What does a porter (who was most likely drunk) ramble on about?
A porter stumbles through the hallway to answer the knocking, grumbling comically about the noise and mocking whoever is on the other side of the door. He compares himself to a porter at the gates of hell and asks, "Who's there, i' th' name of Beelzebub?"
Who is at the door when the porter finally opens it?
Macduff and Lennox are at the door
Who complains after the porter opens the door and about what does he complain?
Macduff complains about the porter's slow response to his knock
Why does the porter say he opened the door so slowly?
The porter says he was up all night drinking.
Why did Macduff come to Macbeth's castle?
He came to see the king.
The king asked to see him early in the morning.
What does Macbeth say to Macduff's request to see the king?
Macbeth says that Duncan is still asleep. He offers to take Macduff to the king.
What is Lennox talking about as they enter the king's chambers?
Lennox is talking about the great storm the night before.
Who first finds the king dead? How does he respond?
Macduff cries "O horror, horror, horror!" after finding the king dead.
Who rushes to see the king after Macduff comes running out?
Macbeth and Lennox rush in, while Lady Macbeth stands with a look of terror.
Whon appears as Macbeth and Lennox emerge from the bedroom?
Malcolm and Donalbain arrive on the scene
Who does Macbeth kill after Malcolm and Donalbain arrive at the scene of the king's death?
Macbeth declares that in his rage he has killed the chamberlains.
What explanation does Macbeth give for killing the chamberlains?
Macbeth explains by saying that his fury at Duncan's death was so powerful that he could not restrain himself.
Is Macduff suspicious of Macbeth's explanation for the deaths of the chamberlains?
Yes, Macduff is suspicious that Macbeth is being deceptive.
Do Malcolm and Donalbain feel safe in Macbeth's house after learning of the king's death?
Malcolm and Donalbain whisper to each other that they are not safe, since whoever killed their father will probably try to kill them next.
Why is Lady Macbeth taken away?
She fainted and Macduff and Banquo call for someone to attend to her.
Who do Banquo and Macbeth rally and why?
Banquo and Macbeth rally the lords to meet and discuss the murder
What decision to the king's son make?
Duncan's sons resolve to flee the court. Malcolm declares that he will go south to England, and Donalbain will hasten to Ireland.
Act 2 Scene 4 opening
Ross, a thane, walks outside the castle with an old man.
What are Ross and the old man discussing?
They discuss the strange and ominous happenings of the past few days- it is daytime, but dark outside; last Tuesday, an owl killed a falcon; and Duncan's beautiful, well-trained horses behaved wildly and ate one another.
Who tells Ross that Macbeth has been named king?
Macduff emerges from the castle and tells Ross that Macbeth has been made king by the other lords
Where does Macbeth go after being named king?
Macbeth rode to Scone to be crowned
For what reason does Macduff suspect the chamberlains killed the king?
Macduff adds that the chamberlains seem the most likely murderers, and that they may have been paid off by someone to kill Duncan.
After Macbeth is named king, who is suspected of the murder and why?
Suspicion has now fallen on the two princes, Malcolm and Donalbain, because they have fled the scene
Where did Ross go after talking to Macduff
Ross departs for Scone to see the new king's coronation
