Lesson Two; Act 1, Sc 1 and Act 1, Sc2Act 1, Sc 1 and Act 1, Sc2

Li; As I read I can develop my understanding analysis of the features of the play

Reading Act One, Scene One• Characters– First witch– Second witch– Third witch

Questions

1) Why does the play start with thunder and lighting? 2) Why are the witches first on stage? ** The witches speak in rhyming couplets which sets them apart from the

other characters**

3) Identify and explain one of the paradoxes in this scene.

4) What is the importance of the quote “fair is four and foul is fair”

Reading Act One, Scene Two• Characters– Duncan– Malcolm– Captain– Lennox– Ross

Questions

1) What is the effect of the violence described in Scene Two?

2) What does “valiant” mean? What does this tell you about Macbeth?

3) Based on what the others say what is your impression of Macbeth?

Ext: “fair is foul and foul is fair” What does this imply about Macbeth?

Reading Act One, Scene Three• Characters– First witch– Second witch– Third witch– Macbeth– Banquo– Ross– Angus

Questions

1) How does Macbeth’s first line links him to the witches?2) What is the difference between Banquo and Macbeth

a) The witches’ prophesies b) how they react?

3) Why is Banquo wary of the prophesies? Rewrite his advice in lines 123-125

Ext: Are the witches all powerful? Where does their power over Macbeth comes from?

Reading Act One, Scene Four• Characters– Duncan– Malcolm– Macbeth– Banquo

Questions

1) Why is it ironic that Duncan says he misjudged the old Thane of Cawdor?

2) Why is the announcement of Malcolm as heir so important to Macbeth?

3) What are Macbeth’s feelings in this scene?4) How is Macbeth’s character contrasted to Duncan’s

and Banquo’s?