Overview of the 5 acts

Question 1

What are the 4 main events in Act 1

Answer 1

1. Macbeth & Banquo are told by the witches that Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor and Banquo’s children will be kings
2. Duncan meets Macbeth, gives him the title (Thane of Cawdor) and tells him he is coming to visit him
3. Macbeth writes to Lady Macbeth about the prophecy
4. Lady Macbeth bullies and convinces Macbeth to murder Duncan.

Question 2

Act 2 is the game changer - the thing that changes everything. What is this?

Answer 2

The murder of Duncan

Question 3

What are the 6 key events of Act 2?

Answer 3

1. The famous dagger scene (hallucination)
2. Macbeth commits the murder and Lady Macbeth plants the blood-stained daggers on Duncan’s servants.
3. Macduff discovers the body.
4. Malcolm and Donalbain escape
5. Rosse discusses the strange, unnatural things happening with an old man.
6. Macduff tells Rosse that Macbeth will be king.

Question 4

What are the 3 key events of Act 3?

Answer 4

1. Macbeth orders the murder of Banquo and his son
2. Banquo is killed but Fleance escapes
3. Lennox and another Lord suspect Macbeth of the murder.

Question 5

What are the 4 key events in Act 4?

Answer 5

1. Macbeth visits the 3 witches for the 2nd time.
2. Macduff flees to England and Macbeth murders his wife and children
3. Malcolm reveals that the English king has given him 10,000 men to fight Macbeth
4. Macduff learns that his wife and children have been murdered and vows to fight Macbeth.

Question 6

What are the 5 key events in Act 5

Answer 6

1. Lady Macbeth sleepwalks - she reveals her guilt and has gone mad
2. The Scottish Lord plan to meet the English army at Birnam Wood
3. Malcolm’s soldiers cut down branches from Birnham Wood and march towards Macbeth’s castle.
4. Lady Macbeth commits suicide.
5. Macduff kills Macbeth and Malcolm becomes king.