Macbeth: Study Guide Questions, Act IV – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
What information does Macbeth gather from the witches and their apparitions?
answer
Beware Macduff, none of woman born can harm Macbeth, and he is secure until Birnam Wood marches on Dunsinane
question
What is the general effect of the first three apparitions on Macbeth?
answer
Macbeth feels encouraged by the first three apparitions
question
What are the apparitions of the eight kings and Banquo meant to signify?
answer
Banquo's descendants will become kings
question
How does the new information from the witches affect Macbeth?
answer
He becomes angry with Macduff, doesn't want to take chances, and plans to kill Macduff and his family
question
Are the witches responsible for Macbeth's moral decay?
answer
Possibly, but he has free will and makes his own decisions
question
How might the fate of Lady Macduff and her son affect the audience's view of Macbeth?
answer
Since they both seem affectionate and honorable, the audience begins to see Macbeth as totally depraved
question
What is a motif?
answer
A significant phrase, description, or image that is repeated throughout a literary work, and is related to the theme
question
What are some motifs in Macbeth?
answer
Macbeth often wears 'borrowed' clothes, suggesting his titles don't 'fit' him; there are also violent storms, blood, darkness/night, and the prevalence of brutal predators
question
What is the rising action in Act IV?
answer
Macbeth has saved his country, has been named the Thane of Cawdor, has become king, and the apparitions seem to be assuring him that he is secure
question
According to the scholars who have seen a pattern in many Shakespearean tragedies, what will follow the rising action and series of triumphs?
answer
The fall of the hero, a ceasing of his triumphs, and a catastrophic ending
question
Compared to some of Macbeth's other crimes, what is different about the murder of Macduff's son?
answer
It is pure savagery, as Macbeth gains nothing politically from the murder, and signifies his moral deterioration
question
Why does Lady Macduff call her husband a traitor, and tell their son "your father's dead"?
answer
Figuratively speaking, she is accusing Macduff of having betrayed them because he can no longer protect them from Macbeth
question
Dramatic irony is a situation in which the audience has information unknown to the characters--what is the dramatic irony of Scene 3 in Act IV?
answer
Macduff bemoans the howl of widows and orphans crying in Scotland, though he doesn't know his family is all dead--but we in the audience do
question
Why do many think Shakespeare introduced the idea of King Edward with 'the healing hands' in this play?
answer
Though some suggest it is English patriotism, many think it provides a symbolic link between the king and Malcolm
question
Why does Malcolm describe to Macduff ways in which he is unworthy to be a king?
answer
He wants to test Macduff's honesty and loyalty to Scotland
question
What does the testing of Macduff by Malcolm tell us about each of them?
answer
Macduff is practical, and doesn't expect perfection in a king; Malcolm is justifiably cautious, but isn't above deception if it serves a noble cause
question
How does Shakespeare use character to support his theme in the testing of Macduff by Malcolm?
answer
Macduff and his forthright answers tells us that his virtue will not allow him to put on a deceptive appearance to achieve his ends
question
What is ironic about Malcolm's attempt to fool Macduff into thinking he is not worthy to be a king?
answer
His deception was meant to test Macduff's loyalty, adopting Macbeth's tactics to achieve a worthwhile goal
question
How does Malcolm's dismissal of Macduff's grief compare with Lady Macbeth's dismissal of Macbeth's fears as unmanly?
answer
Macduff implies that failing to feel grief would make him inhuman; Macbeth represses his feelings and commits murders, making him less of a man to many
question
Could savage events like the murders of Lady Macduff, her son, and King Duncan happen today?
answer
Sadly, yes--such things seem to be almost commonplace in our world--look at events around the world
question
Why does Malcolm not recognize Ross when he comes to speak with Macduff and Malcolm?
answer
Ross is bearing the grief of the murders of Macduff's family, and the pain of it makes him look different
question
Shakespeare compares the murder of Macduff's family to murdered deer--what animal images does he link to Macbeth?
answer
Predators and the familiars of the witches
question
Why does Ross describe Macduff's dead family as "well" and "at peace" when he left them?
answer
He's reluctant to share such horrifying news, and tries to soften the blow by suggesting they are in heaven and at peace
