“Macbeth” – Act V Q/A –
Scene 1
Sleep Imagery - Lines 8 -9 – 1. Why does the doctor call Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking a “perturbation on
nature”?
Lines 16-17 – 2. What does Lady Macbeth’s disturbed seat represent?
Lines 25-27 – 3. How are Lady Macbeth’s Act II assumptions proved incorrect?
Lines 45-47 – 4. Why does the doctor and gentlewoman express pity for Macbeth?
Lines 63-64 – 5. What does the doctor talk about when he speaks of “infected minds”?
Lines 63-64 – 6. Why do the “infected minds” discharge secrets?
Scene 2
Characterization - Lines 21-28 – 7. Is Macbeth’s character flaw that of a tragic hero or a villain? Why?
Scene 3
Lines 14-17 – 8. How do Macbeth’s insults reveal his character?
9. Which prophecies are Macbeth still counting on?
10. How do the short dashes in Macbeth’s speech show his state of mind?
Line 37 – 11. Who is the doctor’s patient?
Lines 61-62 – 12. What is the symbolism involved with having the doctor appear in the play.
Scene 4
lines 4-7 – 13. How will the camouflaged warriors look as the march on Dunsinane?
Line 5 – 14. Discuss the battle plan of the soldiers.
Scene 5
Lines 2-4 – 15. Give Macbeth’s strategy as the castle is becoming surrounded.
Lines 9-15 – 16. Describe and discuss the use of food imagery.
Line 17 – 17. How does Macbeth show false bravery?
Lines 19-22 – 18. How does Macbeth feel about his life as king now?
Lines 24-29 – 19. Give metaphors Macbeth uses for life.
Lines 39-51 – 20. What courageous quality does Macbeth show here?
Line 35 – 21. What dos Macbeth recall?
Line 52 – 22. What is Macbeth’s attitude?
Scene 6
Blood imagery - Lines 2-4 – 23. How are the trumpets “clamorous harbingers of blood and death”?
Scene 7
Lines 1-2 – 24. Which prophecy is Macbeth clinging to now?
Lines 1-3 – 25. Give the image that describes Macbeth.
Lines 14-23 – 26. How does Macduff’s motivation to fight contrast with Macbeth’s?
Scene 8
Lines 5-6 – 27. What motivates Macbeth to say to Macduff, “My soul is too charged/With blood of thine
already”?
Lines 15-16 – 28. How do these lines relate to the prophecy?
Lines 33-34 – 29. How does Macbeth show that he is a tragic hero?
Lines 69-75 – 30. Is Macbeth the typical tragic hero?
Line 75 – 31. Who is the new king?