Macbeth Questions
English 112
Act 1, Scene 3
Question 1 – As a director how would you costume and present the witches? Clearly
explain your choices.
Question 2 – Choose a piece of music that might provide an appropriate theme for the
witches’ scenes. Explain why you think this piece of music is effective.
Question 3 – If you had advice to give Macbeth, what would it be? Do you think he
would take your advice?
Act 1, Scene 4
Question 1 – Read lines 17-49 in which Duncan thanks his generals and they respond.
What differences do you notice between Macbeth’s and Banquo’s replies to Duncan?
What do you conclude from these differences?
Question 2 - Write about a time when you persuaded someone to do something, or a
situation in which you were persuaded to do something about which you felt hesitant.
Describe the consequences and feelings that resulted.
Act 1, Scene 5
Question 1 – Find at least 2 different film clips showing Lady Macbeth’s lines 14-29 and
39-62. Compare different versions, discussing the effect of each one.
Question 2 – In a journal entry, describe the Macbeths’ marriage. Assess whether it
conforms to your idea of a good marriage.
Act 1, Scene 6
Question 1 – Determine the literal meaning Lady Macbeth’s lines in this scene. Compare
the effect of your version with the effect of Lady Macbeth’s original lines.
Question 2 – How would you illustrate this scene? Describe in detail how you would
draw this scene.
Act 1, Scene 7
Question 1 – Reread or listen to a recording of Macbeth’s soliloquy at the beginning of
the scene. How does this soliloquy add to your understanding of Macbeth or alter your
opinion of him?
Question 2 – Discuss the various techniques used by Lady Macbeth to convince her
husband to murder Duncan. Decide which one is the most successful.
Question 3 – Define what you think “manliness” is and compare your decision with that
of Lady Macbeth. Record whether you think Macbeth meets your definition.
Question 4 - Make a chart and list the factors that are tempting Macbeth to murder
Duncan and the factors that are holding him back.
Act 2, Scene 1
Question 1 – Write a diary entry Macbeth might make about his encounter with Banquo.
Question 2 – At the end of his soliloquy just before the bell rings, Macbeth tells himself
to stop talking and start doing something. What do you think his procrastination
indicated about the way he is feeling? Think about a time you procrastinated. Write
about a time that you keep postponing and what finally prompted you to get on with it.
Act 2, Scene 2
Question 1 – As a director of the play, decide what sound-effects you would use for this
scene. What overall effect would you aim to achieve? Record your ideas.
Question 2 – What does Macbeth fear the most in this scene? What frightens Lady
Macbeth? If you were either one of them what would be most fearful about?
Question 3 – Have you ever received an emotional shock? How did you behave
immediately afterwards? In what ways did your reaction to the shock change over time?
Act 2, Scene 3
Question 1 – Prepare a dramatization of line 92-135 in which Lady Macbeth, Malcolm
and Donalbain are told about the murder of Duncan and his attendants.
Question 2 – Write a number of interview questions that the court police officer might
ask the prime suspects in Duncan’s murder. Determine motives and alibis, and prepare a
summary of your conclusions.
Act 2, Scene 4
Question 1 – Write the conversation the Old Man night have with his wife about the
encounter with Ross.
Question 2 - Recall the moments in this act that you found the most memorable. Reread
those sections and choose several lines that you think are the most effective. Record
why you think these lines are particularly effective.
Act 3, Scene 1
Question 1 – As a friend of Banquo present at this scene, you begin to worry about his
safety. Choose and prepare the best way of warning him. You may wish to write a letter,
script a conversation or devise another form of warning.
Question 2 – Imagine you are the court psychologist counseling Macbeth. Write two
reports, the first to keep in an official file for Macbeth’s use and the second for your
private file.
Question 3 - Sometimes, achieving a goal we have longed for does not make us feel as
happy as we expected. Why do you think this is so?
Act 3, Scene 2
Question 1 – Select the image that you find the most powerful and memorable. Write
the quotation in your notebook and complete the following.
This image makes me see…
This image makes me feel…
Question 2 – Write a response to either Lady Macbeth’s advice, “Things without all
remedy/Should be without regard: what’s done is done” or to Macbeth’s statement,
“Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill.”
Act 3, Scene 3
Question 1 – Write either the obituary for Banquo that will appear in Scotland’s national
newspaper or the leading article reporting the discovery of Banquo’s body.
Question 2 – As Fleance, write a letter to your mother saying that you are well and
explaining how you escaped.
Question 3 - Describe the most frightening experience you ever had. What was the
cause of your fear?
Act 3, Scene 4
Question 1 – As Lady Macbeth’s lady-in-waiting write a letter to your friend. Describe
the changes you have seen in her and speculate about the reasons for the changes.
Question 2 – Your television channel has sent you to prepare a report on the banquet.
As you plan the content of your report, consider the following: Descriptions of clothing
that participants are wearing, seating arrangement, how you would describe the kind’s
sudden erratic behavior.
Question 3 – If the Macbeths considered you to be a trusted friend and asked you for
advice, what would you say to each of them? Write your response, taking into account
what you think their future actions will be. Let them know if you feel any pity for either
of them.
Act 3, Scene 5
Question 1 – Many scholars believe that this scene was not written by Shakespeare but
added in later by another poet. Discuss why this scene might have been added. What
aspects would make it popular with audiences? What aspects link it to the rest of the
play? As a director would you stage or omit this scene?
Question 2 – Imagine that you live in an undemocratic country. How would you express
your discontent with someone in authority?
Act 3, Scene 6
Question 1 – As Ross, write a letter to your relative Macduff, warning him about
Macbeth. Remember that your messenger might be one of Macbeth’s spies.
Question 2 – Write Lady Macbeth’s diary entry for a period of time following the
banquet.
Question 3 – Imagine you are a marriage counselor. The Macbeths seem to be unaware
that they are drifting apart and are unable to do anything about it. They have not asked
for your help, so all you can do is make notes as an observer. Write your case notes and
observations.
Act 4, Scene 1
Question 1 – Discuss Macbeth’s response to each of the prophesies in this scene. What
best illustrates the fact that he ignores the contradictions of the prophecies?
Question 2 – Macbeth determines that “The very firstlings of my heart shall be/ The
firstlings of my hand.” Describe a situation in which you or someone you know acted in
this way. What were the consequences?
Question 3 – Write a series of notes on how you might stage the apparitions in this
scene.
Act 4, Scene 2
Question 1 – Create a chart comparing the three major murders in the play. You should
include categories such as victims, motivation, planning, time and place murderers and
consequences to Macbeth and Scotland. Comment on the development you see over
the course of the three murders.
Question 2 – Write a journal entry in which you record your feelings about Macduff’s
decision to leave his family and go to England.
Question 3 – Remembering that Scotland is now ruled by a tyrant, write a newspaper
article about the murders at Fife. You may wish to invent details about Macduff’s other
children.
Act 4, Scene 3
Question 1 – Could Macbeth be made into a movie about good and evil. Could Malcolm
and Macduff be the “good guys” and Macbeth the “bad guy”? What characteristics
would qualify or disqualify them?
Question 2 – As Malcolm, write a letter to Donalbain telling him how you feel on the eve
of your departure to Scotland.
Question 3 – Identify the characters in this act who seek revenge. Make a chart to show
which factors motivate each of them and what effect each one might have on the
outcome of the play.
Act 5, Scene 1
Question 1 – Identify which specific actions and speeches Lady Macbeth refers to in this
scene. Do you feel sympathy for Lady Macbeth? Explain your response.
Question 2 – The doctor claims that Lady Macbeth is “beyond my practice”. However, he
may simply be protecting himself. Write the report that he will keep for his private
records.
Question 3 – Write the secret document that Lady Macbeth has written in her sleep and
locked in her closet.
Act 5, Scenes 2 and 3
Question 1 – If you were a Scottish soldier, would you desert Macbeth? Why or why not?
Question 2 - Script a conversation between two Scots, one who has joined Malcolm’s
forces and is trying to persuade the other to do the same.
Question 3 – If you were a director how would you emphasize the contrasts between
scenes 2 and 3? Make a series of notes on staging directions such as lighting, scenery
and action.
Act 5, Scenes 4, 5 and 6
Question 1 – Imagine that Macbeth, too, has a sleep walking scene. Write a script for
this scene.
Question 2 – Write a response to this statement: Macbeth’s reaction to his wife’s death
shows that his love for her has dwindled to indifference.
Question 3 – Imagine that you are a radio reporter whose station has just asked for upto-date details on events at Dunsinane. Write a two minute broadcast in which you
explain events.
Act 5, Scenes 7 and 8
Question 1 – Write a description of your final feelings about Macbeth.
Question 2 – If you had three choices: to commit suicide, to be taken prisoner or die
fighting, which would you choose? How do you feel about Macbeth’s choice?
Question 3 - If your country had experienced great turmoil, how would you, as its leader,
begin restoration?
Act 5, Scene 9
Question 1 – How do you feel about dying for your country? How would your parents
feel if you were killed in battle? What do you think of Siward’s reaction to his son’s
death?
Question 2 – Imagine that the witches are hovering around Dunsinane. Create several
lines of rhymed verse that express how they are reacting to the recent events.
Question 3 – Write a letter from Malcolm to Edward the Confessor, King of England,
telling him of your victory and outlining your hopes for Scotland’s future.