Macbeth study guide IV - V
Name ____________________________ Per. ________
Act IV, scene i
1) Describe the three apparitions Macbeth sees when he visits the witches. What does
each tell him?
2) Eight kings appear in what in Shakespeare’s day was referred to as a “dumb show” –
an interpolated brief scene in which nothing is said. What is the point of this
particular dumb show?
3) Given that the play is a tragedy, we know that Macbeth will eventually come to his
demise. Yet, Macbeth now thinks he is invincible due to the newest predictions of
the witches. How do you think the predictions may be true while at the same time
Macbeth comes to his demise?
Act IV, scene ii
4) How does Shakespeare use characterization to bring life to the woman and child in
this scene?
5) In what sense is Macduff a traitor?
Act IV, scene iii
6) According to Malcolm and Macduff, what has happened to Scottland during
Macbeth’s reign?
7) Why do you think Malcolm tells Macduff that he is such a horrible person when
Macduff first tries to tell him that Malcolm should be the king?
8) Given Malcolm’s speech, how do you think he would define a “man” and a leader?
Macbeth study guide IV - V
9) What did you think about Macbeth having all of the people in the Macduff household
killed? What does this imply about Macbeth?
10) Why do you think this gruesome murder scene is actually enacted upon stage rather
than off stage as much of the other action?
11) Do you think the massacre could have been prevented if Macduff had not left for
England? Explain your answer.
12) What does the fact that Malcolm purposely lies to Macduff reveal about Malcolm?
Act V, scene i
13) Why does the doctor say Lady Macbeth is walking in her sleep? Why do you think
that Lady Macbeth is walking in her sleep?
Act V, scene iii
14) What might Macbeth’s reaction to the doctor’s news imply about his relationship with
his wife?
Act V, scene iv
15) How do you think Macbeth will react when he discovers that the opposing forces
disguised themselves with branches from Birnan Wood? Do you think he will still
feel invincible? Will he begin to doubt his ability? Will he still think there is nothing
to fear? Explain your answer.
Act V, scene v
16) Macbeth receives two disturbing pieces of news. Which do you think is more
upsetting to him? How do you think these pieces of information will affect the
outcome of the play? Explain your answers.
Macbeth study guide IV - V
17) Why do you think Lady Macbeth killed herself?
Act V, scene viii
18) Why do you think that Macbeth gives Macduff a chance to leave while he did not do
the same for young Siward?
19) Find the things in Act V that correspond with the three apparitions in Act IV.
Essay possibilities:
20) What are some of the conflicts of the play and how were they resolved?
21) What is the climax of the play?
22) What makes this play a tragedy?
23) Discuss how the perceptions of nature help to reflect the mood or tone of the play.
How does Shakespeare use the images of nature in the play?
24) Macbeth could be considered a questionable hero. Unlike other tragic heroes such as
Othello, Macbeth is aware that what he is doing is wrong. How does Shakespeare
deal with the problematic relationship of Macbeth as a hero? In other words, what
saving graces could one say Macbeth has which may prevent the reader from
cheering over his death as the other characters in the play do?
25) Overall, do you think that Macbeth is ultimately responsible for his own demise or do
you think that the external forces at work were beyond his power to defeat? Explain
your answer.
26) There is often a question of whether or not an end can justify the means. The actions
and consequences in Macbeth seem to suggest that the end does not justify the means.
Prove this theory using examples from the play for support.
27) Examine all of the “double” imagery in the play and explain its importance to the
plot.
28) Compare Lady Macbeth to Macbeth.
29) Compare Macbeth to the other Shakespearean tragedies with which you are familiar.
Consider focusing either on the plot or characterization.