MACBETH Questions
N.B.: Depending on the edition of the text being used, line references may vary somewhat.
Act I, scene i
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2.
What are Graymalkin and Paddock?
What do the words, "Fair is foul, foul is fair" (line 11), mean?
scene ii
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2.
Re-read the Captain's report (lines 7-42). Pretend that you are the captain and, after your
wounds have been tended to, write a letter home to your family describing/explaining the
events you witnessed during the battle.
From reading this scene, make a list of qualities you think Macbeth possesses. See lines
16-23, 35-39, 55-59, and the last line of the scene.
scene iii
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How did the sailor's wife insult the witch? (ll. 4-6)
What punishment does the witch intend to inflict on her husband?
(a) How do Macbeth's first words reflect the witches'?
(b) What might Macbeth mean by these words?
(a) What is Banquo's reaction to seeing the witches?
(b) What is Macbeth's response?
What two predictions do the witches make for Macbeth?
What do the witches predict for Banquo?
What do Macbeth's words, "Would they had stayed" (l. 82), tell us about his character?
What news does Ross bring to Macbeth?
What warning does Banquo give Macbeth?
Examine Macbeth's aside (ll. 120-142). Why does he say that his thoughts…
(a) cannot be good?
(b) cannot be bad?
What does Macbeth mean when he says, "If chance will have me king, why, chance may
crown me / Without my stir" (ll. 142-143)?
scene iv
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2.
What important announcement does Duncan make?
What is Macbeth's response to this announcement?
scene v
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3.
Why does Lady Macbeth think that Macbeth will not murder Duncan?
What is Lady Macbeth's reaction to the news that Duncan is coming to visit her castle?
What decision does Lady Macbeth seem to have made (ll. 37-38 & 60)?
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What does Lady Macbeth ask the evil spirits to do?
What does Lady Macbeth mean when she tells Macbeth to "Look like the innocent flower
/ But be the serpent under it"? (ll. 64-65)
How does Lady Macbeth show that she is in command?
scene vi
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2.
In view of the last line of scene v, why is Duncan's opening speech of scene vi ironic?
Why do you think that Lady Macbeth, rather than Macbeth, greets Duncan?
scene vii
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When Macbeth says, "that but this blow might be the be-all and the end-all, here" (l. 5),
what is he hoping?
What does he realize about the consequences of committing the murder?
State four reasons that Macbeth gives for not murdering Duncan.
What is the only reason Macbeth has for committing the murder? Copy his exact words.
What decision does Macbeth seem to have made at the beginning of his discussion with
Lady Macbeth?
What argument does Lady Macbeth use to begin to change his mind?
How does Lady Macbeth convey cruelty and determination through lines 54-58?
In your own words, explain the murder plan.
What compliment does Macbeth give his wife?
How does Macbeth show a change in the last two lines of the scene?
Act II, scene i
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7.
How do we know that Duncan thinks highly of Macbeth?
What hint does Macbeth give to Banquo that something "big" is going to happen?
What does Banquo's response to Macbeth tell you about his character?
When Macbeth sees the dagger, what does this tell you about his state of mind?
What does Macbeth mean when he says "thou marshall'st me the way that I was going"
(l. 42)?
How does Macbeth show that his conscience is bothering him (ll. 56-9)?
What decision has Macbeth made by the end of the soliloquy?
scene ii
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What has Lady Macbeth done to bolster her courage?
Of what is Lady Macbeth afraid?
What do the following words tell us about Macbeth's state of mind: "But wherefore could
I not pronounce 'Amen'? / I had most needs of blessing, and 'Amen' / Stuck in my throat."
(ll. 32-33)
When Macbeth says he heard a voice cry, "Sleep no more!" (l. 35), what does this tell us
about his conscience?
What mistake has Macbeth made?
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How do we know that Macbeth feels he will never be rid of the guilt?
What does Lady Macbeth's line, "A little water clears us of this deed; / How easy is it,
then!" (ll. 67-8) tell us about her?
How do we know that Macbeth feels sorry for murdering Duncan?
scene iii
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What is Macduff's reaction to finding Duncan's body?
Explain the irony of Macduff's words: "O gentle lady! / 'Tis not for you to hear what I can
speak" (ll. 84-85).
What unplanned action has Macbeth taken?
How does Macbeth explain his actions?
Why does Lady Macbeth faint?
What decision do Malcolm and Donalbain make? Why?
scene iv
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State two unusual things that have happened.
What honour has been conferred upon Macbeth?
What does Macduff's refusal to go to Scone tell you about him?
Act III, scene i
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How do we know Banquo suspects Macbeth?
Explain how Macbeth gets the information he needs about Banquo's plans for the
afternoon?
When Macbeth says, "To be thus is nothing; / But to be safely thus" (l. 48-9), what does
he mean?
State the reasons Macbeth gives for considering killing Banquo.
What argument does Macbeth use to convince the murderers to kill Banquo?
Explain the details of the murder plan.
scene ii
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6.
How do we know that the Macbeths' relationship is deteriorating?
What regret is Lady Macbeth expressing in lines 5-7?
How do we know that Macbeth's conscience has bothered him since Duncan's murder?
How does Macbeth's anguish come through in line 36?
When Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth, "Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, / Till
thou applaud the deed" (ll. 45-46), what change does this indicate in their relationship?
Why do Macbeth's words, "Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill" (l. 55),
seem foreboding?
scene iii
1.
Why might Macbeth have sent a third murderer?
scene iv
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When Macbeth finds out that Fleance has escaped, what is his reaction?
When Macbeth reacts to seeing Banquo's ghost, how does Lady Macbeth cover for him?
How does Lady Macbeth dismiss Macbeth's hallucinations?
How does Macbeth try to cover up for his strange actions?
How do we know that Macbeth is very disturbed when the ghost reappears?
How does Lady Macbeth get everyone to leave before Macbeth can say anything more
damaging?
Whom is Macbeth going back to visit? Why?
What does Macbeth mean when he says, "I am in blood / Stepp'd in so far, that, should I
wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o'er." (ll. 136-8)?
scene v
1.
What prediction does Hecate make?
scene vi
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2.
State three things Lennox says that indicate he is suspicious of Macbeth.
Why has Macduff gone to England?
Act IV, scene i
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When Macbeth meets the witches, what is his attitude towards them?
(a) Describe the first apparition.
(b) What does the apparition tell Macbeth?
(c) What is Macbeth's reaction to the apparition's message?
(a) Describe the second apparition.
(b) What does the apparition tell Macbeth?
(c) What is Macbeth's reaction to the apparition's message?
(a) Describe the third apparition.
(b) What does the apparition tell Macbeth?
(c) What is Macbeth's reaction to the apparition's message?
(a) Describe the last apparition.
(b) What is Macbeth's reaction to this apparition?
When Macbeth says, "Infected be the air whereon they ride, / And damn'd all those that
trust them!" (ll. 138-9), what does he mean?
(a) What decision does Macbeth make in lines 150-154?
(b) Why is this such an evil decision?
scene ii
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3.
What is Lady Macduff's reaction when she learns that Macduff has fled to England?
How do Ross's words in line 16 show that Macduff is well-respected?
Why does Shakespeare include the conversation between Lady Macduff and her son?
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5.
What do the messenger's words (ll. 64-69) tell you about his character?
Consider Lady Macduff's words: "Whither should I fly? / I have done no harm. But I
remember now, / I am in this earthly world, where to do harm / Is often laudable, to do
good sometime / Accounted dangerous folly" (ll. 72-75). How does she ironically
echo the witches?
scene iii
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What does Macduff tell us about the state of affairs in Scotland?
How do Ross's words (ll. 165-170) confirm this state of affairs?
What information about his plans does Malcolm give Ross (ll. 189-190)?
Why does Ross not immediately tell Macduff about the slaughter of his family?
What are the stages of Macduff's reactions when he hears the news about his family?
What vow does Macduff make? Copy out his words.
Act V, scene i
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5.
What two things are always the same in Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking episodes?
How do we know that Lady Macbeth has taken upon her the guilt for all the murders?
What contrast is evident between Lady Macbeth's observation, "all the perfumes of
Arabia will not sweeten this little hand" (ll. 48-9), and her speech immediately after the
murder of Duncan?
What is the doctor's diagnosis?
What is he afraid she might do?
scene ii
1.
How do we know that the people of Scotland no longer support Macbeth?
scene iii
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4.
What is Macbeth's response to the desertion of the thanes?
How do we know that Macbeth regrets his past actions?
What decision does Macbeth make when it is confirmed that ten thousand English
soldiers are marching towards him?
What do Macbeth's words, "I will not be afraid of death and bane / Till Birnam forest
come to Dunsinane" (ll. 59-60), tell us about his state of mind?
scene iv
1.
What order does Malcolm give to his troops? Why is this significant?
scene v
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What military tactic is Macbeth using?
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Examine Macbeth's reaction to the death of his wife. What has Macbeth realized about
his life?
What is Macbeth's reaction to the news that Birnam Wood is "marching" towards
Dunsinane?
What new military tactic does Macbeth employ?
scene vii
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2.
After he kills young Siward, what does Macbeth say to indicate that he is clinging to the
witches' prophecies?
How do we know that Macduff wants nothing but to slay Macbeth?
scene viii (This scene may be a continuation of scene vii in your edition.)
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Why does Macbeth say, "Of all men else I have avoided thee" (l. 33)?
How do we know that Macbeth continues to cling to the prophecies?
When Macduff says, "Macduff was from his mother's womb / Untimely ripp'd" (ll.44-5),
what does he mean?
What is Macbeth's initial reaction to Macduff's news?
How does Macduff goad Macbeth into fighting?
What does Macbeth's decision to fight tell us about him? How does his decision bring
the play full circle?