Macbeth Notes Acts I-IV

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Macbeth Notes Acts I-IV
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Macbeth Summary of Act I
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Scene 1

• Setting - Scotland.
• 3 witches
• Indicate that the battle will be over by sunset
• plan to meet with Macbeth on the barren
  battlefield or heath
• There is an approaching thunderstorm.
• Foreshadowing of evil Fair is foul, and foul is
  fair, what is good will be bad and what is bad
  will be good.

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Scene 2

• Duncan
• The king of Scotland
• orders the immediate execution of the Thane of
  Cawdor
• names Macbeth as the new Thane of Cawdor.
• sends Ross to announce this to Macbeth
• Malcolm
• Son of Duncan
• Captain
• informs Duncan that Macbeth has defeated
  Macdonwald, the Norwegian army, and the Thane of
  Cawdor.
• states the conflict was resolved by Macbeth.

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Scene 3

• Witches
• Prophesize that Macbeth will be Scotlands next
  ruler.
• Macbeth
• mimics witches famous words spoken earlier in
  the drama "So foul and fair a day I have not
  seen"
• Banquo (Macbeths friend)
• will be "Lesser than Macbeth, and greater" and
  "Not so happy, yet much happier"
• Ross and Angus
• inform Macbeth that Duncan has appointed him
  Thane of Cawdor.

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Scene 4

• Macbeth
• Expresses ambitious thoughts in his asides
• Aside a remark that the character makes to the
  audience or another character
• Duncan
• praises Macbeth for his loyalty
• Thanks Banquo for his courage
• Announces visiting Macbeth's castle at Inverness
• has chosen Malcolm (son) to be the next king of
  Scotland now he will be Prince of Cumberland
• Light and Dark Symbolism
• "Stars, hide your fires/Let not light see my
  black and deep desires"

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Act 1, Scene 5
Macbeths positive thoughts
I thought good to deliver thee greatness is
promised thee farewell
Lady Macbeths negative thoughts
I fear thy nature the illness should attend
it wouldst not play false
alliteration
wouldst wrongly win
Images/ symbols of death
Raven, thick blood, smoke of hell, keen knife,
blanket of the dark
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Act 1, Scene 7
we have judgment, but we teach bloody
instruction (terrible deeds) In the beginning, he
contemplates murder, but then has second thoughts
Indications of confusion
Chalice, angels, cherubim
Religious allusions
Duncan will plead like angels Pity, like a
naked new-born babe
similes
Lady Macbeths criticisms
Refers to Macbeth as a coward and poor cat
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Act 1, Scene 7
Get the two guards (chamberlains) drunk with
wine
Lady Macbeths Plan
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Act 2, Scene 1
husbandry in heaven
The gods are economical with their starlight
The Dagger Illusion dagger of the mind false
creation Reality I see thee in form as
palpable
Illusion/reality
Interacts with the dagger and indicates that it
is the bloody business
dagger
3 indications of death
nature seems dead withered murder bloody
business
Tarquin and Hecate
2 allusions
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Act 2, Scene 2
alcohol
The gods are economical with their starlight
The Dagger Illusion dagger of the mind false
creation Reality I see thee in form as
palpable
Unnatural events
Interacts with the dagger and indicates that it
is the bloody business
dagger
Macbeths confession
nature seems dead withered murder bloody
business
Tarquin and Hecate
Lady Macbeths reaction
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Act 2, Scene 3
Equivocate/ equivocator
to use ambiguous or unclear expressions
The porter presents himself as the porter of hell
and jokes about the sinners
Comic relief
has a double meaning - can mean untruth or to
rest
lie
Stimulates lust, persuades him, Makes the
lover a failure
alcohol
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Act 2, Scene 3
Unnatural Events
chimneys were blown down strange screams of
death in the air Shaking of the earth
Macbeths confession
Admits to killing the guardsmen
Lady Macbeths reaction
faints
Malcolms reaction
Wants to leave for Ireland
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Act 3, Scene 1
Witches prediction for Banquo
that myself should be the root and father of all
kings
Macbeths attitude
Indicates that he fears him three times
alliteration
heavy hand hath
Macbeth manipulates the murderers
Indicates that they and their families will be
beggars Tells them that Banquo will treat them as
animals
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Act 3, Scene 2
Lady Macbeths state of mind
Afraid
Than by destruction dwell in doubtful
Alliteration
Four black agents
scorpions, bat, beetle, crow
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Act 3, Scene 4
Cabined, cribbed, confined
alliteration
Ghost of Banquo
Sits in Macbeths place
Dares him to be tough and approach him like a
rugged russian bear, and armed rhinoceros
(lines 100-103)
Macbeth challenges the apparition
Ghost of Banquo
Macbeth sees the ghost three times
Macbeths vow
To see the wicthes
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Act 3, Scene 5
As by the strength of their illusion shall draw
him on to his confusion. He shall spurn fate,
scorn death
Macbeth is powerless
allusion
The pit of Acheron (river in hell)
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The Apparitions
Ghost Description Message to Macbeth Macbeths Response
1st      
2nd      
3rd      
warns Macbeth of a bloody revenge at the hands of
Duncans son Macduff
Armed head of a warrior
Thou hast harped my fear aright (line 74)
Blood covered child
Tells Macbeth that he cannot be killed by any man
of woman born.
Indicates that Macduff will not live
a child wearing a crown
Macbeth believes he will never be troubled by the
ghosts
Macbeth cannot lose in battle until Birnam Wood
physically moves toward his castle at Dunsinane.
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Bird Metaphor (Write down the passage) Your Explanation. How do you explain or interpret the metaphor?
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the poor wren (the most diminutive of birds)
will fight, her young ones in her nest (lines
9-11
Even if a mother is small, poor, and weak, she
will still fight for her young