Quotation Bank: Macbeth

Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Act 4 Act 5

1. ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair’ 1. ‘Merciful powers, restrain in me 1. ‘I fear Thou played’st most 1. ‘tyrants feast’ 1. ‘Enter LADY MACBETH, with a
2. ‘brave Macbeth – well he the cursed thoughts that nature foully for ’t.’ 2. ‘By the pricking of my thumbs, taper’
deserves that name’ gives way to in repose’ 2. ‘Our fears in Banquo Something wicked this way 2. ‘Out, damned spot! out, I say!’
3. ‘what he hath lost, noble 2. ‘my bosom franchised and Stick deep’ comes’ 3. ‘Here's the smell of the blood
Macbeth hath won’ allegiance clear’ 3. ‘He hath a wisdom that doth 3. ‘I conjure you… answer me’ still: all the perfumes of Arabia
4. ‘so fair and foul a day I have not 3. ‘Art thou but A dagger of the guide his valor To act in safety.’ 4. ‘Beware Macduff. Beware the will not sweeten this little
seen’ mind’ 4. ‘Upon my head they placed a thane of Fife.’ hand.’
5. ‘All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be 4. ‘I have done the deed’ fruitless crown’ 5. ‘for none of woman born Shall 4. ‘To bed, to bed, to bed!’
king hereafter!’ 5. ‘This is a sorry sight’ 5. ‘If ’t be so, For Banquo’s issue harm Macbeth’ 5. ‘I'll fight till from my bones my
6. ‘lesser than Macbeth and 6. ‘Consider it not so deeply’ have I filed my mind;’ 6. ‘Macbeth shall never vanquished flesh be hack'd.’
greater’ 7. ‘These deeds must not be 6. ‘ye go for men; be until Great Birnam Wood to 6. ‘Throw physic to the dogs’
7. ‘Thou shalt get kings, though thought after these ways so; it As hounds and greyhounds… by high Dunsinane Hill Shall come 7. ‘The queen, my lord, is dead.’
thou be non’ will make us mad’ the name of dogs’ against him’ 8. ‘She should have died hereafter’
8. ‘The instruments of darkness tell 8. ‘Glamis doth murder sleep 7. ‘What’s done is done’ 7. ‘The very firstlings of my heart 9. ‘Out, out, brief candle! Life's but
us truths’ therefore Cawdor shall sleep no 8. ‘We have scorched the snake, shall be The firstlings of my hand.’ a walking shadow, a poor player
9. ‘If chance will have me king, more’ not kill’d it’ 8. ‘give to th' edge o' th' sword His That struts and frets his hour
why, chance may crown me 9. ‘Give me the daggers: the 9. ‘life's fitful fever’ wife, his babes, and all upon the stage And then is heard
Without my stir.’ sleeping and the dead Are but as 10. ‘Oh, full of scorpions is my unfortunate souls That trace him no more’
10. ‘The prince of Cumberland! That pictures’ mind, dear wife!’ in his line.’ 10. ‘it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of
is a step On which I must fall 10. ‘Will all great Neptune’s ocean 11. ‘Be innocent of the knowledge, 9. ‘He is noble, wise, judicious’ sound and fury, Signifying
down' wash this blood clean from my dearest chuck’ 10. ‘Father'd he is, and yet he's nothing’
11. ‘my dearest partner of hand?’ 12. ‘Things bad begun make strong fatherless.’ 11. ‘I pull in resolution, and begin
greatness’ 11. ‘My hands are of your colour’ themselves by ill’ 11. ‘What is a traitor?’ / ‘one that To doubt the equivocation of the
12. ‘Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too 12. ‘A little water clears us of this 13. ‘Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE swears and lies’ fiend’
full o' th' milk of human deed’ with a torch’ 12. ‘Everyone that does so is a traitor, 12. ‘abhorred tyrant’
kindness’ 13. ‘this place has become too cold 14. ‘Thou canst not say I did it: and must be hanged’ 13. ‘Tyrant, show thy face!’
13. ‘Hie thee hither, That I may pour for hell’ never shake Thy gory locks at 13. ‘I am in this earthly world; where 14. ‘my soul is too much charged
my spirits in thine ear’ 14. ‘Some say the Earth Was me’ to do harm Is often laudable’ With blood of thine already.’
14. ‘Come to my woman’s breasts, feverous and did shake’ 15. ‘Are you a man?’ 14. ‘I am not treacherous’ 15. ‘My voice is in my sword’
And take my milk for gall’ 15. ‘O horror, horror, horror! 16. ‘What man dare, I dare’ 15. ‘A good and virtuous nature may 16. ‘I bear a charmed life’
15. ‘Look like th' innocent flower, Tongue nor heart Cannot 17. ‘Hence, horrible shadow!’ recoil In an imperial charge.’ 17. ‘Macduff was from his mother's
But be the serpent under ’t’ conceive nor name thee!’ 18. ‘I am a man again’ 16. ‘Bleed, bleed, poor country! Great womb Untimely ripp'd.’
16. ‘Leave the rest to me’ 16. ‘Most sacrilegious murder hath 19. ‘It will have blood; they say, tyranny!’ 18. ‘Lay on, Macduff, And damn'd be
17. ‘the be-all and the end-all’ broke ope The Lord’s anointed blood will have blood’ 17. ‘I grant him bloody, Luxurious, him that first cries, 'Hold,
18. ‘I have no spur To prick the sides temple’ 20. ‘We are yet but young in deed.’ avaricious, false, deceitful, enough!'
of my intent, but only Vaulting 17. ‘Awake! Shake off this downy Sudden, malicious, smacking of 19. ‘behold, where stands The
ambition, which o'erleaps itself sleep, death’s counterfeit’ every sin That has a name:’ usurper's cursed head: the time
And falls on th' other’ 18. ‘Who can be wise, amazed, 18. ‘But I have none: the king- is free’
19. ‘We will proceed no further in temp'rate, and furious, Loyal and becoming graces, As justice, 20. ‘this dead butcher and his fiend-
this business’ neutral, in a moment? No man.’ verity, temperance, stableness, like queen’
20. ‘When you durst do it, then you 19. ‘Let’s briefly put on manly Bounty, perseverance, mercy,
were a man’ readiness’ lowliness, Devotion, patience,
20. ‘Here comes the good Macduff’ courage, fortitude,’
19. ‘He has no children. All my pretty
ones?’
20. ‘But I must also feel it as a man…
Sinful Macduff’
 Linking Quotations
Simply, write the number of the quote under the appropriate categories (see example). Then begin thinking and linking: what patterns/trends can you identify? How
else are the quotes within the same category connected? What is being revealed about the writer’s interests/priorities? Why is he doing this? Annotate sheet with ideas.

Characters Themes Methods Context

Witches Ambition Motifs (create sub- King James & The
groups) Gunpowder Plot
1.1 1.1

Macbeth Power

Foreshadowing / Irony Divine Rights / Great

Chain of Being
Lady Macbeth Loyalty 1.1

Animal Imagery
Duncan Guilt Religion / Supernatural

1.1

Banquo Natural Imagery

Gender Gender Roles

Macduff
Free Will Vs Fatality Religious Imagery Tragic Genre

Malcom 1.1