Plot Overview

Question 1

how is macbeth presented at the beginning of the play

Answer 1

as a hero

Question 2

what has Macbeth done to be seen as a hero

Answer 2

he has fought for scotland and has won a great battle

Question 3

what do macbeth and banquo encounter on their journey to meet king duncan who has promised to reward macbeth for the battle

Answer 3

• they meet three witches

- who seem to know macbeth

Question 4

what do the three witches greet macbeth as in their first encnounter

Answer 4

• “the thane of glames”
• then the “thane of cawdor”
• then the last one says “king hereafter”

Question 5

what do the witches tell banquo after he has heard what the witches have said about macbeth in their first encounter and what do the witches do after

Answer 5

• they tell him that he is “lesser than macbeth and greater”
• followed by “he is not so happy, yet much happier”
• that “although he will not be king, he will be the father of kings”
• the witches then disappear

Question 6

what do macbeth and banquo discover at duncans camp

Answer 6

• that the thane of cawdor is a traitor
• and has been executed
• and messengers have been sent to give the title to macbeth

Question 7

what does duncan say to macbeth when he meets him after being thane of cawdor and what does macbeth think about it

Answer 7

• duncan says he wants his son, malcolm, to be the next heir to the throne
• and macbeth sees thus as an obstacle for him becoming king

Question 8

what is lady macbeths response to macbeths letter telling her about his encounter with the witches

Answer 8

• she is delighted about the prophecy

- and swears that she will do anything in her power to see macbeth become king

Question 9

when macbeth arrives home, what does lady macbeth persuade macbeth to do as duncan is staying at their house overnight

Answer 9

to kill king ducan

Question 10

how do macbeth and lady macbeth kill king duncan

Answer 10

• lady macbeth causes the guards to get drunk so it is easier for macbeth to kill the king
• then macbeth uses a dagger to stab the king discretely
• but is horrified

Question 11

what is the response to duncans death the next day after his murder

Answer 11

duncan’s sons, malcolm and donalbain, flee the scene in fear of them being next

Question 12

how does macbeth finesse his way into becoming king after duncans murder

Answer 12

• he blames duncans sons for the murder as they tried to run away
• so being the thane of cawdor, he is crowned king

Question 13

why does macbeth want to kill banquo as well after he becomes king

Answer 13

• macbeth remembers that the witches said banquo would become the father or kings
• so he tries to get rid of him so his sons dont get in the way

Question 14

what is the result of macbeth ordering assassins to kill banquo and fleance

Answer 14

• banquo is killed

- but the assassins failed to kill fleance and he manages to escape

Question 15

what heavily troubles macbeth at the banquet he was having

Answer 15

• banquos ghosts

- seeing it almost turns him insane in front of many important men

Question 16

what does lady macbeth try to do to cover up for macbeths actions in the banquet

Answer 16

she says that he has suffered from fits like these since childhood

Question 17

when macbeth meets the witches again what do they tell him

Answer 17

• to “beware macduff”
• and also tell him that he is safe until “burnem woods move to dunsenane”
• and that “no man of woman born can hurt him”

Question 18

what does macbeth do for reassurance after he hears what the witches said to him on his second encounter and what does wrong

Answer 18

• he sends assassins to murder macduffs family

but macduff is in england to persuade malclom to return to scotland and become king

Question 19

what is the response to macduff hearing about the murder of his family while in england

Answer 19

malcolm urges him to seek revenge for their sake

Question 20

what does lady macbeth do when she becomes insane due to the murders

Answer 20

• she constantly relives the murders in her mind
• she cant sleep and always carries a candle around with her
• she tries to wash her hands clean of blood multiple times
• until she finally kills herself

Question 21

macbeth hears about his wifes death when preparing for war and is confident that he will win, but what does he see that shocks him

Answer 21

• he sees the woods of burnem approaching the castle

- which are the soldiers of malcolm carrying branches and trees to hide their numbers

Question 22

when macbeth and macduff encounter each other on the battle field, what does macduff say in response to macbeth telling him that no man of woman born can harm him

Answer 22

• macduff tells macbeth that he was born from a cesarean

- which shocks macbeth

Question 23

what happens after macduff tells macbeth that he isnt born of woman born

Answer 23

• macduff kills macbeth

- and malcolm becomes king