Macbeth

Question 1

The three witches plot to meet Macbeth on his way home from battle

Answer 1

When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

Question 2

King Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Macduff and Seyton all praise Macbeth for his bravery in winning the battle

Answer 2

• worthy gentleman
• brave Macbeth
• worthy thane
• great Glamis
• valiant Cousin

Question 3

The witches make a prophecy about Macbeth

Answer 3

First witch: All hail, Macbeth: Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!
Second witch: All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!
Third witch: All hail, Macbeth, that shall be king hereafter!

Question 4

The witches’ prophecy for Banquo

Answer 4

First witch: Lesser than Macbeth, and greater
Second witch: Not so happy, yet much happier
Third witch: Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none

Question 5

Macbeth decides that if he is fated to be king, he will become king without having to do anything

Answer 5

If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me,
Without my stir.

Question 6

Lady Macbeth calls on the spirits for strength to carry out Duncan’s murder

Answer 6

Come you spirits;
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty.

Question 7

Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s courage

Answer 7

Art thou afeard?

Question 8

Lady Macbeth uses a metaphor to tell Macbeth that if he stays courageous they won’t fail

Answer 8

Screw your courage to the sticking place,
And we’ll not fail.

Question 9

Macbeth has a vision as he approaches King Duncan’s chamber to kill him

Answer 9

Is this a dagger which I see before me?

Question 10

Donalbain discusses with Malcolm how he feels they are in the company of the person who murdered their father

Answer 10

Where we are
There’s daggers in men’s smiles

Question 10

Macbeth hears voices after killing the king

Answer 10

Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more!
Macbeth doth murder sleep

Question 11

Theme of appearance vs reality

Answer 11

• Fair is foul, and foul is fair
• There’s no art
  To find the mind’s construction in the face

Question 12

Macbeth seems to revel in the brutality of the battlefield

Answer 12

with brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution

Question 13

Macbeth echoing the words of the witches

Answer 13

So foul and fair a day I have not seen

Question 14

Lady Macbeth worries Macbeth is too kind to carry out the murder

Answer 14

too full of the milk of human kindness

Question 15

Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to look innocent to deceive the others

Answer 15

look like the innocent flower/but be a serpent under’t

Question 16

Macbeth explains in his soliloquoy how violent actions often rebound on the perpetrator

Answer 16

Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return/To plague th’inventor

Question 17

Macbeth in his soliloquoy states the only reason he has to murder Duncan is his ambition. He says that if he is too ambitious he may fail miserably

Answer 17

Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself/And falls on th’other