Plot of Macbeth

Question 1

Act 1.1 summary

Answer 1

Three witches meet and plot against Macbeth, who is currently leading the Scottish army in a battle against the Norwegians.

Question 2

Act 1.2 summary

Answer 2

Duncan learns that Macbeth and Banquo have won the war.
Macbeth has decapitated the Scottish traitor, Macdonwald.
Another traitor (the Thane of Cawdor) will be executed.

Question 3

Act 1.3 summary

Answer 3

The witches meet again on a heath, Macbeth and Banquo arrive and meet the witches, who give them both prophecies. Banquo is sceptical, but Macbeth wants to learn more. Macbeth is told that he is now Thane of Cawdor by Ross and Angus.

Question 4

Act 1.4 summary

Answer 4

Malcolm will be Duncan’s heir.

Question 5

Act 1.5 summary

Answer 5

Macbeth has sent Lady Macbeth a letter explaining what the witches have said. She calls on the spirits to “fill” her with “direst cruelty”. Macbeth arrives and they plot.

Question 6

Act 1.6 summary

Answer 6

Lady Macbeth welcomes
Duncan to her castle.

Question 7

Act 1.7 summary

Answer 7

Macbeth equivocates, doubting whether or not he can commit the murder. Lady Macbeth persuades him by questioning his masculinity.

Question 8

Act 2.1 summary

Answer 8

Macbeth meets Banquo on the way to Duncan’s chamber.
Alone again, he sees a
mysterious dagger leading him to the murder.

Question 9

Act 2.2 summary

Answer 9

Macbeth meets Lady Macbeth, who becomes angry as he still has the daggers. She plants them on the drugged guards and they go to bed.

Question 10

Act 2.3 summary

Answer 10

The Porter answers the gate to Macduff, who discovers the murder. Macbeth kills Duncan’s guards, blaming the murder on them, and Macduff becomes suspicious. Duncan’s sons flee.

Question 11

Act 2.4 summary

Answer 11

Macduff discusses Macbeth being made King. Macduff doesn’t attend the coronation.

Question 12

Act 3.1 summary

Answer 12

Banquo recalls the witches’ prophecies. Macbeth invites him to a banquet that night, but secretly ponders the threat Banquo poses to his safety. Macbeth orders Banquo’s murder.

Question 13

Act 3.2-3.3 summary

Answer 13

Macbeth discusses his troubles with Lady Macbeth: he is unhappy that others may suspect the truth. He refuses to tell Lady Macbeth that he has arranged Banquo’s murder. Outside the castle, the murderers kill Banquo, but Fleance escapes.

Question 14

Act 3.4 summary

Answer 14

Macbeth hosts a feast. He discovers Banquo is killed, but Fleance lives. Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost and appears to have a fit. Lady Macbeth tells the guests her husband is unwell, before losing her determination to help Macbeth.

Question 15

Act 3.5 summary

Answer 15

Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft, promises to give Macbeth a false sense of security. Lords discuss Banquo’s death and their suspicions of Macbeth. Macduff goes to England for help.

Question 16

Act 4.1 summary

Answer 16

Macbeth visits the witches and is given new prophecies :

O armed head: to beware to Macduff

O bloody child : no man born of woman can harm Macbeth

O crowned child with tree: Macbeth is safe until Birnam Wood moves

O line of kings : Banquo’s heirs

Question 17

Act 4.2 summary

Answer 17

Macbeth sends murderers to Macduff’s castle to kill his family.
Macduff has already gone to England to raise an army.

Question 18

Act 4.3 summary

Answer 18

Macduff discovers his family have been killed. He rounds up the English armies ready to take revenge

Question 19

Act 5.1 summary

Answer 19

Lady Macbeth sleepwalks, acting out washing her hands.

Question 20

Act 5.2-5.4 summary

Answer 20

Macbeth boasts that he has nothing to fear. Yet Macduff and Malcolm’s army approaches and Macbeth puts on his armour.
The army use branches off trees as camouflage

Question 21

Act 5.5-5.7 summary

Answer 21

Macbeth hears that Lady Macbeth is dead - we assume suicide. Macbeth is terrified to learn that the wood is starting to move. The battle commences outside the castle. Macbeth strikes everyone he can see, suddenly afraid of nothing.

Question 22

Act 5.8 summary

Answer 22

Macbeth fights Macduff, only to find that Macduff was not
“born of woman” but through caesarean section. Macduff triumphs, cutting off Macbeth’s head. Malcolm is made king.