Macbeth
Questions & Answers
Act 1
What are the witches planning at the beginning of the act? They are planning on meeting with Macbeth.
What does the Captain report about the battle to Duncan? He reports that Macbeth has fought bravely and
has defeated the enemy.
What title is given to Macbeth for bravery in the battle? Thane of Cawdor.
What happened to the original Thane of Cawdor and why did he lose his title? He was executed because he
had betrayed his country.
How do the witches greet Macbeth after the battle? They greet him as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor,
and as future King.
What do the witches mean when they say, 'Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Not so happy, yet much
happier. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none'? They mean that Banquo will be greater in death than
Macbeth is in life.
What news is brought by Ross and Angus? News that Macbeth has gained the title of Thane of Cawdor.
What happens that causes Macbeth to recalculate his ease of becoming king? Malcolm becomes the Prince of
Cumberland.
What is the signifigance of Lady Macbeth's "unsex me" scene? She wishes she was a man so that she could
have power instead of her husband having it and her having to control him.
What has Lady Macbeth schemed to do to the King? She has schemed to have Macbeth murder the king
while he is sleeping.
Why does the King come to Macbeth's castle? To be the new Thane of Cawdor's guest and to congratulate
Macbeth over dinner.
How sure is Lady Macbeth that this plot will succeed? She is so sure that she doesn't even consider the fact
that they could fail.
Act 2
What does Macbeth ask of Banquo at the beginning of Act 2? He asks Banquo to support him in fulfilling
the prophesies.
What is Macbeth doing in his soliloquy? He is trying to convince himself that he is doing the write thing.
How guilty does Macbeth feel after committing the murder? He felt so guilty that he couldn't even say
"Amen" to a prayer.
What does Macbeth wish the knocking could do? He wishes that it would wake Duncan from death.
What is the first reaction to the King's death and who's is it? The reaction from Macduff is great horror,
almost uncoceivable horror.
What does Macbeth do to the supposed murderers and why? He kills them in fury. He claims that in his
great fury he killed them without thinking.
What symbolism does Lady Macbeth's fainting have and how is it ironic? It gives the people the sense that
she is completely shocked that the King has been murdered. It is ironic because she planned the entire thing.
Why do Malcolm and Donalbain decide to flee? They suspect that Macbeth murdered the King and fear that
they may be the next to be killed.
What meaning does the line, 'God's benison go with you, and with those that would make good of bad, and
friends of foes!' have? It is a warning to Ross that he should be very careful in dealing with Macbeth.
Act 3
Why does Macbeth have Banquo killed? Macbeth fears that Banquo's children will end up with the
throne and he doesn't want that to happen.
Why does Macbeth hire murderers to kill Banquo? He is already guilty enough from killing Duncan
and doesn't want to have more guilt by killing his friend Banquo.
How does Macbeth feel with his new found power? He is very insecure about having one of his enemies
take it from him.
What happens when the murderers try to kill Banquo and his son? They kill Banquo but let his son
Fleance escape.
What does the ghost of Banquo do to Macbeth's paranoia? It makes him completely insane. He knows
that he can never be free of the guilt connected with the murders of his friends.
How does Lady Macbeth make her husband feel better after seeing the ghost? She attempts to get him
to go to sleep.
Act 4
What are the witches doing at the beginning of this act? They are making a brew and waiting for
Macbeth.
What three things does Macbeth learn from the witches and apparitions and how does he react to them?
1. He should fear Macduff, he is thankful for the warning. 2. He shouldn't fear any man born of a
woman, he rethinks his views on Macduff. 3. Nothing will affect his reign until Birnam Wood moves,
he knows that a forest can't get up and move so he is very secure in the fact that he will reign until he
dies of natural causes.
How does Macbeth react to Macduff's departure? He decides that he will destroy all that Macduff has
so that he won't be threatened by any of Macbeth's kin.
How does Macduff react to the news that his family has been slaughtered? He regrets leaving them and
not warning them. He feels that he should have been there to defend them.
What action is taken by Macduff and Malcolm? They decide that now is the best time to go to battle
with Macbeth and they make moves towards ordering the army to move out.
Act 5
What significance does the doctor have? He sees and hears the confession of Lady Macbeth while he is
trying to diagnose her condition.
Why won't the doctor or the gentlewoman tell anyone what they have seen or heard? They fear the wrath
of Macbeth. If he would find out that they know about the murder of Duncan he would surely kill them
very quickly.
What is Macbeth's current psychological condition? He is nearing insanity. He finally believes all the
prophesies and knows that he is going to eventually lose the throne.
How is the prophesy of Birnam Wood moving to Dusinane Hill fulfilled? Each man in the English force
cuts down a bough to provide cover so that the size of the army is not known.
Why doesn't Macbeth put his armor on when he goes out to do battle? He knows that he can't be killed
by a man born of woman. Therefore he has nothing to fear from mere humans.
What is said that frightens Macbeth before he is killed by Macduff? Macduff tells Macbeth that he
was ripped from his mother's womb at an untimely moment.
Who decides who becomes king and who does he choose? Macduff decides that Malcolm should be king
since he was the next in line for the throne.
Macbeth Study Questions
ACT ONE, scenes 1-3
In the first three scenes of Act One, rather than meeting Macbeth
immediately, we are presented with others' reactions to him. Scene one
begins with the witches, accepted symbols of evil. They arrange to meet
with Macbeth sometime in the near future when a battle which is obviously
in progress is concluded. They also introduce the central paradox of the
play: fair is foul, foul is fair.
Answer the following questions:
1) What reasons can you think of as to why Macbeth is first introduced to
us through the witches ?
2)Explain what you think is meant by the paradoxical:
Fair is foul, foul is fair .
Scene two provides us with the views Duncan, the King, and the bloodied
Captain have of Macbeth.
3) Paraphrase the Captain's description of the battle and the part played by
Macbeth in securing victory.
4)What impression do you gain of Macbeth from this description?
5)The Thane of Cawdor was obviously a traitor. What does Duncan's
comment:
No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive
Our bosom interest:
suggest about Duncan's former relationship with him?
6) Given the fact that Macbeth was first mentioned by the witches, the idea
of fair is foul, foul is fair was introduced in scene one and that Duncan was
deceived by Cawdor, to what extent are you prepared to accept at face
value the assessment of Macbeth as brave and noble?
The first part of scene three sees a return of the witches.
7)Carefully read their discussion of their attempt to take revenge on the
sailor's wife. What does this episode suggest about the extent and the
limits of their powers?
Macbeth's entry is a shock because his first words echo those of the
witches in scene one:
So foul and fair a day I have not seen
8) What might this mean in a literal sense?
9) What effect does it have on our initial response to Macbeth?
Macbeth and Banquo are confronted by the witches who predict both
Macbeth's and Banquo's future.
Analyse Banquo's reaction to their prophesy regarding Macbeth.
10) What does he suggest about Macbeth's reaction?
11)What is significant about his use of the words fear and fair in this
context?
12) What does his challenge to the witches suggest about his character?
Immediately following the disappearance of the witches, Ross and Angus
bring the news that we, as an audience, already know regarding the
Thaneship of Cawdor. This situation where the audience knows more than
the characters is called dramatic irony.
13) How does Banquo react?
14)Macbeth's reaction takes the form of a metaphor:
why do you dress me
In borrowed robes
Explain this metaphor. The clothes metaphor is used throughout the play.
Pay careful attention to how and why it is used whenever you come across
it.
15)Why does Banquo warn Macbeth about his reaction to the prophecies?
What does this warning suggest about Banquo's understanding of
Macbeth's character and ambitions?
16) Paraphrase this warning.
Macbeth's response comes in the form of a soliloquy.(A speech which
reflects the thoughts of a character. It is heard by the audience but not by
the other characters in the play.)
Carefully read from the start of Macbeth's soliloquy to the end of the scene.
17)Paraphrase this soliloquy.
18)What does the soliloquy suggest about Macbeth's state of mind
19)What decision does Macbeth come to?
20)Explain Banquo's use of a clothing metaphor.
In scene three Macbeth and Banquo are received by Duncan.
21)How does Duncan's comment:
There's no art
Find the mind's construction in the face
reflect the fair is foul theme?
22) What does Duncan say to each of Macbeth and Banquo?
23)How does each respond?
24) How does Macbeth react to the naming of Malcolm as heir to the
throne?
25) What does Macbeth mean when he says:
Stars hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires:
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be
What the eye fears, when it is done, to see?
Act One scenes 5, 6, and 7 introduce Lady Macbeth and explore her
relationship with Macbeth. These are very important scenes because our
response to the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is crucial
to our interpretation of the play.
26)What does the tone of Macbeth's letter suggest about his relationship
with her?
27)Explain her assessment of Macbeth and his ambition.
28) How does she see her role?
29) Carefully read her " unsex me" soliloquy.
a) What is she attempting to do?
b)What do the lines:
Come thick night,
and pall the in the dunnest smoke of hell,
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,
To cry 'Hold hold!'
suggest about her psychological state?
30)How does Lady Macbeth further develop the "fair is foul" theme in this
scene?
31)Carefully read Macbeth's soliloquy in scene 7.
a) What does he mean by:
If it were done when 'tis done ,then 'twere well
It were done quickly. If th' assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch,
With his surcease, success; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and end-all-here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We'd jump the life to come. ?
b) What arguments does he provide against the assassination?
c) What motive does he provide for the murder?
d) Analyse Lady Macbeth's response to his declaration that he will proceed
no further in the business.
- What tactics does she use to persuade him?
- What does the tone of her attack upon him suggest about her
psychological state?
-What is it that finally persuades him?
e) How is clothing imagery used in this scene?
f)How is the "fair is foul" theme further developed
Macbeth Study Questions
ACT TWO
Act Two is concerned with the murder of Duncan and its immediate
aftermath. Scene one builds tension as Macbeth prepares to commit the
act.
1) Examine the dialogue between Macbeth and Banquo at the start of the
scene.
a) How would you describe Macbeth's state of mind?
b) In what ways is he different to the man we saw at the end of Act
One?
2)Read the "Is this a dagger..." soliloquy carefully.
Paraphrase the soliloquy.
3) How does this speech use imagery of light and darkness?
4) Choose three metaphors from the speech and explore how they are
used.
5) In what ways does this soliloquy represent an apparent change in
Macbeth?
Scene two begins with Lady Macbeth. In these speeches she admits to
having consumed alcohol in order to be able to fulfil her role in the murder.
6) What does this suggest about her strength of character?
7) Explore how Shakespeare builds tension throughout the scene.
8) What does Macbeth mean when he says that he has murdered sleep?
9) What is the importance of Lady Macbeth's comment:
These deeds must not be thought
After these ways; so, it will make us mad. ?
When Lady Macbeth realizes that Macbeth has failed to remove the daggers
from the scene she appears strong and angry.
10) How does she respond to Macbeth's weakness?
11) How is water used as an image in this scene?
12) How would you describe Macbeth's feelings at the end of the scene?
Scene three introduces a brief moment of comic relief. This is a technique
used to relieve the tension that has been built up in the audience so that
they are emotionally able to cope with the tension that is to follow. The
Porter is a drunken peasant who jokes about a range of people well known
to a Shakespearean audience who he believes will go hell for their
pretentiousness. He also makes a number of sexual jokes.
Following the appearance of the Porter, the tension rises with the arrival of
Macduff and the discovery of the murder.
13) How does Macbeth justify his murder of the grooms?
14) Why do you think Lady Macbeth faints at this point?
15) How does Banquo respond to the murders?
16) Why do Malcolm and Donalbain flee?
Scene four begins with a discussion between Ross and an old man.
17) What is interesting about the events which they discuss?
18) What do you think those events symbolize?
19) What does Macduff's decision not to attend the coronation suggest
about his attitude to Macbeth?
Macbeth Study Questions
ACT THREE
Scene One
Act Three begins with a soliloquy by Banquo.
1) In what ways does this speech show that Banquo is
a threat to Macbeth?
Read Macbeth's soliloquy :
"To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus-"
2) Paraphrase the soliloquy.
3) What assumptions underlie Macbeth's fears?
4) Given Banquo's earlier soliloquy, to what extent do you feel his fears are
justified?
5) Why is it interesting that Macbeth employs professional cut-throats to
kill Banquo?
Scene Two
6) In what ways do each of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth show that the
crown has not brought peace of mind?
7) In what ways has Macbeth changed since the murder?
8) In many ways the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
have been reversed. Show how their relationship has altered. Pay particular
attention to the way the "fair is
foul " theme is used to emphasize this change.
Scene Four
This is the scene in which Banquo's ghost appears.
9) In many of his plays Shakespeare uses ghosts. However, usually the
ghost is seen by a number of characters.
10) What does the fact that only Macbeth can see this ghost suggest about
the nature of the ghost?
11) How does Lady Macbeth respond to his "fit" ?
12) Once again there is a shift in their relationship. Explain
this shift.
13) Once Banquo's ghost has finally gone, Macbeth appears to be more
settled. Why do you think this is so?
14) Why do you think Macbeth decides to visit the witches again?
Examine the following lines:
For my own good
All causes shall give way. I am in blood
Stepped so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o'er.
Strange things I have in head that will to hand
Which must be acted ere they may be scanned.
15) Explain what Macbeth means here.
Scene Five
Read Hecate's speech closely. She is the Queen of witches.
16) What does she suggest about the witches' plans for Macbeth?
17) In many productions of the play, this scene is left out.
What effect does leaving the scene out have on our understanding of the
role of the witches in determining Macbeth's actions?
Scene Six.
Scene six provides us with an insight into Macbeth's reign and the way in
which he is viewed by the Thanes.
18) Briefly describe these views.
Macbeth Study Questions
ACT FOUR
Scene One
Macbeth returns to the witches, apparently placing his trust in their
knowledge. However, as the audience knows through the dramatic irony of
the Hecate speech, he will be deceived by them playing upon his own
illusions and their creation in him of a state of false security.
1) Read the opening of the scene, prior to Macbeth's entrance. What do
you think is the purpose of this scene?
2) Look carefully at the three prophecies. In what ways does each
encourage a sense of false security in Macbeth?
Scene Two
This scene contains the murder of Lady Macduff and her children.
3) Why do you think Shakespeare includes a scene showing the
relationship between Lady Macduff and her son?
4) This is the first murder to be committed on stage.
What effect does this have on the audience?
5) Why do you think Shakespeare deems it necessary to
create this effect at this particular point in the play?
Scene Three
Scene three is a comparatively long and complex scene in which Malcolm
tests Macduff 's loyalty, not to him, but to Scotland.
6) Why does Malcolm need to do this?
7) What do Ross's comments suggest about the state of Scotland under
Macbeth's rule?
ACT FIVE
Scene One
This is Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking scene. Read the scene carefully.
1) What is one major difference in the style Shakespeare uses for this
scene versus the others? Why does he do this?
2) In what ways is this scene linked to her unsex me speech in Act One,
scene five?
3) Look carefully at the images that come out of her subconscious mind
(light, water…) . What do they suggest about her state of mind?
4) What is wrong with her hands? What theme does this reinforce?
Scene Three
Read Macbeth's speech which begins with : I am sick at heart...
5) Why is he disillusioned?
6) In the scene as a whole, in what ways is he still placing his faith in the
witches?
7) To what disease is Macbeth referring? How is this ironic?
Scene Four
8) How are the forces going to camoflauge themselves?
Scene Five
9) Read Macbeth's speech in response to Lady Macbeth's death. How does
he respond?
10) What metaphors does he use for life?
11) What admirable quality does Macbeth finally display?
Scene Seven
12) Why does Macbeth kill again? What is his motivation?
13) How is Macduff’s motivation different?
Scene Eight
14) What does Macbeth’s line:
“My soul is too much charged… already” mean?
15) What is significant about Macbeth being tricked in a “double sense”?
16) Macbeth is killed brutally. How does this parallel another event early in
the play?
17) Who is King in the end?
18) What prophesy was not fulfilled?
Propositions:
1) Lady Macbeth's problem is that while she understands herself, she does
not understand Macbeth.
2) Lady Macbeth is totally evil; she is, in fact, the fiend-like Queen
described by Malcolm at the end of the play.
3) The witches so manipulate Macbeth that he has no control over his fate.
4) Shakespeare didn't write the silly Hecate bits, so out they come.
If you were producing a performance of Macbeth, explain why you would or
would not include the Hecate scene.
5) The story of a bad man who commits a crime is not a tragedy but a
straightforward tale of evil. Macbeth, however, is about a good man who
becomes evil and that is his tragedy.
6) Far from being the strong character he is often portrayed as being,
Macbeth is essentially a weak man; he allows the witches and Lady
Macbeth to manipulate him into an act which, if left alone, he would never
contemplate, never mind commit.
The oral presentation:
Your task, as a group, is to present your views on the issues raised by your
chosen proposition to the class in a presentation which will last between
five and ten minutes.
You may:
- argue for or against the proposition;
- suggest that it is possible to interpret the play, scene character etc. in
more than one way;
- engage in a group reading or dramatisation of part of the play to illustrate
your point of view.
It is important to remember that any reading or dramatisation must be
thoroughly rehearsed.
You must:
- use the text in support of your views;
- include all members of the group equally in the presentation.
THIS IS AN ASSESSMENT TASK AND TO SOME EXTENT THE
PERFORMANCE OF EACH MEMBER OF THE GROUP IS DEPENDENT
UPON EACH OTHER MEMBER; CONSEQUENTLY, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR
ALL GROUP MEMBERS TO FULLY CO-OPERATE TO ENSURE THAT ALL
ACHIEVE THE BEST POSSIBLE GRADE.
ESSAY TOPICS
1) " Lady Macbeth is the most interesting and complex character in the
play. She is, in fact, the point on which the action pivots: without her there
is no play. "
To what extent do you agree with this view of Macbeth?
2) "Macbeth is a statement of evil"
Do you consider this to be a fair comment on the play?
3) " Macbeth can not be considered a tragic hero: he is a weak man
manipulated by others and he does not reach a state of self-knowledge at
the end of the play."
To what extent do you agree with this view of the play?