Navigation
•
Home
•
Members
•
Papers
•
Forums
•
Search
•
Signup
•
Links
•
Contact Us
•
About
Top 10
Popular Essays
Rated Essays
Newest Essays
Report
Print
Add to Favorites
Report
Messages
Rate
Similar Reports
Help
Macbeth (Click to select text)
Act 1 Scene 1: Three witches are gathered in an open place in a thunder storm. They agree to reassemble on the moorland before sunset to meet Macbeth. IMPORTANT TERMS: 1. Hurly-burly: turmoil, confusion 2. Greymalkin: grey cat 3. Padock: toad (Cats and toads were the animals most commonly associated with witches. It was thought that witches could adopt the shapes or voices of these animals.) 4. Anon: at once. IMPORTANT QUOTE FROM THE SCENE: "There to meet with Macbeth" (Line 2). Act 1 Scene 2: Duncan, King of Scotland, with his two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain is in an army camp receiving news of the battles fought against him by an alliance of Sweno, King of Norway, Macdonwald, Lord of the Western Isles of Scotland, and the Thane of Cawdor who has proved to be disloyal to King Duncan. The reports all stress the heroism of Macbeth (eg "For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name" - Line 16), who is one of Duncan's generals, in ensuring a victory for the King. Duncan announces that Macbeth is to be given the title of Thane of Cawdor. Cawdor is to be executed immediately. IMPORTANT TERMS: 1. newest state: latest news 6. Bellona: Roman goddess of war 2. broil: struggle 7. Thane: title of nobility in Scotland 3. choke their art: make it impossible to swim 4. kerns and galloglasses: lightly armed soldiers and heavily armed soldiers 5. all's too weak: all his efforts were inadequate IMPORTANT QUOTE FROM THE SCENE: "No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death And with his former title greet Macbeth." (Lines 63-65) Act 1 Scene 3: The Witches talk about the dreadful things they can do to men. As Macbeth and Banquo enter on their way home from their victory, the Witches prepare themselves to charm Macbeth. When challenged by the generals, the Witches greet Macbeth as the Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and King to be, and Banquo is told he will produce heirs who will become kings. The Witches disappear just before Ross and Angus arrive to announce that the King has given Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth wonders about his future and tells Banquo that they will discuss the Witches' strange predictions later. IMPORTANT TERMS: 1. Aroint thee: get off! 6. Sinell: Macbeth's father 2. I'll do: I'll deal with him 7. wrack: destruction 3. Penthouse lid: eyelid (like a sloping roof) 8. will have me: intends me to be 4. Sinell: Macbeth's father 9. my stir: me doing everything 5. enkindle: encourage you to hope 10. free hearts: honest feelings IMPORTANT QUOTE FROM THE SCENE: "Glamis and Thane of Cawdor The greatest is behind - Thanks for your pains, .... (Lines 115-116). Act 1 Scene 4: In the palace Duncan hears from his son Malcolm how the Thane of Cawdor has been executed. Macbeth enters and is welcomed by the King. Banquo is also commended. Duncan announces that Malcolm is heir to the throne and gives him the title of Prince of Cumberland. When Duncan voices his intention to travel to Macbeth's castle, Macbeth sets out to take the news to his wife and to prepare a welcome for the King. Macbeth realises that the new Prince of Cumberland is an obstacle to his ambitions and decides to act quickly. IMPORTANT TERMS: 1. in commission: ordered to conduct an execution 6. wanton: unrestrained 2. liege: lord 7. harbinger: messenger 3. safe: entirely 4. wink at: be blind to 5. in ... and fed: in praise of him IMPORTANT QUOTE FROM THE SCENE: "The Prince of Cumberland: that is a step On which I must fall down or else o'erleap, For in my way it lies." (Lines 48-50) Act 1 Scene 5: Lady Macbeth is reading a letter sent to her by Macbeth after he met the Witches but before he met Duncan. Lady Macbeth's mind immediately looks forward to the fulfilment of the Witches' prophecy but she feels that Macbeth is too mild to seize the throne. A messenger arrives with news that Duncan plans to spend the night at the castle and, by the time her husband arrives, Lady Macbeth has already prepared, in her mind, the murder of Duncan. Macbeth is doubtful but Lady Macbeth has made her mind up. IMPORTANT TERMS: 1. perfectest report: the best knowledge 2. deliver thee: report to you 3. metaphysical: supernatural 4. compunctions ... of nature: natural feelings of pity 5. wait on nature's mischief: attend on the disasters and evil possible in the world 6. hereafter: of the future IMPORTANT QUOTE FROM THE SCENE: "Only look up clear; To alter favour ever is to fear. Leave all the rest to me." (Lines 69-71). Act 1 Scene 6: Duncan and his attendants arrive at Macbeth's castle. While they are admiring the peaceful location of the castle they are welcomed by Lady Macbeth. She and Duncan exchange greetings and compliments. IMPORTANT TERMS: 1 temple-haunting martlet: the house martin likes to nest in the eaves of tall buildings of churches 2. haunt: frequent 3. by your leave: by your permission 4. coursed: chased 5. we rest your hermits: we still pray for you. IMPORTANT QUOTE FROM THE SCENE: "Herein I teach you How you shall bid 'God yield us' for your pains And thank us for your trouble". (Lines 13-15). Act 1 Scene 7: Macbeth has slipped out of the room and is having second thoughts about murdering Duncan. He is aware of the seriousness of his proposed crime as an act of treachery against an innocent guest. When Lady Macbeth finds him, Macbeth has decided to cancel the plan but his wife persuades him to change his mind again. She outlines her tactics and Macbeth admires her resolution. He prepares himself for the murder. IMPORTANT TERMS: 1. sewer: head waiter (originally he was the person who tasted the food for the King) 2. even-handed: impartial 3. chalice: drinking vessel 4. nightless curriers: invisible winds 5. wassail: feasting. IMPORTANT QUOTE FROM THE SCENE: "What cannot you and I perform upon Th'unguarded Duncan? What not put upon His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt Of our great quell?" (Lines 69-71). Act 2 Scene 1: It is after midnight and Banquo is preparing to go to bed. Banquo feels some uneasiness but when Macbeth appears out of the darkness, he passes onto Macbeth compliments from Duncan and a diamond for Lady Macbeth. Left on his own, Macbeth awaits for a signal from Lady Macbeth; his imagination conjures out of the air a dagger which he cannot grasp. He prepares his mind for the murder and the signal sounds. IMPORTANT TERMS: 1. husbandry: economy 2. shut up ... content: gone to bed completely happy 3. Tarquin's ravishing strides: Tarquin raped Lucretia in the night (mentioned in Shakespeare's poem The Rape of Lucretia) 4. knell: bell sounded to announce a death IMPORTANT QUOTE FROM THE SCENE: *Macbeth's entire speech (lines 33-64) is important. These lines emphasise the internal conflict that Macbeth is experiencing about the murder and they show how he has to convince himself to do the murder. Act 2 Scene 2: Lady Macbeth has drugged Duncan's servants and now, stimulated by the wine, she awaits the completion of the murder and the return of her husband. Macbeth enters, almost out of his mind, unable to distance from the scene in Duncan's room. He is rebuked by his wife who, seizing control of the situation, finds that she has to take the daggers back to the room because Macbeth has removed them and is incapable of returning to the scene of his crime. A loud knocking is heard and Macbeth is led out by his wife to wash the blood off himself and to change his clothes. IMPORTANT TERMS: 1. quenched: put death out to sleep 2. possets: bedtime drinks 3. multitudinous: extensive 4. as pictures: look the same. IMPORTANT QUOTES FROM THE SCENE: "To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself. Wake Duncan with thy knocking: I would thou couldst". (Lines 76-77). Act 2 Scene 3: As the knocking increases, the Porter, still drunk, organises himself to open the gate and eventually he lets Macduff and Lennox enter. Macbeth appears to have been wakened by the noise. Macduff informs everyone of the King's murder. Lady Macbeth enters followed by Banquo and, while the news is discussed, Macbeth relates how he killed the blood-covered servants in his fury. Lady Macbeth faints and causes confusion. In the confusion Malcolm and Donalbain decide to slip away because they fear for their lives. Banquo proposes a general meeting to discuss the situation and the others agree. IMPORTANT TERMS: 1. Belzebub: the devil 2. napkins enow: plenty of napkins 3. equivocator: one who tampers with the truth to suit his argument 4. made a shift: managed 5. unmannerly breeched: disgustingly covered 6. undivulged presence: unrevealed aims. IMPORTANT QUOTE FROM THE SCENE: "Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessed time, for from this instance, There's nothing serious in mortality". (Lines 84-86). Act 2 Scene 4: Ross and an Old Man discuss the extraordinary confusion in the natural world. They draw a parallel between it and the unnatural human acts of the night. Macduff enters and reports the suspicion for the responsibility of the murder rests on the departed Malcolm and Donalbain. Macbeth has gone to be crowned in Scone. IMPORTANT TERMS: 1. trifled former knowings: made earlier experience seem trifling 2. raven up: ravenously devour 3. Colmekill: Iona, a holy island where Scottish kings were buried 4. benison: blessing. IMPORTANT QUOTE FROM THE SCENE: "Thriftless ambition that will raven up Thine own life's means. Then 'tis most like The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth" (Lines 28-30) Act 3 Scene 1: Macbeth has settled into the Royal Palace at Forres. Banquo has serious suspicions about the Witches' prophecies for Macbeth have been fulfilled but he and, it turns out, Macbeth remember the Witches' predictions for his descendants. Publicly, Banquo and Macbeth are polite to each other. However, when Banquo goes riding, Macbeth aware of the threat posed by Banquo's qualities, arranges for his murder and the murder of Fleance by two villains whose minds he turns against Banquo. IMPORTANT TERMS: 1. sennet: notes played on a trumpet 2. grave and prosperous: weighty and profitable 3. passed in probation: showed the proof 4. sundry: various 5. something: some distance. IMPORTANT QUOTE FROM THE SCENE: "To make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings. Rather than so, come Fate into the list. And champion me to th'utterance" (Lines 71-74
Recent Board Topics
Please drop by and sign up.
[
Submit Essay
] - [
Privacy
] - [
Disclaimer
] - [
Email Us
]
Copyright 2003 EssayFarm.com