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