act 2 scene 1 events and quotes

Question 1

“A heavy summons lies like lead upon me….(Banquo)

Answer 1

And yet I would not sleep: merciful powers, Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature”

Question 2

What does Banquo mean when he talks about the “powers” and how he cannot sleep?

Answer 2

A burden is lying upon him- the supernatural powers
-his intuition knows something is wrong- his virtues as a character and his loyalty is showing

Question 3

“My bosom franchised….(Banquo)

Answer 3

and allegiance clear, I shall be counsell’d”

Question 4

What does Banquo mean in the “bosom” quote?

Answer 4

Banquo is saying his allegiance is with the king-shows his loyalty

Question 5

“Is this a dagger…

Answer 5

which I see before me, The handle toward my hand?”

Question 6

What literary technique is used when Macbeth says “Is this a dagger?”

Answer 6

foreshadowing- he does eventually kill Duncan

Question 7

“Fatal vision” highlights what?

Answer 7

how he is terrified

Question 8

“Or art thou but A dagger of the mind….

Answer 8

a false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?”

Question 9

What does the quote “heat-oppressed brain” show?”

Answer 9

he has too many thoughts about killing the king in his brain- it is overwhelming him

Question 10

“As this which now….

Answer 10

I draw”

Question 11

What does “I draw” mean?

Answer 11

he is in control of his own fate- ironic as he is not, the witches are and he is too indecisiveness to be in control

Question 12

“And on thy blade and dudgeon…

Answer 12

gouts of blood”

Question 13

What does “on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood” convey?

Answer 13

its sinister and evil

Question 14

“It is the…

Answer 14

bloody business”

Question 15

What does “bloody business” mean?

Answer 15

When Macbeth is going to kill Duncan, it will be literally bloody and also figuratively bloody as he will then be involved in a crime

Question 16

“Nature seems dead…

Answer 16

and wicked dreams abuse”

Question 17

The usage of nature conveys what?

Answer 17

the inversion of the natural order- nature knows what he is doing is wrong

Question 18

What does “wicked dreams abuse” mean?

Answer 18

it is a further inversion of the natural order- he is having nightmares and bad dreams

Question 19

The word “abuse” adds to what?

Answer 19

the semantic field of violence and brutality

Question 20

Macbeth being psychologically unstable leads to what?

Answer 20

his decisiveness- his speech and behaviour has drastically changed

Question 21

“The curtain’d sleep…

Answer 21

witchcraft celebrates”

Question 22

“the wolf, whose howl’s…

Answer 22

his watch, thus with his stealthy pace.”

Question 23

What qualities of a wolf does Macbeth also have in this soliloquy?

Answer 23

Being aggressive, strong and dominating

Question 24

“With Tarquin’s ravishing strides…

Answer 24

towards his design moves like a ghost”

Question 25

Macbeth has described how he will kill Duncan very vividly- why is this shocking?

Answer 25

He was very indecisive beforehand about the regicide- now he has planned it all out

Question 26

What has Macbeth personified death as?

Answer 26

a ghost

Question 27

His decisiveness shows what?

Answer 27

how easily he has been coersed by Lady Macbeth

Question 28

"While I threat, he lives...

Answer 28

Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives"

Question 29

What does the quote "While I threat, he lives" mean?

Answer 29

the longer he takes and the more time he wastes, his courage is dying- erratic, impulsive behaviour

Question 30

"I go and it is done...

Answer 30

the bell invites. Hear it not Duncan"

Question 31

What does "I go and it is done" trigger?"

Answer 31

his peripetia- it is the pivotal turning point of no return- his savagery, brutality and anarachy

Question 32

"For it is a knell...

Answer 32

That summons thee to heaven or to hell"

Question 33

What is a knell and what does it symbolise?

Answer 33

A knell is a funeral bell and it symbolises how Duncan will be needing a funeral soon

Question 34

What would the audiences reaction be to Macbeth talking in such detail of the murder he is going to commit?

Answer 34

shocked, disturbed, deeply concerned- how in the previous speech he has changed so much and so drastically in such a short period of time

Question 35

What is the symbolism of Macbeth using the animal of a wolf?

Answer 35

It's in contrast to what Lady Macbeth called him (a cat)- highlights how he is becoming more manly and masculine and becoming more determined in his capability and capacity for evil

Question 36

What do the rhyming couplets show?

Answer 36

Shows how certain he is within himself- shows his capacity for evil and how in control he is

Question 37

What does Macbeth talking about Hecate in his speech show?

Answer 37

He has summoned the goddess of witchcraft- however he doesn't care/feel worried about it as he believes he is completely in control of his own fate/destiny and even the witches cannot change that

Question 38

His fatal flaw (his ambition) has made Macbeth what?

Answer 38

This cruel, savage character- he was driven by ambition and this is the outcome of his overmastering ambition

Question 39

What do the rhyming couplets also mirror?

Answer 39

The witches rhythm of speech- the witches are in control of everything so by Macbeth mirroring the rhyming couplets, it shows that he is now in control