Macbeth Act 3 study pack

Macbeth is a play about MURDER, KINGS, ARMIES, PLOTTING, LIES, WITCHES and AMBITION
Write down in the correct order, the story in ten steps –
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

In the space below write down five words to describe Macbeth at the beginning of the play–
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Macbeth Act 3 study pack
Act 3 Scene 1 – Line 75 until the end of the scene: the conversation with the murderers
A servant enters with two murderers and then the servant leaves.
Macbeth and the Murderers are alone.
Macbeth:
Didn’t we speak together yesterday?
First Murderer:
Yes, we did your Highness.
Macbeth:
Good! Have you thought about what I said? Do you now realise that it was Banquo who stopped you from
winning promotion and not me as you first thought? Do you now believe all the things I told you about how
he did this to you?
First Murderer:
Yes you said all of that.
Macbeth:
I did more than that. Are you so weak that you will not do anything to get revenge? Will you stand by and
do nothing as he and his family grow wealthy and prosperous?
First Murderer:
We are not weak your Highness!
Macbeth:
You look like men, that’s true. But what type of men are you? If you are real men tell me so that I can help
you get revenge. Then you will be my closest friends, much more so than you are now.
Second Murderer:
My life has been so terrible that I am prepared to do anything to get revenge.
First Murderer:
Yes, I am the same.
Macbeth:
Both of you now know that Banquo is your enemy?
Both Murderers:
We do your Highness!
Macbeth:
Well he is my enemy too and such a danger to me that he threatens everything! I could get rid of him quite
easily but I cannot because I have some friends that are his too and I do not want to upset them. I want
you to kill him so that it is done in a way that does not cause too much suspicion.
Second Murderer:
We’ll do whatever you want us to your Highness.
First Murderer:
Although our lives are … .
Macbeth:
You are real men after all! In less than an hour’s time I will give you all the details about when and where
to do the murder. It has to be done tonight and done away from the palace. Make sure that you leave no
clues or make any mistakes! Fleance, his son goes with him and he must die as well!
Both Murderers:
We are ready to do it!
Macbeth:
I’ll call you straight afterwards.
The MURDERERS leave and Macbeth is all alone.
Macbeth:
It is all arranged. Banquo will go to heaven tonight!

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Macbeth Act 3 study pack
Answer the following questions –

1. What does Macbeth want the two murderers to do for him?

2. Why can Macbeth not do this himself?

3. What instructions does Macbeth give the murderers about where the murder must take
place?

4. When is the murder to take place?

5. What reason does the Second Murderer give for doing what Macbeth asks?

Write a short paragraph below of three sentences explaining why Macbeth wants the
murderers to kill Banquo? Think about what happened at the beginning and what the
witches said to Banquo –

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Macbeth Act 3 study pack

Look at these lines written below in Shakespearean English. Rewrite them in modern
English –

1. Know that it was he in the times past that so held you under fortune, which you
thought had been our innocent self?

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2. … though I could with bare faced power sweep him from my sight and bid my will
avouch it yet I must not, for certain friends that are both his and mine

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3. for it must be done tonight, and something from the palace … leave no rubs nor
blotches in the work

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Macbeth Act 3 study pack

Act 3 Scene 2 –

The Royal palace at Forres

Lady Macbeth is with a servant.
Lady Macbeth:
Has Banquo left yet?
Servant:
Yes he has Madam but he will be back tonight.
Lady Macbeth:
Tell the King that I would like a word with him.
The servant leaves and Lady Macbeth is left alone.
Lady Macbeth:
I am really worried about our position as King and Queen, I don’t feel safe.
Macbeth then enters. He and Lady Macbeth are alone now.
Lady Macbeth:
Why have you become so strange? You are always alone and thinking about horrible things that you should
not be worrying about. What’s done is done!
Macbeth:
We are not safe just yet and it is foolish to think so. I am having such terrible dreams. I feel so jumpy and
cannot rest. It would be better to be dead like Duncan than to be alive and feel the way I do. At least
Duncan is at rest and sleeping and he cannot be harmed by anything else, not even poison or a knife.
Lady Macbeth:
Pull yourself together! Come on! Look happy and jolly tonight at your party for all your guests!
Macbeth:
I will and you must be happy and jolly tonight as well. Make sure that you are very nice to Banquo tonight,
even more than usual. We must seem to be one thing but really be another! Let’s make sure that our faces
hide what is in our hearts!
Lady Macbeth:
Stop worrying!
Macbeth:
My mind is full of terrible thoughts. Banquo and his son Fleance are both alive.
Lady Macbeth:
But they will not be forever!
Macbeth:
We’ll get them, don’t worry about that! Be happy because before tonight is over something terrible will
happen.
Lady Macbeth:
What will happen?
Macbeth:
You don’t need to know until it is all finished and complete! I can’t wait for night time so that it is dark and
day and light are gone and this thing can take place!

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Macbeth Act 3 study pack

Now answer the following questions about what you have just read.

1. What does Lady Macbeth say Macbeth has become at the beginning of Act 3 Scene 2?

2. How does Macbeth explain his behaviour?

3. It may seem strange but Macbeth says he would rather be dead like Duncan. Why
does he want to be like Duncan?

4. How does Lady Macbeth want Macbeth to behave at the party? Write down the two
words she uses.

5. What does Macbeth say will happen tonight?

6. Why does Shakespeare have Macbeth say that he cannot wait for night time and
darkness?

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Macbeth Act 3 study pack

Imagine that you are Lady Macbeth the night of the banquet. Everyone has gone
home and you write your thoughts in a diary. Use the sentences starters you have
been given.

I cannot believe ...........................................................................................................

At first all was going ....................................................................................................

However then Macbeth started to ..................................................................................

He said .......................................................................................................................

I have never seen my husband look so ..........................................................................

He was ................................................. and ..............................................................

Everyone began to .......................................................................................................

I decided that I had to ....................................... so I ..................................................

Things seemed to be ....................................................................................................

However all of a sudden Macbeth once again began to ...................................................

He started to ......................................... and to ..........................................................

I told everyone to ........................................................................................................

I am afraid that Macbeth is ...........................................................................................

If he continues to behave like this we shall ....................................................................

I wish that he was more like me and .............................................................................

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Macbeth Act 3 study pack
What does the following mean in modern English?

Duncan is in his grave. After his fitful sleep he sleeps well.

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Be innocent of the knowledge dearest chuck

Till thou applaud the deed.
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Gentle my lord, sleek o’er your rugged looks.

Be bright and jovial tonight among your guests.
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Draw a picture here to show you understand the quotation –

Oh full of scorpions is my mind!

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Macbeth Act 3 study pack
Act 3 Scene 4

The great hall at Forres.

There is a great banquet. There are two thrones on the stage.

Macbeth enters as the King of Scotland. Lady Macbeth is with him.

There are lots of important people there too – Ross, Lennox, and other lords and ladies.

Macbeth:
You all know where you sit. Sit down please. You are all most welcome!

Everyone sits down.

All the LORDS:

Thank you your Majesty.

Macbeth:
I will come and talk to you all. Lady Macbeth will stay on her throne for a while and then join in later.

Lady Macbeth:
Tell everyone, on my behalf, that they are all most welcome!

The First MURDERER enters.

Macbeth:
Look how everyone greets you so happily! I’ll sit in between everyone and we’ll all drink a toast!

Macbeth before taking his seat, then talks to the first murderer away from everyone else so that they cannot
hear.

Macbeth:
There is blood on your face!

First Murderer:
It is Banquo’s blood!

Macbeth:
Well it is better to be on your face than in Banquo’s body!

First Murderer:
My Lord his throat is cut! I did it myself!

Macbeth:
Then you are the best of all the cut throats! And the same goes for the man who did the same for Fleance!

First Murderer:
You highness, Fleance is escaped!

Macbeth:
These horrible thoughts start to come again as a result of this news! If he was dead too I would have felt
safe, felt great! But now I feel unsafe and in danger again!
Banquo is definitely dead though?

First Murderer:
Oh yes, he’s dead. He is lying in a ditch with twenty stab wounds. The first one would have killed him
never mind the rest!

Macbeth:
Well done for doing that! The father is dead but the son lives. He is still a boy and not a danger to me now
but he will be a great danger when he is older! Off you go, we’ll talk tomorrow.

The First Murderer leaves.

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Macbeth Act 3 study pack

Now answer these questions –

1. Is Macbeth happy with the news of the First Murderer?

2. Why is he not happy?

3. Where is the body of Banquo?

4. How many times has he been stabbed?

5. Write down three words to describe your opinion of Macbeth now.

•

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Macbeth Act 3 study pack
Lady Macbeth speaks to Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth:
My Lord! You wanted a toast and then were not ready to give and welcome it!

The GHOST of Banquo enters and sits where Macbeth was about to sit.

Macbeth:
Thanks for reminding me my darling! Everyone enjoy the food!

Lennox:
Sit here, your highness!

Macbeth:
It is a shame that Banquo is not here! I really wish he was!

Ross:
His absence is a bad mark against him as he promised he would be. We’d be delighted if you would sit
beside us?

Macbeth:
The table is full, there is no space.

Lennox:
No, there’s a space here your highness.

Macbeth:
Where is there a space?

Lennox:
Right here my Lord. What is the matter?

Macbeth:
Who has done this?

All the LORDS:

What my Lord?

Macbeth is now speaking to the ghost of Banquo

Macbeth:
You cannot blame me for this! Stop looking at me like that!

Ross:
Everyone get up! The King is not well!

Lady Macbeth leaves her throne and joins all the others. She speaks to them.

Lady Macbeth:
Everyone sit down! The King is like this quite a lot and has had this problem since he was a child. His
illness will pass very soon. He will be okay in a minute. Looking at him when he is like this makes him
worse! Eat and drink, don’t stare at him and he’ll be fine.

She then speaks to Macbeth and says:

Are you a man?

Macbeth:
Of course I am a man! I am a brave man that would look on things that would scare a devil.

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Macbeth Act 3 study pack

Lady Macbeth:
What rubbish! There is nothing there! This is like the dagger you said you saw which led you to Duncan’s
room. This is the stuff you hear in old women’s stories! You should be ashamed! Why are you making
such strange faces? It is only a chair you are looking at!

Macbeth:
Look! Look! What do you make of that?

Macbeth then speaks to the ghost and says:

Macbeth:
Why should I be worried? You are nodding your head. Does that mean you can speak too? I will have to
feed the dead bodies to the birds if they can get up and walk out of the grave.

The GHOST of Banquo leaves.

Lady Macbeth:
You are mad! Why are you so upset over absolutely nothing?

Macbeth:
I saw him! I saw him!

Lady Macbeth:
You should be ashamed!

Macbeth:
In the past when you killed someone they stayed dead but not anymore it seems.

Lady Macbeth:
Macbeth – your friends are worried about you.

Macbeth:
Oh, I forgot! Don’t worry about me. I have an illness and it is nothing. Those that know me do not worry
about it! Let’s celebrate and have a toast to love and health and love! Give me some wine!

The GHOST of Banquo enters.

Macbeth:
I toast the whole table and also my good friend Banquo who I miss. I really wish that he was here. A toast
to Banquo and everyone else as well!

All the LORDS:

Here! Here!

Macbeth now speaks to Banquo’s ghost

Macbeth:
Get out of here! Go back to the earth! You are dead!

Lady Macbeth:
I’m sorry that this has happened but he is often like this friends so please do not worry about it.

Macbeth:
I am as brave as any man! I would rather you were a bear, a rhinoceros or a tiger. If you were I would not
be so nervous or afraid. I would ever prefer it if you were alive again and offer to fight me.
The GHOST of Banquo leaves.

Macbeth:
Now it is gone I am a man again! Everyone be calm and stay seated.

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Macbeth Act 3 study pack

Lady Macbeth:
You’ve ruined everything by behaving so strangely.

Macbeth:
I feel so weak! You make me feel ashamed because these sights do not seem to bother you at all.

Ross:
What sights my Lord?

Lady Macbeth:
Please don’t say anything! He is growing worse and worse. Asking him questions is making him worse still.
You should all leave. Don’t worry about leaving in the correct order.

Lennox:
Good night and I hope that his Majesty is better soon.

Lady Macbeth:
Good night to you all.

All the LORDS leave.

Macbeth:
They have a saying, “Spilling blood will cause more blood to be spilled.”
Strange things have been known to happen. Magpies, crows and rooks have been known to see the most
silent and secret killers. What time of the night is it?

Lady Macbeth:
It’s almost morning.

Macbeth:
What do you think of Macduff not attending our special feast?

Lady Macbeth:
Did you order him to attend?

Macbeth:
I am hearing rumours but I will send for him. I have a spy in every house. Tomorrow I will go to the
witches. They will tell me more. I have to know, even the worst of things. Nothing will stand in my way. I
have done such bloody things that now there is no way that I can go back. I have thoughts in my head that
must become action.

Lady Macbeth:
You need to sleep and rest.

Macbeth:
Let’s go to bed. My strange thoughts are due to fear. We have only just started on our plan.

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Macbeth Act 3 study pack

Complete the passage below about what you have just read.

Everyone is gathered to celebrate Macbeth becoming ................... of Scotland. At the

................... everything goes well until Macbeth starts to behave very ................... . He
says that he cannot .................. down as there is no .................. at the table. This is
because he sees the .................. of Banquo in the place. Everyone feels very
.................. about Macbeth’s behaviour but Lady Macbeth tries to .................. up
Macbeth’s behaviour.

Answer these questions in the spaces provided in order to help you understand the
passage better –
1. Write down two words to describe the way Macbeth is acting.

2. How would the LORDS and LADIES be feeling at this time? Write down three words.

3. Where does Macbeth tell the ghost of Banquo to go?

4. What three things does Macbeth say he would rather be faced with?

5. What does Lady Macbeth say that Macbeth has done?

6. How does Lady Macbeth explain Macbeth’s strange behaviour?

7. What does Lady Macbeth ask the Lords and Ladies not to do?

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Macbeth Act 3 study pack

Look at the quotations below and write down what they mean in modern English –

Safe in a ditch he lies with twenty trenched gashes in his head

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Thou canst not say I did it: never shake thy gory locks at me

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My Lord is often thus and hath been from his youth. If you much note him you shall
offend him and extend his passion. Feed and regard him not

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Quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee!

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Macbeth Act 3 study pack

Think about how you would advise the person playing Macbeth to act in this scene.
Think about who is speaking to who. Then complete the following table –

Quotation Body Language Facial Expression Tone of Voice

1.
I’ll sit in the middle.
Everyone be happy and
enjoy the toast!

2.
My terrible thoughts
come again. If you had
killed both Banquo and
Fleance everything
would have been
perfect.

3.
Do not shake your
bloody head at me! I
did not kill you!

4.
Don’t look at me my
friends. I have an
illness but it is nothing
to worry about.

5.
Get away! Get back to
your grave!

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