Notes about Banquo (from History):
 He was an ancestor of __________.
 Historical Differences:
Important Speeches/Lines:
Macbeth’s assessment of Banquo – Scene 1, lines 48-72
Macbeth’s lament about sleep – lines 17-26
Scene 1
1. What does Banquo mean that he fears Macbeth “play’dst most foully” to
become king?
2. Why is Macbeth afraid of Banquo?
3. Why does it make Macbeth angry that his own sons not will be kings?
4. Who does Macbeth hire the Murderers to kill for him?
5. What is Banquo’s tone to Macbeth in the first part of this scene?
6. What qualities does Macbeth have in common with the Murderers?
7. How does the couplet that ends this scene compare to the couplet that
ends Act II, Scene 1?
Scene 2
8. Throughout this scene, what is Lady Macbeth trying to tell Macbeth to do?
9. Explain Macbeth’s metaphor of the snake, lines 13-15.
10. Why do you think Macbeth wants to keep Lady Macbeth “innocent” of the
plot to kill Banquo and Fleance?
11. What reversal seems to have occurred between Macbeth and his Lady?
Scene 3
12. In what way could the murder of Banquo be a turning point for the play?
Scene 4 – The Banquet
13. What does Macbeth see sitting in his place at the banquet table?
14. Summarize Macbeth’s behavior at the feast.
15. How does Lady Macbeth handle Macbeth’s bizarre behavior?
16. Why does she decide to end the banquet when she does?
17. What does Macbeth mean, “blood will have blood”?
18. What does he mean that his fear is “initiate” and “wants hard use”?
19. Would Macbeth truly be “perfect” if Fleance had been killed?
20. What is ironic about Macbeth’s address to the gathering, lines 40-43?
21. What is ironic about Macbeth’s toast at the feast, lines 89-92?
22. Why does Macbeth suddenly seem concerned about Macduff?
Scene 5
6. What tragic flaw does Hecate predict will doom Macbeth?
Scene 6
7. What is Lennox’s tone in his first speech here?
8. What is Malcolm planning?
9. Who is Lennox calling a tyrant?
10. What does the reference to sleep in line 34 mean? How does it contribute
to the theme of sleeplessness?