Macbeth Study Questions Act 1 KEY
Scene 1:
1. What mood does the weather create, and how does it reflect the
events to come?
The weather creates an ominous mood, suggesting chaos and the
supernatural.
2. What is the meaning of the witches’ chant, “Fair is foul, and foul is
fair”?
In Macbeth, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” is a motif that runs throughout
the play. At the most basic level, it means that appearances can be
deceiving: that which seems “fair” and good is actually “foul” and evil.
Second, it means things that look pretty ("fair") will become ugly ("foul")
and things that are ugly will become beautiful. The witches are referring
first to themselves. They look ugly, but the predictions they offer are
beautiful to Macbeth. ... He hears great predictions, but they lead him to
evil actions.
3. The Elizabethan audience actually believed in witches; a modern
audience does not. What difference could this make in the reactions
of the two groups to the prophecies of witches?
The difference is that people then truly believed in witches, so they
believed that this could have actually happened. We, as readers, know
that this is impossible. The Elizabethan audience would expect the
prophecies to really come true and be convinced that Macbeth would end
up as king. A modern audience would be sceptical.
Scene 2:
4. What news does the captain bring to King Duncan?
The captain brings news of Macbeth’s bravery in battle against
Macdonwald and the Norwegian king.
5. What qualities of Macbeth are highlighted in the captain’s report?
Macbeth is portrayed as a brave and loyal hero, skilled in battle.
6. What reward does Duncan give Macbeth, and why?
Duncan rewards Macbeth with the title of Thane of Cawdor for his bravery.
7. Why is Macbeth’s promotion to Thane of Cawdor significant?
It fulfills part of the witches’ prophecy and fuels Macbeth’s ambition.
Scene 1:
1. What mood does the weather create, and how does it reflect the
events to come?
The weather creates an ominous mood, suggesting chaos and the
supernatural.
2. What is the meaning of the witches’ chant, “Fair is foul, and foul is
fair”?
In Macbeth, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” is a motif that runs throughout
the play. At the most basic level, it means that appearances can be
deceiving: that which seems “fair” and good is actually “foul” and evil.
Second, it means things that look pretty ("fair") will become ugly ("foul")
and things that are ugly will become beautiful. The witches are referring
first to themselves. They look ugly, but the predictions they offer are
beautiful to Macbeth. ... He hears great predictions, but they lead him to
evil actions.
3. The Elizabethan audience actually believed in witches; a modern
audience does not. What difference could this make in the reactions
of the two groups to the prophecies of witches?
The difference is that people then truly believed in witches, so they
believed that this could have actually happened. We, as readers, know
that this is impossible. The Elizabethan audience would expect the
prophecies to really come true and be convinced that Macbeth would end
up as king. A modern audience would be sceptical.
Scene 2:
4. What news does the captain bring to King Duncan?
The captain brings news of Macbeth’s bravery in battle against
Macdonwald and the Norwegian king.
5. What qualities of Macbeth are highlighted in the captain’s report?
Macbeth is portrayed as a brave and loyal hero, skilled in battle.
6. What reward does Duncan give Macbeth, and why?
Duncan rewards Macbeth with the title of Thane of Cawdor for his bravery.
7. Why is Macbeth’s promotion to Thane of Cawdor significant?
It fulfills part of the witches’ prophecy and fuels Macbeth’s ambition.
