Characters

Question 1

What is a quote that presents Macbeth as noble?

Answer 1

“For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name).”

Question 2

Meaning & context of the quote:
“For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name).”

Answer 2

The Captain is giving an account of how well Macbeth fought in battle.

Question 3

Analyse how his quote shows that Macbeth is noble: “For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name).”

Answer 3

• Shows Macbeth is well-respected by his comrades
• He is loyal to King Duncan
• Emphasises his positive qualities

Question 4

What is a quote that presents Macbeth as ambitious?

Answer 4

“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, only vaulting ambition.”

Question 5

Meaning & context of the quote: “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, only vaulting ambition.”

Answer 5

This quote is in Act 1, where Macbeth contemplates whether to murder King Duncan.

Question 6

Analyse how this quote shows Macbeth’s ambition: “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, only vaulting ambition.”

Answer 6

• Metaphor of “vaulting ambition” suggests recklessness
• Shows that Macbeth’s hamartia is his ambition
• Conveys he is willing to challenge the Great Chain of Being

Question 7

Give a quote that portrays Macbeth as cruel.

Answer 7

“Never shake thy [Banquo’s] gory locks at me.”

Question 8

Meaning & context of the quote: “Never shake thy [Banquo’s] gory locks at me.”

Answer 8

Macbeth is seeing his best-friend, Banquo’s ghost, after he ordered his murder.

Question 9

Analyse how Macbeth is shown as cruel in the quote: “Never shake thy [Banquo’s] gory locks at me.”

Answer 9

• His cruelty has led to him murdering his best-friend
• Shakespeare suggests how power corrupts people
• “Gory locks” alludes to the violence of Banquo’s murder

Question 10

What is a quote that presents Macbeth as traitorous?

Answer 10

“Stars hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires.”

Question 11

Meaning & context of the quote: “Stars hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires.”

Answer 11

At this point in the play, Macbeth is convinced that he can only become king by killing Duncan.

Question 12

Analyse how Macbeth is traitorous in the quote: “Stars hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires.”

Answer 12

• At the beginning of the play, he is loyal to King Duncan, but now he is planning to commit regicide
• Commands of nature are blasphemous
• Shows deterioration of his moral compass as he feeds his ambition

Question 13

In what quote is Macbeth shown as guilty?

Answer 13

“Macbeth does murder sleep!”

Question 14

Meaning & context of quote: “Macbeth does murder sleep!”

Answer 14

Macbeth hears a voice crying this out, after he commits regicide.

Question 15

Analyse how Macbeth’s guilt is shown in the quote: “Macbeth does murder sleep!”

Answer 15

• Shows he will never be able to sleep due to his guilt
• Sleep is a motif for peace, something which Macbeth won’t have
• Divine retribution for disrupting the natural order

Question 16

What quote presents Lady Macbeth as a controlling character?

Answer 16

“I may pour my spirits in thine [Macbeth’s] ear.”

Question 17

Meaning & context of the quote: “I may pour my spirits in thine [Macbeth’s] ear.”

Answer 17

Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that she will be the one taking charge of Duncan’s murder.

Question 18

Analyse how Lady Macbeth is controlling in the quote: “I may pour my spirits in thine [Macbeth’s] ear.”

Answer 18

• Metaphor shows she plays a pivotal role in manipulating Macbeth into murdering Duncan
• Macbeth is shown as a puppet of his wife, challenging gender norms
• Shows her lack of confidence in Macbeth

Question 19

Give a quote which portrays Lady Macbeth as ambitious.

Answer 19

“Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.”

Question 20

Meaning & context of the quote: “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.”

Answer 20

Lady Macbeth is commanding the spirits to remove her femininity.

Question 21

Analyse Lady Macbeth’s ambition in the quote: “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.”

Answer 21

• Imperatives are blasphemous as she trys to command nature
• Removing her femininity will enable her to kill Duncan
• Shows that her ambition spurs her sinful actions

Question 22

What is a quote that presents Lady Macbeth as ruthless?

Answer 22

“Have I plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out.”

Question 23

Meaning & context of the quote: “Have I plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out.”

Answer 23

Lady Macbeth gives an example of what she would do to keep her word.

Question 24

Analyse how Lady Macbeth is shown as ruthless in the quote: “Have I plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out.”

Answer 24

• Hyperbole shows that she is willing to kill an innocent baby to gain power
• Shakespeare warns that her unchecked ambition will lead to her downfall

Question 25

What is a quote that presents Lady Macbeth as vulnerable?

Answer 25

“Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?”

Question 26

Meaning & context od the quote: “Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?”

Answer 26

This occurs in Act 5, when Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking.

Question 27

Analyse how Lady Macbeth's vulnerability is conveyed in the quote: “Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?”

Answer 27

* Juxtaposes her formidable character before she helped murder King Duncan * Shows that she also is tormented by the guilt of commiting regicide * Sleep is a motif for peace, something that she doesn't deserve

Question 28

Give a quote that presents Banquo as virtuous.

Answer 28

“Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none.”

Question 29

Meaning & context of the quote: “Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none.”

Answer 29

This prophecy is given to Banquo whe him and Macbeth first meet with the three witches.

Question 30

Analyse how Banquo is displayed as virtuous in the quote: “Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none.”

Answer 30

* Despite being given this prophecy, Banquo doesn't meddle with fate, unlike Macbeth * His lack of action shows his integrity * Paradox shows the witches' deceiving nature

Question 31

What is a quote that shows Banquo is sceptical?

Answer 31

“I fear, thou [Macbeth] play’dst most foully for’t.”

Question 32

Meaning & context of the quote: “I fear, thou [Macbeth] play’dst most foully for’t.”

Answer 32

In Act 3, Banquo suspects that Macbeth killed Duncan in order to become king.

Question 33

Analyse how Banquo is presented as sceptical in the quote: “I fear, thou [Macbeth] play’dst most foully for’t.”

Answer 33

* Banquo suspects that Macbeth has been corrupted, yet he doesn't voice his opinion * Shows that ambition causes Macbeth to commit regicide * Warns audience of misplaced loyalty as Macbeth kills Banquo later on

Question 34

What is a quote that presents Banquo as prophet-like?

Answer 34

“In the great hand of God I stand.”

Question 35

Meaning & context of the quote: “In the great hand of God I stand.”

Answer 35

This is Banquo's response to King Duncan's murder.

Question 36

Analyse how Banquo is presented as prophet-like in the quote: “In the great hand of God I stand.”

Answer 36

* His honesty and moral shows that his character acts as a foil to Macbeth * Shows he is a devout Christian, the expectation in this era * Conveys his loyalty to King Duncan

Question 37

What is a quote that shows Macduff is a symbol of justice in the play?

Answer 37

“Was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.”

Question 38

Meaning & context of the quote: “Was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.”

Answer 38

In his fight with Macbeth, Macduff reveals that he was born via C-section before he kills Macbeth.

Question 39

Analyse how Macduff is presented as righteous in the quote: “Was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.”

Answer 39

* He restores the moral order of the play as he kills traitorous Macbeth * Fulfils the witches' prophecy, feeding into the theme of fate

Question 40

What is a quote that presents Macduff as noble?

Answer 40

“All my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop?”

Question 41

Meaning & context of the quote: “All my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop?”

Answer 41

Macduff comments this as he hears that Macbeth killed his entire family.

Question 42

Analyse how Macduff is shown as noble in the quote: “All my pretty chickens and their dam at one fell swoop?”

Answer 42

* He chooses not to grovel over his family's death, but instead chooses to avenge them * "One fell swoop" alludes to the brutal murder of Macduff's family

Question 43

Give a quote that presents Macduff as faithful.

Answer 43

"O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!"

Question 44

Meaning & context of quote: "O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!"

Answer 44

Macduff's response to discovering Duncan's murder in Act 2 Scene 3.

Question 45

Analyse how Macduff is shown as faithful in the quote: "O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!"

Answer 45

* Rule of three and exclamatives express his true distress * His response is genuine, showing his loyalty to King Duncan * Builds tensions and suspicion over Macbeth