Macbeth Key Questions

Question 1

List 3 examples of Macbeth’s:

1. Skill “B Macbeth”
2. Loyalty “The l and s I owe to”
3. Weakness “I s thee s” and “Why c may crown me”

Answer 1

1. Skill - “Brave Macbeth”, “Hare, the lion.”, “The victory fell on us.” “Noble Macbeth hath won.”
   Loyalty - “the loyalty and service I owe to.”
   Weakness - “I see thee still.” About the dagger
   His ambition is his weakness
   “Why chance may crown me.”
   “We have scorched the snake, not tamed it.” - He wants nore for his security to be King

Question 2

How would you compare the character of Macbeth to Macduff, towards the end of the play?
Macbeth is a t…

Answer 2

2. Macduff has honour because he decides to kill Macbeth’s hired soldiers. Macbeth is considered a ‘tyrant’ as he kills everybody he sees.

Question 3

What approach would you take to an essay question titled: How does Shakespeare explore the weakness of Macbeth?
“Like the poor c …” “We f ?”
“Why c may crown me”
“C of M I will surprise”

Answer 3

3. Weakness of Macbeth - I could talk about how Lady Macbeth is his weakness previously questioning his manhood. Mocking him - “Like the poor cat i’th’adage.” Fully convinces him “we fail?”

His ambition is his weakness, “why chance may crown me.” Thinks of doing regicide. He has an epithet of being a tyrant as he becomes ruthless “castle of Macduff I will surprise.”

Question 4

Look at Macbeth’s dagger
soliloquy in Act 2 Scene 2, what evidence can you find to suggest uncertainty?
“A..” (God)
“Macbeth doth m s”

Answer 4

4. Uses a series of rhetorical questions. He can’t say ‘amen’ as he dirsupted the great chain of being.
   “Macbeth doth murders sleep,” he has destroyed the natural things of life.

Question 5

Elaborate on the reasons why Shakespeare chose a nobleman for the witches to destroy.

Answer 5

5. Shows how no one is perfect as he has used this as a tragedy. From power to nothing

Question 6

To what extent do you agree that Macbeth is a casualty of the witches’ prophecies?

Answer 6

6. It was fate on how he met the witches in the first place. However, his ambition was what lead to all of this due to the free will he was give. He could have dismissed this but he decided not to.

Question 7

Describe Lady Macbeth using 3 adjectives, providing an example from the text for each one.
“Come thee s”
I would d the b” of her own child
“Art thou a”

Answer 7

1. Supernatural - ‘come thee spirits’
   Strong woman - ‘I would dash’d the brains’ of her own child
   Courageous - “Art thou afeard.”

Question 8

Explain what is happening to Lady Macbeth in Act 5 Scene 1, using the terms ‘spiral’ ‘victim’ and ‘regret’

Answer 8

2. She carries a ‘candle’ which symbolises the light and absolution for her crimes as she is full of regret for the murders .

Question 9

How would you use the quotation ‘Out damn spot! Out I say!’ to answer a question about Lady Macbeth’s weakness?

Answer 9

3. “Out damned sport, out I say,” Used to symbolise the blood on her hands as they are involved with the murders. Regret

Question 10

Analyse the following quotation for meaning: ‘Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, And dash’d the brains out’

Answer 10

4. This shows how she is a strong woman and is ambitious for Macbeth to be King. He would even kill her child to become a monarch. She is a strong woman who is emotionless

Question 11

Elaborate on the reasons why Lady Macbeth must die at the end of play.

Answer 11

She had to die at the end pf the play as a woman cannot be victorious in a play in the audience back then. Also, she disrupted the great chain of being which needs to be restored later.

Question 12

To what extent do you believe that Lady Macbeth was never a strong woman to begin with?
“Art thou a”
“D the b out” of her own child”

Answer 12

I strongly disagree that Lady Macbeth was never a strong woman. She managed to persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan questioning his courage ‘art thou afeard?” She would do anything to begin with ‘dash’d the brains out’ of her own child. She has mascuiline qualities of emotionless

Question 13

List all 6 of the witches’ prophecies, throughout the play.

Answer 13

1. Prophecies: - Mabeth will be thane of cawdor
   - Macbeth will be King
   - The trees will move on the hill of Macbeth’s kingdom
   - Macbeth will not be killed by a man with nornal birth

Question 14

What can you say about the witches’ appearance in the play?

Answer 14

They usually come out in the dark with thunder and lightning (pathetic fallacy). This is due to Shakespeare ensuring the audience of their supernatural ability

Question 15

Find 3 examples from the play to suggest that Shakespeare was mocking witches and the art of Witchcraft.
“W women”
“U beings”

Answer 15

“Weird women,” “unearthly beings,”

Question 16

Look at Act 1 Scene 1, what evidence can you find to suggest Shakespeare was being very stereotypical was his portrayal of the witches?

Answer 16

Thunder and lightning to show their evilness as dark can symbolise the Devil
They speak in rhyme to show their supernatural ability

Question 17

What could Shakespeare have done to minimise the blame most readers put on the witches, for the downfall of Macbeth?

Answer 17

. Show Macbeth murdering the other people, limit the focus of the witches and more thoughts in his head

Question 18

To what extent do you agree that the witches were to blame for the downfall of a great man?

Answer 18

. I somewhat agree that the witches were to blame for the down. However, it was Macbeth’s overall choice.

Question 19

Identify 3 points in the play where Banquo’s behaviour and/or reaction juxtaposes Macbeth’s.
“The h is your own”
I shall be c”

Answer 19

• He is sincere with Duncan “the harvest is your own,” whilst Macbeth is dupliticious.
• He does not get involved with Macbeth. He is loyal and trustworthy “I shall be counsel’d

Question 20

What was Shakespeare’s main reason for including Banquo’s ghost in Act 3?

Answer 20

He uses Banquo in act 3 scene 3 to show how Macbeth is paranoid and fearful at this moment. He does this by showing Banquo as a ghost.

Question 21

What approach would you take to an exam question titled: How does Shakespeare portray the character of Banquo?
“The h is your own”
“I shall be c”

Answer 21

Banquo is shown to be loyal and trustworthy. “The havest is your own.”
Stands by Macbeth “I shall be coun’seled

Question 22

Analyse Banquo’s dying words for meaning:

‘Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! Thou may’st revenge – O slave!’

Answer 22

Banquo uses the imagery of a bird to Fleance to be safe as birds ‘fly’ to be safe. He must fly in order to be safe, “revenge” as he must take down Macbeth

Question 23

How would the fate of Macbeth have been different if Banquo wasn’t murdered?
“May they not be my o as well, and set me up in h”

Answer 23

Macbeth could have lived longer as Banquo thought that him being King would have benefited him. “May they not be my oracles as well, and set me up in home.” He would not intervene

Question 24

Banquo was a good man who was betrayed simply by ambition. To what extent do you agree?
“The h is your own”

Answer 24

I strongly agree that Banquo was a good man who was betrayed simply ambition. He was a good man as he was genuine “the harvest is your own.” He supported Macbeth and was loyal. Did not get involved in the murders.

Question 25

List 3 examples of where King Duncan was too trusting of a King.
“D traitor”
“Greets his f title”
“We are your g tonight”

Answer 25

Banquo is too trusting to the Thane of Cawdor, “Disloyal traitor,” referring to The former Thane of Cawdor.
He is too trusting of Macbeth as “greets his former title,” to him and he also stays in Macbeth’s castle
Stays in Macebth’s castle “we are your guests tonight.”

Question 26

Explain what happens in Act 1 Scene 4 with reference to King Duncan’s actions and Macbeth’s reactions.
“More they can do than p”
“The l and s I owe”

Answer 26

He is grateful and applauds Macbeth as he says “more they can do than pay” as he cannot pay him too much for his efforts. However, Macbeth wants to use his to his advantage as he says,” the loyalty and service I owe,” to try and act grateful but in reality he is two-faced. This means he is trying to woo Duncan but actually wants to perform regicide.

Question 27

How would you use the quotation ‘valiant cousin’ to suggest King Duncan was a victim of his own leadership?
“V cousin”

Answer 27

“Valiant cousin” Shows that Macbeth is Duncan’s cousin which is why Duncan was so happy for him as he is family as well

Question 28

Analyse the meaning and foreshadowing of the quote: ‘There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face.’

Answer 28

He may not have given Macbeth the Thane of Cawdor title so easily. Also, the former Thane of Cawdor would have been executed as well.

Question 29

If King Duncan was a stronger more observant King, how would the events of the play have been altered?

Answer 29

He may not have given Macbeth the Thane of Cawdor title so easily. Also, the former Thane of Cawdor would have been executed as well

Question 30

To what extent do you believe that King Duncan is an ineffective leader?
“There’s no art to find the m c in the face.”

Answer 30

I somewhat agree that King Duncan was an ineffective leader because he was too trustworthy of many people leading to his betrayal with Macbeth. “There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face.”

Question 31

Identify the moment where Macduff’s loyalty to King and country is punished.

Answer 31

He flees to England where Macbeth orders the murder of his family because he loves his country to seek Malcolm for help

Question 32

Explain Macduff’s reaction to the knowledge of the death of his wife and children.
“H no take their p”
“S Macduff”

Answer 32

He is full of regret for leaving them by themsleves and is in sorrow could “heaven (..) not take their part” he asks God whynhe js not there but he is also full of regret for leaving them alone “sinful Macduff,”

Question 33

How could you use the quotation ‘O horror, horror, horror!’ to respond to a question about loyalty?

Answer 33

Macduff shouts “O horror, horror, horror,” He is heartbroken in the way he shouts this out which is a little bit of a trouble for Macbeth as Duncan was a beloved King.

Question 34

How was ornithology used effectively by Shakespeare, through Macduff’s reaction to his family’s murder?
“H-k”

Answer 34

He calls Macbeth a ‘hell-kite’ which is a devilish bird which shows Macbeth’s evilness as he is equivalent to the devil.

Question 35

Why did Shakespeare decide that Macduff must be the character to end Macbeth’s reign of terror?

Answer 35

Firstly, Macduff was the total opposite to Macbeth which meant he was the righteous person to kill Macbeth. Also, the audience sympathised with him as his family was killed.

Question 36

To what extent do you believe that the murder of Macduff’s family shows Macbeth’s reign is powerful?

Answer 36

6. I believe that Macbeth was powerful becuase he was able to order the killing. However, it shows more of him being a tyrant as well for murdering inncoent people (women and children).