Macbeth Act III Questions and
Quotations
ELA B10
Mr. J. Smadu
For each of the quotations below, provide the
following:
a) the speaker (1/2 mark)
b) whom the speaker is speaking to (1/2 mark)
c) the circumstances (what is happening in the play when the quotation is spoken)
(1 mark)
d) paraphrase each quotation (1 mark)
1. “Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weird women promised, and I fear
Thou played’st most foully for ’t.”
2. “We hear our bloody cousins are bestowed
In England and in Ireland, not confessing
Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers
With strange invention.”
3. “To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus.”
4. “And though I could
With barefaced power sweep him from my sight
And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,”
5. “Fleance, his son, that keeps him company,
Whose absence is no less material to me
Than is his father’s, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour.”
6. “Come on, gentle my lord,
Sleek o'er your rugged looks. Be bright and jovial
Among your guests tonight.”
7. “Thou art the best o' th' cutthroats:
Yet he’s good that did the like for Fleance.
If thou didst it, thou art the nonpareil.”
8. “Which of you have done this?”
9. “This is the very painting of your fear.
This is the air-drawn dagger which you said
Led you to Duncan. “
10. “Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends.
I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing
To those that know me.”
11. “Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold.
Thou hast no speculation in those eyes
Which thou dost glare with!”
12. “It will have blood, they say. Blood will have blood.”
13. “Strange things I have in head, that will to hand,
Which must be acted ere they may be scanned.”
14. “He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear
His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear.
And you all know, security
Is mortals' chiefest enemy.”
15. “The son of Duncan—
From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth”
Macbeth Act III, Scene 1
Please answer all questions in complete sentences.
Discussion Questions (Total = 21 marks)
1. What does Banquo suspect about Macbeth’s rise to power? (1 mark)
2. What aspect of Macbeth’s predictions appeal to Banquo? What does he
hope for himself? (2 marks)
3. Why does Macbeth call Banquo “our chief guest”? (1 mark)
4. What information does Macbeth seek from Banquo about his activities of
the afternoon? What are these activities? Why is Macbeth so interested?
(3 marks)
5. What does Macbeth suggest they do until supper? What is he going to do?
What is his reason for this? (3 marks)
6. What is the real reason for Macbeth’s desire to be alone? (1 mark)
7. What is the “thus” that Macbeth mentions? What three aspects of Banquo’s
character does Macbeth fear? Explain each one. (4 marks)
8. What action of Banquo also disturbed Macbeth greatly? Why? (1 mark)
9. In the last two lines of his soliloquy, Macbeth challenges what fate has in
store for him. This challenge of fate has been said to be lead directly to
Macbeth’s downfall; at what point, earlier in the play, did he show a similar
attitude toward fate or fortune? What characteristic of personality is
revealed in this challenge? (2 marks)
10. What plans does Macbeth have for the two murderers? Whose death is the
more important of the two? Why, according to Macbeth, does he not just
have Banquo executed? (3 mark)
Macbeth Act III, Scene 2
Discussion Questions (Total = 9 marks)
1. Explain the first four lines of Lady Macbeth’s speech after the servant
leaves. (1 mark)
2. What question does she ask Macbeth when he first appears? What change
does this show in their relationship? (2 marks)
3. What is the “snake” Macbeth refers too? Why is the “Snake” still
dangerous? (2 marks)
4. To what might death be more preferable? In what ways is Duncan better off
than Macbeth? (2 marks)
5. What suggestion does Lady Macbeth now make to him? How does this
suggestion reflect the reversal theme? (2 marks)
Macbeth Act III, Scene 3
Discussion Questions (Total = 10 marks)
1. Who has sent the third murderer? Why do you think they were sent?
(2 marks)
2. What is the time of day in this scene? How do you know? (2 marks)
3. How does the second murderer know that he approaching horses bear
Banquo? (1 mark)
4. What does the third murderer’s speech, “Almost a mile…their walk…”
suggest about his identity? (1 mark)
5. Is Fleance’s escape important? Why? (2 marks)
6. How might Fleance’s escape be considered the turning point of the play?
Explain. (2 mark)
Macbeth Act III, Scene 4
Discussion Questions (Total = 17 marks)
1. Explain the irony of the First Murderer’s appearance just as Lady Macbeth
bids welcome to “all our friends” (1 mark)
2. What might Macbeth’s emotional state be when he says, to the Murderer,
“There’s blood upon thy face.” (1 mark)
3. Why is Macbeth concerned about the fate of Fleance? (1 mark)
4. Explain the dramatic irony inherent in Macbeth’s Lines: (1 mark)
Here had we now our country’s honor roof’d
Were the grac’d person of our Banquo present;
Who may I rather challenge for unkindness,
Than pity for mischance!
5. Why does Macbeth think the table is full? (1 mark)
6. Why do the thanes not understand his confusion? (1 mark)
7. How does Lady Macbeth explain Macbeth’s odd behaviour and comments?
What personality characteristic is revealed by her actions here? How might
such an explanation weaken his security as a king? (3 marks)
8. Explain the irony of the ghost’s reappearance immediately after Macbeth’s
wish, “Would he were here!” (1 mark)
9. Macbeth mentions three extremely fierce and dangerous creatures in his
next speech. Why does he refer to these animals? (1 mark)
10. What does Macbeth think the ghost wants? (1 mark)
11. Why is Macbeth angry with Macduff? (1 mark)
12. How, apparently, does Macbeth know so much about the activities of his
thanes? Why would it be natural for Macbeth to be suspicious of his
supporters? (2 marks)
13. Where does Macbeth plan to go the next day? What does he hope to obtain
from these people? (2 marks)
Macbeth Act III, Scene 5
Discussion Questions (Total = 3 marks)
1. Why is Hecate angry with the three witches? (1 mark)
2. What supernatural ability of Hecate is revealed when she tells the three
witches where Macbeth will be going in the morning? (1 mark)
3. How does Hecate plan to “…draw him on to his confusion.”? (1 mark)
Macbeth Act III, Scene 6
Discussion Questions (Total = 10 marks)
1. Identify the tone of Lennox’s first speech in the scene. Quote two
different lines that make this tone obvious. (2 marks)
2. According to Lennox, Macbeth has not been very creative in finding suspects
for the two murders he has committed. Whom has he accused of killing
Duncan? Whom has accused of killing Banquo? (2 marks)
3. Why is Macduff “in disgrace”? (1 mark)
4. To which “son of Duncan” does the Lord refer in his first speech? What
does his way of referring to this person reveal about his opinion of the
legitimacy of Macbeth’s rule? (2 marks)
5. What does the Lord’s use of the word, “tyrant,” indicate about Macbeth’s
present popularity among his thanes? (1 mark)
6. Where has Macduff gone? Why has he gone there? (2 marks)