Macbeth
Reading Questions
Act I
scene i – the “Witches” - Weird Sisters
1. Look on the left hand page. What are the witches planning in this scene? This is also answered by
reading line 8.
2. What is a hurly burly? Again, look on the left hand page.
3. Lines 3-4, from what will Macbeth be coming when the witches will meet up with him on the heath?
4. What do the witches mean in line 4 with the battle “lost and won”?
5. Read and reread the last two lines of this scene. Write down your best interpretation of each line
separately or together.
scene ii – King Duncan’s palace
1. Lines 4-6, what does Malcolm, King Duncan’s elder son, have to say about the Captain who is just
entering the palace from the battlefield?
2. Macbeth faced one of the rebel leaders, Macdonwald, and his men in the battle. How does Macbeth
handle this faceoff? (lines 18-25) What do you think of Macbeth for this?
3. Lines 34-36, who is responsible for starting/fighting this battle? Why do you think he started the fight?
4. Lines 40-44, how did Macbeth and Banquo respond to the Norway leader’s new charge?
5. Line 46, what is wrong with the Captain? What happens with him? (stage directions after line 48)
6. Who enters next? (stage direction or lines 49-50) Where is he coming from and what is happening
there? (lines 56-58)
7. Lines 59-61, who is assisting the King of Norway? Lines 61-66, what happens in this battle?
8. Lines 73-78, what reward will King Duncan give to Macbeth and why?
Act I cont.
scene iii – on a heath; the three witches (enter Macbeth and Banquo)
1. What is the weather? (first stage direction)
2. In lines 4-7, we learn the first witch has had a disagreement with a sailor’s wife (she refused to give the
witch some of her snack). Lines 14-26, what did the first witch do to the sailor (and to his wife)? What
do you think about the witches?
(Historical note: this story parallels one in King James’ life where it was believed that witches came together
from Denmark and Scotland to sink King James’ ship with a storm on his return home from a visit to Denmark)
3. Line 39, explain why we, audience, are familiar with this line from Macbeth.
4. Lines 40-43, 46-48, how does Banquo describe the witches?
5. Lines 51-53, in your own words, what do the witches tell Macbeth? Is any of this true? If so, what is
true? What do you think of this?
6. Lines 54-55, how does Banquo describe Macbeth’s reaction to the witches’ news? Also, do you notice a
familiar word—write it down.
7. Lines 60-64, what does Banquo ask from the witches?
8. Lines 65-72, in your own words, what do the witches predict for Banquo? Is any of it accurate? If so,
what?
9. How do Macbeth (lines 73-81) and Banquo (lines 86-88) respond to the witches’ predictions?
10. Lines 105-124, what news do Ross and Angus give to Macbeth?
11. Lines 125-138, how do Macbeth and Banquo now react to the witches’ predictions? (note: they have
different reactions) What do you think of Macbeth? What do you think of Banquo?
12. Lines 143-150, in his aside, what is Macbeth thinking about and why? What line is familiar to us and
why?
13. Lines 157-159, in this aside, what is Macbeth planning to do about the third prediction which is yet to
come true?
Act I cont.
scene iv
1. Lines 17-24, King Duncan expresses his gratitude to Macbeth and Banquo for their efforts in the war.
Write down the line you feel expresses King Duncan’s gratitude the most clearly and why that line is
clearest.
2. How does Macbeth respond? (hint, in the next 2 lines) What personality trait is he showing in his
response?
3. Lines 41-45, King Duncan tells Macbeth who will be heir to the throne. Who will be the next king? Is
it Macbeth? To help you with some possible confusion, when King Duncan uses “our”, he’s using the
“royal we”—as king, he speaks for the entire kingdom.
4. Lines 50-53, what does Macbeth think of King Duncan inviting himself to Macbeth’s home for a visit?
Why would Macbeth feel this way?
5. Lines 55-57, what does Macbeth contemplate in his aside?
6. Lines 57-58, how does Macbeth feel about thinking what he thinks?
7. To help you out, King Duncan, at the end of this scene in lines 61-65, is responding to something
Banquo has said to him during Macbeth’s aside to the audience with lines 55-60. Remember, during an
aside, the other characters onstage are unaware of the character’s aside and carry on with life as normal.
The character having the aside (in this case, Macbeth) simply looks to them like he’s lost in thought,
while he is actually speaking to the audience.
Act I cont.
scene v (you will need to answer on a separate sheet of paper)
1. The italicized print in the play is the letter Lady Macbeth received from her husband. She is reading it
aloud. Write your best summary of the letter.
2. Lines 16-18, what does Lady Macbeth fear about her husband? Why does she fear this? What does
Lady Macbeth appear to want?
3. In lines 18-20, Lady Macbeth talks about Macbeth having ambition but not having “the illness that
should attend it.” Because Shakespeare has used the word “should,” editors know that “illness” means
something we don’t expect. Write down the definition given for “illness” on the left page. What is she
afraid her husband lacks? Why does Shakespeare call this an illness?
4. Lines 25-28, what does Lady Macbeth imply that Macbeth must do in order to fulfill the prophecy he
wrote about in the letter? (hint: look on the left page for a translation of lines 23-28 to help you)
5. Lines 28-33, what does Lady Macbeth plan to do in order to get Macbeth to do what she feels he needs
to do?
6. A messenger tells Lady Macbeth that King Duncan is coming for a visit. In lines 45-47, what is Lady
Macbeth’s response to Duncan’s visit?
7. Lines 47-50, what does Lady Macbeth call on the “spirits” to do for her? What does she mean by
“unsex me”? (hint: remember how women were thought of in society at this time)
8. Lines 50-61, write down any violent words you see (words that speak of violence, that sound violent, or
that mention instruments of violence).
9. What do you think of Lady Macbeth and why?
10. Lines 71-78, how does Lady Macbeth suggest her husband should behave around King Duncan during
his visit?
11. Do you think Macbeth will do what Lady Macbeth is suggesting? Why/why not?
Act I cont.
scene vi
1. Duncan, with Banquo and other attendants, arrive at Macbeth’s home/castle. Lady Macbeth greets them
and escorts them to the inner chambers for the visit. No questions.
scene vii
(you will need to answer on a separate sheet of paper)
1. Lines 1-2, what is the it? Why is it best if “it” were done quickly?
2. Line 7, what does Macbeth feel he is risking if he commits the “it” in question 1? (hint: look on the left
page)
3. Lines 7-10, what two other problems does Macbeth feel he’s creating if he commits such a violent act?
4. Lines 12-16, what two ways does Macbeth say Duncan trusts him?
5. Lines 16-19, what does Macbeth say about Duncan’s personality/behavior?
6. Lines 21-25, what does Macbeth say “pity” will do once it hears of Duncan’s assassination? Side
question, what figure of speech is it to have “pity” hear and do something?
7. Lines 25-28, what is driving Macbeth to do the deed?
8. Lines 34-38, what reasons does Macbeth give to Lady Macbeth to not go through with the assassination?
9. Line 39, lines 43-45, line 47 how does Lady Macbeth respond to Macbeth’s hesitation?
10. Line 51, what does Macbeth say to defend his position to not commit the crime?
11. Lines 55-58, how does Lady Macbeth respond to Macbeth’s “be a man” defense?
12. Lines 62-67, Lady Macbeth continues to respond to Macbeth’s defense of his decision to not commit the
crime. These lines are important to her character albeit graphic (sorry). What does she say she would
do if she had promised to do it the way Macbeth had promised, earlier, to kill Duncan in order to
become king like the witches predicted? What do you think of Lady Macbeth?
13. Line 68, what is Macbeth’s excuse now?
14. Lines 70-71, what is Lady Macbeth’s response to her husband’s latest concern?
15. Lines 71-82, Lady Macbeth lays out the plan for the assassination. Write down the plan in your own
words.
16. Lines 83-85, Macbeth now has the courage the go through with the plan and pays his wife a compliment.
What does Macbeth say to Lady Macbeth?
17. Lines 86-88, Macbeth adds to Lady Macbeth’s plan. What does he add?
18. Lines 89-91, Lady Macbeth puts the finishing touch to their plan—how they’ll react when they “hear the
news” Duncan’s murder. How will they react?
19. What do you think of this couple?