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| Question | Answer |
| Summarise Act One as a whole | The play begins with the meeting of the witches who are planning to bring about Macbeth’s downfall. Scotland in engaged in a bloody battle with forces from the Norway assisted by rebel Scotsmen, and when we meet the central character, we learn that he has killed the rebel, Macdonwald, and defeated the traitor Cawdor. For this feat, King Duncan of Scotland gives Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor. When the witches meet Macbeth and promise he shall be king as well, his ambition is stirred and murderous thoughts come to his mind. The subsequent news that that the king will stay with Macbeth and his wife at their castle at Inverness prompts Lady Macbeth to set in motion a plot to kill the king. Macbeth himself has doubts about going ahead with it, but she persuades him and takes control. |
| Summarise Act One Scene One as a whole | The three witches first appear in this short scene. In the background a battle is being fought amidst a great storm. Thus, the play begins with a strife, uproar and violent forces of nature. |
| In act one scene one: What exactly are the witches planning to do? | The witches are planning on meeting Macbeth on the heath after the battle is over. |
| In act one scene one, What does the atmosphere in this scene suggest about the rest of the play to follow? | The atmosphere is eerie and evil, with stormy conditions and mist. It suggests that what the witches are planning is evil and bound to bring about destruction of some kind. |
| In act one scene one, What do you understand by their words ‘Fair is foul and foul is fair’? | Things that appear to be ‘foul’ or unpleasant may in reality be ‘fair’ and good, and vice versa. This fine balance between appearances and realty, truth and deception, is a central aspect of the witches philosophy, and an important theme in the play as a whole. |
| Summarise act one scene two as a whole | King Duncan learns of the victory against the rebel MacDonald, of a second victory won by Macbeth against the Norway and the traitorous Thane of Cawdor and of Macbeth’s bravery. Duncan bestows Cawdor’s title upon Macbeth and condemns the thane to death. Macbeth, not present, does not know of this honour. |
| In Act one scene two, Our first impression comes from the captain’s speech. What do we learn about Macbeth? | We learn that Macbeth is ‘brave’ in the way that he fearlessly challenged the rebel, Macdonwald, and literally carved him up before displaying his head on the castle walls. |
| In Act one scene two, how is this image of Macbeth reinforced by Ross’s description of him as “that Bellona’s bridegroom”? | When Ross calls Macbeth a ‘Bellona’s bridegroom,’ he suggests that he is married to the Roman goddess of war and therefore a fearless soldier and warrior. |
| In Act one scene two, What two decisions does Duncan make after hearing of the defeat of the enemy? Quote one line to support your answer. | Duncan decides that the present Thane of Cawdor will be executed and that his title will be given to Macbeth. ‘What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won,’ |
| Summarise Act One Scene Three as a whole. | The scene opens with the three witches waiting to meet Macbeth and Banquo. The witches greet Macbeth as thane of Glamis (his own title), and as thane of Cawdor. One hails him as ‘king hereafter’. Banquo is told that he will be the father of kings. The witches vanish. Ross and Angus arrive from Duncan’s palace, and Macbeth learns of his new title. He becomes absorbed in speculation that the witches may indeed know his future. |
| In act one scene three, Notice the witches’ sheer enjoyment of their evil in the opening lines. What does this suggest about their plans for Macbeth who they will shortly be meeting? | The opening lines show us that the witches are malicious and also very powerful. Is suggests therefore that what they plan for Macbeth will also result in destruction and tragedy and that his involvement with them will not do him any good. |
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