Macbeth Act 1 Vocab and Literary Terms

Question 1

Paradox

Answer 1

A statement that appears self contradictory or absurd, but contains a deeper truth or reveals a complex reality (does make sense and is true)

Question 2

Tragedy

Answer 2

-A category of play where a noble or high ranking character, the tragic hero, experiences a downfall due to a tragic flaw leading to suffering and often death

• In other words, their flaws lead to their downfalls

Question 3

Mood

Answer 3

The overall atmosphere or emotional feeling created by the piece, which is often cultivated through elements like setting, imagery, and tone.

Question 4

Aside

Answer 4

A short comment or speech delivered by a character directly to the audience, but not heard by the other characters on stage, revealing their inner thoughts or reactions.

Question 5

Soliloquy

Answer 5

A monologue delivered by a character alone on stage, expressing their inner thoughts and feelings directly to the audience, providing insight into their character and plot.

Question 6

Dramatic irony

Answer 6

-A Literary device where the audience knows something that a character in a story or play does not.

-It often creates emotion in the audience as they anticipate the character’s ignorance

Question 7

Comic relief

Answer 7

The author’s use of humor to give the reader or audience an emotional break from tension and heavy mood of a serious or tragic plot

Question 8

Theme

Answer 8

A central, unifying idea or message explored throughout a work often reflecting universal truths about life, society, and humanity.

Question 9

Symbol

Answer 9

An object, person, place, or idea that represents something else, often an abstract idea or concept, and can be used to convey deeper meaning or themes within a story

Question 10

Motif

Answer 10

A recurring element, like an image, symbol, or idea, that appears repeatedly throughout a story, reinforcing the themes and adding depth to the narrative.

Question 11

Plight

Answer 11

A dangerous, difficult, or unfortunate situation (n)

Question 12

Disdain

Answer 12

A feeling of intense dislike or contempt

Question 13

Corporal

Answer 13

Relating to or affecting the body, as opposed to the mind or spirit (adj)

Question 14

Prologue

Answer 14

A speech addressed to the audience by an actor at the beginning of the play

Question 15

Harbinger

Answer 15

Something that foreshadows a future event or that gives a sign of what is to come (n)

Question 16

Beguile

Answer 16

To deceive or mislead someone, often through trickery or flattery (v)

Question 17

Dispatch

Answer 17

The act of sending off something

Question 18

Sovereign

Answer 18

A nation’s ruler usually by hereditary rights

Question 19

Cherub

Answer 19

An angel potrayed as a winged child

Question 20

Quell

Answer 20

To suppress or crush completely

Question 21

Clamor

Answer 21

To utter or proclaim insistently or noisly

Question 22

Act 1 Scene 1 Summary

Answer 22

Three witches enter the scene with a creepy fanfare of thunder and lightning. The first witch asks when they’ll all three meet again, and the second and third agree to meet on the heath after “the battle’s lost and won,” but before sunset. It turns out they’ll have another in the party: none other than Macbeth.

Question 23

Act 1 Scene 2 Summary

Answer 23

In the Scottish court, King Duncan is rehashing a recent battle with his sons and other noblemen. He’s hoping a wounded sergeant can give him the scoop on what went down on the battlefield. The sergeant tells them that “brave Macbeth” and Banquo were the heroes of the hour, and then he’s promptly hauled off to the doctor. In walk Ross and Angus, two Scottish nobles (also known as thanes). Ross brings another tale of Macbeth’s battle skills: apparently he bested the King of Norway, who was being helped by the traitorous Thane of Cawdor. Duncan may be pleased to hear of Macbeth’s awesome feats, but he’s pretty peeved that the Thane of Cawdor has betrayed him. Duncan demands the Thane of Cawdor’s execution and plans to hand over the Thane’s titles to our main man, Macbeth.

Question 24

Act 1 Scene 3

Answer 24

Cue thunder. The witches are back, and they finally get to meet Macbeth, who’s got Banquo in tow. The witches greet a rather bewildered Macbeth as the “Thane of Glamis,” “Thane of Cawdor,” and “king hereafter.” Since he was, in fact, the Thane of Glamis, and he’s about to become the Thane of Cawdor, we can’t help but wonder if “king hereafter” might hold some water as well. Banquo wants to know if they’re telling the truth — and he wants to know what lies ahead in his future, too. The three witches tell Banquo that his descendants will be kings, but he won’t. As they start to leave, Macbeth begs them to stay, wanting to know more about their prophecies, but the witches are already gone.

Macbeth and Banquo are busy marveling over the mysterious witches when Ross and Angus arrive to tell Macbeth that the king wants him. Ross tells him he’s about to become the Thane of Cawdor (so the witches were onto something), because the previous thane is now a traitor. Macbeth and Banquo are starting to wonder if there really might be something to the witches’ prophecies. But Banquo’s a little worried, too: couldn’t the witches be agents of evil, sent to lead them to their own demise? Maybe. But Macbeth, muttering to himself, begins to imagine that he actually could become king. There’s just one problem: to make that happen, he’d have to murder Duncan, and he can’t help but envision how he might pull that off. While Macbeth wanders around in a haze, Banquo makes excuses for his war buddy until Macbeth finally snaps out of it, and they all head off to meet the king.

Question 25

Act 1 Scene 4

Answer 25

Back in the court, Duncan demands to know whether or not the Thane of Cawdor has been executed for his treason. After his son Malcolm assures him that the deed is done, Macbeth and company arrive. Duncan’s over the moon. He heaps praise on Macbeth, and tells the newly minted Thane of Cawdor that he can’t thank him enough for his heroism on the battlefield. He also reveals that he intends to have his son Malcolm succeed him on the throne, which throws Macbeth for a bit of a loop. He privately ponders his growing desire to kill Duncan so that he can grab the throne for himself. Then he heads home to tell his wife the good news, and Duncan promises a visit.

Question 26

Act 1 Scene 5

Answer 26

Alone, Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband aloud. Like a good spouse, he tells her everything—including the witches’ prophecy—and she’s worried Macbeth doesn’t have it in him to actually kill the king. That means she’ll have to channel her own inner monster. When she hears that Duncan is coming for a visit, she asks for some help in the evil-doing department from supernatural spirits. By the time Macbeth arrives, she’s ready to take charge of the situation and bring about Duncan’s untimely, but convenient, demise.

Question 27

Act 1 Scene 6

Answer 27

It’s time to roll out the red carpet as Duncan arrives at Inverness—the home of Macbeth and his lady. Duncan’s got Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, Angus, and some other attendants to accompany him. After praising the castle, Duncan eagerly asks Lady Macbeth to show him to their host: the one and only Macbeth.

Question 28

Act 1 Scene 7

Answer 28

Macbeth is talking to himself again. He hems and haws over the consequences he’ll face if he decides to commit murder. He knows that killing Duncan could mean bad news for him and just about everyone else in Scotland. When Lady Macbeth enters, he tells her he can’t go through with this sordid plan. But she’s got other ideas. Trying to psych her husband up for some regicide, she tells him he’s not much of a man if he can’t find the courage to kill the king. Then she hatches a plan: they’ll wait until Duncan’s asleep, get his servants drunk, kill the king in his bed, and blame it on the servants. Sounds good to Macbeth—he commits to the plan.