Macbeth, Act 4 (March 10)
Macbeth, Act 4 (March 10)
Learning objective: Students will analyze the three apparitions and explain how Macbeth misinterprets their prophecies, leading to his downfall.
AERO Standards: RL.11-12.1, RL.11-12.2, RL.11-12.5
Reminder: No Camera = No Attendance
Lesduur is: 30 minOnderdelen in deze les
Macbeth, Act 4 (March 10)
Learning objective: Students will analyze the three apparitions and explain how Macbeth misinterprets their prophecies, leading to his downfall.
AERO Standards: RL.11-12.1, RL.11-12.2, RL.11-12.5
Reminder: No Camera = No Attendance
Rafayel visited our Grade 9 class yesterday, but he missed our lesson on Act 3 of Macbeth. Your task is to help him catch up by explaining the most important events and what this act teaches us about Macbeth’s growing ambition and guilt.
Help Rafayel understand the story by summarizing the key events and explaining what this act reveals about Macbeth’s character and the consequences of his actions.
Fill in the blanks
Macbeth secretly hired murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance because he feared the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s descendants would become kings.
The murderers successfully killed Banquo, but Fleance managed to escape in the darkness, which meant the prophecy about Banquo’s future line of kings could still come true.
During the royal banquet, Macbeth suddenly saw Banquo’s ghost sitting in his chair, which terrified him and caused him to behave strangely in front of the guests.
Lady Macbeth quickly told the guests that Macbeth had experienced fits since childhood in order to excuse his strange behavior and prevent the nobles from becoming suspicious.
Macbeth later admitted that his mind was full of scorpions, a metaphor showing that he was filled with fear, guilt, and dangerous thoughts after committing his crimes.
Why does Macbeth visit the witches again?
😨 Paranoid about losing the crown
👻 Haunted by Banquo's ghost
🔮 Desperate for more answers
Macbeth wants to know:
Is he safe?
Will Banquo's children become kings?
What should he do next?
PASSAGE 1: The Cauldron
(Act 4, Scene 1):
"Round about the cauldron go;
In the poison'd entrails throw.
Toad, that under cold stone
Days and nights has thirty-one
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i' the charmed pot.
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble."
The witches chant, "Double, double toil and trouble." What do you think they're brewing? What kind of mood does this create?
Write 2-3 sentences.
PASSAGE 2: First Apparition - Armed Head
[Thunder. First Apparition: an armed Head.]
First Apparition: "Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough."
Macbeth: "Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks; Thou hast harp'd my fear aright..."
What is the first apparition?
An armed head (a head in armor)
Banquo's ghost
A bloody child
A crowned child with a tree
What warning does it give Macbeth?
Banquo's sons will be kings
Beware Macduff
Be careful of Birnam Wood
No man can harm you
How does Macbeth react?
He thanks it—he was already afraid of Macduff
He laughs
He faints
He ignores it
PASSAGE 3: Second Apparition - Bloody Child
Text (Act 4, Scene 1):
[Thunder. Second Apparition: a bloody Child.]
Second Apparition: "Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!—"
Macbeth: "Had I three ears, I'd hear thee."
Second Apparition: "Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth."
Fill in the blanks
The second apparition appears as a bloody child, rising from the witches’ cauldron and symbolizing violence, danger, and the strange prophecy about Macbeth’s fate.
The apparition tells Macbeth to be bloody, bold, and resolute, encouraging him to act fearlessly and continue his violent path without hesitation.
The apparition declares that no one of woman born can harm Macbeth, which seems to promise him protection from all ordinary men.
This prophecy makes Macbeth feel invincible, because he believes that every person in the world is born from a woman and therefore cannot defeat him.
Why does this prophecy make Macbeth feel so confident?
He thinks he can't be killed by anyone
He trusts the witches completely
He forgets the first warning
He knows Macduff is already dead
PASSAGE 4: Third Apparition - Crowned Child
Text (Act 4, Scene 1):
[Thunder. Third Apparition: a child crowned, with a tree in his hand.]
Third Apparition: "Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him."
Macbeth: "That will never be! Who can impress the forest? Bid the tree unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements! Good!"
What does the prophecy say? "Macbeth will never be defeated until ______________________________."
Why does Macbeth think he's completely safe?
He knows Birnam Wood is far away
He has a big army
The witches promised him victory
Trees can't move—it's impossible!
PASSAGE 5: Banquo's Ghosts - The Line of Kings
Text (Act 4, Scene 1):
Macbeth: "Yet my heart Throbs to know one thing: shall Banquo's issue ever Reign in this kingdom?"
[The witches show a vision of eight kings, the last holding a mirror. Banquo's ghost follows, smiling.]
Macbeth: "What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom? Another yet! A seventh! I'll see no more! And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass Which shows me many more..."
Category 1: 👁️ What He SEES
Category 2: 💔 What He FEELS
What does Macbeth SEE vs. What does he FEEL?
Why is Macbeth horrified by this vision?
He sees his own death
He realizes Banquo's descendants WILL be kings
The kings are ugly
The witches laugh at him
PASSAGE 6: Macbeth's Decision
Text (Act 4, Scene 1):
Lennox enters and tells Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England.
Macbeth: "Time, thou anticipat'st my dread exploits: The flighty purpose never is o'ertook Unless the deed go with it. From this moment The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand...
This deed I'll do before this purpose cool: Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line."
Translation:
"Macduff ran away? Fine. I'll kill his wife and children instead. I won't think—I'll just act."
Apparition Prophecy
Armed Head ⬅️ "Beware Macduff"
Bloody Child ⬅️ "None of woman born shall harm Macbeth"
Crowned Child with Tree ⬅️ "Macbeth shall never be defeated until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane
"Eight Kings ⬅️ Banquo's descendants will be kings
