Macbeth – Study Questions

Act I - Scenes I and II

  1. The witches’ refrain serves as foreshadowing, as an example of paradox, and as one of the themes of the drama. Quote it. (line 10)
  1. What is the meaning of this refrain?
  1. What quality of Macbeth does the Sergeant mention? (line 16)
  1. What had Macbeth done to earn this praise? (lines 16-23)
  1. What reward is bestowed upon Macbeth? (line 65)

Scene III

  1. List the witches’ predictions that are given to Macbeth. (lines 48-50)
  1. What effect do those predictions have on Macbeth? What might this reveal about Macbeth? (lines 65-67)
  1. List the predictions that are given to Banquo. (lines 65-67)
  1. What warning does Banquo give Macbeth in lines 108, 123-126?
  1. How is Macbeth affected mentally, emotionally, and morally by the realization that one of the predictions has come true? (Read the asides in lines 116-146 without the intervening comments to get the full impact of Macbeth’s secret thoughts.)

Scene IV

  1. What does King Duncan mean by lines 12-14?
  1. What dramatic irony might be in Macbeth’s entry immediately after this speech by Duncan?
  1. What public announcement does Duncan make as to his successor on the throne, the Prince of Cumberland? (lines 37-39)
  2. In the aside, lines 48-53, what is Macbeth’s reaction to the announcement? What might be his “black and deep desires”?

Scene V

  1. How does Lady Macbeth analyze Macbeth’s character? In what way does she present the ambivalence of his character? (lines 15-22)
  1. Why does she want him home soon? (lines 22-25)
  1. What does Lady Macbeth plan after hearing that Duncan is to arrive? What is she asking for? (lines 38-54)
  1. Why does Lady Macbeth tell Macbeth to “Look like the innocent flower”? (lines 62-66).
  1. What does she mean by “Leave all the rest to me”? (lines 66-70)

Scene VI

  1. Explain the dramatic irony in Duncan’s statement:

“This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air

Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself

Unto our gentle senses” (lines 1-3).

Scene VII

  1. Explain Macbeth’s soliloquy from line 1 through line 10.
  1. List three reasons that Macbeth considers for not killing Duncan. (lines 13-20)
  1. What does Macbeth say is the only spur that drives him to murder? (lines 25-28)
  1. When Lady Macbeth enters, how had Macbeth’s intentions changed? What reason does he give his wife for this change? (lines 31-35)
  1. What are Lady Macbeth’s reproaches and arguments in her attempts to persuade Macbeth? (lines 39-45)
  1. What plans for the murder does Lady Macbeth outline? (lines 61-72)

Act II – Scene I

  1. What thought could be preventing Banquo from sleeping? (lines 6-9, 20)
  1. How is Macbeth’s hypocrisy shown in his remarks: “I think not of them [the witches]….We would spend it [time]in some words upon that business”? (lines 22-24)
  1. How does Banquo respond to Macbeth’s proposition of lines 25-26? (lines 27-29)
  1. What causes Macbeth to “see” a dagger? What does this imaginary dagger reveal about Macbeth’s state of mind and character? (lines 33-49)

Scene II

  1. To what extent does Lady Macbeth assist in the murder? What stops her from committing the murder? (lines 6, 12-14)
  1. Locate the quotations that indicate Macbeth is disturbed by his deed. (lines 22-73)
  1. Why does Lady Macbeth return to the murder scene? What does she do to the guards? (lines 48-57)
  1. How do Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s reactions to the blood on their hands differ? (lines 60-61, 64-69)

Scene III

  1. What is Shakespeare’s purpose in having the Porter scene at this point in the play?
  1. List the strange events of nature that had occurred during the night. What belief of the era do these events represent? (lines 53-60)
  1. Who discovers the murder? Who is accused, why, and by whom? (lines 63-68, 100-104)
  1. Report Macbeth’s excuse for killing the guards. Was that part of the original plan? Was it wise or foolish? Why? (lines 105-116)
  1. Speculate on what causes Lady Macbeth “to faint” at this particular time. (line 118)
  2. Where are Malcolm and Donalbain going? Why are they leaving Scotland? (lines 143-145)

Scene IV

  1. What unnatural event is occurring? (lines 5-10)
  1. What is the symbolic meaning of the falcon-owl incident? (lines 12-13)
  1. What is suggested as the guards’ motive for murdering Duncan? Why are Malcolm and Donalbain suspected? (lines 24-27)
  1. Speculate as to reasons Macduff might have for not attending the coronation.

Act III – Scene I

  1. What thought is troubling Banquo? (lines 1-3)
  1. Speculate as to why Banquo has not told anyone about the witches’ prophecies. (lines 4-10)
  1. What motives for Banquo’s and Fleance’s murders does Macbeth reveal in his soliloquy? (lines 50-74)
  1. What argument does Macbeth use to convince the murderers to kill Banquo? (lines 76-78, 116-126)
  1. From Macbeth’s manner, what change has taken place in him?

Scene II

  1. How are Lady Macbeth’s views expressed in her soliloquy in contrast to the philosophy which she expresses to Macbeth ( lines 4-7, 11-12)
  1. What is suggested about Macbeth’s state of mind? (lines 13-22)
  1. What statement does Macbeth make that suggests Lady Macbeth is unaware of Macbeth’s plan to kill Banquo and Fleance? (lines 45-46)
  1. What does this statement by Macbeth indicate about the change in their relationship as co-conspirators?

Scene III

  1. The climax occurs in this scene; the fortunes of the tragic hero Macbeth irreversibly turn for the worse. Specifically state the climax. Explain how this development affects Macbeth’s state of mind. (lines 21-25)

Scene IV

  1. Why does Macbeth think the seating at the table is full?
  1. How does Lady Macbeth explain Macbeth’s strange actions and words? What aspects of her personality are revealed by her manner? (lines 53-58, 117-118)
  1. Who is absent from the feast? (lines 128-129)
  1. What is revealed about Macbeth’s state of mind by his keeping “a servant feed” (paid a spy) in each subject’s house? (lines 131-132)
  1. Why does Macbeth plan to see the witches? (lines 134-135)
  1. What are Macbeth’s feelings about his situation? What are his intentions as revealed in the lines beginning “I am in blood”? (lines 136-140)
  1. What is Macbeth’s explanation for his agitation and sleeplessness? (lines 142-144)

Scene V

  1. What characteristic of Macbeth does Hecate refer to when she says he “Loves for his own ends:? (line 13)
  1. In what specific ways has Macbeth already fulfilled Hecate’s prophesy that “He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear/His hopes ‘bove wisdom, grace and fear”? (lines 30-31)
  1. What according to Hecate is man’s “chiefest enemy”? Is this true in Macbeth’s case? Explain. (lines 32-33)

Scene VI

  1. What is the indirect suggestion of Lennox’s true feelings/meanings in his remarks in lines 1-17?
  1. Why is Macduff in disgrace? (lines 21-23)
  2. Why has Macduff gone to England? (lines 24-39)
  1. What condition is Scotland in under Macbeth’s rule? (lines 33-37, 48-49)

Act IV – Scene I

  1. Why is the witches’ refrain, “Double, double toil and trouble,” appropriate for Macbeth?
  1. How had Macbeth’s attitude toward the witches changed since their first encounter in Act I? What character change might be indicated? (line 48)
  1. List the three apparitions and the prediction of each. (Note stage directions and lines 68-94)
  1. When Macbeth asks if Banquo’s issue will ever reign, what is he shown? (stage directions and lines 112-121)
  1. Tell how Macbeth’s words contradict or belie his actions with regard to the witches. (lines 138-139)
  1. In light of Macbeth’s reaction to Lennox’s news, what had Macbeth been planning? (lines 142, 144)
  1. What murders does Macbeth plan now? (lines 150-154)
  1. Why are these murders considered to be the climax of Macbeth’s crimes? What change in his character is evident?

Scene II

  1. Of what does Lady Macduff accuse her husband because of his flight to England? What does she tell her son? How could you explain her actions? (lines 8-9, 31-32)
  1. What is Shakespeare’s purpose in including this humorous scene at this point?
  1. Explain how Lady Macduff’s words echo the theme of the witches’ refrain which opens the play. (lines 72-75)
  1. What are the consequences of Lady Macduff’s failure to heed the warning of the messenger?

Scene III

  1. What does Malcolm suspect Macduff’s motives to be? (lines 115-120)
  1. Why does Malcolm portray himself as a potential sinful tyrant? (lines 114-120)
  1. How does Macduff’s reaction to Ross’s news of the deaths of his wife, children, and servants contrast to his wife’s accusations in Scene II? (lines 220-230)
  1. What does Macduff as Heaven to do? (lines 231-234)

Act V – Scene I

  1. In what sleepwalking activity does Lady Macbeth engage? (lines 23-25)
  1. What are her concerns? (lines 19-20, 33-34, 36-37, 42-43, 52-54)
  1. What does the doctor diagnose as the cause of her affliction? (lines 70-73)
  1. What does he fear? (lines 75-76)
  1. How has the sleepwalking scene been foreshadowed?

Scene II

  1. Where do the anti-Scottish noblemen plan to meet up with the English forces led by Malcolm, Siward, and Macduff? (lines 5-6)
  1. At which castle is Macbeth making his stand? (line 12)
  1. What is said of Macbeth’s mental and emotional condition? (lines 13-14)
  1. What is his political/military condition? (lines 17-20)

Scene III

  1. Upon what two prophesies does Macbeth rely to banish fear and to build his confidence? (lines 2-10)
  1. In the face of his diminishing military support from his thanes and the size of the enemy forces, what might be a wise action for Macbeth to take?
  1. What is Macbeth’s punishment for his crimes? (lines 20-28)
  1. How does he seem to feel about his crimes? (lines 20-28)
  1. What are the various emotions Macbeth is experiencing in Scene III?

Scene IV

  1. How is one of the witches’ prophecies coming true? (lines 3-7)

Scene V

  1. Explain Macbeth’s view of life as revealed in his “Tomorrow” soliloquy. (lines 19-28)
  1. What causes Macbeth’s confidence to be shaken? (lines 34-35, 42-46)
  1. Why does he decide to leave Dunsinane?

Scene VII

  1. In the face of being betrayed/misled by the witches, what prophesy continues to give Macbeth confidence? (lines 2-4)
  1. Why is Macbeth allowed to be victorious over young Siward? (lines 12-14)

Scene VIII

  1. Why had Macbeth avoided Macduff? What emotion does this reveal? (lines 4-6)
  1. Why does Macduff consider himself not of “woman born”? (lines 13-14)
  1. Why does Macbeth fight Macduff since Macbeth’s “charmed life” is broken? (lines 23-32)
  1. How had Lady Macbeth died? (lines 69-71)