Act 1

• Exposition


  Introduction to characters and setting, establishes the tone for the play.
• Witches


  Unnatural beings who foretell the future and control the action of the play.
• Macbeth shalt be king


  First prophecy predicting Macbeth's future as King of Scotland
• Thou shalt get kings, even by thy own hands


  Second prophecy implying Macbeth will take his own path to gain the throne
• None of woman born shall harm Macbeth


  Third prophecy predicting Macbeth's invincibility against men born from women
• What is the main premise established in the first scenes of Macbeth?

  The witches awaken Macbeth's ambition.
• How do the first three scenes of Macbeth contribute to the play's mood?

  They establish a dark mood that permeates the entire play.
• What do the stage directions indicate about the beginning of Macbeth?

  The play begins with a storm, indicating chaos and foreboding.
• Who drives Macbeth to act after he hears the witches' prophecy?

  Lady Macbeth.
• How does Macbeth's first line connect him to the witches?

  It echoes their words and establishes a connection between them.
• What role does Lady Macbeth play in the dynamics of power in the play?

  She is a strong character who manipulates Macbeth into action.
• What does Lady Macbeth wish for in her soliloquy in Act 1, scene 5?

  She wishes to be unsexed and filled with gall to commit murder.
• How does Lady Macbeth challenge Macbeth's manhood?

  She questions his courage and compares his actions to sexual potency.
• What thematic concern is highlighted by Macbeth's betrayal of Duncan?

  It emphasizes loyalty to one's king and the consequences of betrayal.
• What does Macbeth reflect on in his soliloquy in Act 1, scene 7?

  He muses on Duncan's good qualities and his kindness to him.
• How does Lady Macbeth manipulate Macbeth's rational arguments?

  She disregards them and challenges his manhood.
• What does Macbeth's awareness of moral order indicate about his character?

  It shows he is tempted but tries to resist temptation.
• Who appears out of the storm in Scene 1?

  The three witches.
• How do the witches' rhyming incantations contribute to the play's atmosphere?

  They create an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.
• What themes are explored in Lady Macbeth's soliloquies?

  They explore gender roles and the nature of masculinity.
• How is loyalty portrayed in Macbeth?

  Loyalty is a central theme, particularly in Macbeth's betrayal of Duncan.
• What is the significance of blood imagery in Macbeth?

  It is linked to guilt and the consequences of actions throughout the play.
• How does Lady Macbeth's manipulation of Macbeth highlight gender dynamics?

  It shows how she challenges traditional gender roles and expectations.
• How does the witches' language of contradiction contribute to the play's moral ambiguity?

  It implies that nothing is quite what it seems, enhancing the theme of confusion.
• Why is the setting of the play crucial to its themes?

  The dark and stormy setting establishes the play's ominous mood.
• What role does the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth play in the plot's progression?

  It is pivotal as it drives the action and reveals character motivations.
• What is a key theme regarding ambition in Macbeth?

  Ambition leads to destructive consequences for both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
• What title is Macbeth given after the battle?

  Thane of Cawdor
• What does Lady Macbeth ask the spirits to do in her famous speech?

  To unsex her and fill her with cruelty
• What reasons does Macbeth consider for not killing Duncan?

  He is Duncan's kinsman, subject, and host
• How does Lady Macbeth react when Macbeth says he will not kill Duncan?

  She calls him a coward and questions his manhood
• What themes are introduced in the early scenes of Macbeth?

  • Ambition and power.
  • The supernatural and fate.
  • Gender roles and masculinity.
  • Loyalty and betrayal.
• How do the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth differ in their approach to ambition?

  • Macbeth is hesitant and contemplative about his ambition.
  • Lady Macbeth is ruthless and determined to seize power.
  • Macbeth is influenced by external prophecies.
  • Lady Macbeth actively plans and manipulates events.