MACBETH

Calliope Theatre Company

Study Guide
1
 MACBETH
Welcome to Macbeth by William Shakespeare as adapted by
Calliope Theatre Company.
Our touring production of Macbeth, is a “play within a play.”
Set in The Globe Theatre in London in 1603, your students will
watch William Shakespeare directing actors who are rehearsing
his new play, Macbeth.
Calliope Theatre’s professional actors, playing multiple roles,
will perform key scenes from Macbeth bringing to life some of
the most famous and powerful language ever written. At the
same time the audience will find much to laugh at as our
professional actors get into all sorts of problems with the story
and with each other.

For students who are learning English we have also included key vocabulary so that
your students will get the most out of our performances. This study guide may be
reproduced and distributed to students. It can be found on our website
www.calliopetheatrecompany.pt

Calliope Theatre Company’s Macbeth is an interactive performance and we

encourage your students’ participation and we will be asking a number of your
students to join us on stage.

We welcome your opinion & suggestions on our performances and Study Guides, so
that we can continue to provide teachers and students with the finest in-school,
educational theatre experience.

We love hearing from students and teachers! Please encourage your students to
leave a comment on our Facebook page,
https://www.facebook.com/calliopetheatrecompany/ or write us letters and tell us
what you thought of the show!

Sincerely,

Meg and Matthew

Calliope Theatre Company

2
 MACBETH
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Vocabulary and Activities that are highlighted in red are the most important in
ensuring that your students understand and enjoy Macbeth. If you only have a
limited amount of time to prepare your students for the show, we suggest you focus on
these Vocabulary Items & Activities.

All of the Activities in our Study Guide may be copied and given to your students.
The Answer Key for all of the Activities is on Page 24.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 4
THE GLOBE THEATRE 5
ACTIVITY #1 – THE GLOBE THEATRE 6
MACBETH – Synopsis of the Original Play 7
MACBETH – Calliope’s Adaptation of Macbeth 8
DID YOU KNOW? – Who Ruled?, Richard Burbage & “Break a Leg” 8
ACTIVITY #2 – Who’s Who in Macbeth 9
WAS THE REAL MACBETH A GOOD KING? 9
ACTIVITY #3 – Create a Character Collage 10
MACBETH – Original & Modern Translation, Key Points by Act, Vocabulary 11-19
DON’T SAY THE “M” WORD! – The Curse 20
ACTIVITY #4 – Writing or Discussion Activities 21
ACTIVITY #5- Themes in the Play - Discussion Ideas 22
ACTIVITY #6 – History Timeline 23
ACTIVITY ANSWERS 24
ABOUT THE ARTISTS 25

3
 MACBETH
William Shakespeare

For all of his fame, William Shakespeare remains a mysterious

figure. Very few documents from Elizabethan England regarding
him have survived and they tell us little about Shakespeare the
man.

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, in 1564

to middle class parents. Historians believe that Shakespeare
attended school in Stratford, which at the time had an excellent
reputation for teaching Latin and Classical Greek. What is certain
is that William Shakespeare never attended university schooling,
which has caused some of the debate concerning the authorship of his works.

In 1582 at the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway They had their first daughter,
Susanna, in 1583 and then later, had twins. It is estimated that Shakespeare arrived in
London around 1588 and began to establish himself as an actor and playwright.
Shakespeare must have shown a great deal of talent since, by 1594, he was not only
acting and writing for the Lord Chamberlain's Men, but was also a managing partner
of the acting troupe. The actors and plays of Lord Chamberlain’s Men were loved by
royalty and the theatre-going public of London.

Shakespeare's company was the most successful in London in his day. He had plays
published and sold "penny-copies" to his fans. As far as we know, no other
playwright except Shakespeare had seen their works published and sold as popular
literature during their lifetime. Shakespeare’s success allowed him to purchase a
home and retire in comfort to Stratford in 1611.

Often called the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "The Bard") his plays have been
translated into every major language and are performed more often than those of any
other playwright. William Shakespeare's body of work will never again be equaled in
Western civilization. His words have endured for 400 years, and still reach across the
centuries as powerfully as ever.

4
 MACBETH
BACKGROUND

The Globe Theatre

The original Globe was an Elizabethan theatre which opened in 1599 on London’s
Thames River. Owned by a number of actors, including William Shakespeare, it was
one of several major theatres that were located in the area. The Globe was the
principal playhouse of the Lord Chamberlain's Men (who would become the King's
Men in 1603). Most of Shakespeare's plays were staged at the Globe, including
Macbeth, Othello, King Lear and Hamlet.

In 1613, the Globe Theatre went up in flames during a performance. A theatrical

cannon, set off during the performance, misfired, igniting the wooden beams and
thatched roof. According to one of the few surviving documents of the event, no one
was hurt except a man who put out his burning breeches with a bottle of ale. Like all
the other theatres in London, the Globe was closed down by the Puritans in 1642 and
destroyed in 1644. Its exact location remained unknown until remnants of its
foundations were discovered in 1989 beneath a car park.

A new Globe Theatre was built according to an Elizabethan plan and opened in 1997
under the name "Shakespeare's Globe Theatre" and now stages plays every summer.

Activity #1 - To better understand the Globe Theatre and plays of

Shakespeare’s time, ask students to watch the following video and
complete the following worksheet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0SBg-KG4C4

5
Activity #1 – Globe Theatre Worksheet

6
 MACBETH
Synopsis of the original play

Three witches greet Macbeth and Banquo, Scottish generals on their way home after a
victorious battle. At the same time, on a battlefield not far away, Duncan, King of Scotland,
hears of Macbeth’s great courage in battle and rewards him with the title Thane of Cawdor.
Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches who prophesize that Macbeth (who does not
know of his new title) shall become the Thane of Cawdor and also that he will be King.
They tell Banquo that he will be the father of kings. Later, when Macbeth finds out that
Duncan has made him Thane of Cawdor, it seems as if the witches’ prophecies are already
coming true, and Macbeth begins to wonder if he really could become king. King Duncan,
decides to visit Macbeth’s castle in gratitude of his bravery.
Macbeth sends his wife, Lady Macbeth, a letter about the witches prophecy and also tells
her that King Duncan is coming to their castle. As Lady Macbeth reads the letter she decides
she wants to become the queen and plans to murder King Duncan when he visits her home.
Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to murder the King, but Macbeth is troubled with doubt
when he sees a supernatural dagger in front of his eyes. Macbeth kills Duncan but forgets to
leave the daggers in Duncan’s room next to the sleeping servants. When the dead King’s
body is discovered the castle is in an uproar and the King Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and
Donalbain flee the country in terror.
Macbeth is crowned king of Scotland but he is haunted by the prediction that Banquo’s
children are to inherit the throne. Macbeth brutally arranges for the murder of his friend,
Banquo and his only son, Fleance. Fleance escapes and flees the country. Macbeth gives a
great feast for the all the noblemen but sees the ghost of Banquo (invisible to the guests),
and is terrified.
Macbeth goes to consult the witches. They warn him to beware of Macduff. They also
assure him that no man “born of a woman” can harm him and that he cannot be defeated
until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane castle. When Macbeth learns that Macduff has fled
to England he orders the murder of Lady Macduff and her children.
While this is all happening, Lady Macbeth, who before the king’s murder appeared to be
stronger than her husband, becomes completely overcome by guilt and goes insane.
Macduff and Malcolm meet in England. Malcolm, fearing that Macduff is a spy, tells
him that when he becomes King he will be an even greater tyrant than Macbeth. Macduff is
horrified, which proves to Malcolm that he is loyal and together they raise an army against
Macbeth. As the army approaches Dunsinane, the soldiers camouflage themselves with
branches cut from trees, making it appear that Birnam Wood is coming to the castle.
Macbeth’s nerves are shaken, but he takes courage that he cannot be harmed by any man
“born of woman. However, during the final battle, Macbeth learns that his enemy, Macduff,
was born by Caesarian section, thus not naturally “born of woman.” Macbeth realizes he is
doomed but, rather than being captured, fights to his death. Macduff kills him, cuts off his
head, and Malcolm becomes King.

7
 MACBETH
CALLIOPE THEATRE COMPANY’S ADAPTATION OF MACBETH
Shakespeare is back and is going to start rehearsing his new play MACBETH! It is important
that his new play is a success so that he can impress the new King James IV and his Queen,
Anne of Denmark! Luckily, Shakespeare’s assistant, Richarda “Rikki” Burbage has promised
Shakespeare state-of-the-art, modern, hi-tech, “ dazzling, amazing and astonishing” special
effects for the performance.
Now, Shakespeare needs to choose actors to play some important roles such as: Macbeth, Lady
Macbeth, Banquo, MacDuff, the Witches and many others.
It’s time for … AUDITIONS!
Did You Know?
WHO RULED?
Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603 and had no children to inherit the Crown of
England. King James IV of Scotland was proclaimed King James I of England and
united the two countries. King James left Scotland for London, promising to return
every three years (a promise that he did not keep!) James was amazed by the
wealth of his new land and was cheered by his English people.

James was married to Anne of Denmark who was a very independent woman and
loved the arts. Under James’ and Anne’s rule, English literature and drama
flourished and is called the "Golden Age".

“Ricarda Burbage!”
In our presentation of Macbeth, “Ricarda Burbage” is Shakespeare’s assistant
and one of the actors in the play. This character is based upon the real-life
person Richard Burbage, a famous actor in Elizabethan times and a close
friend of Shakespeare’s. Burbage owned a 50% share of The GlobeTheatre.
(Shakespeare only owned about a 10% share.)
Burbage and Shakespeare were also actors in a company called The Lord
Chamberlain's Men, the most prestigious acting company at the time.
Richard Burbage was the first actor in history to play Macbeth!

Break a Leg?
Actors can be very superstitious people. They often have rituals
which they repeat at every performance. It is considered very bad
luck to wish another actor “Good Luck” so instead they say “Break
a leg” to each other.

8
 MACBETH
ACTIVITY #2 - WHO’S WHO IN MACBETH

Match each character in the play with their description of their actions.
1.) Macbeth a.) tell Macbeth his future
2.) Lady Macbeth b.) Duncan’s eldest son
3.) Duncan c.) Banquo’s young son
4.) Banquo d.) Scottish general, Thane of Cawdor
5.) Malcolm e.) Duncan’s younger son
6.) MacDuff f.) a General, Macbeth’s close friend

7.) The Three Witches g.) Macbeth’s ambitious wife

8.) Fleance h.) the King of Scotland

9.) Donalbain i.) a nobleman, loyal to Scotland

was the real Macbeth a good King?

There are many differences between Shakespeare's Macbeth and the
MacBeth who ruled Scotland almost a millennium ago. Modern sources
suggest the picture Shakespeare paints of Scotland in 1044 was based on
rumours and the little they knew of ancient Scotland in 1606. However, here
is what we know about the “real” MacBeth.

Duncan I of Scotland was born in 1001. He ascended to the throne at the

age of thirty-three after killing his grandfather. He was a spoiled young man
whose reign was wrought with failed wars and death for his
people. Eventually, the unhappy Scottish lords revolted, including his
cousin, MacBeth, Lord of Moray. MacBeth killed Duncan and ascended the
throne. Duncan’s sons fled the country. Malcolm went to England while
Donald Ban (Donalbain in Shakespeare’s play) went to Ireland. Both later
returned and reigned as kings.

Unlike Shakespeare’s play, the real MacBeth did much for Scotland in his seventeen year reign. Under
him, North and South Scotland were united and he enforced law and order. In 1057, MacBeth’s reign
was cut to an end. Malcolm Canmore, which means “Big Head” in Gaelic, raised an army with the
help of the English and defeated MacBeth. He became King of Scotland under the title Malcolm III.

9
 MACBETH
WHO’S WHO IN tHe Play

ACTIVITY #3 – Character Collage

Ask students to research and create a Classroom Character Collage that

analyses one of the characters in “Macbeth”. Students can then hang their
posters in the classroom. (Below is a sample Character Collage.)

We suggest you have students use Shmoop if they are doing internet research
https://www.shmoop.com/macbeth/characters.html
or show the following video and ask students to take notes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_r4ipOvjDQ
(You may need to stop the video to allow students time to collect
information.)

10
 MACBETH
ACT 1 In the following pages we give you the original Shakespeare text used in our version of
MACBETH with chosen vocabulary words in bold, for non-native English speakers. Alongside the text is
a modern translation to help enhance your student’s enjoyment of the play. Following each page of
text, we have included a brief description of each act of the play and the key points to help students
understand the story. We suggest that students have the opportunity to read this text aloud in class.
.ACT I Modern Translation
MACBETH MEETS THE WITCHES
WITCH 1: When will the three of us meet
WITCH 1: When shall we three meet again? again?
In thunder, lightning or in rain? WITCH 2: When the chaos is finished. When
WITCH 2: When the hurlyburly’s done, the battle’s lost and won.
When the battle’s lost, and won. WITCH 3: That will be before the sun sets.
WITCH 3: That will be ‘ere the set of sun. WITCH 1: Where?
WITCH 1: Where the place? WITCH 2: On the heath.
WITCH 2: Upon the heath. WITCH 3: There to meet with Macbeth.
WITCH 3: There to meet with Macbeth. ALL: Good is bad, and bad is good,
ALL: Fair is foul, and foul is fair, We float through the fog and dirty air.
Hover through the fog and filthy air. MACBETH: I have never seen a day that
MACBETH: So foul and fair a day, I have was so good and bad at the same time.
not seen. WITCH 1: All hail Macbeth, hail to thee,
WITCH 1: All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis
Thane of Glamis WITCH 2: All hail Macbeth, hail to thee,
WITCH 2: All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane Of Cawdor.
Thane Of Cawdor. WITCH 3: All hail Macbeth, who will be
WITCH 3: All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King one day.
King hereafter. MACBETH: Two predictions have come
MACBETH: Two truths are told, true.
As happy prologues to the swelling act The first steps to that final goal, the throne.
Of the imperial theme. This playing with the supernatural can be
This supernatural soliciting either evil or good.
Cannot be ill, cannot be good ; if ill If it’s evil, why has it let me taste success, by
Why hath it given me earnest of success, starting with something that is true?
Commencing in truth? I am Thane of I am Thane of Cawdor. If that’s good then
Cawdor; why am I having terrible thoughts that make
If good why do I yield to that suggestion my hair stand up and make my heart beat so
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair unnaturally? Horrors we imagine are worse
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, than real fears.
Against the use of nature? Present fears Just thinking about the possibility of murder
Are less than horrible imaginings; makes me shake and paralyses me.
My thought, whose murder is yet fantastical, Only these thoughts that I’m having seem
Shakes so my single state of man that function real. If destiny says that I will be King, then
Is smother’d in surmise, and nothing is destiny may crown me, without my help.
But what it is not
If chance will have me King, why
Chance may crown me without stir.

11
 MACBETH

ACT I – Key Points

1.) The King of Scotland, Duncan, is fighting to defend his country against traitors. He
receives the news that his two bravest generals, Macbeth and Banquo have defeated the
enemy.
2.) After the battle, Macbeth and his closest friend, Banquo meet three witches. The
witches make a prophecy. They tell Macbeth that he will be Thane of Cawdor and that
he will one day become King. They tell Banquo that he will be the father of a long line
of kings.
3.) The King, Duncan, gives Macbeth the title of Thane (or Lord) of Cawdor. He also
decides to thank Macbeth for his bravery and loyalty by visiting Macbeth’s castle. This
will be a great honour for Macbeth. When Macbeth finds out that he has become Thane
of Cawdor, he begins to think the witches’ prophecy may come true.
4.) Lady Macbeth receives a letter from her husband telling her about the witches’
prophecy and that King Duncan is coming to visit. She decides that her husband,
Macbeth must kill the king and she will persuade him to do it. Duncan must die!
5.) Lady Macbeth tries to persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan. Macbeth tries to resist but
eventually agrees to kill the King.

VOCABULARY
Heath – An area of flat, open ground To hail – To greet someone with respect
Thane – A title in Scotland, equal to a Lord To crown – To make someone King or Queen
To hover – To float in the air Chaos – utter confusion
Prediction – a prophecy of what will happen in the future Supernatural – Unearthly, ghostly
Horrors – painful intense fears, horrible occurences
Possibility – something that could very likely occur
Paralyse – loss of ability to move, to make powerless or ineffective
Destiny – fate
Soliciting - asking; inciting or persuading
Hurly-burly – (Shakespearean English) - commotion, uproar

12
 MACBETH
ACT II
ACT II Modern Translation
THE MACBETHS & DUNCAN’S MURDER
LADY MACBETH Oh, No! I’m
LADY MACBETH: Alack! I am afraid they have afraid they have woken up and it isn’t
awak’d. done:
And ‘tis not done; the attempt and not the deed It’s the attempt to murder him, not the
Confounds us. My husband! murder itself, that will ruin us. My
MACBETH: I have done the deed. Didst thou not Husband!
hear a noise? MACBETH: I’ve done it. Didn’t you
LADY MACBETH: I heard the owl scream and hear a noise?
the crickets cry. LADY MACBETH I heard an owl
MACBETH: This is a sorry sight. scream and some crickets cry.
One cried ‘God bless us!’ and’Amen’ the other: MACBETH: This is a terrible sight.
As they had seen me with these hangman’s hands. One cried ‘God bless us!’ and the other:
Listening their fear, I could not say ‘Amen’, ’Amen’ ,as though they had seen me
When they did say’God bless us! with these hangman’s hands. Hearing
LADY MACBETH: Consider it not so deeply. them so afraid, I couldn’t say ‘Amen’,
MACBETH: Methought I heard a voice cry when they said’ God bless us!
‘Sleep no more! LADY MACBETH: Don’t think about
Macbeth does murder sleep! it so much.
LADY MACBETH: Who was it that thus cried? MACBETH: I thought I heard a voice
Why, worthy Thane crying ‘Sleep no more! Macbeth has
You do unbend your noble strength to think murdered sleep!
So brainsickly of things. LADY MACBETH Who cried like
Why did you bring these daggers from the place? that? My great Lord, you will
They must lie there: go carry them, and smear exhaust yourself thinking so crazily
The sleepy grooms with blood. about things. Why did you bring these
MACBETH: I’ll go no more: daggers? They must be left up there:
I am afraid to think what I have done; take them back and smear the sleepy
Look on’t again I dare not. servants with blood.
LADY MACBETH: Infirm of purpose! MACBETH: I won’t go back!
Give me the daggers. If he do bleed, I’m afraid to think of what I have done;
I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal; I cannot look at it again.
For it must seem their guilt. LADY MACBETH Coward! Give me
the daggers! If he is still bleeding, I’ll
smear the servant’s faces to make it look
like they killed him. For they must seem
to be guilty.

13
 MACBETH

ACT II – Key Points

1.) As he prepares to kill King Duncan, Macbeth struggles with his guilty conscience.
He sees a ghostly dagger and decides to commit murder.

2.) Macbeth kills Duncan. Horrified by what he has done, Macbeth forgets to put the
knife in the hands of a sleeping servant. Lady Macbeth takes charge and makes it seem
that the servant has killed the King.

3.) Macduff, the nobleman discovers Duncan’s dead body. The castle is in an uproar as
everybody discovers that the King is dead. King Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and
Donalbain, suspect treachery and, fearing for their lives, decide to run away

4.) Malcolm and Donalbain’s disappearance makes it seem that they are guilty of their
father’s murder, so Macbeth is chosen to be King. The prophecy is about to be fulfilled.

VOCABULARY

An owl – A nocturnal bird, associated with wisdom.

A cricket – An insect that produces a noise by rubbing its wings.
Hangman – Executioner who kills by use of a rope.
Smear – To wipe something or somebody with liquid or fluid.
Attempt – To make an effort to do something; To try
Deed – An action

14
 MACBETH
ACT III
ACT III Modern Translation
MACBETH PLANS BANQUO’S MURDER
LADY MACBETH: Nought’s had, all’s spent, LADY MACBETH:Nothing is gained,
Where our desire is got without content: everything’s lost, when a wish comes
‘Tis safer to be that which we destroy true and we are not content. It’s better
Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. to be the person who gets murdered than
How now, my lord! Why do you keep alone? to be the killer and be tormented with
Things without all remedy should be without anxiety. Well, my lord! Why are you
regard: alone? What can’t be cured has to be
What’s done is done. endured. What’s done is done.
MACBETH: We have scotch’d the snake, not MACBETH: We’ve wounded the
killed it: snake not killed it:
She’ll close, and be herself, whilst our poor malice It will heal and be a snake again, while
Remains in danger of her former tooth. we remain in danger of its bite.
Better be with the dead, It’s better to be with the dead, who we,
Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, to have our happiness, have sent to their
Than on the torture of the mind to lie eternal peace – than to be tortured with
In restless ecstasy. mental agony! Duncan is in his grave.
Duncan is in his grave; After the difficulties of life, he sleeps
After life’s fitful fever, he sleeps well, well. Treason has done its worst.
Treason has done his worst: not steel, nor poison, Neither sword, nor poison, nor
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing, rebellions at home, nor foreign
Can touch him further. invasions can touch him now.
LADY MACBETH: Gentle my lord, sleek o’er LADY MACBETH: Gentle husband,
your rugged looks. you look tense. Try and relax. You must
You must leave this. forget all this.
MACBETH: O, full of scorpions is my mind, MACBETH: Oh, my mind is full of
dear wife: scorpions, dear wife! You know that
Thou know’st, that Banquo and his Fleance lives. Banquo and his son Fleance are alive.
LADY MACBETH: But in them nature’s copy’s LADY MACBETH: But they are not
not eterne. immortal.
MACBETH: There’s comfort yet; they are MACBETH: That’s some comfort.
assailable. They can be dealt with.
LADY MACBETH: What’s to be done? LADY MACBETH: What’s to be
MACBETH: Be innocent of the knowledge, done?
dearest chuck, MACBETH: It’s better not to know,my
Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night, dearest one, until you can applaud
Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day, what happens. Come, blinding night!
And with thy bloody and invisible hand Cover the gentle eye of pitying day; and
Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond, with your bloody and invisible hand
Which keeps me pale. destroy that friendship that keeps me in
Thou marvell’st at my words: but hold thee still, fear. My words amaze you, but wait.
Things bad begun, make strong themselves by ill: “Bad deeds grow strong through
So prithee go with me. wickedness.” So please go with me.

15
 MACBETH

ACT III – Key Points

1.) According to the prophecy Banquo will be the father of a line of kings. Macbeth
fears this and decides to hire some murderers to kill Banquo, his best friend.

2.) The three murderers kill Banquo, but his son, Fleance, escapes!

3.) Macbeth invites all the noblemen to a great feast. He notices that Macduff does not
attend. The ghost of Banquo appears and Macbeth approaches madness.

4.) Macduff escapes to England where he joins Malcolm, Duncan’s son, and they start
raising an army.

VOCABULARY

To wound – To injure
To heal – To cure, get better
Bloody – Covered in blood
Wickedness – Evil
Endure – To accept; To remain firm under suffering
Foreign invasion – An act of war when a country enters into another country
Treason – To betray; To overthrow the government
Tense – To be nervous
Scorpions – A spider-like insect with a stinger
Immortal – Everlasting; a being that cannot die
Comfort - Ease
Pitying – Sorrow for another’s suffering
Scotch’d – (Shakespearean English) – To injure; to harm
16
 MACBETH
ACT IV – Key Points

1.) Macbeth goes to see the witches for more information. He discovers some good
news and some bad news. The witches tell him that he cannot be killed by any man born
of a woman. They also tell him that he cannot be defeated until Birnum Wood enters
his castle Dunsinane. In a vision, Macbeth sees a line of Kings fathered by Banquo.

2.) On Macbeth’s orders, Lady Macduff and her children are murdered.

3.) In England, Malcolm thinks that Macduff may be a spy sent by Macbeth.
Malcolm tests Macduff’s loyalty to Scotland by telling him that when he becomes king
he will be a bigger tyrant than Macbeth.

4.) Macduff is told of the murder of his wife and children.

VOCABULARY
To weep – To cry
A gash – A severe cut
Wounds – Injuries
Lamb – A baby sheep
To be fit – To be appropriate, good enough.
Heir – One who inherits a title or property; The person who will become the next King
or Queen
To blaspheme – To say something disrespectful
Yoke – A wooden frame that joins two oxen together to work; a burden; an oppression
Oppressed – To be crushed or burdened; To be unfairly treated by authority
Vices - Sins
Pure – Clean; free from evil
In comparison – To examine different things to see how they are alike or different
Govern – To reign; To rule
Miserable – Awful; unhappy
Tyrant – A ruler who has complete power and uses it cruelly
Passion – Love; fervor
Proof – A statement that shows something is true
Integrity – Honest; having high morals
Suspicion – A feeling that something or someone is wrong
To command - To give an order; to use
17
 MACBETH
ACT V

Modern Translation
ACT V
MACBETH MEETS MACDUFF ON THE
BATTLEFIELD
MACBETH They have tied me to a
MACBETH: They have tied me to a stake; I stake. I cannot escape.
cannot fly, Like a bear I must stand and fight. What
But bear-like I must fight the course. What’s he kind of man is he who wasn’t born of a
That was not born of a woman? Such a one woman? That’s who I am to fear, or
Am I to fear, or none. nobody.
MACDUFF: Turn, hell-hound, turn! MACDUFF: Turn, hell-hound, turn!
MACBETH Of all men else I have avoided thee: MACBETH Of all other men I’ve
But get thee back, my soul is too much charg’d avoided you. Get back! There’s too
With blood of thine already. much blood of your family on my soul
MACDUFF: I have no words; already.
My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain MACDUFF: I have no words to speak.
Than terms can give thee out! My sword will speak for me. You are a
MACBETH: Thou losest labour: bloodier villain than words can say!
As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air MACBETH You are wasting your
With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed: energy. It would be easier to wound the
Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; air with your sword than to make me
I bear a charmed life, which must not yield bleed. Bring down your sword on
To one of woman born. vulnerable heads. I have a charmed life
MACDUFF: Despair thy charm; I cannot be killed by a man born of a
And let the angel whom thou still hast serv’d woman.
Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother’s womb MACDUFF: Forget you charm and let
Untimely ripp’d. the devil you serve tell you this:
MACBETH Accursed be that tongue that tells MacDuff was taken from his mother’s
me so. womb prematurely by caesarean
Lay on, Macduff, and damn’d be him that first section.
Cries, ‘Hold, enough MACBETH Curse the tongue that
tells me that.
Fight on, Macduff, and damned be the
one of us who first cries ‘Stop, enough!’

18
 MACBETH

ACT V – Key Points

1.) Lady Macbeth goes insane. She believes her hands are still covered in blood from
Duncan’s murder and she is unable to wash them clean

2.) Malcolm’s army arrives at Birnum Wood, near Macbeth’s castle at Dunsinane.
Malcolm orders his men to cut branches from the trees to use as camouflage. The
branches will disguise the size of Malcolm’s army.

3.) Lady Macbeth dies. Macbeth is told that Birnum Wood is approaching his castle.
He decides to go into battle and leaves the castle with what remains of his army.

4.) Macbeth is losing the battle but continues to fight. Because of the witches’
prophecy, he believes that he cannot be killed by any man who is born of a woman. On
the battlefield he meets Macduff. Macduff reveals that he was born by caesarean
section, so he is not “born of a woman.” They fight and Macbeth is killed.

5.) Macduff cuts off Macbeth’s head and presents it to Malcolm. The battle is won and
Malcolm is crowned king.
VOCABULARY
Hound – A dog often used for hunting
Charmed – Lucky; protected
Womb – Uterus
To curse – To wish for something bad to happen to someone
To be damned – To be condemned to hell
Avoided – To keep away from
Vulnerable – Open to attach or harm; weakness that allows being hurt
Tied to a stake - In Shakespearian times, bear baiting was a common sport and a
popular spectacle. Bears were tied to stakes and dogs were allowed to attack the
trapped bear
19
 MACBETH
Don’t say the “M” Word ~ The Curse!

Supposedly, saying the name "Macbeth" inside a theatre will

bring bad luck to the play and anyone acting in it. The only
exception is when the word is spoken as a line in the play. In
order to reverse the bad luck, the person who uttered the word
must exit the theatre, spit, spin around three times saying a
profanity, and then ask for permission to return inside. To
avoid bringing up the curse in the first place, most people refer
to MACBETH as "the Scottish Play."
The curse is said to have existed since the first performance. During the first showing
for King James I, the boy playing Lady Macbeth became ill and died backstage. Left
with no leading lady, Shakespeare himself had to play the role of Lady Macbeth. It is
said that King James I so disliked the play that he banned it from being shown for five
years. However, at the next recorded production in 1672 in Amsterdam, the actor
playing Macbeth murdered the actor playing Duncan on stage. Since that time there
have been numerous accidents and deaths associated with the play of which the
following are just a few examples:

 In 1721, an angry patron returned and set the theatre on fire.

 In 1882, an actor accidentally thrust his sword directly into another actors’s chest.
 In the early 1930s, the actress playing Lady Macbeth died on the day of final
dress rehearsal. Her portrait was hung in the theatre and later, when another
production of the play was opening, the portrait fell from the wall.
 In 1937, Laurence Olivier was rehearsing the play when a 25-pound stage weight
crashed down from the flies, missing him by inches. In addition, the director and
the actress playing Lady Macduff were involved in a car accident on the way to
the theatre and the proprietor of the theatre died of a heart attack during the dress
rehearsal.
 In 1948, Lady Macbeth, played the sleepwalking scene with her eyes closed. On
opening night, before a full audience, she walked off the stage, falling 15 feet.
 1960s, the actor playing Macbeth dropped dead of heart failure during Act III.

So Please, Don’t Say the “M” Word!

20
 MACBETH

ACTIVITY #4 – WritTEN or Discussion Activities

1. Shakespeare’s plays are considered “timeless” because the basic problems still exist
today. That is why after 500 years, we can still relate to Shakespeare’s plays. As
humans, our basic psychology is just like it was in his day. Teenagers rebel against
their parents’ wishes just like they do in ROMEO AND JULIET. Ambition unchecked can
destroy like it does in MACBETH.

History Activity: Ask students to look through history or current events to find leaders,
kings, presidents, or dictators, who may have started out “good”, like Macbeth, but as
time went on became corrupted by ambition and power.

2.) In small groups, ask students to create a talk show where someone interviews some
the characters in MACBETH to find out their version of the story. Write a list of questions
and answers the characters might give.

3.) In small groups, have students write a modern version of a scene from the play.
Example: Instead of the play being set in ancient Scotland imagine it in a modern
urban city. Replace the armies with city gangs.

21
 MACBETH

ACTIVITY #5 –Discussion Activities

1.) Have a classroom discussion on the following question: Is Macbeth a

victim of fate (because of the witches’ prophecy it was going to happen no
matter what) or a victim of his own ambitious choices? Who made Macbeth
do the things he did? The witches? Lady Macbeth? His own ambitions?

2.) Was Macbeth really bad from the beginning, or was he a good man who
did bad things? What good qualities can you find in him?

3.) Was Lady Macbeth more powerful than Macbeth at the beginning? At
the end?

4.) One of the themes in the play is that if you do bad things, bad things
will happen to you. Ask students to talk about events that they know of that
support this idea.

5.) Ask students to discuss how the main themes in MACBETH can be found
in soap operas, television shows, movies and popular magazines. Ask them
to give examples.

6.) Ask students which character they liked the best? Ask them to explain
why.

22
 MACBETH
ACTIVITY #6 – HIstory

To help students better understand the timeframe of William Shakespeare and his plays
ask them to try and complete the gaps with the information below the table.

16th & 17th Century Timeline

Elizabethan England Portugal The World
1543 -Copernicus states that the
1558 – Elizabeth I becomes earth was not the center of the
Queen of England 1521 – ________(d)__________ universe but, rather, the Earth and
becomes king. Portugal becomes the other planets orbit around the
1564 – William Shakespeare is the first of the great maritime Sun
born empires, dominating access to the
Indian Ocean 1564 -________(i)___________,
1577: Admiral Francis Drake painter, sculptor, and poet dies.
starts voyage to circumnavigate 1542 – Portuguese explorers are
the globe the first Europeans to land in 1567 - Rio de Janeiro founded.
Japan.
1588: _____(a)__________is 1582: ________(j)___________
defeated by the English Naval 1569 - ______(e)__________in introduces Gregorian Calendar.
fleet Portugal. Only in Lisbon 60,000
people die. 1568 - The Dutch Revolt frees a
1599- The ___ (b) ___ is built. small country from the grip of the
1570 - Luís de Camões returns to biggest superpower, Spain.
1595 – Shakespeare writes___(c) Lisbon from theOrient.
_____. 1594 – The remains of Pompeii
1578-80 -___(f)_______ is king. discovered
1603 – James I becomes King of
England. His Queen is Anne of 1580 - Invasion of Portugal by a 1600 - Pi is calculated as
Denmark ________(g)____________. The 3.1415929 by A. Anthoniszoon.
Fortress of St. Julian, in Lisbon,
1616 – Shakespeare dies in surrenders to the Spanish. 1605: Miguel de Cervantes'
Stratford publishes "Don Quixote of La
1580- Death of Luís de Camões, Mancha"
1623- Two of Shakespeare’s Portugal's national poet.
fellow actors publish The First 1610: ________(k)_______,
Folio with 36 of Shakespeare’s 1581_________(h)___becomes using his telescope, discovers the
works and it is sold to the public King Philip I of Portugal and Moons of Jupiter, the rings of
for one pound. Portugal loses independence to Saturn and that the Milky Way is
Spain. composed of a vast number of
faint stars.

1620 – The Pilgrims land in

Massachusetts

23
 MACBETH
Activity #1 – Globe Theatre Worksheet
1.) d – All of the above
2.) A groundling was a person who visited the Globe Theatre, but was too poor to
pay to have a seat. They paid one penny, they could stand in "the pit", also called
"the yard", just below the stage, to watch the play. Standing in the pit was
uncomfortable, and people were usually packed in tightly. They were known to
misbehave and are believed to have thrown food such as fruit and nuts at
characters they did not like. They would watch the plays from the cramped pits
with sometimes over 500 people standing there.
3.) The stage in the Globe theatre was an apron (or thrust) stage that extended out
into the audience. An apron stage allows actors to be very close to the audience
and encourages audience participation.

ACTIVITY #2 - WHO’S WHO IN MACBETH?

1.) d 2.) g 3.) h 4.) f 5.) b
6.) i 7.) a 8.) c 9.) e.

ACTIVITY #6 – History

a) Spanish Armada. b) Globe Theatre c) Macbeth d.) João III

e) Plague epidemic f) Cardinal Henrique I g) Spanish army
h) Philip II of Spain i)Michaelangelo Buonarotti j) Pope Gregory k) Galileo

24
 MACBETH
About the artists

Stori Maree (Queen Anne, Andrew, & Lady Macbeth) is excited to be making her
Calliope Theatre Company debut this coming season! She has a background is in
musical theatre and concert choir, appearing in regional productions of Fiddler on the
Roof and Oklahoma!, and was a freestyle level 4 figure skater. At O’More College of
Design, she completed her BFA in Interior Design, with additional concentrations in
scenic design, and garment and pattern construction. Stori performed with The Gallatin
Players while she continued her education at NYU. A Vinyasa yoga instructor, she
moved Portugal in 2017, specializing in making Vinyasa accessible to beginners.

Meg Thurin (Richarda “Ricki” Burbage, Macduff & Donalbain) graduated from
John Cabot University with a Bachelor of Arts and received her postgraduate degree
from the Istituto Arte Artiginato e Restauro, Rome, Italy. Since moving to Portugal in
2009, Meg has worked with Avalon Theatre Company, participated in various voice-
over projects and has performed in a TV sitcom pilot filmed in Lisbon. Most recently,
Meg became the featured voice for iClio's - JiTT Travel app guides for many major
cities in Europe. Meg is a co-founder and Artistic Director of Calliope Theatre
Company and looks forward to seeing the teachers and students that she met during
her 5 years with Avalon Theatre Company.

Matthew Lloyd (William Shakespeare & MacBeth) – In his work with The
Ferndown Drama Group, Huntington Drama Group, Chesil Theatre and the Royal
Navy Theatre Association, Matthew has acted in a variety of full-length works
including pantomimes and dramatic plays such as Wind in the Willows (Toad) and
Pygmalion. Matthew has directed such works as The Anniversary and Steel
Magnolias and has served as Stage Manager for a variety of theatre companies.
Matthew has an MBA from Cranfield School of Management. After his 17 years in
the British Royal Navy (including time spent with NATO, Portugal), Matthew
moved permanently to Cascais. Matthew is a co-founder of Calliope Theatre
Company.

25