"Macbeth" Review
English IV
Name: _______________________________
Date: ___________
Period: _______
Directions: Answer each of the following questions.
Review Sonnets (The Quiz may help)
Review Macbeth Vocabulary
Review Macbeth Characters
1. Shakespeare often drew the plots for his plays from either history or the works of previous writers. From
what source did he derive the plot of Macbeth?
2. Shakespeare wrote 10 tragedies; Macbeth is one of the last. Name three others.
3. What was the name of Shakespeare's acting troupe? Why was the company so named?
Act I
4. How are Macbeth and Duncan related?
5. What title does Duncan decide to award Macbeth?
6. With what three titles do the witches greet Macbeth?
7. Whom does Duncan name as his successor?
8. What quality does Lady Macbeth see as a liability?
9. What are Lady Macbeth's plans for Duncan's murder?
10. The opening scene establishes an atmosphere of foreboding. What does the riddle "Fair is foul, and foul
is fair" hint about coming events?
11. In Scene 2, the Sergeant recounts Macbeth's actions in battle. What images does he associate with
Macbeth? From the Sergeant's description, how would you characterize Macbeth?
12. During Scene 3, what prophesies do the witches make for Macbeth and Banquo?
13. When Macbeth enters in Scene 3, why does he say, "So foul and fair a day I have not seen"?
14. Before Macbeth returns home, what indications are there that he already has some evil purpose in
mind?
15. When Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth's letter in Scene 5, her reactions to the letter show that she is eager
for her husband to be king. What are her criticisms of Macbeth?
16. How do Lady Macbeth's speeches characterize her?
17. How does Lady Macbeth greet her guests in Scene 6?
18. With "double trust" Duncan comes to Macbeth's house. Name three relationships that bind Duncan and
Macbeth.
19. In Scene 7, Macbeth is on the verge of giving up the plan to murder Duncan. How does Lady Macbeth
encourage him?
20. Explain what Macbeth means when he says of Lady Macbeth, "thy undaunted mettle should compose/
Nothing but males."
21. The poetic form of the play with a few exceptions is blank verse. Explain what it is and cite the
exceptions.
22. Explain Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's plan to murder Duncan.
Act II
23. What is the importance of Banquo's son?
24. What does Macbeth forget to leave behind when leaving Duncan's chamber?
25. Who seems to be the stronger character at the end of Act II Scene 2? Macbeth or Lady Macbeth? Why?
26. Where does the Porter imagine he is?
27. Name three of the strange events that the characters see as evil omens. How do they illistrate Pathetic
Fallacy?
28. Who first discovers Duncan's murder?
29. What crime does Macbeth publicly confess to?
30. Where do Malcolm and Donalbain go and why?
31. In Scene 2, why is Macbeth still in possession of the murder weapons? What happens to them?
32. Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth comment on the stains of Duncan's blood. Compare their reactions at
this point.
Act III
33. When Act III opens, what is Banquo thinking about?
34. Why does Macbeth fear Banquo? Why does he wish Fleance dead?
35. In Act III, Scene 2 both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth voice regret for their actions; how are their
thoughts similar?
36. Name one example of dramatic irony during Macbeth's banquet remarks about Banquo.
Act IV
37. In Act IV, what is the significance of the three apparitions?
38. What are the three prophesies made by the witches in this act?
39. How do the witches reveal to Macbeth that Banquo's descendants will be kings?
40. Why does Malcolm paint so black a picture of his character to Macduff?
41. How does Macbeth react to the news that Macduff has left for England?
42. How is the murder of Macduff's family different from Macbeth's previous murders?
43. How does Macduff react to Malcolm's confessions regarding his character?
44. At the end of Act IV, what does Malcolm propose?
Act V
45. In Scene 1, a Doctor and a Gentlewoman observe Lady Macbeth. How has Lady Macbeth's mental
condition deteriorated?
46. During Scene 2, Macbeth's enemies discuss his mental condition. What is their appraisal of Macbeth's
sanity?
47. In Scene 3, Macbeth laments his impeding death, listing the things to which he might have looked
forward. What are they?
48. How does Malcolm's plan in scene 4 fulfill the prophecy that the Birnam forest will "come against"
Macbeth?
49. How are the apparitions prophesies fulfilled?
50. Compare the last images of Macbeth in Act V with those with which he is introduced in Act I.
51. Although Macbeth has committed horrible crimes, he projects a heroic quality. Consider the following
qualities and explain how Shakespeare uses them to elevate the audience's regard for Macbeth: courage,
eloquence, and understanding.
52. Macbeth brings down tragedy on himself and his family. What flaw in his personality accounts for his
fall?
53. What does the manner in which Macbeth faces his inevitable death show about his character?
54. Explain the function of the drunken Porter scene.
55. What are Malcolm's first actions upon accepting the crown of Scotland? What kind of King do his
actions indicate he may be?