Focus Questions: Act I
Focus Questions
Macbeth
Focus Questions
What does it mean when the witches
say that they’ll meet again “when the
hurley burley’s done/ When the battle’s
lost and won”? (Shakespeare 1.1.3-4).
 What two forces were facing each
other in battle?
 How did the Thane of Cawdor betray
the king?

Focus Questions
 What are the witches three
prophesies regarding
Macbeth?
 How do the witches
prophesies set up a conflict
between Macbeth and
Banquo?
Focus Questions
 What conflict is Macbeth
experiencing regarding the
prophesies?
 Why is Macbeth upset that
fate will make him king?
 What does Macbeth mean by
“borrowed robes”?
Focus Questions
When
reading the
letter, what does
Lady Macbeth fear
regarding Macbeth’s
nature or character?
Focus Questions
Why is Macbeth angry with Duncan for
naming Malcolm heir?
 How is Lady Macbeth’s ambition opposite
of Macbeth‘s and what does she mean by
“unsex me here” when she call upon the
evil spirits?
 How does Macbeth struggle with the
prophesy of becoming king in his
soliloquy after the king arrives?

Focus Questions
 How
does Lady Macbeth insult
Macbeth after he says he does not
wish to kill the king after all?
 What is Lady Macbeth’s response
when Macbeth wonders what would
happen if they fail in their attempt to
kill the king, and what is her plan to
carry out the assassination?
Focus Questions
 Who
are the “weird sisters,” and
what are Macbeth’s and Banquo’s
concerns regarding them?
 What prophesies have begun to
come true for Macbeth and what
potential problems do they create for
him?
Act II
Focus Questions for
Macbeth
Focus Questions
Why does the dagger have to lead the
way for Macbeth and what does it
symbolize?
 How are Lady Macbeth’s actions
different from her husband’s following
the king’s murder?
 Who appears more in control of the
emotions? Macbeth or Lady Macbeth?

Focus Questions
Where
do Malcolm and
Donalbain go?
Where
does Macduff tell
Ross he’s going?
Act III
Focus Questions for
Macbeth
Focus Questions
 What are Banquo’s concerns
regarding the witches’
prophesies?
 Why does Macbeth want to
know if Fleance is with
Banquo?
 What does Macbeth mean by
“fruitless crown?”
Focus Questions
How does Macbeth convince the two
men to murder Banquo?
 What psychological reason causes
Macbeth to see the ghost of Banquo?
 What part of Dramatic Structure does
Banquo’s death represent?
 What are Macbeth’s concerns about
Macduff not being at the banquet?

Acts IV and V
Focus Questions for
Macbeth
Focus Questions (Act IV)
What
are the new
prophesies the witches
give Macbeth?
What is his response to
these prophesies,
especially in relation to
Macduff?
Focus Questions (Act IV)
 What
plan does Macbeth
reveal in his soliloquy?
 What are Lady Macduff’s
concerns about her husband
not being home?
 What is the outcome of
Macbeth’s plan?
Focus Questions (Act IV)
What
does the
physician notice about
Lady Macbeth’s
behavior?
Why do you believe she
acts this way?
Focus Questions (Act IV and V)
How
large is the English
force that is approaching
Dunsinane?
What advice does
Malcolm give Macduff
regarding his grief?
Focus Questions (Act IV and V)
What
does Macbeth reflect
upon regarding what his life
should have been?
What message does
Macbeth get regarding his
wife and how does he react
to it?
Focus Questions (Act IV and V)
 How
is Macbeth’s “tomorrow,
tomorrow, and tomorrow”
soliloquoy existential?
 What similes, metaphors, and
personification are used in his
“tomorrow, tomorrow, and
tomorrow” soliloquy?
Soliloquy
Act V
Focus Questions for
Macbeth
Focus Questions
How
is each of the witches’
three prophesies fulfilled in
the plot’s resolution of
main conflict?
Why does Macbeth initially
choose to not kill Macduff?
Focus Questions
Why
does Macbeth choose
to fight Macduff once he
discovers he was not “born
of woman”??
Who is the new King of
Scotland?