Macbeth Study Guide Act 1

20pts

Directions: Answer each question in complete sentences. Use this Side by Side
Translation Guide to help reexamine the text if necessary.

Act 1.1

1. Ambiguity and role reversal are two recurrent concepts in Macbeth. How is
ambiguity shown in this first scene?
Ambiguity is shown by the different interpretations of the first act throughout the years.
There are not many stage instructions given for the witches so it is up to stage directors to
interpret the text through actions, showing ambiguity.

2.What do we learn about the WITCHES from this scene?

Act 1.2

3. Macbeth is not in this scene, but we indirectly learn a lot about him. Find FOUR lines
or sections from this scene that help the reader understand our titular character.
Four lines that help the reader understand who Macbeth is are:
1. “For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name)” (Line 18)
2. “What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.” (Line 78)
3. “O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman!” (Line 26)
4. “Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops, and fixed his head upon our
battlements.” (Lines 24 and 25).

4. We hear news from both the bloody captain and from Ross. Summarize the news of
the war in a few sentences.

The bloody captain explains that Macbeth brutally killed the slave by chopping his head
off. The Thane of Cawdor was a rebel and was ordered to be killed. Ross states that the
Thane of Cawdor started a conflict that led Macbeth and the rest of the soldiers to
victory.

5. The King makes a big decision at the end of this scene. Explain that decision and
what prompted it.
The decision that the King makes is to execute the Thane of Cawdor and give the title of
Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth. This was prompted by Macbeth’s huge success during the
fight and his bravery.

Act 1.3

6. Around line 120 Banquo states his feelings about the witches. How do they differ
from Macbeth’s? What is Banquo’s warning to Macbeth?

7. Paraphrase lines 128-142 (Macbeth’s aside “two truths are told…”). Your summary
should be 2-3 sentences.

8. Line 134 of Macbeth’s aside mentions a “horrid image” that makes his heart race.
What do you think that image is?
That image is Macbeth killing Duncan. Both the truths the witches stated just came true,
and now only Duncan is in his way of becoming king and fulfilling the prophecy.

Act 1.4

9. How does King Duncan foreshadow his possible weak spot: the fact that he is too
trusting and naïve?
King Duncan foreshadows his possible weakness by saying that he is not a good judge of
character, and he admires Macbeth a lot which makes him trust Macbeth a lot. He does
not think that Macbeth will ever betray him because they are close and because his
admiration is blinding him from seeing the truth.

10. Shakespeare uses stars metaphorically two times towards the end of this scene.
Compare the two different uses. What is the same, and what is different?
The two times that Shakespeare uses stars are once by Duncan and another time by
Macbeth. Duncan uses stars to describe idols, or high roles of nobility. Macbeth,
however, uses the term with a more sad connotation. He asks the stars to shine less so
that his evil actions are not exposed by the lights of the stars shining on them. They are
the same because both Duncan and Macbeth describe stars as bright.

11. Although Macbeth is entertaining evil thoughts by the end of this scene, cite two
examples which show that Macbeth has not given himself over to evil completely.
Macbeth has not given himself over to evil completely because of his loyalty towards
King Duncan. Two examples are:
1. “The rest is labor which is not used for you” (Line 50).
2. “The service and the loyalty I owe in doing it pays itself” (Line 25).
Act 1.5

12. Define Lady Macbeth’s phrase “the milk of human kindness”. How does she use this
phrase in relation to her husband?
The phrase “the milk of human kindness” means compassion and the reward of kindness.
She uses this phrase in relation to her husband by saying that Macbeth is too full of “the
milk of human kindness” to go on with the plan to kill Duncan and become the King of
Scotland.

13. How do lines 59-64 (Your face….serpent under’t) recall Duncan’s words in the last
scene. Explain. (Hint: it has to do with Duncan’s weakness)
King Duncan is very naive and trusting which makes him much easier to manipulate.
Lady Macbeth states that Macbeth must seem like he can be trusted by Duncan and look
like an innocent “flower”, but he should secretly be lying and be a “serpent” underneath,
hiding his true self. This recalls Duncan’s words because if Macbeth acts innocent,
Duncan will trust him easily and not suspect him for anything, and Macbeth will be able
to turn on him and murder him without any hurdles of Duncans’ doubt.

14. Lady Macbeth is clearly ready to act on her feelings. How does Macbeth react to her
enthusiasm?
Macbeth reacts to Lady Macbeth's enthusiasm by stating that they will discuss the plan of
murdering King Duncan later.

Act 1.6

15. How does Lady Macbeth greet King Duncan when he arrives at the Macbeth Castle
of Inverness? Copy 1-2 lines that show her (pretend) graciousness.
Lady Macbeth greets King Duncan when he arrives at the Macbeth Castle of Inverness by
stating that she is grateful to Duncan for staying at their castle because he is the one that
provides them with money and status. A line that shows Lady Macbeth’s fake
graciousness is: “Your Majesty loads our house. For those of old, and the late dignities
heaped up to them, we rest you hermits” (Line 22).

Act 1.7

16. In the same soliloquy, Macbeth gives three reasons why he should NOT kill the King.
What are the reasons?

1. First, he is Duncan’s soldier and subject, and Macbeth should protect him, not
kill him.

2. Then, Macbeth is the host, so he should protect Duncan from murder, not be
the murderer himself.
 3. Besides, Duncan is a good and compassionate king, and even the angels would
be enraged if he was to be murdered.

17. What is the horrifying “example” of how dedicated LM is to the plan?

She states that if Macbeth were to ask her too, she would have ripped the child onto her
body, thrown her child onto the ground, and stomped on it.

18. After convincing Macbeth, what is the plan Lady Macbeth comes up with?
There are roughly FOUR elements to the plan. List them:

1. Lead Duncan to his bed and wait for him to fall asleep

2. Get the guards drunk

3. Using the weapons of the guards, kill Duncan

4. Plant the murder weapons in the drunk guard’s hands and wait for people to find
out.