ACT II MACBETH. I have done the deed. -Macbeth (line 19) Name

Transcription

1 ACT II MACBETH I have done the deed. -Macbeth (line 19) Name

2 Macbeth Comprehension and Analysis Questions answer on your own paper Act Two, scene one 1. What does there s husbandry in heaven; / Their candles all are out literally describe? 2. What gift did Duncan send to Lady Macbeth? 3. Read Macbeth s soliloquy carefully. (chart) Act Two, scene two 1. Contrast Lady Macbeth s emotions at the beginning of this scene with her husband s psychological state in the previous scene. Why would Shakespeare juxtapose (set in contrast) these two scenes? Consider what they reveal about the characters. 2. What actual event that occurred while murdering Duncan does Macbeth interpret as an omen? What imagined event does he take as another sign? 3. What is Lady Macbeth s response to her husband s interpretations? 4. What lines reveal that Lady Macbeth is also nervous? 5. Blood is a major motif in this play. a. How does Macbeth see blood? b. How does Lady Macbeth see it? 6. What sound draws the characters from their room? Act Two, scene three 1. It s a servant; it s a Shakespearean play; we have comic relief! What is the porter pretending to do at the opening of this scene? How is this topic ironically connected to the serious action of the play? 2. Who leaves to wake the king? 3. What does Lennox describe? 4. How is Macduff s dialogue with Lady Macbeth ironic? 5. Paraphrase Macbeth s lines Had I but lived is left this vault to brag of. 6. Who is blamed for Duncan s murder? 7. Where do Donalbain and Malcolm go? Why? 8. Interpret Donalbain s warning, The near in blood, the nearer bloody. Act Two, scene four 1. What three omens do the Old Man and Ross mention? What do these events suggest? 2. How have people interpreted the escape of Donalbain and Malcolm? Themes HINT- look for occurrences which forward each of the following themes. ambition gender roles leadership guilt prophecy (fate vs. individual action) reality vs. imagination Motifs Several motifs are beginning to emerge. For each of the following, identify at least 3 lines that relate to that motif. Create a one- or two-sentence analysis of how that motif helps develop a theme. blood sleeping supernatural events anomalies in nature

3 Complete the chart by identifying a quote from Macbeth s dagger soliloquy that matches the statement. a. In his desperately nervous state, he imagines a dagger floating before him. b. He reaches out for it, wondering if it is real or a hallucination. c. It seems to be leading him to the king s presence. d. Blood appears on it. e. Macbeth tries to dismiss it, realizing he is overwrought. f. He becomes of the dark silent world around him. g. Nature and natural feeling seem dead. h. It is time of false and wicked dreams, of witchcraft, murder, wolves and rape i. Macbeth begs earth not to hear his footsteps, for the sound may give him away j. Silence best suits what he has to do, but such talk cools the ardor of action 1. Why does Macbeth see the dagger? Think about it 2. Why do you think that Macbeth decides to go and commit murder? Choose one of the reasons below and defend it with evidence from the text and your ideas. He really is an evil man. He is so mixed up he cannot sort out the difference between right and wrong. He is under the power of the witches and his wife.

4 Copy Lady Macbeth s first line of the scene: ACT 2 scene 2 Literal meaning: Figurative meaning: Macbeth s Mind After Murder Macbeth speaks of his fears now that he has done the deed. Fill in the chart below and analyze in the final column. FEAR Macbeth s statement- quote him Lady Macbeth s Reaction to Macbeth- quote her Examine both what Macbeth says and how he acts, as well as his wife s reaction. What can you say about his state of mind, their relationship, etc.? Think about literal and figurative meanings. THE VOICE ABOUT SLEEP PUTTING THE DAGGERS BACK THE BLOOD ON HIS HANDS HIS ABILITY TO SAY AMEN

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6 COMIC RELIEF IN A TRAGEDY? Act 2 scene 3 Following the murder of Duncan, Shakespeare includes a humorous scene involving a porter. The opening of this scene offers some comic relief. You may be wondering, Why is Shakespeare adding comedy right after such a brutal murder? Remember that right before this scene we saw a Macbeth clearly shaken by his act of murder. Through this worksheet, examine the role of the porter in order to gain a better understanding of Shakespeare s comic, but tragic intentions. (1) The porter goes into a long description of what hell is like in lines What three people does he say end up in hell? How are each of these individuals related to the larger action of this play? In other words, how do the people that the porter imagines entering hell seem like people in the play? (2) How is the castle like hell at this moment? (3) The porter discusses the effects of alcohol with Macduff. While much of what he says is funny, it is not funny just for the effect of humor. Everything that the porter says about alcohol relates to the larger action of the play. Figure out the analogy. What is alcohol like for the Macbeths? How do the effects of alcohol relate to what has just happened in the play?

7 Act 2 scene 3 and 4: Reactions to Murder 1. Examine the reaction of each of the following characters to the murder of King Duncan in Act 2.3. Character Evidence of the reaction (Act.Scene.Line number) What does the reaction tell you about this character? Macduff Lady Macbeth Banquo Lennox Malcolm and Donalbain Macbeth

8 Unnatural Nature Act 2 SCENE 4 1. In Scene four, various unnatural or strange events are discussed. List three strange and unnatural occurrences below. Next to each event describe what or whom it might symbolize. EVENT Why is this at odd with what is natural? WHAT DOES IT SYMBOLIZE? 2. What is Shakespeare showing with the use of the odd events in nature? 3. What other weather conditions have influenced the mood of the play? How do the weather conditions reflect the atmosphere of the play? 4. At this point in the play, who looks foul? Why? How do we know that Macduff may think otherwise?