Macbeth
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 5
Scene 1
What does the sleepwalking scene
tell us about Lady Macbeth’s state
of mind?
In Act II Lady Macbeth makes light of
the murder and says that a little water
will solve their problem of washing
their hand (and guilt) clean.
Now she is wandering the castle
rubbing her hands to wash away
blood that is only a figment of her
imagination. Her inner confusion and
disharmony engulfs her in madness.
She had warned Macbeth not to dwell
on his feelings of guilt because it will
make them mad (II.2) This is the
same woman who earlier in the play
seemed (even more so than her
husband) impervious to the suffering
of others.
Explain the irony of this change.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 5
Scene 1
List some of the specific
events that Lady Macbeth
refers to in her sleepwalking
speeches.
Notes written and
delivered, fear of
lights being
extinguished, gushing
blood, Lady Macduff’s
death, Banquo’s death
and burial.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 5
Two place names of significance
are mentioned in Scene 2.
What are they, and where have
you heard of them before?
Scene 2
Birnam Wood (Act IV sc1), Dunsinane
(Macbeth’s Castle first mentioned in
Act I sc 5).
The witches’ prophesies.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 5
Scene 3
Why is Macbeth so cocky in Scene 3?
He still believes that the
witches’ prediction is true
and assumes that he will be
safe.
What does Macbeth’s reaction to his
servant tell us about him?
He does not want to listen
to reason and makes fun of
the servant who is trying
desperately to help
Macbeth.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 5
Scene 5
What do lines 10-16 in
Scene 5 say about Macbeth’s
state of mind?
He has caused such
horrors that he no
longer responds to the
screams of women in
a normal manner; he
is devoid of normal
feeling.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 5
When the report comes that
Birnum Wood is moving toward
Dunsinane, how does Macbeth
react?
Why doesn’t he give up right
away?
Scene 5
He immediately thinks of
the witches’ predictions
and knows he is in dire
trouble.
He still believes that no
man born of woman can
harm him, and thus still
has bravery.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 5
Scene 7
What does Macbeth decide
against in Scene 7, lines 36-38?
Who is “the Roman fool” to whom
he is referring?
He is alluding to
Roman soldiers who
would rather fall on
their own swords to
commit suicide rather
than be taken as
prisoners of war.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 5
At what point does
Macbeth realize that he
has been tricked?
Scene 7
When Macduff announces that he
was born prematurely and by
Caesarean birth (therefore he was
not “of woman born”).
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 5
In the final scene,
Macbeth at one point
tells Macduff, “I’ll not
fight with thee!”
Scene 8
When Macduff threatens to
capture him and display him
as a public spectacle.
What changes his mind?
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 5
What does Macbeth’s last line tell
us about his state of mind?
Who will be the next king?
Why?
Scene 8
It is almost like “playing chicken”
in that he dares Macduff and does
not want to yield without a fight.
He would rather die in battle than
go through the humiliation of
being taken prisoner and put on
public display.
Malcolm…because he is the
rightful heir to Scotland (he is the
Thane of Fife).
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Act 5
What is the mood at
the end of the play?
Scene 8
Hopeful. Malcolm promises
rewards to his supporters
and further restoration and
relief to his people and
invites everyone to his
coronation at Scone. His
speech suggests that law,
justice, and stability have
returned to the oncetroubled country.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Discussion Topics
What aspects of the
play reflect the “fair
if foul” theme?
Consider the
following:
Macbeth’s Soldiers
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
The Weird Sisters &
Prophecy
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Discussion Topics
What is Macbeth’s
lament in his “my
way of life is fallen
into the sear” speech
(V.3.26-7)?
He knows he will not
have the honor, love,
respect, family, etc,
as one would expect
at his point of life.
Instead, he has
curses and false
honor.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Discussion Topics
What effect is
Time is moving
Shakespeare creating
quickly. The pace
with this sequence of
of the action is
short scenes that
follow one another so picking up,
closely?
speeding toward
Macbeth’s death.
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.
Macbeth
Questions are taken from Barron’s Simply Shakespeare.