(Poster for "Throne of Blood", Kurosawa's famous Japanese version of Macbeth)

Read the pp.135-150 (exerpt from Raphael Holinshed, The Chronicles). Shakespeare used Holinshed as a source for Macbeth. Become familiar with Holinshed and think about how Shakespeare used this work when you read Macbeth. Visit the sites listed below for background information.
 

Here is very handy timeline of Shakespeare and his world.
If you need a studyguide, this is a good place to find it. Do not rely on studyguides, however.

This is a fun but gory page devoted to Macbeth.