Macbeth Acts II+III Review

Line 3: Consider what you have learned about Banquo's suspicions about Macbeth. Identify and explain Banquo's tone as he addresses Macbeth.

Banquo is being careful to hide his suspicion so he is using a respectful tone.

Lines 25-28: What inference can you make after reading these lines? What specific information supports your inference?

Banquo is worried that Macbeth will ask him to go against the king.

Lines 20-30: How does the exchange between Macduff and Ross support the theme of ambition?

Because the noblemen believe that the princes had their father killed because of ambition to be king.

Lines 16-18: Paraphrase these lines. What makes these remarks ironic? How does this help build suspense?

The Macbeths were unprepared for Duncan's visit, but they had time to plan his murder. The reader is waiting for the Macbeths to act.

Lines 51-52: Explain how Macbeth describes the ending of day. Which words describe the images of predators and prey? What might "black agents" refer to? How does this imagery contribute to the overall mood of Scene 2?

"Good things of day begin to droop and drowse" "night's black agents to their preys do rouse"Mood = dark and foreboding

Lines 21-25: Point out and analyze the words Macbeth uses to indicate his feelings about the news of Fleance.

"I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in to saucy doubts and fear."-He feels trapped by fear.

Lines 136-138: Which words indicate that Macbeth has gone too far in his quest for power? Which theme is being developed in this scene?

"I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go over." Theme = Macbeth's ambition has driven him to the point of no return.

Lines 1-10: What specific dialogue supports the idea that Banquo is hopeful about the prediction of the Weird Women?

"May they not be my oracles as well and set me up in hope?"

Lines 9-23: What evidence in Macbeth's conversation with the Murderer in these lines reveals Macbeth's abrupt change in tone and attitude regarding the events surrounding Banquo's murder?

"Then comes my fit again. I had else been perfect"

Lines 29-71: What evidence in Macbeth's soliloquy (lines 47-71) explains Macbeth's assessment of Banquo? What is revealed about Macbeth's character?

"There is none but he whose being I do fear."Macbeth's bitterness and his ruthless ambition.

Lines 1-16: How does Shakespeare use the porter as comic relief? What do you notice about the printed lines and how they differ from the lines in the rest of the drama? What is the effect of this choice by the playwright?

By joking about all the people he is letting into hell. The porter speaks in prose to show social class.

Lines 71-104: Explain how the stage directions and dialogue further the action of the plot. Compare the nature of the First Murderer's dialogue to Macbeth's.

Enter murderers suggests that someone will be murdered. Macbeth has met with the murderers before. Macbeth's lines are lengthy and elaborate while the murderers are simple and direct.

Lines 65-71: What theme is developed in these lines?

Fate vs. free will- Macbeth will fight to the end for what he now sees as his fate.

Lines 65-67: What metaphor does Macduff make in these lines? Why is this metaphor effective?

He compares the sight of Duncan's body to being turned to stone by a Gorgon. Yes, it conveys the shock that Macduff feels.

Lines 38-39: What warning does Macduff convey in these lines through the clothing metaphor?

He is worried about Scotland with Macbeth as king because Duncan was so loved

Lines 29-34: What instruction does Macbeth give to Lady Macbeth with regard to speaking about Banquo? Which phrase suggests they should hide their true feelings? What does Lady's Macbeth's comment in line 34 tell the reader about the difference between Macbeth's words and the way he might be acting?

He tells her to use flattery to honor Banquo at the dinner party. "Make our faces vizards to our hearts disguising what they are." It implies that he is acting upset and distressed.

Line 26: What does Macbeth mean when he uses the word safe to describe the plan?

He wants to know if the plan went smoothly.

Lines 129-140: What inference can you make about the kind of king Malcolm will be? What specific information supports your inference?

He will either be a shrewd (smart) king or a cowardly king because he is running away and he suspects that there is a traitor among them.

Lines 102-112: How does Shakespeare invoke the theme of guilt here?

Lady Macbeth faints which suggests that she feels guilty.

Lines 53-68: Describe what Lady Macbeth tells her guests about Macbeth's outburst. What evidence supports the dramatic irony that Lady Macbeth believes Macbeth's fears are still about Duncan?

Lady Macbeth tells their guests that he is prone to fit and has been since he was a child. Lady Macbeth mentions the dagger because she thinks he is upset about Duncan.

Lines 1-39: Paraphrase Lennox's speech. Describe Lennox's attitude toward Macbeth.

Lennox is suspicious of Macbeth. Tone = sarcastic (verbal irony) Lennox sums up all the crimes that have taken place

Lines 5-7: What is the specific, literal meaning of the lines "Banquo walked too late" and "men must not walk too late"? Also explain the figurative meaning.

Literal = Banquo was killed at night, figurative = nobody is safe in these dangerous times

Lines 85-90: How is the theme of guilt refined in these lines?

Macbeth feels like everything good in life is gone now that Duncan is dead.

Lines 114-139: How does the planning of this murder differ from the planning of Duncan's murder? How does the change signal a change in Macbeth's character, a deepening of his tragic flaw?

Macbeth is hiring murderers instead of doing it himself. Lady Macbeth is not involved. Macbeth's ambition is winning the battle with his conscience.

Lines 56-72: Reread the dialogue between Macbeth and his wife in these lines. Which details shape and refine the theme of guilt? Does Lady Macbeth feel the same guilt as Macbeth? How do you know? Based on your response, form a preliminary statement of a theme about guilt.

Macbeth says that all the water in the ocean couldn't clean the blood off his hands. Lady Macbeth says a little water clears them of the deed. Guilt can consume a person.

Lines 29-71: What is an example of irony in Macbeth's dialogue in lines 29-35?

Macbeth says the princes will not confess when we know that Macbeth killed Duncan

Lines 32-42: How does Shakespeare use Macbeth's dialogue to develop the theme of fate vs. free will?

Macbeth takes the vision as a sign that he is acting towards his fate.

Lines 24-38: What conflict arises in this passage that could develop into a major theme? How does Shakespeare use the exchange between Macbeth and his wife to develop this conflict?

Macbeth's internal conflict of guilt. He thinks he hears the guards praying and he wants to join in but can't.

Lines 133-136: Examine Macbeth's dialogue and explain the reason Macbeth gives for ordering Fleance killed in these lines. Explain the real reason Macbeth wants Fleance dead.

No witnesses! Macbeth fears Fleance is a threat to his throne.

Lines 29-34: What has life in Scotland under Macbeth been like? How do some noblemen plan to put an end to Macbeth's rule?

People are hungry and worried. Macduff has gone to England to get Malcolm. They want the king of England to send troops to defeat Macbeth.

Lines 48-55: Which words set a foreboding mood in these lines?

Screams of death, obscure bird clamored the livelong night, the earth did shake, our chimneys were blown down.

Lines 75-80: Why are Lady Macbeth's words ironic? How does this create suspense? How do Macduff's words in lines 75-78 ironically echo Lady Macbeth's speech in Act I, in which she calls on the spirits of evil to "unsex her"?

She knows what the commotion is about. The reader wants to know if her part in the crime will be discovered. Macduff thinks she is too weak to hear the news but in Act I she asked the spirits to remove her womanly weakness.

What are examples of Hecate's use of rhyme? What is the rhyme scheme? How does this rhyme scheme, a departure from the usual iambic pentameter, affect the mood of the passage?

She speaks in rhyming couplets = noon/moon, illusion/confusion, charms/harms. Hecate's menacing language creates a disturbing atmosphere.

Lines 15-19: Explain how Shakespeare creates tension in these lines. What specific examples support your answer?

Short, choppy dialogue between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

Lines 39-41: What symbol is repeated here? What mental state might the inability to sleep reflect? How does this symbolism help develop the theme about guilt?

Sleep, loss of innocence = Macbeth will no longer sleep because he has lost his innocence.

Lines 115-117: What is Donalbain's fear?

That he and his brother will suffer the same fate as Duncan.

Lines 74-96: Contrast the way the guests at the table would interpret Macbeth's lines to the way the audience would interpret them.

The guests do not know when the toast ends and the outburst begins.

Lines 1-2: What ironic statement does the porter make? What makes this statement ironic?

The porter compares himself to the gatekeeper of Hell. The reader knows that Duncan has been murdered but the porter doesn't.

Lines 136-138: What is the setting? What words does Hecate use that establish a particular mood?

The setting appears to be an otherworldly place. Mood = eerie created by spiteful and wrathful, dismal and fatal, scorn death.

Lines 11-27: What animal imagery does Macbeth use? What does he mean by "scorched the snake, not killed it"? In what way is the image of the snake ironic, coming from Macbeth?

The snake is a symbol for the obstacles to their ambition. Macbeth is the predator but he uses the snake to characterize himself as the victim.

Lines 6-20: Read ahead to find the probable cause of Banquo's insomnia. What is it?

The witches' prophecy is troubling him.

Lines 15-18: Explain what double meaning might be intended by Banquo's statement that his "duties/ Are with a most indissoluble tie/ Forever knit."

Their fates are connected because of the witches.

Lines 21-25: Which sentences are spoken by Macbeth as an aside? How can you tell where the aside begins and ends?

begins=stage direction, ends= dash