Macbeth Act 2

Before Reading:
Journal: Most of us have been afraid of the dark
at one time or another. Think of a time when you
or someone you know felt frightened in the dark.
Describe the experience in your journal,
explaining how the person dealt with the terror.

Scene 1
QUESTIONS:
1. Banquo says that he suffers from cursed thought
when he sleeps. What might these thoughts be
about?
2. What gift has Duncan given to Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth?
3. When Macbeth tells Banquo that he does not think of
the three weird sisters is he telling the truth?
4. Macbeth says cleave to [his] consent (agrees with
what Macbeth has to say) then Banquo will gain what?
5. Banquo says that Macbeth should not lose honour in seeking augment or
increase his honour. What does this tell Macbeth if he hopes to use Banquo as
an ally in the assassination attempt or even as a supporter of Macbeths
claim to the throne?
6. What hallucination does Macbeth have as he proceeds to Duncans bedroom
to kill him?
7. Who is pale Hecate?
8. Why do you think Shakespeare emphasizes the lateness of the hour at the
beginning of the scene?
9. Shakespeare frequently used candles as a metaphor for stars.
 a. Is this comparison appropriate?
b. What is another conventional symbolic use for a candle?
c. Does this other meaning also apply here? Explain.
10.Why does Banquo not want to go to sleep, even though he is
tired? What cursed thought might he be having?
11.How has Duncan responded to Macbeths hospitality? Give
two examples.
12.Why does Macbeth claim not to be thinking about the three
weird sisters?
13.Explain Banquos request to Macbeths request for support.
What does Banquos answer reveal about his character?
14.Macbeth appears to see a dagger in the air before him. Is it
more likely to be a ghostly apparition or a hallucination?
Explain your choice.
15.What does Macbeth suggest is the source of this vision?
16.Paraphrase the lines, While I threat, he lives:/Words to the
heat of deeds too cold breath gives.

QUOTATIONS:
1. Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me
clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
2. What, sir, not yet at rest? The kins a-bed.
He hath been in unusual pleasure, and
Sent forth great largess to your offices.
3. I think not of them.
yet, when we can entreate an hour to serve,
We would spend it in some words upon that business,
If you would grant the time.
4. I go, and it is done. The bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell.
That summons thee to heaven or to hell.

THEME WORK:
CLASSROOM ACTIVITY: DIGGING INTO THE DAGGER SPEECH
1. Read the speech aloud.
2. Circle any words or lines you don't understand.
 Working in small groups of 4:
1. Identify and unpack any words and lines that have been circled.
2. Have each group member take a turn reading the speech excerpt
above to their peers while doing the following:
First person taking a slight pause each time they reach a
punctuation mark
Second person pacing back and forth throughout the whole
speech
Third person staying completely still
Fourth person shouting one line of the speech while doing the
rest in a whisper
3. Discuss how these different vocal and physical choices affect the
meaning and rhythm of the speech. Either working independently or in
small groups, have students answer the following questions:
What is happening in the speech? (Describe in one or two
sentences.)
What has happened in the previous Act that influences this
speech? In the previous scene?
What is Macbeth trying to work out in the speech? What
does he decide? What discoveries does he make?
Is the dagger real or a projection of Macbeth's mind? Support
your answer.
What is the mood or tone of the speech?
What examples of imagery, foreshadowing, and metaphor
can be found in the speech?
What could Macbeth be doing physically while he is
delivering this speech?
How would you stage this speech if you were the director?
What direction would you give the actors playing Macbeth?
As a class, watch and discuss the video segment, Exploring the
Dagger Scene with Ethan Hawke and Richard
Easton (Duncan in Lincoln Center Theaters Macbeth) found here:
http://to.pbs.org/1e6n3zI
To Explore: Use the following lesson plan from the PBS Shakespeare
Uncovered website to explore this scene further:
http://to.pbs.org/1cZixWl

ACTIVITY: STAGING, TONE, IMAGERY

Make a dagger out of cardboard/paper. Act out the scene with and without
the dagger. How did the tone change by staging it differently? How did you
perception of Macbeth change?
 Writing: The image of the agger clearly impacted Macbeth greatly. What is an
image (positive or negative) that has stuck with you, and why?

Scene 2
QUESTIONS:
1. What is Lady Macbeths state of mind or mood when
this scene begins?
2. What reason does Lady Macbeth offer for not killing
Duncan herself?
3. What could Macbeth not say as he passes by
Donalbains chambers?
4. Apart from Duncan, what else does Macbeth think he
has murdered? In what sense, is he right?
5. What does Macbeth refuse to do, thereby forcing Lady
Macbeth to do it?
6. Does Macbeth think he can wash away the blood from his
hands? Explain. What figure of speech is he using?
7. According to Lady Macbeth, what will clear or cleanse them
of their bloody deed?
8. The word, them in Lady Macbeths first line, refers to the
grooms, who are Duncans bodyguards. How has Lady
Macbeth ensured that the grooms will be unable to protect
the king? Explain how her first two lines reflect the reversal
theme.
9. What does Lady mean when she says, He is about it?
10.Explain the significance of the owl which Lady Macbeth
hears at this point.
11.What is Lady Macbeth afraid has happened when she hears
Macbeth returning?
12.Why did Lady Macbeth not kill Duncan herself, as she had promised earlier?
Compare this attitude with that in her soliloquy in Act I, Scene 5. What does
this change indicate about her state of mind?
 13.What is the sorry sight to which Macbeth refers? Why does he use the
term sorry?
14.What was Macbeth unable to do when he heard one of his guests say,
God bless us? What does this inability indicate about his state of mind
at this point?
15.What error has Macbeth made which threatens to upset Lady Macbeths
plans to hide their guilt in the murder? Why does he refuse to return to
Duncans chamber to correct this error?
16.Why does Lady Macbeth suggest that Macbeth should put on his
nightgown?

QUOTATIONS:
1. That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold.
What hath quenched them hath given me fire
2. Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had donet.
3. I laid their daggers ready;
He could not miss em.
4. Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.
5. Why did you bring these daggers from the place?
They must lie there. Go carry them and smear
The sleepy grooms with blood.
6. Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one read.

7. Methought I heard a voice cry Sleep no more!

Macbeth does murder sleepthe innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care

8. This my hand will rather

The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red.

9. Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us

And show us to be watchers.
10. These deeds must not be thought
After these ways. So, it will make us mad.
THEME WORK:
Symbols for discussion: choose, locate and discuss: water/washing ("A little water clears us
of this deed," II,ii), blood
("Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? II,ii),

SCENE 3 ACTIVITY: MOOD, SUSPENSE, TENSION, CHARACTER

ROLES, STAGING
Shakespeare introduces the Porter in 2.3. Read the Porters part aloud by
having each student read to an end mark of punctuation. Add in the sound
effects of knocking as they are called for in the Porters lines?

Scene 3
QUESTIONS:
New Terminology: The Porter Scene is an example of __________ relief, a common
Shakespearean device following a tense or suspenseful scene.
Foil
1. Who has been knocking at the gate?
2. According to the porter, what three things does drink (i.e. alcohol) provoke?
3. According to Lennox, what has been odd about the night before?
4. What does Macduff discover?
5. Who, at first, is suspected of killing Duncan and why?
6. What action does Macbeth says he repents of?
7. Apparently overcome by the thought of Duncans murder, what does lady
Macbeth do?
8. What do Duncans two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, decide to do? Why?
9. Define the term, equivocation. What is an equivocator?
10.But this palace is too cold for hell. With what is the Porter comparing
Macbeths castle? Who is the lord of hell? What is implied about Macbeth?
11.What has the porter been doing all night?
12.Why has Macduff come to the castle?
13.Pathetic Fallacy occurs when nature, the weather, etc. seem to be in
sympathy with the emotions of the characters in the play. What events have
occurred that night, which might qualify as examples of this device?
14.Why does Macduff call the kings death, Most sacrilegious murder? Explain
the words, The Lords anointed temple
15.Why is Macduff afraid to tell Lady Macbeth of Duncans murder? Why is this
ironic?
16.Had I but did an hour Explain the overall impression that Macbeth is
trying to convey through this speech. In what way may he be seen to be over-
compensating?
 17.They stard and were distracted. In this line, Lennox is probably
explaining Macbeths excuse for killing the grooms. What is this excuse? What
was his real reason?
18.When Macduff learns of Macbeths killing of the grooms, he says, Wherefore
did you so? What does this indicate about Macduffs feelings about Macbeth?
19.What is Macbeths excuse to Macduff for killing the grooms?
20.What happens immediately after Macbeths excuse?
21.What might be indicated by the failure of Malcolm and Donalbain to cry at the
news of their fathers death? Is this a normal human reaction to the news of
their fathers death? Is this a normal human reaction to the news of the death
of a loved one? Explain.
22.What plans do Malcolm and Donalbain have for the future? Why?

QUOTATIONS:
1. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed,
That you do lie so late?
NOT IN S3
2. O horror, horror, horror!
Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!
3. Those of his chamber, as it seemed, had done t.
Their hands and faces were all badged with blood.
So were their daggers, which unwiped we found
Upon their pillows.
4. Our separated fortune
Shall keep us both the safer. Where we are,
Theres daggers in mens smiles. The near in blood,
The nearer bloody.
5. Whats the business,
That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley
The sleepers of the house? Speak, speak!
6. O, yet I do repent me of my fury,
That I did kill them.
7. Theres daggers in mens smiles; the near in blood,
The nearer bloody.

WRITING PROMPT:
How do you see the Porters role in the play? Does he provide comic relief? Is he a
messenger of sorts? Does his character serve some other function? In some
productions, the Porters part is omitted from the play. What effect do you think
leaving the Porter out has on the play?

Scene 4
QUESTIONS:
1. The Old Man and Ross speak of two unnatural events in the animal/bird
kingdom which has occurred recently. What are they?
2. Who is now suspected of conspiring to Kill Duncan?
3. Who is going to become king?
4. What is the name of the palace where the new king is to be invested with the
title?
5. Who chooses not to go and see Macbeth made king? What does this imply?
6. How old is the Old Man? Why would that be considered so very old in
Shakespeares day?
7. During all his long life, what has the Old Man never seen?
8. Why does Shakespeare chose the Old Man to make such a statement?
9. What natural phenomenon does Ross describe in his first speech of this
scene? Why is this particular phenomenon appropriate for the atmosphere of
the play?
10.Identify and explain the other unnatural occurences. Show how each one
qualifies as an example of Pathetic Fallacy and how each example supports
the reversal theme of the play.
11.Macduff reveals the reason which the thanes have decided upon to explain
the grooms killing of their master. What is the reason? Who has most likely
suggested this reason?
12.Why has Macbeth gone to Scone? Where is Macduff going? What does his
decision indicate about his feelings towards Macbeth?

QUOTATIONS:
1. Threescore and ten I can remember well,
Within the volume of which time I have seen
Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night
Hath trifled former knowings.
2. Malcolm and Donalbain, the kings two sons,
Are stoln away and field, which puts upon them
Suspicion of the deed.
3. Gods benison go with you and with those
That would make good of bad and friends of foes.

4. He is already named, and gone to Scone

To be invested.

THEME WORK:
To Discuss: How does speaking Shakespeare or seeing it performed, as opposed to
just reading it, change the experience?
What are the challenges of each?
Common Core Connection: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.4 Interpret words and phrases
as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and
figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
Symbol:
Symbols for discussion: choose, locate and discuss: water/washing ("A little water clears us
of this deed," II,ii), blood
("Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? II,ii), weather ("Hover
through the fog and filthy air," I,i), sleep ("Not so sick, my lord, as she is troubled with thick-
coming fancies that keep her from her rest," V,iii).

Projects:
(Plot Points) As a class or in a group, pick a few familiar stories (movies, fairy
tales, folk stories, etc.) Map out the plot points. Now map out Macbeth so far.
What do you think will happen next? Does anything in the text lead you to
your predictions?
Create a detailed plot summary of the entire act.
Create a collage that represents the events that took
place in Act II.
Use your imagination. Pretend that Macbeth has a
detailed itinerary of plans for how he was going to kill
Duncan. Recreate that itinerary; as in, give a detailed
account of the steps Macbeth took to murder Duncan.
This should range from preparations for the murder to
the actual event.