Macbeth Key Quotes

Question 1

fair is foul…

Answer 1

and foul is fair (Witches A1 S1)

Question 2

so foul and fair…

Answer 2

a day I have not seen (Macbeth 1.3)

Question 3

Noble…

Answer 3

Banquo/That hast no less deserved (King Duncan)

Question 4

Come, you spirits…

Answer 4

unsex me here (Lady Macbeth 1.5)

Question 5

Vaulting ambition…

Answer 5

which o’erleaps itself (Macbeth 1.7)

Vaulting = excessive. ore’leaps = might cause his downfall.

Question 6

Sleep no more…

Answer 6

Macbeth does murder sleep (Macbeth heard a voice say it 2.2)

Question 7

I’ll devil…

Answer 7

porter it no further

suggest the evil in Macbeth’s castle - it is like hell.

Question 8

There’s daggers…

Answer 8

in men’s smiles (Donalbain to Malcom 2.3)

Question 9

And yet dark night…

Answer 9

strangles the travelling lamp. (Rosse to the Old Man 2.4)

Question 10

Are you…

Answer 10

a man? (Lady Macbeth after seeing ghost 3.4)

Question 11

It will have blood…

Answer 11

they say - blood will have blood (Macbeth 3.4)

Question 12

security/…

Answer 12

Is mortals chiefest enemy (Hecate 3.5)

Question 13

Bleed, Bleed…

Answer 13

poor country! (Macduff to Malcolm 4.3)

Question 14

All my pretty ones?…

Answer 14

Did you say all? (Macduff 4.3)

Question 15

Out, damned…

Answer 15

spot! Out I say! (Lady Macbeth 5.1)

Question 16

Out, out brief candle!…

Answer 16

Life’s but a walking shadow (Macbeth after hearing LM is dead 5.5)

Question 17

I will not yield..

Answer 17

before young Malcom’s feet (Macbeth before the final fight 5.8)

Question 18

Whence…

Answer 18

is that knocking? (Macbeth 2.2)

Question 19

my dearest…

Answer 19

partner of greatness (Macbeth about LM 1.5)

Question 20

how is the rightful king on the throne chosen?

Answer 20

it is guided by the “grace of god”

Question 21

How can you contrast L.Macbeth with L.Macduff?

Answer 21

L.Macduff shows her motherliness towards her son by callig him “poor bird” but this contrasts with L.macbeth who says she would have “dashed the brains out” of her own child

Question 22

What does Lennox say about Macbeth in Act 5?

Answer 22

that Macbeth is a “weed” and need to be drowned by the “sovereign flower”

Question 23

Noble

Answer 23

Mabeth (Ducan)

Question 24

Art not without ambition…

Answer 24

but without The illness should attend it

Ilness = wickedness. So evil must accompany ambition

Question 25

To be thus is nothing…

Answer 25

but to be safely thus…

Macbeth reveals he does not feel safe after giving in to his ambition after killing the king.

Question 26

Will all great Neptune’s ocean…

Answer 26

wash this blood Clean from my hand? No

Question 27

Thy blood is cold…

Answer 27

Thou hast no speculation in those eyes

Macbeth starts to lose grip of his sanity as he doesn’t know if Banquo’s is a ghost or real. this showcases how powerful his guilt is.

Question 28

What, all my pretty…

Answer 28

chickens and their dam

links to the theme of children as the affectionate imagery he uses to describe them shows how even though he is a strong and powerful warrior, he is also a** loving husband and father**.

Question 29

Had I as many sons…

Answer 29

I would not wish them a fairer death (children/patriotism)

Young Siward shows that although he lost his children in battle, he is very proud that he dies for his country.

Question 30

Be innocent

Answer 30

of the knowledge dearest chuck

Macbeth to Lady Macbeth

Question 31

What happens to Lady Macbeth and Macbeth after Banquo’s Ghost?

Answer 31

Mabeth and Lady Macbeth do not appear on stage together again after the scene with Banquo’s ghost, leaving the audience to speculate that the conflict in their marriage has caused then to become estranged and divided, which arguably contributes to their madness.