Macbeth Act III Questions
ELA B10
Mr. Smadu
Please answer the following questions in complete sentences on a
separate piece of paper.
Macbeth Act III, Scene 1
Discussion Questions (Total = 27 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 invitation does Macbeth make to Banquo? Explain the possible
double meaning in Banquo’s reply, “Let you…For ever knit.” (2 marks)
5. What information does Macbeth seek from Banquo about his activities
of the afternoon? What are these activities? Why is Macbeth so
interested? (3 marks)
6. What are Malcolm and Donalbain doing in the countries to which they
have fled? What does he mean by “strange invitation”? (2 marks)
7. What does Macbeth suggest they do until supper? What is he going
to do? What is his reason for this? (3 marks)
8. What is the real reason for Macbeth’s desire to be alone? (1 mark)
9. What is the “thus” that Macbeth mentions? What three aspects of
Banquo’s character does Macbeth fear? Explain each one. (4 marks)
10. What action of Banquo also disturbed Macbeth greatly? Why? (1
mark)
11. Paraphrase the lines, “Then prophet-like…the seed of Banquo kings!” (2
marks)
12. 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)
13. 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 = 24 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 image in the lines, “There the grown serpent lies, the
worm that’s fled / Hath nature that in time will venom breed….” Is
this comparison an appropriate one? (2 marks)
5. 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!
6. Why does Macbeth think the table is full? (1 mark)
7. Why do the thanes not understand his confusion? (1 mark)
8. Explain Macbeth’s question, “Which of you have done this?” (1 mark)
9. 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)
10. Explain the irony of the ghost’s reappearance immediately after
Macbeth’s wish, “Would he were here!” (1 mark)
11. Of what is Macbeth trying to convince himself when he says, “Thy
bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; / Thou hast no speculation in
those eyes…”? (1 mark)
12. Macbeth mentions three extremely fierce and dangerous creatures in
his next speech. Why does he refer to these animals? (1 mark)
13. What does Macbeth think the ghost wants? (1 mark)
14. Why is Macbeth angry with Macduff? (1 mark)
15. 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)
16. Where does Macbeth plan to go the next day? What does he hope to
obtain from these people? (2 marks)
17. Explain the image, “I am in blood / Stepp’d in so far, that should I
wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o’er…” What does this
statement reveal about Macbeth’s current state of mind? (2 marks)
18. Macbeth says, “Strange things that I have in head, that will to hand, /
Which must be acted, ere they may be scann’d.” To what extent has
the ghost’s appearance increased Macbeth’s recklessness? (1 mark)
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)