PROMPTBOOK QUESTIONS HANDOUT 3 obstacles? change? What obstacles stand in each character s way? What happens when objectives meet Do the characters objectives change in this passage? If so, when and why? Or do only tactics What motivates these characters to say what they say? 6. Especially important are questions about the characters: 5. What props are required by the passage? and exits made? Why? 4. Where should the characters be positioned on stage? From where and to where are entrances 3. What happens in this passage? 2. Who is speaking to whom? 1. Where does the action take place? As you work on your promptbook, keep the following questions in mind: Macbeth / 233
Where would you place vocal pauses? In what tone of voice is the line spoken? Why? of this line? How would the characters move here? What facial expressions might accompany the delivery 234 In the Classroom
That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold; their possets, That death and nature do contend about them, Whether they live or die. Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready; When? LADY [Within] Who s there? what, ho! Do mock their charge with snores: I have drugg d The doors are open; and the surfeited grooms It was the owl that shriek d, the fatal bellman, Hark! Peace! What hath quench d them hath given me fire. Which gives the stem st good-night. He is about it: Alack, I am afraid they have awaked, And tis not done. The attempt and not the deed My father as he slept, I had done t. Did not you speak? I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise? I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. My husband! Enter He could not miss em. Had he not resembled LADY Enter LADY LADY SCENF II. [he same.
Ay. LADY Now. As I descended? 0 Listening their fear, I could not say Amen, When they did say God bless us! One cried God bless us! and Amen the other; As they had seen me with these hangman s hands. There are two lodged together. LADY That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them: Again to sleep. But they did say their prayers, and address d them Murder! There s one did laugh in s sleep, and one cried A foolish thought, to say a so sight. 0 LADY Looking on his hands This is a sorry sight. Donalbain. LADY Who lies i1 the second chamber? Hark! LtIJ I iyii1. DLI I Ii
I am afraid to think what I have done; I ll go no more: I had most need of blessing, and Amen But wherefore could not I pronounce Amen? So brainsickly of things. Go get some water, Still it cried Sleep no more! to all the house: Glamis bath murder d sleep, and therefore Cawdor Chief nourisher in life s feast,-- LADY Consider it not so deeply. LADY Methought I heard a voice cry Sleep no more! LADY MAUIMIH Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more. Stuck in my throat. These deeds must not be thought After these ways; so, it will make us mad. Sleep that knits up the ravell d sleeve of care, The death of each day s life, sore labour s bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature s second course, Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, Macbeth does murder sleep, the innocent sleep, What do you mean? You do unbend your noble strength, to think And wash this filthy witness from your hand. Why did you bring these daggers from the place? The sleepy grooms with blood. LADY They must lie there: go carry them; and smear Look on t again I dare not.
I ll gild the faces of the grooms withal; Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead LADY 1VAi...iSIitI Are but as pictures: tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, How is t with me, when every noise appals me? Will all great Neptune s ocean wash this blood A little water clears us of this deed: Hark! more knocking. LADY Re-enter LADY Exit. Knocking within For it must seem their guilt. Whence is that knocking? Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather What hands are here? ha! they pluck out mine eyes. Making the green one red. Knocking within Knocking within I hear a knocking The multitudinous seas in incamadine, My hands are of your colour; but I shame To wear a heart so white. At the south entry: retire we to our chamber; How easy is it, then! Your constancy Hath left you unattended. To know my deed, twere best not know myself. So poorly in your thoughts. Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us, And show us to be watchers. Be not lost Knocking within Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst