Introduction
Macbeth has stabbed Duncan, King of Scots, as he lay in his bed, hoping to give a little assistance to a witch’s prophecy that he would one day be King. Both Macbeth and his wife, who is the driving force behind the plot, are understandably jittery; but it soon becomes clear to the ever-competent Lady Macbeth that her husband is losing his grip.
Macbeth:
I have done the deed:* — Didst thou not hear a noise?
Lady M. I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.
Did not you speak?
Macb. When?
Lady M. Now.
Macb. As I descended?
Lady M. Ay.
Macb. Hark! —
Who lies i’ the second chamber?Lady M. Donalbain.
Macb. This is a sorry sight. [Looking on his hands.]
Lady M. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.*
Macb. There’s one did laugh in his sleep, and one cried, “murder!”
That they did wake each other; I stood and heard them:
But they did say their prayers, and address’d them
Again to sleep.
Lady M. There are two lodg’d together.
Macb. One cried, “God bless us!” and, “Amen,” the other;
As they had seen me, with these hangman’s hands.
Listening their fear, I could not say, Amen,
When they did say, God bless us.
Lady M. Consider it not so deeply.
Macb. But wherefore could not I pronounce, Amen?
I had most need of blessing, and Amen
Stuck in my throat.
Lady M. These deeds must not be thought
After these ways; so, it will make us mad.
* It should be said here that the real Macbeth, King of Scots from 1040 to 1057, did not come by his throne through assassination. He defeated his uncle King Duncan I in battle near Elgin on August 14th, 1040. Duncan’s eldest son Malcolm at length had his revenge. He killed Macbeth in battle on August 15th, 1057, assisted by the English (then ruled by Edward the Confessor), and became King Malcolm III Canmore.
* Lady Macbeth is all scorn now, but the madness will claim her too in the end. Later we see her looking down at her own hands, and lamenting: “Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. O, O, O!”
Précis
In Shakespeare’s famous play, Macbeth has just murdered Duncan, King of Scots, coveting his crown. He returns to his wife (a willing conspirator) preoccupied with a foreboding of divine judgment, which he hears in the sleepy murmurings of the King’s servants on their beds, and sees in the blood on his hands. She urges him not to think so morbidly. (60 / 60 words)
In Shakespeare’s famous play, Macbeth has just murdered Duncan, King of Scots, coveting his crown. He returns to his wife (a willing conspirator) preoccupied with a foreboding of divine judgment, which he hears in the sleepy murmurings of the King’s servants on their beds, and sees in the blood on his hands. She urges him not to think so morbidly.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: despite, must, or, ought, unless, whereas, whether, who.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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