How did Duncan honor Macbeth for killing the traitor Macdonwald? | Duncan named Macbeth Thane of Cawdor. |
How did the witches greet Macbeth? | The first witch called him “Thane of Glamis”; the second witch called him “Thane of Cawdor”; the third witch said he would be king (I.iii.50-52). |
What did Macbeth and Lady Macbeth do when they learned that Ducan planned to visit their castle at Inverness? | Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plotted Duncan’s murder. |
In Act II, what did Lady Macbeth fear about her husband? | She feared he was too kind-hearted to go through with their murderous plan. |
Why was Macbeth conflicted about murdering Duncan? | Macbeth believed that, as Duncan’s host and kinsman, he should honor and protect Duncan. |
How did Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plan to get away with Duncan’s murder? | Macbeth and Lady Macbeth framed Duncan’s chamberlains for the crime. |
What did Macbeth think he heard a voice say after he killed Duncan? | Macbeth thought he heard a voice say, “Macbeth does murder sleep… Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more” (II.ii.47-55). |
Why did people begin to suspect Malcolm and Donalbain as accomplices to Duncan’s murder? | Malcolm fled to England and Donalbain fled to Ireland, which made them appear guilty. |
Why did Macbeth begin to hate Banquo in Act III? | Macbeth was upset about the prophesy that Banquo’s, and not Macbeth’s, sons would one day rule Scotland. |
What did Macbeth summon to help him go through with his plan to murder Banquo? | Macbeth summoned darkness to hide his evil deeds and shield guilty conscience. |
Why did Macbeth call Banquo’s son, Fleance, “the worm that’s fled” (III.iv.32)? | Because Fleance escaped, he could still fulfill the prophesy of being king. |
Why didn’t Macbeth believe he could stop all the killing? | Macbeth believed violence only led to more violence. He said, “I am in blood stepped so far” (III.iv.143) that there was no way of turning back. |
To whom was the second apparition referring when it said, “For none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (IV.i.88-89)? | The second apparition was referring to Macduff, who was born via Cesarean section. |
To whom was the third apparition referring when it said, “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him” (IV.i.102-104)? | The third apparition was referring to Malcolm, whose army advanced behind a camoflage of trees from Birnam Wood to Dunsinane. |
How did Malcolm test Macduff’s loyalty? | Malcolm pretended he was not worthy of the throne because he had even more corrupt vices than Macbeth. |
What good news did Ross bring to Malcolm and Macduff? | Ross told Macduff that other people had tired of Macbeth and began to rebel. |
What bad news did Ross bring to Malcolm and Macduff? | After hearing Macduff had turned against him, Macbeth had Macduff’s wife and children murdered. |
Why was Macbeth so confident that he would be victorious? | He did not see how it was possible for Birnam Wood to advance upon Dunsinane: “That will never be; who can impress the forest, bid the tree, unfix his earth-bound root?” |
Upon learning of Lady Macbeth’s death, what metaphor did Macbeth use to represent the futility of life? | “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more” (V.v.26-28). |
Why did Lady Macbeth kill herself? | Lady Macbeth was unable to cope with the guilt of all the bloodshed she’d caused as Macbeth’s partner in crime. |
What was Macbeth’s tragic flaw? | Macbeth’s tragic flaw was his ambition. “I have no spur to trick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition” (I.vii.25-27). |
Macbeth Reading Comprehension Quiz
August 23, 2019