Act 2

Question 1

‘Their candles

Answer 1

are all out’ - Banquo states before Duncan’s death. ominous and symbolic of extinguishing of duncan’s life

Question 2

‘art thou but a

Answer 2

dagger of the mind’ - reflects his inner conflict of the desire to kill Duncan but also his hesitation

Question 3

‘hangman’s

Answer 3

hands’ - connotations that Macbeth is an executioner - idea that it was not simply a murder

Question 4

‘a little water will

Answer 4

cleanse us of this deed’ - believes a little water will cleanse them of it. no guilt. juxtaposes Macbeth’s idea that not even ‘Neptunes ocean’ will cleanse him

Question 5

‘wake duncan

Answer 5

with thy knocking’ - Macbeth immediately regretful

Question 6

‘this place is

Answer 6

too cold for hell’ - Macbeth’s actions even worse than the devil

Question 7

‘the earth was feverous

Answer 7

and did shake’ - supernatural affects and the abnormality of the murder

Question 8

‘There’s daggers

Answer 8

in mens smiles’ - Donalblain knows that someone is lying. metaphor for appearance vs reality

Question 9

‘lest our old robes

Answer 9

sit easier than our new’ - does not like the change