Macbeth Study Guide, Act 3

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3, to persuade the two murderers to agree to kill Banquo, Macbeth tells them what? That Banquo has been the cause of all thier misery.
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 2, what is the connotation of the word SCORPIONS in this line? “O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife.” Horrors
Act 3 of The Tragedy of Macbeth serves mainly to do what? Expose Macbeth’s mounting troubles.
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3, what is the cause of Macbeth’s irrational behavior at the banquet? His guilty conscience.
When Macbeth says to Lady Macbeth in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 4, “We are yet but young in deed,” he means that they are what? New to the ways of crime.
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3, Macbeth’s guilt causing him to imagine he sees Banquo’s ghost at the banquet is an example of what? Internal conflict.
By the end of Act 3 of The Tragedy of Macbeth, how has Macbeth changed since the beginning of the play? He is now quick to use treachery to suit his ends.
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3, why does Macbeth send along a third murderer to join the first two in killing Banquo? Macbeth has become terribly suspicious and trusts no one; he sends the third murderer to make certain the job gets done.
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3, when Lady Macbeth claims “Nought’s had, all’s spent / Where our desire is got without content…” she means what? She and Macbeth have risked everything by have gained no happiness because they are living in fear.
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 1, Macbeth is glad Banquo will not be returning to the palace until nightfall because of what reason? Macbeth wants Banquo killed under cover of darkness.
When Act 3 of The Tragedy of Macbeth begins, Banquo says that he knows what? Macbeth killed Duncan.
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3, when Macbeth says “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown / And put a barre scepter in my gripe…” he means what? He has no male heir.
In The Tragedy of Macbeth what is an external conflict? Macbeth wants Banquo dead, so he hires men to murder him.
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, why does Macbeth fear Banquo? Banquo is loyal to the true king.
In a play, the rising action consists of events that lead up to the what? Climax.
What does Banquo reveal in the opening lines (1-10) of The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3? He is suspicious that Macbeth had a hand in making the witches’ prophesies come true.
Reading between the lines in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 1, explain how Macbeth has apparently managed to claim the Scottish throne even though Malcolm and Donalbain are closer relatives to the slain King Duncan. Because Malcolm and Donalbain fled Scotland, suspicion fell on them as the ones behind the murder of King Duncan. Macbeth, a more distant relative, was then able to claim the throne.
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3, why does Macbeth order the death of cleanse as well as Banquo? The witches’ predictions indicated that Banquo’s descendants will be rulers of Scotland, a situation that Macbeth sees as a threat to his dynasty and the disappointment of all he risked in killing Duncan. By killing Banquo’s son, he hopes to ensure that this prediction will not come true.
Reading between the lines, what can you conclude about the Macbeths from Lady Macbeth’s speech in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 2, lines 4-12? They are not happy because they live in fear of discovery.
What is the outcome of Macbeth’s conflict with Banquo and Fleance? Banquo is killed, but Fleance escapes.
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3, what incident below would Macbeth seem to be suffering from an infirmity? When he seems ill at the banquet.
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3, at the banquet, Macbeth says “We’re the graced person of our Banquo present” (Scene 4, line 42) and “I drink to th’ general joy o’ th’ whole table, / And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss; Would he were here!” (Scene 4, lines 90-92). What is ironic or surprising about these remarks? He is lying, since he knows Banquo is dead, on Macbeth’s own orders. Then his wishes are granted- at least in his own mind- in the humorously macabre way, when Banquo does appear- as a gruesome ghost.
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3, what struggle points to an internal conflict? Macbeth’s guilt causing him to see Banquo’s ghost.
What seems most true about The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act 3? It is part of the rising action building to a climax.
Indissoluble Not able to be dissolved
Dauntless Fearless
Jocund Cheerful
Infirmity Illness
Malevolence Ill will
What does the soliloquy from The Tragedy of Macbeth reveal about Lady Macbeth’s state of mind in Act 3, Scene 2? “Nought’s had, all’s spent, / Where our desire is got without content: / ‘Tis safer to be that which we destroy / Than be destruction dwell in doubtful joy.” Lady Macbeth is not as happy about her husband being king as she had expected. She knows they are still in a dangerous situation. Killing Duncan brought them their desire (power), but it did not make them “content” or bring them “safety”.
How is the murder of King Duncan and Banquo similar and different? Macbeth is responsible for both murders, commits them for power and pretends to honor both men even as they are being executed. As differences, students could say that Duncan was a mighty king, while Banquo is Macbeth’s peer and friend. Macbeth kills Duncan with his own hand but has henchmen murder Banquo. Macbeth is more calm and organized in his plan to murder Banquo. He almost carefully plans the crime so that it won’t reflect on him without the feas that plagued him at the death of Duncan. He is more used to such evil.
Why does Macbeth a rage the murder of Banquo and Fleance? Macbeth’s fear of Banquo’s suspicions about his involvement in Duncan’s murder, his desire to remove someone who was present when the witches’ prophesies were made, and his attempt to prevent the fulfillment of the prophesy about Banquo’s descendants becoming kings.
August 18, 2019