The Three Visions

In Act IV, Scene 1, the witches grant Macbeth three visions regarding his own future. Like Macbeth himself, the audience does not immediately grasp their importance. In time, however, their purpose-that of luring Macbeth into a false sense of security-becomes all too apparent!

What is his response to each prediction? Answer in complete sentences.

Prediction The prediction means…

1.First Apparition
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff;
Beware the thane of Fife.
2. Second Apparition
Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn
The power of man, for none of woman born
Shall harm Macbeth.
3. Third Apparition
Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until
Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill
Shall come against him

Macbeth Act IV Review Worksheet

A. Character Identification. 2 points eachMatch the character with the description that best matches him or her. Note that each character may be used more than once or not at all.

MalcolmMacbethLady MacbethHecate

LennoxLady Macduff the Weird SistersMacduff

Macduff’s sonMessengerApparition(s)Ross

BanquoSiwardBanquo’s ghost Macduff’s wife

1. Is told not to fear any man born of woman: ______

2. Travels to England to find Duncan’s son, hoping to convince him to attack Macbeth ______

3. Compliments the Weird Sisters on their preparations for an encounter with Macbeth______

4. Warns of/ predicts future occurrences when summoned by the witches: ______

5. Is seen in one of the apparitions along with his/her sons, grandsons, etc.: ______

6. Tests another character’s motives by pretending to have qualities he/she does not:______

7 & 8. The two characters who die on stage in Act IV: ______and ______

9. Is said to be assisting Malcolm by providing him with troops: ______

10. Informs the family member of the deceased about the murders:______

11. This person is visibly distrustful of his/her spouse’s motives for leaving:______

12. Is told to grieve like a man:______

13. Macbeth is advised to beware of this person/these people:______

14. Is called a young monkey after bantering about traitors: ______

B. Multiple Choice. Pick the right answer to the question or the ending that best completes the sentence.

15. Which of the following is not an apparition seen in Act IV?

  1. an armed headc. a floating dagger smeared with blood
  2. a crowned child, holding a treed. a bloody child

16. The apparitions appear because

  1. Macbeth requests to hear from them as opposed to from the witches
  2. Macbeth, like his wife had done earlier, requested that the evil darkness counsel him
  3. Hecate intervenes and forces Macbeth to see his future
  4. Banquo’s ghost demands that Macbeth learn of the bitter future

17. Macduff’s reaction to the news he receives about the recent deaths in Scotland is best explained as

  1. accepting and peculiarly unaffected.
  2. joyous and sinister.

c. a man prepared for and expecting such disaster.

d.a man originally in denial, then in grief.

18. The original three apparitions are followed by

  1. the witches’ sudden departure into nothing but air.
  2. an image suggesting Banquo’s legacy.
  3. Macbeth threatening to kill the witches and Hecate.
  4. a final apparition of Macbeth bloodied and dead.

C. Quote Explanation.21 points each: MAKE SURE YOUR RESPONSES ARE COMPLETE! For each of the following quotes (a) identify the speaker (½ pt), (b) identify to whom he or she is speaking (½ pt), and (c) explain the meaning and context of the quote—what is happening in the play when the quote is spoken, what the quote means, and why that information is important (2pts).

20. “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! / Beware the Thane of Fife! Dismiss me. Enough.” (4.1)

Speaker:

To whom s/he is speaking:

Meaning/context:

21. “Wisdom? To leave his wife, to leave his babes, / His mansion and his titles in a

place / From whence himself does fly? He loves us not; / He wants the natural touch; for the poor wren / (The most diminutive of birds) will fight, / Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.” (4.2)

Speaker:

To whom s/he is speaking:

Meaning/context:

22. “Be comforted. / Let’s make us med’cines of our great revenge / To cure this deadly grief…[Different speaker omitted] Dispute it like a man…[Different speaker omitted] Be this the whetstone of your sword. Let grief / Convert to anger. Blunt not the heart; enrage it.” (4.3)