gcse_en_macbeth
Macbeth Act 1: The Witches' Prophecy
Chapter summary, hard words and model exam answers for ICSE Class 10 Hindi.
Free online summary and notes (ICSE Class 10 Hindi). Read it here, no PDF download needed.
About the author
Original Lipi study guide for AQA GCSE English Literature 8702, Shakespeare's Macbeth (c. 1606)
Summary
On a heath after the battle, three Witches tell Macbeth he will become Thane of Cawdor and then king, and tell Banquo his children will be kings even though he will not be. Then the Witches disappear.
On a heath after the battle, three Witches tell Macbeth he will become Thane of Cawdor and then king, and tell Banquo his children will be kings even though he will not be. Then the Witches disappear.
Ross arrives and tells Macbeth that the King has made him the new Thane of Cawdor, because the old Thane was executed for treason. The first prophecy has come true, and Macbeth is deeply shaken by it.
Ross arrives and tells Macbeth that the King has made him the new Thane of Cawdor, because the old Thane was executed for treason. The first prophecy has come true, and Macbeth is deeply shaken by it.
Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth's letter about the prophecy and decides, on her own, that she will push her husband to murder King Duncan so the third prophecy comes true quickly.
Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth's letter about the prophecy and decides, on her own, that she will push her husband to murder King Duncan so the third prophecy comes true quickly.
King Duncan names his son Malcolm as heir to the throne, and announces he will stay the night at Macbeth's castle at Inverness. Macbeth is privately frustrated because Malcolm now blocks his path to the crown.
King Duncan names his son Malcolm as heir to the throne, and announces he will stay the night at Macbeth's castle at Inverness. Macbeth is privately frustrated because Malcolm now blocks his path to the crown.
Lady Macbeth takes charge of the plan and tells Macbeth to hide his true feelings, advising him to "look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't."
Lady Macbeth takes charge of the plan and tells Macbeth to hide his true feelings, advising him to "look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't."
Macbeth has doubts about killing Duncan, listing reasons not to, but Lady Macbeth mocks his courage and manhood until he gives in and agrees to commit the murder.
Macbeth has doubts about killing Duncan, listing reasons not to, but Lady Macbeth mocks his courage and manhood until he gives in and agrees to commit the murder.
Hard words & meanings
| soliloquy | a speech a character gives alone on stage, thinking aloud |
| prophecy | a prediction of what will happen in the future |
| regicide | the killing of a king |
| aside | a short comment a character makes that only the audience hears |
| foil | a character used to bring out contrast with another character |
| motif | an idea or image that keeps repeating through a text |
| tragic hero | a noble character whose own flaw leads to their downfall |
| hamartia | the flaw in a character that causes their downfall |
| dramatic irony | when the audience knows something a character on stage does not |
| Jacobean | relating to the period when King James I ruled England |
Model exam answers, grammar & audio
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