Macbeth Act 1 (Scenes 1-7)
Revision cards on Macbeth Act 1
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- Created by: neve_xx
- Created on: 29-09-22 17:25
Macbeth Characters
Macbeth Key Characters
Macbeth - Thane of Cawdor and Glamis and he will be King
Banquo - Macbeth's friend, a general, Scottish thane, his children will become King but he will not
King Duncan - The King. good, benevolent ruler
Malcolm - The King's son and heir to the throne
The 3 witches - the witches in the play, their prophecies/predictions are important
Rosse, Lennox, Angus - Scottish Thanes
Macbeth Act 1 Scene 1
Act 1 Scene 1 - Summary, Characters and language/Techniques
Summary
Scene 1 starts with the witches and they talk about meeting with Macbeth after a battle has finished
Characters
First witch, second witch and the third witch
Language/Techniques
The wiches use paradox to suggest that things are not as they seem
Act 1 Scene 2 - Macbeth is a hero
Summary, Characters and Language/Techniques
contains spoilers
Summary - The Scottish army (led by Macbeth and Banquo) are fighting a invasion and a rebel army. When King Duncan hears of this he rewards Macbeth with the title Thane of Cawdor
Characters - King Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, Captain, Rosse and Angus
Language/Techniques
Foreshadowing - Macbeth beheads a traitor. This foreshadows his own death
Irony - Macbeth is praised for his violence. Later in the play violence makes him a tyrant
Act 1 Scene 3 - Macbeth meets the witches
Summary, Characters, Language/Analysis
Summary
The witches predict that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor and he will be King. Macbeth learns that he is Thane of Cawdor.
Characters - the witches, Macbeth, Banquo, Rosse and Angus
Language/Analysis
Dramatic irony - the audience already knows that the first part of the witches' prophecy has come true
Ambition - In Macbeth's aside, has already started to consider murdering Duncan to become King
Act 1 Scene 4 - Duncan thanks Macbeth
Summary, Characters, Language/Techniques
Summary
Malcolm says that the old Thane of Cawdor has been executed. Duncan makes Malcolm heir to the throne. Duncan thanks Macbeth and Banquo, Macbeth considers murdering Duncan.
Characters - Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, Macbeth, Banquo, Rosse and Angus
Language/Techniques
Dramatic irony - The King says that there is no way to tell that someone is trustworthy, the audience knows that he wrongly trusts Macbeth
Rhyme - In Macbeth's aside, he uses rhyming couplets which creates a strong rythm which emphasises what he is saying
Act 1 Scene 5 - Lady Macbeth plots against Duncan
Summary, Characters, Language/Analysis
Summary
Scene 4 ends with Macbeth saying that he will go tell his wife (Lady Macbeth) that the King is coming to their castle, Lady Macbeth plots to kill Duncan.
Characters - Lady Macbeth, Messenger and Macbeth
Language/Analysis
Soliloquy - Lady's Macbeth's solioqiues and monologue tells us her character and motives
Act 1 Scene 6
Characters, Summary and Language/Structure
Where: Macbeth's Castle
Characters: Duncan. Malcolm, Donalbain, Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, Rosse, Angus and Attendants
Summary
Duncan arrives at Macbeth's castle, Lady Macbeth greets him politely to disguise the fact that she and Macbeth plan to murder him.
Language and Structure
Dramatic Irony - Duncan's describes the castle where he is going to be murdered as "pleasant"
Act 1 Scene 7 *Important*
Characters, Summary, Language and Structure
Characters - Macbeth, Lady Macbeth
Summary - Macbeth has doubts about killing Duncan plus he knows it's immoral. Lady Mcbeth says they should blame Duncan's servants. Macbeth agrees to the plan.
Note: Pay attention to 1. the theme of ambition and how it affects Macbeth, 2. the struggle between good and evil. 3. the persuasion techniques that Lady Macbeth uses to persuade to her husband to agree to the plan.
Language and Structure - Foreshadowing - Macbeth's comment that muderers get killed foreshadows his own death
Metaphor - Macbeth compares his ambition to a horse that jumps too high over a obstacle and falls as it lands
Indecision - Macbeth changes his mind about the murder - he's either easily influenced or didn't need much convincing
Quick Questions about the Scenes
You might need to read the scenes first :)
Act 1 Scene 1 Questions
How does Shakespeare create a mysterious, foreboding atmosphere in this scene?
Act 1 Scene 2 Questions
What kind of impression from Duncan in this scene? What kind of King to you think he is?
Act 1 Scene 3 Questions
How does Shakespeare use imagery in this scene?
Act 1 Scene 4 Questions
True or false? Macbeth criticises Macbeth to the King?
Act 1 Scene 5 Questions
What news does Lady Macbeth get from the letter?
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