dinner?
She tells him to "unsex" her because she thinks that everything that makes her a woman would prevent her from killing Duncan.

3. What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth when he arrives home?
She tells him to just follow her lead and stay quiet and leave the rest to her.

4. What are Macbeth’s arguments to himself against killing Duncan?
He doesn't do kill the king because he will have to live with the consequences for the rest of his liffe, and his job is to protect the king so he really should kill him.


5. What arguments does Lady Macbeth use to convince Macbeth to commit the murder?
Lady Macbeth tells him that he needs to be a man and do what it takes to kill the King.


6. What is Lady Macbeth’s plan?
She plans to kill Duncan, and blame it on the guards. She will get them drunk and smear blood on their face and then put the knife in their hand.


VOCABULARY 
1) Mirth: Noun; gaiety or jollity, especially when accompanied by laughter

2) Liege: Noun; a feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service

3) Parricide:Noun; the act of killing one's father, mother, or other close relative

4) Verity: Noun; the state or quality of being true; accordance with fact or reality

5) Avarice: Noun; insatiable greed for riches; inordinate, miserly desire to gain and hoard wealth

6) Avaunt: Adverb; away; hence

7) Posterity: Noun; succeeding or future generations collectively

8) Homage: Noun; respect or reverence paid or rendered

9) Cloistered:Adjective; secluded from the world; sheltered

10) Equivocator: Verb; to use ambiguous or unclear expressions; prevaricate or hedge

11) Eminence: Noun; high station, rank, or repute

12) Avouch: Verb; to make frank acknowledgment or affirmation of; declare or assert with positiveness

13) Thralls: Noun; a person who is in bondage; slave

14) Malevolence: Noun; the quality, state, or feeling of being malevolent; ill will; malice; hatred.

Scene 1-4

Scene 1
The three witches meet to talk about them meeting again.

Scene 2
The bloody captain speaks to Duncan, Malcolm, and Lennox, he has come to report the killing of Macdonwald by Macbeth.

Scene 3 
Three witches meet with Macbeth and Banquo, and tell them what will happen in their future.

Scene 4
Duncan presents Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor.

MACBETH

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? 
This tells us that the play is very dark. The witches symbolize evil beyond just superstition. Yes, because they can put spells on people and they can just disappear out of no where.  


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, just because something seems to be fair doesn't mean it is. There will be a lot of conflict and jealousy through out the poem. 


3) How can a battle be “Lost and won”?  What foreshadow might this set-up?  What is the real battle in this play? 
You can win something but you could also lose something during the battle. The real battle is Macbeth struggle to get power and what he did to get his power. The battle for Macbeth's 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?
They could represent the types of witches they are and what kind of character they are. One could be a sneaky grey  cat and the other could be a nasty toad the puts spells on people. 



Scene ii

1) What does the bloody man report?
He tells them that when Macbeth killed Macdonwald it brought more problems among them. He says that when they sent out their Irish troops to run for cover it allowed the Norwegians to come out with new men and new weapons. 

2) Why is Macdonwald a worthy rebel?
Because he is fearless

3) What similes or metaphors does the captain (the bloody man) use to describe Macbeth and Banquo?  What is significant about these descriptions? 
Captain describes them as eagles and lions.


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.
It is an allusion to where christ was crucified. It suggests that it was like he just suffered all the pain christ had to go through. They are comparing the battle to where christ was crucified.

5) Who was Scotland fighting?
Scotland is fighting Norway.

Scene iii

1) Why do the witches talk in poetry?
The witches talk in poetry because when a witch usually casts a spell it is a rhyme, and poetry is just like rhyming. 


2) What do the witches predict for Macbeth?  What is the dramatic irony involved?
The predict that he will be King. He doesn't know that he is going to become thane of Cowdor. 


3) What do they witches predict for Banquo?  What irony is involved in this promise?
He will be happier but not the happiest. His offspring will become kings. 


4) What is your first impression of Macbeth in scenes ii-iii?  What is your first impression of Banquo?
My impression of Macbeth gullible and he will do anything to get his way, he just wants to be King. Banquo is very opposite of Macbeth, smart, and not easily convinced. 


5) How do Macbeth and Banquo differ in their reactions to the witches predictions?  What does this tell us about their characters?
Macbeth just listens to wait he is told and just believes them, but Banquo thinks about it more. 



6) What message does Ross bring?
He comes to say that the King is proud of Macbeth for defending his country, and he is not even scared of death, but also beware of what the witches are telling them. 


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, and telling us not to give up..?


Scene iv

1) What is Malcolm’s description of Cawdor’s execution?
He died like he was tossing away his most cherished possession like it was a worthless peace of garbage. 

2) What is the King’s response to this description?
The King replied with, you can't look at his face and be able to read his mind. The King had trusted Cawdor. 

3) Who does the King name as his successor?  How does Macbeth react to this information?
He names Malcolm as his successor. Macbeth replies by saying its a reward just getting to work for you. 


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 speaks this line and the significance is that he is saying the stars are hiding back the bad things that no one can see of him. 

poetry

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

        *Maybe the person in the poem is having a hard time dealing what she looks like or who she has been, 

          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?

        *A women who is talking about her self portrait. Her voice is calm, and she is taking about the person she used to be and the innocence she has lost. The person she is now and the person she used to be. The audience would be the mirror. 

          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.?

        *The poet is describing the person she used to be and innocence that she has lost.  

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

        *This poem takes place in the present because she is talking about her past. 

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

        *In a room or bathroom, looking at herself in the mirror. 

          Why does the speaker feel compelled to speak at this moment? What is his/her motivation? She wants to speak what is on her mind and speak of her grief and pain that is on her mine.