Macbeth

• Play: Macbeth by William Shakespeare  — Act 1, Scene 6

Review Questions for Act 1.6:

• How does Duncan describe the castle? Use at least three words from his speech in your answer? How does this reinforce what we already know of Duncan’s character?
• How does Duncan address Lady Macbeth and why is this significant? Provide three words from his speech (lines 13–17) to support your answer. 
• What is Duncan asking about in lines 25–30? Use three words from his speech.
• Explain how Duncan’s final words and actions in this scene reinforce what we know about his character using three pieces of text.

Act 1.7

• Reread the line: “If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly.” Here, Macbeth is referring to what? What are his hopes here? Why do you think Macbeth hopes this? What would Lady Macbeth think of this?
• Identify Macbeth’s five reasons against killing Duncan.
• What does he decide?
• Lines 29–38: How does Lady Macbeth challenge him? What three counterarguments does she offer?
• What does she suggest about his hopes or ambitions in lines 39–40?
• What adjectives does she use in line 41? What image does this create?
• What does she mean by “from this time such I account thy love?” 
• What does she call him in lines 45–50?
• What is Lady Macbeth suggesting about his love for her if she is equating his love to his “act and valor?”
• What is Lady Macbeth’s first argument for why he should do it?
• What is Macbeth trying to prove to his wife in lines 50–53?
• What is Lady Macbeth’s second argument in line 56?
• What literary technique does Shakespeare have her use in line 56? What is the affect?
• What is Lady Macbeth saying she has experienced in lines 62–63?
• What would she do for Macbeth if he asked her to in lines 64–67?
• What is Lady Macbeth’s THIRD argument? (62–67)
• What is Lady Macbeth’s plan for the murder? Who will she frame and how? How might this strengthen her argument?

• Begin class with a quiz or review of Act 1.6 (This act reinforces Duncan’s trusting nature as he proclaims he feels safe in the castle, yet he is to be murdered there).
• Note: you may want to break this into two days: one for Macbeth’s main argument and one for Lady Macbeth’s counterargument. 
  • Macbeth: 
    1. He is his kinsman
    2. Duncan came to his house and so he should protect him as host.
    3. Duncan is so innocent and kind it will be hard to do.
    4. Duncan is a well-loved king—people will mourn him.
    5. Cawdor and Glamis are enough power for right now— they need to get used to their new roles.
  • Lady Macbeth:
    1. If he doesn’t do it, he doesn’t really love her.
    2. If he doesn’t do it, he isn’t really a man.
    3. If he asked her to murder for him she would do it, so he should reciprocate the loyalty.