Macbeth Study Guide Act II
Scene 1
1. How does Banquo show he is on guard
and fears for his life? He reaches for
his sword when Macbeth enters the
room.
2. What gift did Duncan give Lady
Macbeth? A diamond.
3. Who brings up the subject of the
witches? Banquo Why? He wants to
know what Macbeth thinks about
them, because two of the prophecies
have come true.
4. What do we realize about Macbeth’s
true character when he says “I think
not of them?” He is a liar.
5. What does Macbeth see before the
murder of Duncan that lets us know he
is losing touch with reality? A dagger
coming before him. Why would
Shakespeare include this scene? To
make us wonder whether Macbeth is
hallucinating, having a bad dream, or
losing his mind because of his guilty
conscience.
6. Shakespeare uses a “sleep motif” in
this scene. What makes it effective?
Disturbed sleep is sometimes caused
by guilty feelings. It demonstrates
Macbeth’s restless and guilty mind.
Scene 2
1. To whom or what is Lady Macbeth
referring when she says “That which
hath made them drunk hath made me
bold”? Wine Why is this line
important? It goes to her evil state of
mind and how wine toughens her not
weakens her disposition. What does it
say about her? She is tough as nails
and hard-hearted.
2. Why didn’t Lady Macbeth kill Duncan
herself? He looked like her father.
3. How does Macbeth react to his having
killed Duncan? He is very upset and
shaken.
4. How does Lady Macbeth react to
Macbeth’s reaction? She tells him it’s
no big deal and to get over it.
5. What did Macbeth forget to do after
killing Duncan? Plant the daggers on
the sleeping guards.
6. What does Lady Macbeth do about it?
She plants the daggers on the guards,
because Macbeth refuses to do it.
7. What does Macbeth say about washing
off the blood? He says “All of
Neptune’s ocean can’t wash away the
blood.”
8. What does Lady Macbeth say about
washing off the blood? She says, “A
little water clears us of this deed.”
Scene 3
1. What purpose does the Porter serve?
Comic relief. What is wrong with him?
He is drunk. What does he mean by the
term equivocator? Liar. What does he
say about drinking? It causes restless
sleep, tinkle, vomit, a red nose, and it
takes away a man’s performance but
increases his desires.
2. What does Lennox say about the past
evening? It was an unruly night with
chimneys blown down, screams of
death, and an earthquake. What other
Shakespearean play has a similar
scene? Julius Caesar.
3. Who first discovers Duncan’s body?
Macduff
4. Who are the first to be blamed for the
killing? The guards.
5. What killing does Macbeth confess to
and what is his excuse? He kills the
guards and says he was too upset about
the guards having killed Duncan.
6. What does Lady Macbeth do to draw
attention away from Macbeth? She
faints.
7. Which two men are concerned for their
own safety? Malcolm and Donalbain
Why? They are next in line to become
king.
8. What does Banquo suspect? That
Macbeth may have done it, but that is
Act III Scene 1.
9. Where do Malcolm and Donalbain
flee? Malcolm-England; DonalbainIreland.
Scene 4
1. What unnatural events do the Old Man
and Ross discuss? How Duncan’s
horses ate each other and an owl killed
a falcon.
2. Who does Macduff initially blame for
the murder and why? Malcolm and
Donalbain, because they would be next
in line for the throne, and they fled
Scotland.
3. What is important about Scone and
why is Macbeth going there? That’s
where kings of Scotland are crowned.
Macbeth is being crowned the new
King of Scotland.
4. Where does Macduff go? Home to
Fife-his castle. Did he go to the
coronation of the new king? No