2.1.1

Scenes 1 & 2

Test yourself on Scenes 1 & 2

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Act 1, Scene 1

Here's a summary of what happens in Act 1, Scene 1:

Thunder and lightning

Thunder and lightning

  • The first thing that the audience see and hear is thunder and lightning.
  • This immediately shows that conflict is coming and sets the frightening, negative tone of the play.
Three witches on battlefield

Three witches on battlefield

  • The play opens with the three witches meeting. They are planning to meet with Macbeth when the fighting is finished.
  • Shakespeare begins with the witches to show the audience that the play has supernatural themes from the start.
<b>'Fair is foul and foul is fair'

'Fair is foul and foul is fair'

  • The witches talk about the changes happening in nature: ‘Fair is foul and foul is fair’.
    • This shows that turmoil (disruption) has already started in the natural world.
Analysis - <b>'Fair is foul and foul is fair'

Analysis - 'Fair is foul and foul is fair'

  • The theme of evil-doing and deception recurs in the story. This is the first indication that things may not always be as they appear.
    • Macbeth appears to be a good friend and a heroic character. But when he is tempted by power, he becomes a villainous, selfish character who murders numerous people, including his own friends.
    • This is an oxymoron (words which mean opposite things) and suggests to the audience that things are not always as they appear.

Act 1, Scene 2

Here's a summary of what happens in Act 1, Scene 2:

Macdonald's death

Macdonald's death

  • There is a meeting at King Duncan’s headquarters. A bleeding captain has brought the king news of the battle.
  • Macbeth has fought well and killed Macdonald (sometimes spelt Macdonwald), who had betrayed King Duncan: ‘unseam’d him from nave to th’ chops / And fix’d his head upon our battlements’.
  • King Duncan calls Macbeth ‘O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman’.
Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor

Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor

  • Ross, another Thane, arrives with news of Macbeth’s fight against Norway and another traitor, the Thane of Cawdor. He fought like the husband of the Roman goddess of war and won.
  • King Duncan sentences the Thane of Cawdor to death for his betrayal. He rewards Macbeth with his title: ‘with his former title greet Macbeth’; ‘What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won’.
  • King Duncan sends Ross to tell Macbeth about his new title, Thane of Cawdor.
Jump to other topics
1

Literary & Cultural Context

1.1

Context

1.1.1Tragedy1.1.2The Supernatural & Gender1.1.3Politics & Monarchy1.1.4End of Topic Test - Context
2

Plot Summary

2.1

Act 1

2.1.1Scenes 1 & 22.1.2Scene 32.1.3Scenes 4-52.1.4Scenes 6-72.1.5End of Topic Test - Act 1
2.2

Acts 2-4

2.2.1Act 22.2.2Act 32.2.3Act 4
2.3

Act 5

2.3.1Scenes 1-32.3.2Scenes 4-82.3.3End of Topic Test - Acts 2-52.3.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ambiguous Ending2.3.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Jacobean
3

Characters

3.1

Macbeth

3.1.1Hero vs Villain3.1.2Ambition & Fate3.1.3Relationship3.1.4Unstable3.1.5End of Topic Test - Macbeth3.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cowardice3.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Madness3.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Power
3.2

Lady Macbeth

3.2.1Masculine & Ruthless3.2.2Manipulative & Disturbed3.2.3Diagnostic Misconceptions - NOT a Man3.2.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Villain
3.3

Other Characters

3.3.1Banquo3.3.2The Witches3.3.3Exam-Style Questions - The Witches3.3.4King Duncan3.3.5Macduff3.3.6End of Topic Test - Lady Macbeth & Banquo3.3.7End of Topic Test - Witches, Duncan & Macduff3.3.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Banquo
3.4

Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.4.1Grade 9 - Lady Macbeth Questions
4

Themes

4.1

Themes

4.1.1Power & Ambition4.1.2Power & Ambition HyperLearning4.1.3Violence4.1.4The Supernatural4.1.5Masculinity4.1.6Armour, Kingship & The Natural Order4.1.7Appearances & Deception4.1.8Madness & Blood4.1.9Women, Children & Sleep4.1.10End of Topic Test - Themes4.1.11End of Topic Test - Themes 2
4.2

Grade 9 - Themes

4.2.1Grade 9 - Themes4.2.2Extract Analysis
5

Writer's Techniques

5.1

Structure, Meter & Other Literary Techniques

5.1.1Structure, Meter & Dramatic Irony5.1.2Pathetic Fallacy & Symbolism5.1.3End of Topic Test - Writer's Techniques
6

Recap: Main Quotes

6.1

Characters Quotes

6.1.1Macbeth6.1.2Macbeth 26.1.3Macbeth 36.1.4Macbeth 46.1.5Lady Macbeth6.1.6Lady Macbeth 26.1.7Banquo6.1.8Banquo 26.1.9The Witches6.1.10King Duncan6.1.11Macduff
6.2

Text Structure - Quotes

6.2.1Violence6.2.2The Supernatural6.2.3Ambition6.2.4Armour, Kingship & the Natural Order6.2.5Appearances & Deception6.2.6Lady Macbeth's Masculinity6.2.7Madness & Blood6.2.8Men, Children & Sleep

Practice questions on Scenes 1 & 2

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What literary technique is being used in the following quote from Act 1, Scene 1?<br><b>'Fair is foul and foul is fair'Multiple choice
  2. 2
    _'Fair is foul and foul is fair'_<br><br>Analysis of this key quote from Act 1, Scene 1:True / false
  3. 3
    Summary of Act 1, Scene 2Put in order
  4. 4
    What title is Macbeth given in Act 1, Scene 2?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    Who is King Duncan praising when he says the following quote?<br> <b>‘O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman’</b>Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Scenes 1 & 2

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End of Topic Test - Context

Scene 3