Macbeth and Banquo encounter three witches on a heath who prophesy that Macbeth will be named Thane of Cawdor and later King. While Macbeth is intrigued, Banquo is more skeptical of their predictions. When the witches also predict that Banquo's descendants will be kings, both men react differently - Macbeth with ambition and Banquo with doubt - revealing aspects of their characters.

1. Name: __________________________________________
Directions: Please re-read the following scene from Act One and answer the questions
that follow.
ACT ONE, SCENE THREE NOTES
MACBETH
So foul and fair a day I have not seen.
BANQUO
How far is'tcall'd to Forres? What are these
So wither'd and so wild in their attire,
That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth,
And yet are on't? Live you? or are you aught
That man may question? You seem to understand
me,
By each at once her chappy finger laying
Upon her skinny lips: you should be women,
And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
That you are so.
MACBETH
Speak, if you can: what are you?
First Witch
All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!
Second Witch
All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!
Third Witch
All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!
BANQUO
Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear
Things that do sound so fair? I' the name of truth,
Are ye fantastical, or that indeed
Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner
You greet with present grace and great prediction
Of noble having and of royal hope,
That he seems rapt withal: to me you speak not.

2. If you can look into the seeds of time,
And say which grain will grow and which will
not,
Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear
Yourfavours nor your hate.
First Witch
Hail!
Second Witch
Hail!
Third Witch
Hail!
First Witch
Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.
Second Witch
Not so happy, yet much happier.
Third Witch
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none:
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!
First Witch
Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!
MACBETH
Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more:
By Sinel's death I know I am thane of Glamis;
But how of Cawdor? the thane of Cawdor lives,
A prosperous gentleman; and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence
You owe this strange intelligence? or why
Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge
you.
Witches vanish

3. Answer the following questions about the passage you read from Macbeth. Be sure
to answer in complete sentences and support your responses with examples from the
text.
1. This is the first time that we see Macbeth in this play, though we have heard about
him. Analyze his character based only on this scene; be sure to support your explanation.
2. Compare Macbeth and Banquo in this scene. How do they react similarly and
differently to the predictions the witches make? What does this say about their
characters?
3. Writers (and playwrights) use specific literary devices to create particular effects on
their readers. What literary devices does Shakespeare use in this scene and what are the
effects? Do not worry if you cannot remember the actual term of the device; you can
describe it and its effect.

4. As you watch the two versions of the scene that you read, take notes in the spaces
below:
Version #1 Version #2
4. Compare the two film versions you saw. What were similarities and differences? What
were the similar and different effects created?
5. Choose ONE of the two versions you saw and explain what effect the director of the
film version was trying to create in this scene and explain HOW he did this.

5. Act I.iScoring Guide: Macbeth
Priority
Standard
10-8
Exceeds
7-5
Meets
4-1
Does not yet meet
10.10 Identify
the qualities of
character, and
analyze the
effect.
Question #1
Through analysis and
evidence, the student
demonstrates a
sophisticated
knowledge of the
elements of
characterization.
Student demonstrates
an awareness that
authors develop
characters through
various devices,
though the analysis and
evidence at this point
may be somewhat
limited.
While the student may
be able to describe the
main character, at this
point, he or she has not
demonstrated an
awareness of the craft
that authors use to
develop characters.
10.11 Describe
the function and
effect of
common literary
devices
Question #3 and
Question #4
Through a detailed
suggestion and
thorough explanation
of the text, the student
demonstrates a deep
and clear
understanding of
literary devices and
their effects on the
reader/viewer.
In the explanation, the
student demonstrates
an understanding that
literary devices have
particular effects on
the reader/viewer.
At this point, the
student is not able to
articulate how
significant literary
devices can have an
effect on the reader or
viewer.
10.18.2 Support
a position with
precise and
relevant
examples and
evidence.
All questions
Every quality
attributed to the
characters and literary
devices is supported
with logically
persuasive evidence
from the text.
Some qualities attributed
to characters and literary
elements are supported
with evidence; others
either are not supported
with evidence or the
evidence itself is not
convincing.
Qualities attributed to
characters and literary
elements are either not
supported by textual
evidence or the evidence
cited does not connect
logically with the claim.
10.18.8 To
compare and
contrast themes,
characters, ideas,
or stylistic
devices.
Question #2 and
Question #5
The comparisons
between the two film
versions and the two
characters are
extraordinarily
insightful and
exceedingly well
organized.
The comparisons
between the two film
versions and the two
characters are clear and
mostly well organized.
The comparisons
between film versions
are either not clearly
drawn or not well
organized.