Macbeth - Text Response Activities

Complete the following activities for each Act. Use your class notes and the original text of the play to help answer the questions. Your answers should be in full sentences using quotes from the original play. They will form part of your workbook mark (20% of your overall mark for semester 2).

Act 1, Scene 1 1. Who says the line ‘Fair is foul, and foul and fair’? What do you think it means?

Act 1, Scene 2 1. Describe using quotes what King Duncan and others say about Macbeth’s character. What type of man is Macbeth at the beginning of the play?

Act 1, Scene 3 1. The witches make prophecies about Macbeth and Banquo. What is a prophecy? 2. During this scene use quotes to describe how Macbeth reacts to the prophecies about him, particularly after he becomes Thane of Cawdor. 3. Describe, using at least two quotes, Banquo’s feelings about the prophecies.

Act 1, Scene 4 1. Compare Duncan’s feelings towards the old Thane of Cawdor with Duncan’s feelings towards Macbeth. 2. How does Macbeth react to the Duncan’s announcement that Malcolm will become King?

Act 1, Scene 5 Use quotes to support the answers to the following questions; 1. What does Lady Macbeth think of Macbeth’s nature (personality)? 2. What does Lady Macbeth need to become so she can help murder Duncan? 3. How does Lady Macbeth want Macbeth to act while she organises everything?

Act 1, Scene 6 1. How is the appearance of Macbeth’s castle deceiving?

Act 1 Scene 7 1. Why does Macbeth have second thoughts about murdering Duncan? 2. How does Lady Macbeth convince him to kill Duncan?

Extended response – 2 paragraphs

Is Macbeth still a good man by the end of Act 1? Discuss how Macbeth changes throughout Act 1, including what and who influences these changes.

The extended response practices the skills you need to write a text response essay. It should include quotes to support your ideas. It is very important and will be marked separately as part of your workbook mark.