Macbeth Act II

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• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 6

When was Macbeth written?

1. 1602
2. 1606
3. 1615
4. 1628

Who was monarch when Macbeth was performed?

1. James
2. Elizabeth
3. Henry
4. Victoria

Did you know?

The Gunpowder Plot happen in 1605 - one year before Macbeth was written.

What do you know about The Gunpowder Plot?

How can we link it to the play?

How is it still relevant today?

Act II: Rising Action

Watch Act II and discuss the following questions in groups of 2 or 3:

• What object does Macbeth hallucinate and what does he believe it is telling him?
  
• What exactly is Lady Macbeth’s role in the murder?
  
• How do the Macbeths feel before and immediately after the murder? How do we know?
  
• What (else) can we say about these characters: Banquo, Macduff, Ross, Donalbain, and Malcolm?

If you need help, read the detailed summaries of the original play here.

Watch the movie from 36:15 until 1:00:43 (~25 minutes)

Who is the king of Scotland at the start of the play Macbeth?

1. Duncan
2. Cawdor
3. Macduff
4. Malcolm

What is Lady Macbeth's plan for murdering Duncan?

1. Macbeth will pour poison in his ear while he sleeps and blame the King's brother.
2. Macbeth will stab him in his sleep and plant the bloody evidence on the servants.
3. Macbeth will hire three murderers to ambush Duncan when he returns to the castle on horseback.
4. Macbeth will push him out the window during a tour of the castle.

Why is Banquo up late?

1. Had a nightmare about the witches
2. Has a feeling something bad will happen to Duncan
3. Wants to talk to Macbeth about the witches?
4. He kept hearing voices

What creepy vision does Macbeth see before killing Duncan?

1. Bloody ghost of Banquo
2. Witches on broomsticks
3. Bloody dagger
4. Lady Macbeth covered in blood

Why does Lady Macbeth say she didn't kill the king herself?

1. She abhors violence.
2. She tried but he overpowered her.
3. He looked like her father in his sleep.
4. She needed to see if Macbeth was man enough to do it.

How does Lady Macbeth react to the way her husband killed the king?

1. Proud of the fact he did it
2. Indifferent towards the way he did it
3. Ashamed of how scared he was
4. Disgusted that he could do such a thing