Macbeth Flashcards
How many witches are there?
3
What do they represent?
The three tales.
What do the witches do “when the hurly-burly’s done, when the battle’s lost and won”?
Plan to meet with Macbeth.
What is going on in Scotland in the beginning of the play?
War between the Scotsman rebellion and the Norwegian.
What does the bloody captain tell King Duncan that Macbeth did to the rebel MacDonwald?
He split him open from the navel to the jaws. (Disembowed him.)
What does Ross report to Duncan about the battle? What does this report suggest about Macbeth’s character?
The Scots won the Battle.
He is valiant and one who leads the battle; true fighter.
What two Scotsmen and one foreign king have cause this trouble in Scotland?
Thane of Cawdor
MacDonwald
Sueno (King of Norway)
How does Duncan reward Macbeth for his actions on the battlefield? What does Duncan’s reward tell us about his character?
Gives him “Thane of Cawdor” title.
Makes him 2x as rich and as much land.
Kind and generous man who rewards gracious and loyal people.
When the sailor’s wife refused to share her chestnuts with one of the witches, what does the witch do? What does this reveal about the character of all the witches?
Puts a curse on her husband that the ship will never come home.
Easily temperamental/greedy/merciless/vengeful.
What is the witch’s prophecy for Macbeth when they meet him on the heath? What is their prediction for Banquo?
Macbeth will be a king.
Banquo’s children will be kings.
What is Macbeth’s reaction to the witch’s prophecy?
Doesn’t believe it; questions it; questions validity; doesn’t know what to do.
What is Macbeth’s title?
Thane of Glamis.
What obstacle does Duncan between Macbeth and the throne of Scotland? What does Macbeth plan to do about it?
Names Malcolm Prince of Cumberland.
Macbeth gets very upset yet, does nothing about it.
What is the content of the letter Macbeth sends to Lady Macbeth? What is her reaction to this letter as she ponders her husband’s personality? What does a messenger tell Lady Macbeth will be happening that very night?
About the witches visiting him/ prophecy.
Mad; questions manhood and questions if he has what it takes to kill the cousin.
Their thane is coming.
What does Lady Macbeth call on the spirits and the night to do?
Make her cruel and evil from head to toe.
