The Tragedy Of Macbeth: Study Questions (all Acts)

Act 1 Scene 1 & 2:Who are the witches waiting for and where? Upon the Heath for Macbeth
Act 1 Scene 1 & 2:What line does the witches quote? What does it mean? “Foul is fair and fair is foul” what may appear to be good may not really be good, what may appear bad, may not really be bad.
Act 1 Scene 1 & 2:Who is the King of Scotland at the beginning of the play? Duncan
Act 1 Scene 1 & 2:What is the name of the first traitor? Macdonwald
Act 1 Scene 1 & 2:What does Macbeth do to Macdonwald? He splits him from nave to chops, then mounts his head on the battlements.
Act 1 Scene 1 & 2:Who are the people fighting against Scotland? Who is their king? Norwegians; King Sweno
Act 1 Scene 1 & 2:Who is the second traitor to go against the king of Scotland? What does he help the opposition do? The Thane of Cawdor; conquer Fife
Act 1 Scene 1 & 2:What is Duncan’s reaction to the news of the second traitor? He feels betrayed and angered. He is also pleased with Macbeth.
Act 1 Scene 1 & 2:Who informs Duncan about the traitor? Ross
Act 1 Scene 1 & 2:What will happen to the traitor’s title? He will be stripped of his title and executed. Macbeth will gain his title.
Act 1 Scene 3:What has the first witch done in their absence and why? She has tortured the sailor husband of a girl who would not share he chestnuts with her.
Act 1 Scene 3:What types of things do the witches do to reveal they have supernatural powers? They disappear, do incantations, fly, & conjure winds.
Act 1 Scene 3:What three greetings do the witches use to meet Macbeth? Hail Macbeth, Thane of Glamis!; Hail Macbeth, Thane of Cawdor!; Hail Macbeth, thou shalt be king!
Act 1 Scene 3:What is the witches prophecy for Macbeth? Macbeth will Thane of Cawdor and king of Scotland one day.
Act 1 Scene 3:What is the witches prophesy for Banquo? He will be lesser than Macbeth, yet greater; Not so happy as Macbeth, yet happier; Never to be king, but shall beget kings (Banqou will never be king, but his decedents will)
Act 1 Scene 4-6:Why does Macbeth have reason to doubt that he will succeed Duncan as king? Duncan has named his son, Malcolm, the Prince of Chamberlain and the heir to the throne.
Act 1 Scene 4-6:What is the name of Macbeth’s castle? Inverness
Act 1 Scene 4-6:Where is Duncan’s castle located? Forres
Act 1 Scene 4-6:Where is the King and his men heading to at the end of Scene 4? Macbeth’s Castle
Act 1 Scene 4-6:How does Lady Macbeth first learn of the witches’ predictions for Macbeth? Macbeth sends a messenger ahead of his arrival with a letter for her.
Act 1 Scene 4-6:How does Lady Macbeth want Macbeth to behave during the King’s visit. She wants him to smile in the raking’ face and not show what they are planning.
Act 1 Scene 7:What does Macbeth’s soliloquy reveal about his state of mind? He is explains his ambition has caused him to think about killing Duncan, but he is torn about actually going through with it.
Act 1 Scene 7:What reasons does Macbeth give for not killing Duncan? He is Duncan’s family, subject, and host. The host should protect the guest. The King has been good to Macbeth.
Act 1 Scene 7:How does Lady Macbeth persuade Macbeth to murder Duncan? She questions his manhood and calls him a coward.
Act 1 Scene 7:Explain the plan that Lady Macbeth and Macbeth to kill the king. Lady Macbeth get the guards drunk until they pass out, then they can kill the king with the guards’ dagger and blame the murder on them.
Act 2 Scene 1 & 2:By what prearranged signal is Macbeth to murder Duncan? Lady Macbeth will ring a bell.
Act 2 Scene 1 & 2:Why is Banquo not able to sleep? He worries about the witches’ prophesy.
Act 2 Scene 1 & 2:What does Macbeth hint to Banquo? That he is planning something
Act 2 Scene 1 & 2:What horrifying “fatal vision” does Macbeth have? He sees a dagger but can’t grab it.
Act 2 Scene 1 & 2:What is suggested by Macbeth having the vision of the dagger? He is to kill Duncan.
Act 2 Scene 1 & 2:What has Lady Macbeth done to the King’s servants? She drugged their drinks so they wouldn’t wake up.
Act 2 Scene 1 & 2:How does Macbeth show a moment of remorse? He can not say Amen because he has just killed Duncan.
Act 2 Scene 1 & 2:How does Lady Macbeth encourage Macbeth? She tells him not to think about the murder to deeply, to forget about it.
Act 2 Scene 1 & 2:What does Macbeth mean when he says “Sleep no more. Macbeth doth murder sleep…innocent sleep?” Macbeth will never be able to sleep peacefully again.
Act 2 Scene 1 & 2:What mistake does Macbeth make? How does Lady Macbeth correct it? Macbeth brought the daggers back with him. Lady Macbeth puts them back.
Act 2 Scene 1 & 2:Why won’t Macbeth renter the kings chamber? He can’t think of what he has just done.
Act 2 Scene 1 & 2:What does Lady Macbeth say about the dead? They are just pictures of the sleeping.
Act 2 Scene 1 & 2:Why does Lady Macbeth not kill Duncan herself? Duncan reminds her of her father.
Act 2 Scene 1 & 2:What do the blood and water symbolize? The guilt, and cleansing. Water can wash away blood but not guilt.
Act 2 Scene 1 & 2:What is the difference between the attitudes of Macbeth & Lady Macbeth? Macbeth feels guilty; Lady Macbeth does not.
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:What effect does the Porter’s speech have coming after the murder? It’s comic relief
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:How does the Porter’s comment on people arriving at “hell’s gates” mirror Macbeth’s dilemma? Macbeth will go to hell because he murdered Duncan.
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:Who is knocking at the gate? Macduff, Thane of Fife, and Lennox
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:What unusual events of nature have occurred that are mentioned by Lennox? Chimneys fell, there were strange screams of death, the earth shook.
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:Who discovers the slain king? Macduff
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:What does Macbeth do to the guards? What is his reason for doing this? Macbeth killed them, ‘because he was angry.’
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:What does Macduff’s reaction to the discovery of the Duncan’s body reveal about his character? He genuinely liked the king. He was shocked to see him murdered.
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:What is Lady Macbeth’s reaction to the news? Does she faint for real? Faints; she either faints to get the attention off of Macbeth or she faints because she is shocked.
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:Where do Malcolm and Donalbain go? Why? Malcolm goes to England. Donalbain goes to Ireland. They think they may die next.
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:Who does Macduff say has killed the king? The guard
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:Who is believed to have bribed the murderers? Malcolm and Donalbain
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:Who is named the king of Scotland? Macbeth
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:Where h as the new king gone to be crowned? Scone
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:Where is Duncan’s body sent? Colmkill
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:Where are Ross and Macduff going? Fife
Act 2 Scene 3 & 4:Which character harbors suspicions of another character. Macduff is suspicious of Macbeth.
Act 3 Scene 1 & 2:What does Banquo suspect about Macbeth? That Macbeth is the one who killed Duncan.
Act 3 Scene 1 & 2:What does Banquo decide to do between this time and supper? He will go out for a ride.
Act 3 Scene 1 & 2:How is Banquo treated by Macbeth and his wife? He is their chief guest. He is honored.
Act 3 Scene 1 & 2:Why does Macbeth say he fears no one except Banquo? Banquo knows the witches’ prophecy.
Act 3 Scene 1 & 2:How does Macbeth get the murderers to undertake Banquo’s murder? He convinces them that it is Banquo’s fault for their misfortune.
Act 3 Scene 1 & 2:What three questions does Macbeth ask to determine Banquo’s whereabouts? “Ride you this afternoon?”, “Is’t far you ride?”, “Goes Fleance with you?”
Act 3 Scene 1 & 2:What reason does Macbeth give for not doing away with Banquo himself? He doesn’t want to loose the friends he and Banquo share
Act 3 Scene 1 & 2:What goes wrong with the plot to murder Banquo and Fleance? Banquo is murdered, but Fleance escapes.
Act 3 Scene 1 & 2:Why doesn’t Macbeth take Lady Macbeth into his confidence about the plot to murder Banquo and Fleance? He is acting on his own now.
Act 3 Scene 1 & 2:How does Macbeth behave at the banquet? He sees Banquo’s ghost. He freaks out.
Act 3 Scene 1 & 2:How does Lady Macbeth handle the situation of Macbeth’s hallucinations? He says he’s had a condition since he was a child, he has fits. She says to ignore him and it will go away.
Act 3 Scene 1 & 2:Who is Hecate? Queen of the Witches
Act 3 Scene 1 & 2:Macduff does not appear in Act 3. Where is he and why? He is in England, to raise an army to challenge Macbeth.
Act 3 Scene 1 & 2:What is the climax of Macbeth? Fleance escapes the murder plot.
Act 4 Scene 1:What are the witches doing at the beginning of this scene? Throwing things into a caldron to make a potion for Macbeth.
Act 4 Scene 1: What are some of the thing the witches throw into the caldron? Toad, snake, eye of a newt, toe of a frog, wool of bat, tongue of dog, lizard leg, owl’s wing, and scale of dragon.
Act 4 Scene 1: What is the famous quote the witches use as an incantation? “Double double toil and trouble. Fire burn and caldron bubble.”
Act 4 Scene 1: What is Macbeth’s attitude towards the witches in this scene? He is not nice. He is demanding, superior, and arrogant.
Act 4 Scene 1: What does Macbeth’s change in attitude show about his character? He is becoming evil. He is very troubled
Act 4 Scene 1: What does Macbeth want the witches to tell him? The rest of his prophesy. What the future will hold.
Act 4 Scene 1: What is the apparition the witches show Macbeth, and what does it say? An armed head, it warns him to beware Macduff.
Act 4 Scene 1:What is the second apparition the witches show Macbeth, what does it say? A bloody child, it says no man born of women shall harm Macbeth.
Act 4 Scene 1: What is the third apparition the witches show Macbeth, what does it say? A child crowned with a tree in hand, it says that Macbeth shall not be defeated until the woods grow up to the castle.
Act 4 Scene 1: Why does Macbeth accept the predictions made by the witches? All the predictions favor him. They are all good news.
Act 4 Scene 1: When Macbeth insist on knowing what the future holds for Banquo’s children, how do the witches respond? They say, “Seek no more.”
Act 4 Scene 1: Why does the last Banquo carry a mirror in his hands? It reflects that his descendants will be king.
Act 4 Scene 1: What news does Lennox bring to Macbeth? Macduff has fled to England.
Act 4 Scene 1: What does Macbeth indicate he will do to Macduff’s family? Macbeth will kill his family.
Act 4 Scene 2: Where does scene two take place? Macduff’s castle
Act 4 Scene 2: What does Ross say to Lady Macduff to insure her that her husband is not a traitor? He tells her that her husband was a good man.
Act 4 Scene 2: Lady Macduff’s banter with her son is interrupted by a messenger who brings what news? She is in danger
Act 4 Scene 2: How does Lady Macduff respond to the messenger. She says that she has done nothing wrong.
Act 4 Scene 2: What happens to Lady Macduff and her son? They are murdered.
Act 4 Scene 2: Who is responsible for the murder of Lady Macduff and her son? Macbeth
Act 4 Scene 3:Why are Malcolm and Macduff is England? To raise an army to defeat Macbeth
Act 4 Scene 3:What news about England does Malcolm tell Macduff? England has provided money, troops, and support.
Act 4 Scene 3:What does Malcolm say about his own lust? He wants all women, he can’t get enough of women.
Act 4 Scene 3:How does Macduff respond to Malcolm’s “lust?” He says that it is not a good thing, but Scotland has plenty of women.
Act 4 Scene 3:What does Malcolm say about his own avarice? He oh as great greed, he would steal from anybody.
Act 4 Scene 3:How does Macduff respond to Malcolm’s “avarice?” He says it has been the downfall for many kings, but Scotland has plenty wealth.
Act 4 Scene 3:How doesn’t Macduff respond to all the things Malcolm has said about himself? He says Malcolm is not fit to be king, there is no hope for Scotland.
Act 4 Scene 3:Why did Malcolm misrepresent himself to Macduff? He wanted to test Macduff’s loyalty; to make sure he was not a spy for Macbeth.
Act 4 Scene 3:What does Malcolm say about his true nature? He is loyal and true Scotland
Act 4 Scene 3: Why is Ross reluctant to tell Macduff the news he has to tell him? What is this news? Its bad news. Macduff’s wife and children have been murdered.
Act 4 Scene 3: What does Malcolm tell Macduff to inspire him? Use this bad news to get revenge on Macbeth.
Act 4 Scene 3: What does Macduff vow to do? Kill Macbeth for all he has done.
July 8, 2019