E5: Test—Morality Play & Macbeth (Acts 1-3), 50 points
Ms. Verma
Directions: Use complete sentences and proper grammar in all your answers. Use specific examples from the
text and/or historical background to support all your claims.
I. Vocabulary 12 points
Use the following three words in your answers. Make sure the meaning of the word is clear from your
sentence: 1. _______________________ 2. _______________________ 3. _______________________
II. Historical background of Macbeth 12 points
1. How is the influence of the morality play genre evident in Shakespeare’s Macbeth?
The seminal genre of the morality play influenced all later British drama, and this influence is especially clear in
Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Like the morality play Everyman, Macbeth shows a main character experiencing psychomachia, or
struggling with how to be a moral person. Macbeth’s guilt after committing murders is a main focus throughout the play, just
like Everyman regrets all his sinful behaviors and has to learn to be moral.
2. Does Shakespeare effectively improve upon the genre of the morality play with Macbeth? Why or why not?
Provide specific examples from Macbeth and Everyman to support your answer.
Yes, Shakespeare improves upon the morality play genre with Macbeth because he adds complex characters who
change throughout the play and differ greatly from each other. We see Macbeth and Lady Macbeth turn from foul to fair and
fair to foul, switching gender roles, etc. The characters are more “real” than the bland, vapid nameless characters of the
morality plays. Other examples from students’ tests included: Macbeth has interesting literary devices that show what’s
happening and give the audience a chance to interpret meaning from the play on their own; Macbeth deals with multiple
moral issues, not just one; Macbeth has other subplots and unexpected events to keep the audience engaged.
3. So far, how does the play pay homage to King James? Why did Shakespeare feel the need to do this?
King James was also the royal patron to Shakespeare’s theater company, the Kings Men. Shakespeare wrote
Macbeth, which alters Scottish history, to please his patron and his king. He presents the character Banquo, known to be an
ancestor to King James, in a positive light in the play. Banguo is the calm, rational, innocent foil to Macbeth, who is portrayed
as the ruthless and incompetent avaricious murderer.
III. Literary Devices 12 points
1. Identify another symbol from Acts I-III and explain its significance. DO NOT use a symbol we have
discussed in class (owl, falcon, Duncan’s horses, the dagger, the weather).
Students discussed symbols such as: blood on Macbeth’s hands symbolizing his guilt that won’t wash away and will
continue to haunt him; the porter who says he is the gatekeeper to hell symbolizes the evil that exists in Macbeth’s castle;
Banquo’s ghost symbolizes Macbeth’s guilt over murdering Banquo, and it symbolizes that Banquo is the rightful King, not
Macbeth.
2. Give an example from Macbeth of personification. Then, explain why Shakespeare uses this device and
what the effect(s) is.
Shakespeare personifies “murder” as male during Macbeth’s soliloquy. Murder is male because characters in the
play seem to attribute murderous desires, avaricious ambition and brutality with the male gender. Macbeth thinks he’s being
a man by murdering Duncan.
Give an example from Macbeth of allusion. Then, explain why Shakespeare uses this device and what the
effect(s) is.
In his soliloquy, Macbeth alludes to The Rape of Lucrece when he describes murder as moving like Tarquin (rapist)
moves towards his sleeping victim (Lucrece). By using this allusion, Shakespeare helps us see exactly how awful Macbeth’s
killing of Duncan is—we can compare his movements to Tarquin and see Macbeth as an evil attacker who preys on sleeping,
unprotected victims.
Give an example from Macbeth of foil. Then, explain why Shakespeare uses this device and what the effect(s)
is.
1
E5: Test—Morality Play & Macbeth (Acts 1-3), 50 points
Ms. Verma
Banquo is a foil for the main character Macbeth because they are both in the same position of hearing a promising
prophecy from the witches but they react differently. Macbeth believes the prophecies and becomes obsessed with making
them come true at all costs while Banquo carefully thinks about them and doesn’t rush into anything irrationally. By setting
up this foil, Shakespeare helps us understand Macbeth’s character better because we can see how he could have behaved.
3. We discussed the significance of scenes Shakespeare did NOT include in the play. Identify another key
event Shakespeare does not show and analyze why it is excluded and what the effect is of leaving it out. Do not
discuss the examples we already discussed in class (Macbeth killing Duncan and Macbeth’s coronation).
One example is: Shakespeare doesn’t show the opening battle where Macbeth is heroic and cruel to his war enemies.
The effect of not showing this is that the audience gets an impression of Macbeth that is both “foul” and “fair” and this
foreshadows how we will view his character throughout the play—he commits foul acts but he is ambivalent about doing them,
not sure if he wants to do immoral things or do the right thing. Other scenes students wrote about: Malcolm and Donaldbain
fleeing, Banquo’s murder, Fleance’s escape, etc.
IV. Content and Analysis 15 points
1. We discussed three themes of Macbeth in class. What is ONE other possible theme the play explores?
Remember, a theme is a message about an issue or idea. What is one other issue or idea the text explores and
what insight does the play offer on this issue or idea? Use details from the play as evidence.
Students wrote about the following themes: greediness for more power leads to bad things; the end does not justify
the means; not accepting each other for who they are makes a marriage fail; too much power corrupts people; all people are
fallible; power changes a person, etc.
2. Which character so far do you think most deserves the audience’s sympathy? Use details from the play for
evidence.
Students wrote that they feel sympathy for: innocent murder victims like Banquo and King Duncan, also their
children, Fleance and Malcolm and Donaldbain. Those who felt sympathy for Macbeth had to clearly explain how the play
presents Macbeth as a sympathetic character by discussing strong evidence like his asides and soliloquies that show his true
ambivalence about murder, or the fact that even though he does terrible things, he shows us that he doesn’t want to do them
and that he’s just weak. You would have to explain why he, the murderer, would get more sympathy than the victims.
3. Analyze Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s use of the word “man” in 3.4. specifically. In your analysis, make
connections to a possible theme.
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth use the word “man” in this scene to mean that Macbeth is not a man because he shows
his paranoia, mental instability to his nobles and thanes at his political banquet—they seem to suggest that a true man would
hide his weaknesses in public.
Why does Shakespeare include 3.6., the conversation between Lennox and another Lord, at this specific point in
the play? Analyze their conversation and make connections to a possible theme.
Lennox and the Lord express their suspicions towards Macbeth after the banquet. Hearing from minor character
gives the audience a different perspective of what’s happening. Even minor character are getting clued in to Macbeth’s evil
deeds. This conversation happens here, at the end of the climax (Act 3) to signal that the falling action is about to occur—the
problems are about to wrap up and get solved—Macbeth will be found out soon.
What is the significance of Macbeth hallucinating Banquo’s ghost at his first political banquet as King? Refer
to details from the entire ghost scene (3.4.) in your response and make connections to a possible theme.
Macbeth’s hallucinates Banquo’s ghost because he feels guilty for killing him. Banquo’s ghost sits in Macbeth’s chair,
reminding Macbeth that he is not supposed to be king—he became king unnaturally and Banquo’s family is supposed to be
the kings. It’s significant that Macbeth hallucinates the ghost at his first political dinner because this foreshadows how he will
be a bad, unstable leader and that the kingdom under his rule will also be unstable. This scene also helps Shakespeare portray
King James’ family as the rightful kings of Scotland.
Other test tips:
2