ACT I Questions 1 Macbeth
ACT I Questions
1. As the play opens, you find the witches casting spells, chanting "Fair is foul, and foul is fair./ Hover through the fog and filthy air." This paradox will occur many times in the play. How can something be fair and foul at the same time? Situationally, I think this makes more sense when you consider it in the sense of an outcome. War can be foul, but the outcome fair…depending what side you are on.
2. The reader 's first impression of Macbeth actually comes not from meeting him, but from hearing about him through the character of the captain. What kinds of things does the captain reveal about Macbeth that make Macbeth an admirable character? He seems valiant. He is described to be a war hero. The witches themselves hail him for he destined a crown.
3. Why does Duncan give the title of Cawdor to Macbeth? The traitor Thane, was discovered and removed and, I assume, Macbeth was given the tittle just to decorate and thank Macbeth for his work.
4. Macbeth echoes the witches words as he says "so foul and fair a day I have not seen." How has this day been both foul and fair? The day is foul due to the witches raising a storm, and fair because of Macbeth 's victories on the battlefield.
5. How is Macbeth 's good character illustrated as he answers the witches ' prophecies in saying "The Thane of Cawdor lives,/ A proposerous gentleman; and to be King/ Stands not within the prospect of belief"? He believes himself to be a man not worthy of a kings title, but also respectful of the current Thane of Cawdor.
6. Compare and contrast Banquo 's and Macbeth 's reactions to the witches. Macbeth and Banquo both are in awe of the quality of news the witches deal. They both see that the foreshadowing is a major game changer for a lot of people. But where Macbeth is humble and watchful of his true self, Banquo seems only to eager to find the good in his future.
7.
1. As the play opens, you find the witches casting spells, chanting "Fair is foul, and foul is fair./ Hover through the fog and filthy air." This paradox will occur many times in the play. How can something be fair and foul at the same time? Situationally, I think this makes more sense when you consider it in the sense of an outcome. War can be foul, but the outcome fair…depending what side you are on.
2. The reader 's first impression of Macbeth actually comes not from meeting him, but from hearing about him through the character of the captain. What kinds of things does the captain reveal about Macbeth that make Macbeth an admirable character? He seems valiant. He is described to be a war hero. The witches themselves hail him for he destined a crown.
3. Why does Duncan give the title of Cawdor to Macbeth? The traitor Thane, was discovered and removed and, I assume, Macbeth was given the tittle just to decorate and thank Macbeth for his work.
4. Macbeth echoes the witches words as he says "so foul and fair a day I have not seen." How has this day been both foul and fair? The day is foul due to the witches raising a storm, and fair because of Macbeth 's victories on the battlefield.
5. How is Macbeth 's good character illustrated as he answers the witches ' prophecies in saying "The Thane of Cawdor lives,/ A proposerous gentleman; and to be King/ Stands not within the prospect of belief"? He believes himself to be a man not worthy of a kings title, but also respectful of the current Thane of Cawdor.
6. Compare and contrast Banquo 's and Macbeth 's reactions to the witches. Macbeth and Banquo both are in awe of the quality of news the witches deal. They both see that the foreshadowing is a major game changer for a lot of people. But where Macbeth is humble and watchful of his true self, Banquo seems only to eager to find the good in his future.
7.