“Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
Questions
Act I, scene I
1. Describe the mood of the opening scene.
2. How does the weather contribute to the feel of the first scene?
3. Why does Shakespeare have witches in the opening scene?
4. “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”. Explain. What tone does this line set for
the rest of the play?
Act I, scene II
1. What initial impression do you receive of Macbeth? Give three words and
quotes to describe him.
2. What role has Banquo played in the battle?
3. What does Duncan give Macbeth at the end of the scene?
Act I, scene III
1. What does the opening segment of the scene reveal about the witches?
2. “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” Explain. Is there a link to scene
I?
3. What news do the witches have for (a) Macbeth and (b) Banquo?
4. What is the difference between Banquo’s and Macbeth’s reactions to the
witches’ news?
5. What does Macbeth’s aside reveal about it?
6. Select and explain an example of clothing imagery from this scene
Act I, scene IV
1. Is Duncan a good king?
2. How does Duncan feel about Macbeth?
3. “That is a step on which I must fall down or else o’er-leap”. Explain.
4. How ambitious is Macbeth?
5. Could you describe Macbeth as a moral character?
Act I, scene V
1. How does Macbeth feel about his wife?
2. What is Lady’s Macbeth’s assessment of husband’s character?
3. Why is Lady Macbeth keen to see her husband again?
4. What does Lady Macbeth ask to have happen to her? Why?
5. Who is the more interesting character so far- Macbeth or his wife?
Act I, scene VII
1. What does Macbeth initially refuse to do?
2. What are the reasons why he will not kill Duncan?
3. How does his wife convince him to commit the evil deed?
4. What plan has Lady Macbeth hatched?
5. What has Macbeth decided at the end of the scene?
6. How would you describe the relationship between husband and wife?
Act II, scene I
1. What natural function has been disturbed?
2. How does Macbeth respond to Banquo’s mention of the witches?
3. What does Macbeth imagine he sees?
4. Describe his state of mind.
5. How does the dagger change as the soliloquy progresses?
6. Why is Macbeth hallucinating?
Act II, scene II
1. Does Lady Macbeth show any redeeming features in this scene?
2. Contrast the reactions of husband and wife to the murder.
3. How does Lady Macbeth respond to her husband’s behaviour?
4. What images of blood are present in this scene?
Act II, scene III
1. What strange disturbances to nature have occurred?
2. How does Macduff describe Duncan’s corpse?
3. Describe the reaction of Macbeth and his wife to the news of the
murder.
4. How does Macbeth describe Duncan?
5. Do you think Lady Macbeth’s fainting fit was genuine?
Act II, scene IV
1. What peculiar events have been happening?
2. Where has Macduff gone? What is the significance of this?
3. What clothing imagery is in this scene? Explain one example.
Act III, scene I
1. What is Banquo contemplating?
2. Describe Macbeth’s treatment of Banquo.
3. In his soliloquy what does Macbeth reveal about his feelings towards
Banquo?
4. What does Macbeth convince the murderers of the need to kill Banquo?
5. How is the preparation for this murder different to the preparation for
Duncan’s?
6. How has Macbeth changed since act I?
Act III, scene II
1. How would you describe the states of mind of (a) Lady Macbeth and (b)
Macbeth?
2. What is Macbeth worried about?
3. What is happening to Macbeth’s relationship with his wife?
Act III, scene III
1. What does Banquo request before he is murdered? Is there any
significance to this do you think?
2. What blunder do the murderers make?
Act III, scene IV
1. What is Macbeth’s reaction to the murderers’ news?
2. How does Macbeth react when (a) he sees Banquo’s ghost for the first
time and (b) he sees Banquo’s ghost for the second time?
3. “Lady Macbeth is invaluable help to her husband in this scene.” Do you
agree with this statement? (Hint: What does she say to Macbeth and his
guests?)
4. There is no turning back for Macbeth now. Do you think this is true?
Act III, scene V
1. Do you agree with Hecate’s description of Macbeth?
Act III, scene VI
1. What state is Scotland in?
Act IV, scene I
1. What do the three apparitions reveal?
2. What is Macbeth’s mood after he hears the news from the three
apparitions?
3. What does Macbeth learn about Banquo?
4. What is Macbeth’s new approach to life?
5. What does Macbeth plan to do?
6. How has Macbeth changed since he planned Banquo’s murder?
7. What is happening to Macbeth’s character?
Act IV, scene II
1. According to Ross what state is Scotland in?
2. What sort of character is Lady Macduff? (Two points please!)
3. Are there any similarities or differences between Lady Macduff and Lady
Macbeth?
4. Which of the murders Macbeth has committed is the worst?
Act IV, scene III
1. What was Duncan’s major flaw as a king?
2. What vices does Malcolm suggest he possesses?
3. Why does Malcolm test Macduff in this manner?
4. Is Macduff a moral character?
5. What do you learn about King Edward?
6. How does Macduff react to Ross’s news about his family?
7. What does Malcolm suggest Macduff should use his grief to do?
8. Would Malcolm make a good king?
Act V, scene I
1. What is wrong with Lady Macbeth?
2. What is the significance of Lady Macbeth rubbing her hands?
3. Why is she acting in this way?
4. Do you feel any sympathy for her?
Act V, scene II
1. Is Macbeth a good king?
2. Select two examples of clothing imagery in this scene. What do they
reveal about Macbeth?
3. How do Macbeth’s followers feel about him?
Act V, scene III
1. Describe Macbeth’s state of mind at the start of the scene.
2. How does Macbeth feel about life?
3. What is Macbeth’s reaction to the doctor’s news about his wife?
Act V, scene IV
1. What does Malcolm ask the soldiers to do?
2. Which of the apparitions does this link to?
Act V, scene V
1. “I have almost forgot the taste of fears”- what has happened to
Macbeth? Why can he no longer feel any fear?
2. “She should have died hereafter” – how does Macbeth feel about his
wife’s death?
3. What is Macbeth’s view on life? What four images does he use to
describe the futility of existence? Are these images effective?
4. Describe Macbeth’s state of mind at the end of the scene.
Act V, scene VII
1. What does Macbeth compare himself to? Is this an effective image?
Act V, scene VIII
1. What does Macbeth refuse to do in the opening lines of this scene?
2. Why does Macbeth refuse to fight Macduff? Is this a redeeming feature
in Macbeth’s personality?
3. What important news does Macduff impart?
4. Which of the two apparitions does Macduff’s news have a link with?
5. What is Macbeth’s reaction to Macduff’s news?
6. What spurs Macbeth on to fight Macduff?
7. What images does Malcolm deploy to describe Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth? Are they effective descriptions?