MACBETH
ACT ONE SCENE 1
1. Write two or three lines explaining the action in this scene.
ACT ONE SCENE 2
2. The sergeant describes a battle in the war between ___________ and
______________ .
3. Who were the heroes in that battle?
4. The Thane of Cawdor was a Traitor. King Duncan sentenced him to death and
gave his title to ___________________.
5. What do we learn about Macbeth's character in this scene?
ACT ONE SCENE 3
5. What do the witches predict for Macbeth?
A)
B)
6. What do they predict for Banquo?
7. Explain the dramatic irony in the witches' first prediction.
8. When the prediction comes true immediately, what does Macbeth think about
the other predictions?
9. What does Macbeth plan to do about the possibility of becoming king?
ACT ONE SCENE 4
10. To whom does king Duncan give the title Prince of Cumberland?
11. What does Macbeth think about this?
ACT ONE SCENE 5
12. Lady Macbeth reads a letter. Who sent it to her?
13. Lady Macbeth says of Macbeth: "Yet do I fear thy nature. It is too full O'the
milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way." What does she mean by this?
14. What message does the servant give to Lady Macbeth?
15. Explain Lady Macbeth's soliloquy.
16. Macbeth arrives. What do he and Lady Macbeth discuss?
17. What advice does Lady Macbeth give her husband?
ACT ONE SCENE 6
18. Explain the dramatic irony in this scene.
ACT ONE SCENE 7
In this soliloquy Macbeth is thinking over the plot to kill King Duncan. He is having
second thoughts.
19. List four reasons Macbeth finds to talk himself out of committing the murder.
20. How does Lady Macbeth convince him to go through with the murder?
ACT 2
ACT TWO SCENE 1
1. Banquo leaves, and Macbeth is left with his thoughts. Explain Macbeth's soliloquy and
his feelings as he goes to commit the murder.
2. What does the ringing of the bell mean?
ACT TWO SCENE 2
3. After Macbeth murders King Duncan he agonizes over something. What is it?
A)
B)
C)
3. What mistake does Lady Macbeth scold Macbeth for? (She later fixes it.)
ACT TWO SCENE 3
4. Explain how comic relief is provided by the porter's speech.
5. What has Macbeth done when he says: "0, yet I do repent me of my fury?
6. Who are Malcolm and Donalbain?
7. What do they decide to do after King Duncan is murdered? Why?
8. Explain the dramatic irony when Macduff says: "0 gentle lady! "'Tis not for you to hear
what I can speak...
9. What does Banquo decide to do, and why do you think he does not accuse Macbeth of
the murder?
ACT TWO SCENE 4
10. What does this scene foreshadow?
11. The orderly scheme of nature is strangely affected by the murder. Shakespeare
skillfully lets nature correspond to man's acts. How is this revealed by the conversation
in this scene?
12. Who is named successor to King Duncan? Why?
13. Where is the coronation to be held?
Act 3
Act 3 Scene 1
1. What suspicions does Banquo voice? What does he say that lets us know what he suspects?
2. Who besides Banquo knows of the witches' prophesies?
3. Why does Macbeth question Banquo about his plans?
4. In lines 51-76, what doubts does Macbeth say is troubling him?
5. What does Macbeth tell the murderers about Banquo?
6. According to Macbeth, why does he himself not kill Banquo? (lines 130-138)
7. Who else are the murderers to kill?
Act 3 Scene 2
8. What is the meaning of Lady Macbeth's saying: "Naught's had, all's spent,/Where our desire
is got without content"?
9. In lines 18-28, from affliction does Macbeth suffer?
10. In line 35, Lady Macbeth says, "You must leave this." What does she mean?
11. Is Lady Macbeth aware that Macbeth has planned the death of Banquo and Fleance?
12. How is the planning of Banquo's murder quite different from that of Duncan's?
Act 3 Scene 3
13. Who is murdered in this scene?
14. Who escapes?
15. What is Banquo's dying request of Fleance?
Act 3 Scene 4
16. What activity opens this scene?
17. Who joins the assembled group, sitting in Macbeth's place?
18. How does Lady Macbeth explain Macbeth's strange reaction?
19. How does Lady Macbeth respond to Macbeth when he says he sees Banquo's ghost?
20. Why does Lady Macbeth ask everyone to leave?
21. Who refused the banquet invitation?
22. What is Macbeth's plan for the next day?
23. Macbeth says in lines 143-145 what is causing him to be so unsettled emotionally. What does
he imply will help him?
Act 3 Scenes 5 & 6
24. What does Hecate plan to do?
25. What is implied in Lennox's speech at the beginning of scene 6?
26. Where has Macduff gone?
27. What does he hope to do there?
28. What dramatic purpose does this scene serve?
29. This act marks the turning point for Macbeth's fortunes. At what point does this happen?
Act 4
Act 4 Scene 1
1. What are the three apparitions that appear to Macbeth? What does each of them say to
him?
2. Why do the witches show Macbeth the eight kings?
3. What does Macbeth order to be done when he hears that Macduff has fled to England?
4. What statement does Macbeth make that shows his reluctance to murder has dramatically
changed?
Act 4 Scene 2
5. What has Ross just told Lady Macduff?
6. How does Lady Macduff react to this news?
7. A messenger arrives. What does he tell Lady Macduff to do?
8. Who is killed in this scene?
9. Why are the murders even more terrible than those previously committed?
10. No essential movement of the plot occurs in this scene. What dramatic purpose does this
scene serve in the play?
Act 4 Scene 3
11. Why are Macduff's first lines ironic?
12. Why doesn't Malcolm trust Macduff?
13. What does Malcolm ask Macduff?
14. What forces has Malcolm promised Scotland?
15. Of what three character faults does Malcolm profess to have?
16. What does Malcolm tell Macduff?
17. Why had Malcolm lied about himself to Macduff?
18. What news about the condition of Scotland does Ross bring?
19. What personal information does Ross bring to Macduff?
20. What does Malcolm tell Macduff to do?
Act 5
Act 5 Scene 1
1. What does her sleepwalking reveal about Lady Macbeth's conscience?
2. How is her hand-washing symbolic?
3. About what does the doctor tell the lady-in-waiting to be watchful on Lady
Macbeth's behalf?
Act 5 Scene 2
4. Where are the noblemen to meet Malcolm?
5. What is reported about Macbeth?
Act 5 Scene 3
6. Why does Macbeth claim to feel no fear?
7. What does Macbeth indicate he is in fact feeling?
Act 5 Scene 4
8. Where does this scene take place?
9. What are Malcolm's instructions to his soldiers? Why does he have them do
this?
10. According to Malcolm, what is the attitude of Macbeth's troops?
Act 5 Scene 5
11. What news does Seyton give Macbeth?
12. Of what does the messenger inform Macbeth?
Act Scenes 6 & 7
13. What is accomplished in scene 6?
14. In scene 7, how does Macbeth indicate he feels in the beginning?
15. Who is slain by Macbeth?
16. What is reported to have happened to some of Macbeth's men?
Act 5 Scenes 8 & 9
17. What does Macduff tell Macbeth about his birth?
18. Who kills Macbeth?
19. Who will be the new king of Scotland?