Macbeth Act 1

Question 1

What does Duncan say about Macbeth to show his honour?

Answer 1

“O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman”

Question 2

What does the captain say about Macbeth to show his determination?

Answer 2

“Like Valours minion carv’d out his passage till he fac’d the slave”

Question 3

What does the captain say about Macbeth that refers to the food chain?

Answer 3

“as sparrows, eagles, or the hare, the lion”

Question 4

What does Duncan say about Macbeth at the end of scene two?

Answer 4

“What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won”

Question 5

What does Macbeth say to show how he believes the witches even though they are evil?

Answer 5

“As happy prologues to the swelling act” and “Why hath it given me earnest of success”

Question 6

What does Macbeth say to show how he is unsure of what the witches have said?

Answer 6

“Against the use of nature” talking about the witches and the murder of the king

Question 7

Why can we see that Macbeth is serious about following the prophecy?

Answer 7

“My thought whose murder is but yet fantastical”

Question 8

What does Duncan say about trusting people (a) and how does this link to Macbeth (b)?

Answer 8

(a) “He was a gentleman (Thane of Cawdor) on whom I built an absolute trust”
(b) He is now going to trust macbeth after trusting another untrustworthy person

Question 9

Who does Ducan give the throne to?

Answer 9

“We will establish our estate upon our eldest, Malcom, whom we name hereafter”

Question 10

What does Duncan call Macbeth in scene 4?

Answer 10

“My worthy Cawdor”

Question 11

What is Macbeth talking about in scene four aside (a) and back up with quote (b)?

Answer 11

(a) He is thinking about killing the king

(b) “Stars, hide your fires, let not see my black and deep desires”

Question 12

What does Lady Macbeth say about Macbeth’s face?

Answer 12

“your face, my thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters”

Question 13

How does Macbeth show his apprehension towards the murder?

Answer 13

“We will speak further-“

Question 14

What does Duncan say about the Macbeth’s house?

Answer 14

“nimbly and sweetly recommends itself”

Question 15

What does Banquo say about the Macbeths house?

Answer 15

“The air is delicate”

Question 16

What does Duncan think of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship?

Answer 16

“His great love, sharp as his spur”

Question 17

Why should Macbeth not want to kill the king?

Answer 17

“I am his kinsman and his subject strong both against the deed”

Question 18

Does Macbeth think Duncan is a good king?

Answer 18

“Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been so clear in his great office”

Question 19

What is Macbeth’s only reason for going forward with the murder?

Answer 19

“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent but only vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’other”

Question 20

What does Macbeth react to Lady saying he is not a man?

Answer 20

“I dare do all that may become a man; who dares to do more is none”

Question 21

What does Macbeth say about hiding the heart at the end of the act?

Answer 21

“False face must hid what the false heart doth know”

Question 22

What do the witches say about Macbeth?

Answer 22

“A drum a drum Macbeth doth come”

Question 23

The first time Macbeth is mentioned is?

Answer 23

“There to meet with Macbeth” Third witch

Question 24

Why do the characters avoid the words murder and kill (a) and give an example (b)?

Answer 24

(a) to show how evil it is to kill someone and that Macbeth is not really comfortable with it
(b) “his taking off”