- before reading act i - - san juan unified school district · - before reading act i ... - before...

- Before Reading Act I -

1. Define Ambition: ___________________________________________________________

2. List 3 benefits of ambition: • • •

3. List 3 dangers of ambition:

• • •

4. Name something that you are ambitious to achieve: ________________________________

5. What price would you be willing to pay to achieve it? What would you be willing to sacrifice? How far would you be willing to go? ____________________________________

- After Reading Act I -

1. Macbeth is ambitious _________ Agree _________ Disagree On the lines provided below cite a quote from the play that proves your opinion to be correct.

2. Lady Macbeth is ambitious _________ Agree _________ Disagree

On the lines provided below cite a quote from the play that proves your opinion to be correct.

Name:

Teacher:

Class:

Date:

- Reading Questions: Act I -

1. How does Duncan reward Macbeth for his bravery in defeating the rebels?

2. When Macbeth is told of his new title, how do both he and Banquo react? How are their reactions to the news different? What does this reveal about both men?

3. Why does Macbeth call Malcolm “a step on which” he “must fall down or else o’er leap”? Which of these alternatives do you expect Macbeth to choose and how might he do it?

4. What does Lady Macbeth fear about her husband, after she has read his letter?

5. Lady Macbeth tells her husband to “look like an innocent flower/But be the serpent under it”. Explain what she means.

6. Why, in Macbeth’s opinion, is the murder of Duncan so wrong?

7. How does Lady Macbeth make sure that her husband murders Duncan?

Choose one of the writing prompts below to address in a persuasive writing piece. Your writing piece should be at least 100 words in length, be written in paragraph format (indented), include at least one

quote from the text, and contain a word count written at the bottom of your paper.

1. Who’s To Blame – In this persuasive writing piece you will address who you feel is to blame for Macbeth deciding to take the life of King Duncan.

2. Head To Head – In this persuasive writing piece you will go head to head with Lady Macbeth.

While she is trying to persuade Macbeth to kill King Duncan, you are trying to persuade him against it.

- Before Reading Act 2 -

1. Define Conscience: __________________________________________________________

2. List 3 benefits of listening to one’s conscience: • • •

3. List 3 dangers of going against one’s conscience:

• • •

4. Describe an experience where you chose to listen to your conscience or to ignore it. What were the consequences? What were the rewards? Minimum 5 sentences.

- After Reading Act 2 -

1. Macbeth is feeling guilt for killing the king _________ Agree _________ Disagree On the lines provided below cite a quote from the play that proves your opinion to be correct.

Name:

Teacher:

Class:

Date:

- Reading Questions: Act 2 -

1. After his servant leaves him (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 33 and following), Macbeth imagines he can

see something. What is it? What do you believe this item symbolizes?

2. Cite specific examples of symbols from Act II that foreshadow the murder of King Duncan.

3. How is Macbeth’s mind affected by the murder of Duncan? Cite a quote from the text to support your answer.

4. In Act II, Scene 3, Lines 82-85, Macduff states, “Oh gentle lady!/’Tis not for you to hear what I can speak;/The repetition in a woman’s ear/Would murder as it fell.” How is this quote an example of dramatic irony?

5. Toward the end of Act II Malcolm predicts that the murderous plot is not yet finished, “This murderous shaft that’s shot/Hath not yet lighted.” Predict what other murders will occur before the end of the play.

Choose one of the writing prompts below to address in a persuasive writing piece. Your writing piece should be at least 100 words in length, be written in paragraph format (indented), include at least one quote from the

text, and contain a word count written at the bottom of your paper.

1. Best Not To Know Myself – After Macbeth has committed the murder, his conscience begins to speak to him saying that he shall sleep no more because of the crime he has committed. To this, Lady Macbeth argues that he does make himself weak with such sick imaginings. In this persuasive writing piece you will either become Macbeth’s conscience, convincing him of the terrible nature of his crime, or you will become Lady Macbeth, compelling him to continue down the path he has forged.

2. It Shall Make Honour For You – You are Macbeth. Now that you have killed the king, your task is to

persuade Banquo to remain quiet about the witch’s revelation.


1. Define Fate: ______________________________________________________________

2. Define Free Will: ___________________________________________________________

3. What would you do if you received predictions from someone who claimed to be able to see into the future? Would you trust the information? Doubt it? Ignore it? If the predictions benefitted you in some way, would you work to make them come true or would you wait for them to come to pass on their own? Explain. Minimum 7 sentences.


1. Macbeth is a victim of fate _________ Agree _________ Disagree On the lines provided below cite a quote from the play that proves your opinion to be correct.

Name:

Teacher:

Class:

Date:


1. How does Macbeth persuade the murderers to help him kill Banquo?

2. How does Lady Macbeth react when her husband sees Banquo’s ghost?

3. What does Macbeth mean when he says, “We are yet but young in deed”? (Act 3, Scene 4) What does this suggest about his future conduct?

4. Explain why you think Macbeth believes the prophecies about him are destined to come true but the prophecies about Banquo can be avoided?

5. Leading us into Act 4, Lennox (speaking of Macduff) advises, “And that well might/Advise him to a caution to hold what distance/His wisdom can provide.” Using this quote as a hint, predict what might occur later on in the play between Macduff and Macbeth.



1. I Fear Thou Play’dst Most Foully – For this persuasive writing piece, you will convince me that Banquo’s murder was necessary, that Banquo knew of Macbeth’s treachery and was devising his own deceitful plan to insure his posterity’s prophetic destiny.

2. There Is None But He – You are Macbeth, convince me that Banquo is your last victim, that the shedding

of blood will stop, and that you will finally be at peace with the witches’ prophecy.


1. Define Vengeance: __________________________________________________________

2. Fill in the Anticipation Guide below according to your own beliefs and opinions.

Agree Disagree Statements If someone wrongs you, it is okay to seek revenge against him/her.

Revenge is necessary to maintain a just society.

You feel peace after seeking revenge.

Revenge often involves violence and can be dangerous.

Power and the fear of losing it can make people do crazy things they wouldn’t normally do.


1. Fill in the Anticipation Guide below according to Macbeth’s beliefs and opinions.

Agree Disagree Statements If someone wrongs you, it is okay to seek revenge against him/her.

Revenge is necessary to maintain a just society.

You feel peace after seeking revenge.

Revenge often involves violence and can be dangerous.

Power and the fear of losing it can make people do crazy things they wouldn’t normally do.

2. Find a quote from Act IV that demonstrates Macbeth’s feelings about Vengeance.

Name:

Teacher:

Class:

Date:


1. How do the witches lull Macbeth into a false sense of security?

2. How does Lady Macduff feel about her husband leaving her alone? Why has he done this?

3. Briefly explain Macduff’s description to Malcolm of the state of affairs in Scotland (Act IV, Scene 3). What does the audience (reader) know which makes Macduff’s account even more painful.

4. Next to each character’s name below write down why his/her death seems necessary to Macbeth.

• Duncan –

• King’s Grooms –

• Banquo –

• Lady Macduff –

• Macduff’s children -

5. Why doesn’t Macbeth stop killing after he has murdered Duncan?



1. Something Wicked This Way Comes – For this persuasive writing piece, you will convince me that all of Macbeth’s killings were necessary in order for him to achieve and maintain power of the Scottish crown.

2. Watch Out For Macduff – Persuade Macbeth to believe that Macduff is a true threat. Cite specific

information from the text that proves that Macduff is dangerous and must be feared.


1. Define Guilt: ______________________________________________________________

2. Define Remorse: ___________________________________________________________

3. Describe a time when you felt guilt and remorse for something that you did. Minimum 5 sentences in length.


1. A person’s immoral choices can come back to haunt him/her _____ Agree _____ Disagree On the lines provided below cite a quote from the play that proves your opinion to be correct.

Name:

Teacher:

Class:

Date:


1. How does Lady Macbeth’s behavior in Act 5 demonstrate her guilt and remorse for the crimes

she has committed?

2. Angus says that Macbeth’s title is “…like a giant’s robe/Upon a dwarfish thief” (Act 5, Scene 2, lines 21-22). Explain, in your own words, what he means by this quote.

3. Macbeth claims that he has “almost forgot the taste of fears”. How has he been able to achieve this feat?

4. Macduff believes that he alone should kill Macbeth. Why is this so important to him? What act did he commit that causes him to feel guilt and remorse?



1. The Heart Is Sorely Charged – Lady Macbeth is terribly burdened with guilt and remorse for the crimes she has committed. In this writing piece you will become Lady Macbeth’s conscience. What disturbing words do you speak to her mind?

2. Then Yield Thee, Coward – At the end of Act 5, Macbeth’s courage is crushed when the witches’

prophecies of his demise come to pass. Losing all hope, Macbeth decides to surrender to Macduff, but then changes his mind and decides to fight. For this persuasive writing piece, you will convince Macbeth that it is wiser to surrender a coward than to die a fool.

- before reading act i - - san juan unified school district · - before reading act i ... - before...

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