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

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

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.

'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.

Illustrative background for Analysis - <b>'Fair is foul and foul is fair' ?? "content

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

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

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.

1Literary & Cultural Context

1.1Context

1.1.1Tragedy

1.1.2The Supernatural & Gender

1.1.3Politics & Monarchy

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Context

2Plot Summary

2.1Act 1

2.1.1Scenes 1 & 2

2.1.2Scene 3

2.1.3Scenes 4-5

2.1.4Scenes 6-7

2.1.5End of Topic Test - Act 1

2.2Acts 2-4

2.2.1Act 2

2.2.2Act 3

2.2.3Act 4

2.3Act 5

2.3.1Scenes 1-3

2.3.2Scenes 4-9

2.3.3End of Topic Test - Acts 2-5

3Characters

3.1Macbeth

3.1.1Hero vs Villain

3.1.2Ambition & Fate

3.1.3Relationship

3.1.4Unstable

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Macbeth

3.2Lady Macbeth

3.2.1Masculine & Ruthless

3.2.2Manipulative & Disturbed

3.3Other Characters

3.3.1Banquo

3.3.2The Witches

3.3.3Exam-Style Questions - The Witches

3.3.4King Duncan

3.3.5Macduff

3.3.6End of Topic Test - Lady Macbeth & Banquo

3.3.7End of Topic Test - Witches, Duncan & Macduff

3.4Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.4.1Grade 9 - Lady Macbeth Questions

4Themes

4.1Themes

4.1.1Power & Ambition

4.1.2Power & Ambition HyperLearning

4.1.3Violence

4.1.4The Supernatural

4.1.5Masculinity

4.1.6Armour, Kingship & The Natural Order

4.1.7Appearances & Deception

4.1.8Madness & Blood

4.1.9Women, Children & Sleep

4.1.10End of Topic Test - Themes

4.1.11End of Topic Test - Themes 2

4.2Grade 9 - Themes

4.2.1Grade 9 - Themes

4.2.2Extract Analysis

5Writer's Techniques

5.1Structure, Meter & Other Literary Techniques

5.1.1Structure, Meter & Dramatic Irony

5.1.2Pathetic Fallacy & Symbolism

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Writer's Techniques

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