macbeth act 1 Flashcards
(35 cards)
what is the significance of the storm that’s happening in this scene?
the storm foreshadows the disruption of the natural order that both the witches and Macbeth bring out.
what does ‘fair and foul and foul and fair’ mean?
it means the natural or correct order of the world is disrupted, where beauty is ugliness and ugliness is beauty. everything is the complete opposite.
Who are Graymalkin and Paddock?
They are the familiars or servants of the witches – Graymalkin is a cat and Paddock is a toad.
How does the Captain describe Macbeth?
The Captain says that Macbeth is a brave soldier, who took on Macdonwald single-handedly and killed him without hesitation.
What did the Norwegian king do in the battle?
Once King Duncan’s army had defeated the Irish, the Norwegian king decided to invade to take advantage of the fact that they were tired
and depleted.
Why is the Thane of Cawdor a ‘disloyal traitor’?
The Thane of Cawdor has joined forces with the King of Norway against King Duncan.
What has Macbeth ‘won’ by the end of scene 2?
By the end of the scene, Macbeth has won the title of Thane
of Cawdor.
What do the witches plan to do to avenge the first witch?
They plan to sink the ship of a sailor by sending wind to buffet the ship. The first witch also says she will drain him of energy, stop him from sleeping and let him die a slow miserable death without being able to reach the shore. All of this is because the sailor’s wife wouldn’t give the first witch a chestnut!
How does this link to King James I who was one of the first people to see Macbeth performed?
King James had a strong belief in the power of witches and actually blamed witchcraft for the storms that stopped his wife from reaching England when she came from Denmark to marry him.
Why are Macbeth’s words ‘So foul and fair a day I have not seen’ significant?
Macbeth’s words echo the words the witches said in scene one. This shows his link with the witches.
Why does Banquo doubt the witches are women?
The witches are old women who have ‘beards’ – hairs on their chin, which is why Banquo hesitates to call them women.
What do the witches tell Macbeth?
They tell Macbeth that he is Thane of Cawdor and that he will be king.
What do they promise Banquo?
They say Banquo will not be king, but will be the father of a line of kings.
What news does Ross bring?
Ross says King Duncan is pleased with Macbeth and so has given him the title of Thane of Cawdor.
What does Banquo mean by ‘What, can the devil speak true?’
Banquo is surprised that the witches were speaking the truth. Witches and witchcraft were associated with the devil at this time.
In his speech that starts ‘Two truths are told…’, what are Macbeth’s thoughts about what has just happened?
Macbeth thinks that as the witches got two of his titles right (Glamis and Cawdor) that they may also be right about him becoming king. Macbeth tries to work out whether their words are good or evil and doesn’t really come to a conclusion. He frightens himself because his thoughts turn to murder and he finds his mind in turmoil about the events of the day.
What has happened to the first Thane of Cawdor and how is it described?
The first Thane of Cawdor has been executed. But first he confessed his crimes against the king, asked for his forgiveness and truly regretted his actions. He died nobly.
What mistake did Duncan make in his relationship with the first Thane of Cawdor?
King Duncan says he ‘built an absolute trust’ on the Thane of Cawdor. He says you can’t tell what a man is really like by looking at his face. This suggests that Duncan is perhaps not a good judge of character and trusts the wrong people.
Where does Macbeth say his duty lies?
Macbeth is very clear that his loyalty is to the king ‘…our duties/Are to your throne…’
How does Macbeth react when the king says he is bequeathing the throne to his son Malcolm?
The first thing Macbeth thinks is that Malcolm stands in between him and the throne! He hopes his hidden thoughts are not visible to the world and that his eyes may not see his evil deeds if he does them.
How does King Duncan feel about Macbeth?
King Duncan believes Macbeth is brave and valiant and cannot be equalled by anyone.
Why does Lady Macbeth fear Macbeth’s ‘nature’?
Lady Macbeth thinks Macbeth may be too ‘soft’ to carry out a plan that will make him king quickly ‘…To catch the nearest way…’
What does Lady Macbeth plan to do once Macbeth returns to her?
She says she will ‘pour my spirits in thine ear’ which means she will use her powers of persuasion to dispel Macbeth’s qualms and push him to kill King Duncan.
Why will Duncan’s arrival be a ‘fatal entrance’?
Lady Macbeth has no intention that King Duncan will leave the castle alive, thus he is entering to meet his death.
