M ACBE H
BY SHAKESPEARE
answers
Teacher’s Answer Key
NAME
CLASS
about:blank 1/39
,11/15/24, 4:15 AM Macbeth Answer Workbooks-1
“FOUL
FAIR
is
and
Act 1 Scene 1
FOUL
is
FAIR
”
about:blank 2/39
, Contents
11/15/24, 4:15 AM Macbeth Answer Workbooks-1
Contents
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1
SHAKESPEARE’S LANGUAGE 2
CHARACTER PROFILES 3
CHARTING MACBETH’S DOWNFALL 5
GENERATING ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS 6
ACT ONE 7
ACT TWO 15
ACT THREE 19
ACT FOUR 24
ACT FIVE 27
MOTIFS & SYMBOLS 33
WRITING ABOUT THEMES 34
NOTES, DOODLES, IDEAS 35
about:blank 3/39
, 11/15/24, 4:15 AM Macbeth Answer Workbooks-1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION More about THE PLAY
THE BARD HIMSELF William Shakespeare
Macbeth, first performed in 1606, is one
William Shakespeare (often called “the bard”
of Shakespeare’s most famous, and most
meaning poet) was an English playwright, poet
performed tragedy. The story is based on a real
and actor. His exact birth-date is unknown, but life Scottish king, who became king in 1040.
he was baptized on 26th April 1564, and he died
in 1616 (age 52). He married Anne Hathaway and In Shakespeare’s version, Macbeth, guided by
prophesies from three witches, is driven by
had 3 children.
ambition to become king and undertakes dark
Often regarded as the foremost dramatist of his time, Shakespeare wrote deeds to make it happen. The play is a dark one:
37 plays and 154 sonnets. Indeed, Shakespeare lives on through his filled with themes which center around notions
many plays and poems which are taught, read and performed of fate, power, ambition, and guilt. The
very opening scene involves witches,
around the world today. However, he also lives on through the
which sets the eerie, mystical tone of the
thousands of words he invented, and we still use daily. ensuing action.
A few of the
SHAKESPEARE INVENTED
The CURSE of the play
which there was a renaissance in culture
The Elizabethan Era is so-called because
it covers the period of Queen Elizabeth I’s
1603. It is often referred to as ‘the golden
reign of England, and it spans from 1558-
age’ in British history as it was a time in
ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND
WORDS
Champion Interestingly, The Scottish Play and The Bard’s Play are
Rant euphemisms (alternative, indirect terms used to avoid the real
Amazement title) for Shakespeare’s Macbeth. This is because, according
Swagger to a superstitions in the world of actors, the play is cursed, and
Elbow speaking the name Macbeth inside a theatre will cause disaster!
and national pride.
Obscene
Blushing The origin of this superstition is not entirely clear: some say that
Dwindle Shakespeare used an actual witch’s spell in the play, and then
Addiction witches who saw the play were so angry that they
placed a curse on all future productions of the
Did you know that Macbeth is the drama. Another rumor is that Shakespeare
only Shakeaspeare play with the word himself cursed the play once King James I forbid
‘rhinoceros’ in it? it to be performed again.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE BY STUDYING THE PLAY?
Before studying the play, write down at least THREE goals for your own learning:
What knowledge do you wish to gain?)
(E.g. What skills do you want to develop?
own o pinio n
Student’s
1 (C) STACEY LLOYD 2018
about:blank 4/39