MYPNA_TE_G12_U3_web.pdf

The Tragedy of

Macbeth

Act I

William Shakespeare

© Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

ANCHOR TEXT | DRAMA

CHARACTERS

Duncan, King of Scotland

Malcolm

Donalbain

his sons

Macbeth

Banquo

Macduff

Lennox

Ross

Menteith

Angus

Caithness

noblemen of Scotland

Fleance, son to Banquo

Siward, Earl of Northumberland, general of the

English forces

Young Siward, his son

Seyton, an officer attending on Macbeth

Son to Macduff

An English Doctor

A Scottish Doctor

A Porter

An Old Man

Three Murderers

Lady Macbeth

Lady Macduff

A Gentlewoman attending on Lady Macbeth

Hecate

Witches

Apparitions

Lords, Officers, Soldiers, Attendants, and Messengers

Setting: Scotland; England

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TEACHING

PERSONALIZE FOR LEARNING

Strategic Support

Background Set the stage for the first read of The Tragedy of

Macbeth, Act I. Tell students a brief synopsis of the first act, describing

the characters and setting. Make sure students understand that the

play takes place in Scotland during a time of violence and superstition.

As students read, help them look for recurring themes in the play:

things are not what they seem, power corrupts, and the flaw of blind

ambition.

The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act I

Tell students that the play begins when war

hero Macbeth returns home, and on the way,

encounters three witches who prophesize that

he will one day be the King of Scotland. Seized

by ambition and spurred on by his wife, Macbeth

plans to murder King Duncan, thus setting in

motion a series of events that will lead to his

downfall.

Introduce the word fate and ask students to

offer definitions. Then have students write a

paragraph explaining whether they believe events

occur as a result of fate, human choice, or some

combination of the two. Encourage students to

return to their responses as they read through

Act I.

260 UNIT 3 • FACING THE FUTURE, CONFRONTING THE PAST

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