Macbeth Extract 3 Witches First Prophecy Moment Flashcards
(12 cards)
The following extract has been taken from Act One of ‘Macbeth’.
In this extract, Macbeth meets the witches who give him three prophecies.
MACBETH
So foul and fair a day I have not seen.
BANQUO
How far is’t call’d to Forres? What are these
So wither’d and so wild in their attire,
That look not like the inhabitants o’ the earth,
And yet are on’t? Live you? or are you aught
That man may question? You seem to understand me,
By each at once her chappy finger laying
Upon her skinny lips: you should be women,
And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
That you are so.
MACBETH
Speak, if you can: what are you?
FIRST WITCH
All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!
SECOND WITCH
All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!
THIRD WITCH
All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!
BANQUO
Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear
Things that do sound so fair? I’ the name of truth,
Are ye fantastical, or that indeed
Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner
You greet with present grace and great prediction
Of noble having and of royal hope,
That he seems rapt withal: to me you speak not.
If you can look into the seeds of time,
And say which grain will grow and which will not,
Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear
Your favours nor your hate.
FIRST WITCH
Hail!
SECOND WITCH
Hail!
THIRD WITCH
Hail!
FIRST WITCH
Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.
SECOND WITCH
Not so happy, yet much happier.
THIRD WITCH
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none:
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!
FIRST WITCH
Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!
What is happening in this extract (Act 1, meeting the witches)?
Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches. The witches greet Macbeth with three titles — Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and king hereafter (future king)— and Banquo with strange paradoxes. Macbeth is shocked; Banquo is curious but cautious.
Why does Shakespeare show the witches tempting Macbeth and Banquo? (use ‘to warn’)
To warn the audience that ambition can be dangerous and that temptation leads to destruction.
Why does Shakespeare show the witches tempting Macbeth and Banquo? (use ‘to question’)
To question whether anyone is truly immune to evil or if everyone has a weakness.
Why does Shakespeare show the witches tempting Macbeth and Banquo? (use ‘to reveal the importance of’)
To reveal how fate and free will both play a role in shaping a person’s path.
How is Macbeth linked to the witches from his first line?
He says, ‘So foul and fair a day I have not seen’ — echoing the witches’ earlier line. This links him to them and hints he may be influenced by evil.
How does Banquo describe the witches, and what does it show about them?
He says they look wild, withered, and not like they belong on earth — even suggesting they have beards. This makes them seem creepy, unnatural, and hard to trust.
Why do the witches speak in paradoxes like ‘lesser than Macbeth, and greater’?
They speak in confusing, opposite statements to make their prophecies mysterious and tricky — this creates suspense and foreshadows Macbeth’s confusion.
Where else in the play do we see Macbeth tempted?
Macbeth is tempted again when he starts thinking about killing Duncan, and later when he fears Banquo and goes back to the witches.
Choose one theme that connects to this extract and explain it.
Theme: Temptation — Macbeth is clearly interested in what the witches say, showing how easily he’s drawn in.
Choose a second theme that connects to this extract and explain it.
Theme: The Supernatural — the witches are magical, speak in riddles, and seem to know the future.
Extra challenge: Does Banquo also give in to temptation? Why or why not?
Banquo doesn’t act on the witches’ words, but he does think about them. He’s curious, which means he’s not completely innocent. So, he’s not a perfect opposite to Macbeth — just less extreme.
