Mr. McMahon
English 11
Questions for Acts II and III
Macbeth
Macbeth – Question Guide
ACT 2
Act 2, Scene 1
1. What is the cause of Banquo’s sleepless night?
2. Find lines which suggest that in this scene the attitude of Banquo towards the king stands
out in contrast to that of Macbeth.
3. What details in Macbeth’s second important soliloquy help to communicate to the
audience the intense horror which fills Macbeth’s soul?
Act 2, Scene 2
1. How does Shakespeare create tension near the beginning of this scene?
2. How has the murder affected Macbeth?
3. Explain how the practical nature of Lady Macbeth is illustrated in this scene.
Act 2, Scene 3
1. What purpose is served by the Porter scene?
2. How does Macbeth behave to the others upon hearing of Duncan’s killing?
3. Why does Lady Macbeth faint?
4. What do Malcolm and Donalbain decide to do and why?
Act 2, Scene 4
1. Make references to the importance of the animals in the scene.
2. What does the old man represent?
ACT 3
Act 3, Scene 1
1. What reasons does Macbeth give for fearing Banquo?
2. What reasons does Macbeth want Banquo murdered?
3. Why does he hire murderers to kill Banquo?
4. How has Macbeth changed by the end of this scene?
Act 3, Scene 2
1. Analysis the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth at this point of the play.
Act 3, Scene 4
1. Re-read lines 28-31. What do these lines mean?
2. Why does only Macbeth see the ghost?
3. a) What explanation does Lady Macbeth give to the guests for her husband’s strange
behaviour?
b) How does Lady Macbeth try to get Macbeth back to normal?
4. Why does Macbeth decide to consult the weird sisters again?
Act 3, Scene 5
1. Who is Hecate?
Act 3, Scene 6
1. What do we learn are the plans for Malcolm and Macduff by the end of this act?
Questions for Acts II and III
Macbeth
Mr. McMahon
English 11
Macbeth – Midterm Essay
The midterm will consist of two parts. The first will be identify the speaker, who/what is
the speaker referring to, and what the significance is of five given quotes taken from the
first three acts of Macbeth. The second part will be a 500-600 word in-class essay (four
pages double spaced) written on the day of the midterm.
Part A: Outline (6 marks)
Submit an outline of your essay from one of the topics below. Your outline will include
your thesis statement, your main points (3) and your supporting material (quotes,
examples to support your points). Outline is due by ***** as the midterm is scheduled
for *******. Please do not write paragraphs, however you can write supporting notes.
Part B: In-class Essay (24 marks)
Continuing from Part A, using the outline written, write a literary essay of 500-600 words
on one of the topics below. Your essay will be marked on clarity, style and grammar.
This in-class essay is NOT open-book. Please write in ink and should be double spaced.
Essay Topics
1. Contrast Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Did they have a good marriage? Why or
why not?
2. Contrast Macbeth and Banquo. In what ways were they different? Similar?
3. King Duncan’s murder marks the beginning of Macbeth’s downfall. Who can be
held most responsible for this?
4. Choose three to five strong images and discuss their function of the play.
5. Find three to five instances of dramatic irony and discuss their function in the
play.