The Tragedy of Macbeth
Study Guide
Identify the following terms literary terms related to “drama”:
drama:
playwright:
acts and scenes:
protagonist:
tragedy:
tragic hero:
tragic flaw:
comic relief:
dialogue:
soliloquy:
monologue:
aside:
chorus:
stage directions:
Identify the following characters:
Banquo:
Malcolm:
Donalbain:
Witches:
Ross:
Thane:
Duncan:
Macdonwald:
Thane of Glamis:
Thane of Cawdor:
Macbeth –
ACT I
Macbeth and Banquo Meeting the Witches on
the Heath, an 1855 painting by French Romantic
painter Théodore Chassériau
I i-iii (Act 1, Scenes 1 through 3)
1. What purpose does the opening scene serve in the play?
2. What does “Fair is foul and foul is fair” mean?
3. Why might Shakespeare save Macbeth’s entrance until Scene 3?
4. What do we know about Macbeth from what people say about him in Scene 2?
5. What is the political situation in Scotland as revealed in Scene 2?
6. What reward does Duncan give Macbeth? Why?
7. What do the witches’ revelations in the beginning of Scene 3 reveal about them?
8. What is the very first line Macbeth says in the play? (Scene 3)
9. What is Macbeth’s initial reaction to the witches’ predictions?
10. What is the witches’ prediction for Banquo?
11. Why is Macbeth so startled by Ross’ announcement?
12. At the end of these scenes, how does Macbeth feel about the prospect of being king?
13. At the end of this scene, what do Macbeth and Banquo agree to do?
I iv-v (Act 1, Scenes 4 and 5)
1. A) What is the meaning of King Duncan’s line, “There’s no art/ To find the mind’s
construction in the face?”
B) Who enters immediately after he says this?
2. What announcement does King Duncan make about his son, Malcolm?
3. Why does this announcement upset Macbeth?
4. What plans does Duncan have in regard to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?
5. Which direction is Macbeth leaning in plans to become king by the end of this scene?
6. What is King Duncan’s assessment of Macbeth at the very end of Scene 4?
7. What type of woman is Lady Macbeth, as revealed in Scene 5?
8. What is Lady Macbeth’s fear about her husband regarding the unstated, yet understood, plan
to murder Duncan?
9. What does she mean when she says “unsex me here”?
10. How is this request consistent with the “foul is fair” theme?
11. At the end of Scene 5, what is Macbeth’s attitude about the impending murder?
12. Who will actually “manage” the details of the crime?
I vi-vii (Act 1, Scenes 6 and 7)
1. What is the tone of Scene 6? Why is it ironic?
2. How do Lady Macbeth and Duncan greet each other?
3. How are Banquo’s comments about the feeling of birth in the air ironic?
4. What do we further know about Lady Macbeth from this scene?
5. In Scene 7, what two factors cause emotional trauma for Macbeth concerning his desire to
murder the king?
A)
B)
6. What decision does Macbeth first reveal to Lady Macbeth?
7. What three methods does Lady Macbeth use to get him to change his mind?
A)
B)
C)
8. What does Lady Macbeth’s reference to nursing a baby reveal about her?
9. A) Who thinks up the actual murder plan?
B) What exactly is the plan?
10. What is Macbeth’s resolve at the end of Scene 7?
ACT II
II i-ii (Act 2, Scenes 1-2)
1. What time is it as this opens?
2. What state of mind is Banquo in at the beginning of this scene?
3. What image does Macbeth see before him?
4. What does this vision reveal about his state of mind?
5. What is Macbeth about to do as the scene ends?
6. At the beginning of Scene 2, what has Lady Macbeth just done?
7. Why couldn’t Lady Macbeth do the deed herself?
8. What does this show about her?
9. Why couldn’t Macbeth say “Amen” to the guards’ sleepy “God bless us”?
10. According to Lady Macbeth, why shouldn’t they think about the murder?
11. A) Who went back to put the bloody daggers near the guards?
B) What does this show?
12. What is Macbeth’s wish at the end of Scene 2?
13. Generally speaking, who seems more upset about the murder, Macbeth or Lady Macbeth?
II iii-iv (Act 2, Scenes 3-4)
1. A) What gate does the porter say he is guarding?
B) What is the purpose of this scene?
2. What “natural” disturbances does Lennox report?
3. A) Who admits to killing the guards?
B) What reason does this person give?
C) What is Lady Macbeth’s reaction aftger this admission?
4. A) What do Malcolm and Donalbain agree to do after learning of their father’s murder?
B) What will people probably conclude by their action to leave Scotland?
5. Compared to previous scenes, how does Macbeth act at this point?
6. A) In Scene 4, what “unnatural” event does the old man report?
B) What symbolism can you ascertain from this?
7. What “unnatural” event does Ross report?
8. What is Macduff’s conclusion about Malcolm and Donalbain?
9. Where has Macbeth gone?
ACT III
The Ghost of Banquo (1855) by Théodore Chassériau
III i-iii (Act 3, Scenes 1-3)
1. According to Banquo’s soliloquy at the beginning of Scene 1, why does he have reason to fear
Macbeth?
2. A) What does Macbeth invite Banquo to?
B) When is it to take place?
C) Who will accompany Banquo on his horseback ride?
D) Why is Macbeth so interested in these details?
3. According to Macbeth’s soliloquy in Scene 1, why does he fear Banquo?
4. When Macbeth speaks to the two murderers, what motivation does he give them for killing
Banquo?
5. What type of men are these two murderers?
6. Why is Macbeth especially concerned that Fleance be murdered too?
7. How is Lady Macbeth feeling since she has become Queen of Scotland?
8. What mental state is Macbeth in when he enters Scene 2?
9. Why would Macbeth envy the dead?
10. A) Do you think Lady Macbeth is aware of Macbeth’s plot to kill Banquo and Fleance?
B) What does this show about their relationship?
11. Generally, have they been happy since they took the throne?
12. A) Whom do the murderers kill?
B) Who escapes?
III iv-vi (Act 3, Scenes 4-6)
1. What mood are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in as the banquet begins?
2. Whom does Macbeth think he sees in his seat?
3. What is Lady Macbeth’s explanation to the guests for his behavior?
4. What does the ghost’s second appearance do to the banquet?
5. What does Macduff’s absence imply to Macbeth?
6. A) At the end of this scene, who does Macbeth plan to visit again?
B) What does Macbeth think will enable him to be more comfortable with his evil ways?
7. In Scene 6, where has Macduff gone?
8. From whom will Macduff ask help in battling Macbeth?
9. Who else is in England?
10. Generally, how have things been going for Scotland since Macbeth took over?
ACT IV
Murderers attack Macduff’s family at
the end of IV ii.
IV i-iii (Act 4, Scenes 1-3)
1. What is the purpose of the witches’ extensive “preparations” at the beginning of Scene 1?
2. A) What is the first apparition?
B) What is its message?
3. A) What is the second apparition?
B) What is its message?
4. A) What is the third apparition?
B) What is its message?
5. Why is Macbeth upset about the final vision that the witches show him (line of kings of
Banquo’s descent)?
6. Why is Macbeth upset about the news of Macduff’s flight to England?
7. What are Macbeth’s plans for Macduff’s family?
8. What type of person does Lady Macduff’s son appear to be?
9. What purpose does this entire scene serve for the play as a whole?
10. In Scene 3, why would Malcolm have good reason to be suspicious of Macduff?
11. What is Macduff’s resolve when he hears the news of his family’s deaths?
ACT V
“Out, damned spot!” (V i 36): The doctor and waitinggentlewoman (background) observe Lady Macbeth
sleepwalking. This photo is from a recent Chicago
production of The Tragedy of Macbeth.
V i-ii (Act 5, Scenes 1-2)
1. According to the waiting-gentlewoman, what has Lady Macbeth been doing at night?
2. What are three revelations in Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking soliloquy?
A)
B)
C)
3. What does her monologue do for the doctor’s suspicions?
4. What has happened to Lady Macbeth since she became Queen of Scotland?
5. In Scene 2, what do we learn about Macbeth’s enemies?
6. A) Where do they all plan to meet?
B) Why is this place significant?
7. According to Caithness (a Scottish nobleman), what has happened to Macbeth?
V iii-viii (Act 5, Scenes 3-8)
1. Throughout the entire listing of bad news, what continues to give Macbeth courage?
2. According to the doctor, what condition is Lady Macbeth in?
3. What is Malcolm’s directive to the soldiers in Scene 4?
4. What situation is Macbeth in at the castle?
5. What does Macbeth bemoan when he hears “the cry of women” (Scene 6)?
6. What two pieces of news does Macbeth receive in Scene 5?
A)
B)
7. Describe Macbeth’s reaction to Lady Macbeth’s suicide.
8. What does Siward’s death in Scene 7 do to Macbeth’s confidence?
9. Why doesn’t Macbeth want to fight Macduff at the beginning of Scene 5?
10. What revelation from Macduff stuns Macbeth?
11. Why does Macbeth change his mind and decide to fight Macduff?
12. A) How does Macduff reveal Macbeth’s death to the others?
B) How is this act symbolic?
13. Who is the King of Scotland at the play’s conclusion?
(END OF STUDY GUIDE)