Macbethactonestudenttext
Macbethactonestudenttext
Macbethactonestudenttext
Shakespearean Drama
KEYWORD: HML12-346A
William Shakespeare
15641616
Author Online
Go to thinkcentral.com. KEYWORD: HML12-346B
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Can you
ever be too
ambitious?
Ambition is a powerful motivating
force. Often it is considered desirable,
since it inspires people to realize
their dreams. In fact, people without
ambition are usually regarded as lazy.
But is it possible to be overly ambitious?
When might high aspirations lead to
terrible consequences? Such questions
are explored in the story of Macbeth, a
general whose ambition is to become
king.
QUICKWRITE With a partner, brainstorm
a list of peoplehistorical and
contemporary whose ambitions had
tragic consequences. Beside their names,
jot down what they hoped to achieve and
the negative results of their ambitions.
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macbeth
the tragedy of
William Shakespeare
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CHARACTERS
Duncan, king of Scotland
An English Doctor
his sons
A Scottish Doctor
Malcolm
A Porter
Donalbain
An Old Man
noblemen of scotland
Macbeth
Banquo
Macduff
Lennox
Ross
Three Murderers
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macduff
A Gentlewoman attending on
Lady Macbeth
Hecate (hDkPGt), goddess of
witchcraft
Menteith (mDn-tCthP)
Three Witches
Angus
Apparitions
Caithness (kAthPnGs)
THE TIME
attending on Macbeth
THE PLACE
Son, to Macduff
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act
Scene 1
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Scene 2
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Captain.
Doubtful it stood,
As two spent swimmers that do cling together
And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald
(Worthy to be a rebel, for to that
The multiplying villainies of nature
Do swarm upon him) from the Western Isles
Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied;
And Fortune, on his damnd quarrel smiling,
Showed like a rebels whore. But alls too weak;
For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name),
Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel,
Which smoked with bloody execution,
Like valors minion, carved out his passage
Till he faced the slave;
Which neer shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,
Till he unseamed him from the nave to th chops,
And fixed his head upon our battlements.
Duncan. O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman!
Captain. As whence the sun gins his reflection
Shipwracking storms and direful thunders break,
So from that spring whence comfort seemed to come
Discomfort swells. Mark, King of Scotland, mark:
No sooner justice had, with valor armed,
Compelled these skipping kerns to trust their heels,
But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage,
With furbished arms and new supplies of men,
Began a fresh assault.
Duncan. Dismayed not this our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?
Captain. Yes, as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.
If I say sooth, I must report they were
As cannons overcharged with double cracks,
So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe.
Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds
Or memorize another Golgotha,
I cannot tell
But I am faint. My gashes cry for help.
Duncan. So well thy words become thee as thy wounds:
They smack of honor both.Go, get him surgeons.
[The Captain is led off by Attendants.]
[Enter Ross and Angus.]
Who comes here?
Malcolm.
The worthy Thane of Ross.
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Scene 3
After the witches vanish, Ross and Angus arrive to announce that
Macbeth has been named thane of Cawdor. The first part of the witches
prophecy has come true, and Macbeth is stunned. He immediately begins
to consider the possibility of murdering King Duncan to fulfill the rest of
the witches prophecy to him. Shaken, he turns his thoughts away from this
horrid image.
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Language Coach
Synonyms Words with the
same meaning are synonyms.
Reread lines 2223. What does
pine mean in this verse? A
pair of synonyms in the verse
provide a clue. What are those
words?
a BLANK VERSE
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b FORESHADOWING
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80 whither: where.
81 corporal: physical; real.
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Macbeth. [Aside]
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150
ASIDE
Reread Macbeths aside in lines
130142. What private thoughts
does he reveal to the audience?
Why might he want to keep
these thoughts hidden from
the other characters?
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155
[Aside to Banquo] Think upon what hath chanced, and at more time,
The interim having weighed it, let us speak
Our free hearts each to other.
Banquo.
Very gladly.
Macbeth. Till then, enough.Come, friends.
[They exit.]
Scene 4
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d FORESHADOWING
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Behind the
Curtain
RL 7
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production in London
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TRAGEDY
Be aware that in Macbeths
aside in lines 4853, he admits
that he hopes the king will be
murdered. Based on these lines,
what do you think is Macbeths
tragic flaw?
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Scene 5
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g SOLILOQUY
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Language Coach
Roots and Affixes A words root
may contain its core meaning.
The Latin root ignorare, meaning
to have no knowledge of, is
the root of ignore, ignoramus,
and ignorant. Reread lines 53
55. Why does Lady Macbeth call
the present ignorant?
65 my dispatch: my management.
67 give solely sovereign sway: bring
absolute royal power.
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Scene 6
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1 seat: location.
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h DRAMATIC IRONY
Scene 7
[Hautboys. Torches. Enter a Sewer, and divers Servants with dishes and
service over the stage. Then enter Macbeth.]
Macbeth. If it were done when tis done, then twere well
It were done quickly. If th assassination
Could trammel up the consequence and catch
With his surcease success, that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
Wed jump the life to come. But in these cases
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Language Coach
Homonyms Homonyms have
different meanings but the
same pronunciation. Bear can
mean shaggy, four-footed
carnivore or carry. What does
it mean in line 16? What form of
bear in line 17 has a homonym
meaning come to life? How is
each homonym spelled?
SOLILOQUY
Note that in lines 1228 of his
soliloquy, Macbeth lists the
reasons why he shouldnt kill
Duncan. How do you think
other characters will react if
Macbeth kills the king?
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TRAGEDY
Reread lines 4759. How does
Lady Macbeth urge her husband
to carry out his terrible plan?
72 quell: murder.
7274 Bring forth . . . males: Your
bold spirit (undaunted mettle) is
better suited to raising males than
females. Do you think Macbeths
words express admiration?
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After Reading
Comprehension
1. Recall What predictions do the witches make about Macbeth and Banquo?
2. Clarify How does Macbeth react when Duncan declares his son Malcolm heir
to the Scottish throne?
3. Summarize What do Macbeth and his wife plan to do to make the witches
predictions come true?
Text Analysis
4. Identify Mood Reread Scene 1, lines 111. What mood is created by the
witches? Why do you think the drama opens with this scene?
5. Make Inferences What can you infer about Macbeth and Lady Macbeths
marriage from their interaction in Scene 7?
6. Examine Shakespearean Drama Review the actions youve recorded in your
charts so far for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. At this point in the play, which
character do you think is more forceful? Cite evidence to explain your answer.
7. Analyze Shakespearean Tragedy Use a chart like the one shown to record
the soliloquies and asides in Act One that provide insight into the characters
who speak them. What do Macbeths and Banquos asides to each other after
hearing the witches prophecies (Scene 3, lines 118126) reveal about each
man?
Scene, Lines
Soliloquy or Aside?
Insight
Text Criticism
9. Critical Interpretations Some critics have pointed out that Macbeth clearly
recognizes the immorality of his murderous plan and foresees its terrible
consequences, yet still goes through with it. Why would Macbeth do this?
Provide evidence from the text to support your explanation.
ambitious?
Without the witches predictions, do you think Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
would have been satisfied with their place in life? Explain why.
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