| What is the point of the first scene literally in reference to the whole play? | to set the scene as creepy. Everything is not what it seems… |
| What does Duncan call Macbeth when he hears Macbeth has defeated Macdonwald? | Valiant cousin and worthy gentlemen–someone of a noble birth |
| Who is sentenced to death | the thane of Cawdor |
| What do the witches predict in Act 1 scene 3 for macbeth? for Banquo? | Macbeth- he will be thane of cawdor and king of scotland (greeted macbeth as the thane of glamis)Banquo- lesser than macbeth, but greater; not so happy, yet much happier, will not be king but will father kings |
| What news does Ross bring to Macbeth? | That the name Thane of Cawdor has been stripped and is now going to be rewarded to Macbeth from the king. |
| Banquo, like Macbeth, is surprised that the witches have predicted Macbeth’s new title. He is, however, leery. What does he say about the motives of the “instruments of darkness”? | he says that sometimes the instruments of darkness tell us the truth at first to win our trust. Then, once we trust them they will betray us with deep consequences, which will often lead us to more destruction. |
| Malcolm describes Cawdor’s last moments before execution. What is Duncan’s reply? | You can’t see or find out what is in a person’s heart or mind by just examining the face |
| Macbeth says, “Stars hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires” What are Macbeth’s desires? | to be the powerful Prince of Cumberland and later take over as king after Duncan’s death. |
| after lady Macbeth reads the letter, what does she tell us is her opinion of Macbeth and how does she plan to help him? | She doesn’t think Macbeth is strong and powerful enough to take what he wants. He needs to be ruthless and she plans to talk him into it. |
| What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth when he arrives home? | She tells him to be friendly and act innocent. Be a great host, but a serpent underneath. Act innocent but be prepared to attack. |
| What are Macbeth’s arguments to himself against killing against Duncan? | Duncan has been good to him. He is Macbeth’s guest in his castle, and is also his king and relative. macbeth wants to forget about the plan to kill Duncan. |
| What arguments does Lady Macbeth use to convince macbeth to commit the murder? | She told him he was acting like a coward for second guessing himself. She says that there is no way they will fail. She questions his manhood. |
| What is Lady Macbeth’s plan? | Her plan is to drug the guards and frame them by taking their daggers to put Duncan’s blood on them after they kill king Duncan in his sleep. |
| What is Lady Macbeth’s “prayer” to the spirits after she learns Duncan is coming? | She prays to the spirits to make her cruel and as powerful as she can be. She hopes that the spirits will guide her to be as ruthless as possible for her husband’s sake. |
| What is Macbeth’s lie to Banquo about the witches’ predictions? | He lied and told Banquo that he hasn’t thought about their predictions |
| What is the signal Lady Macbeth is to give Macbeth to let him know she has taken care of the guards? | the ringing bell |
| What excuse does Lady Macbeth give for not killing Duncan herself? | When she looked at him, he looked too much like her father when he was sleeping, and she couldn’t do it. |
| After Macbeth kills Duncan, he goes to Lady Macbeth and is concerned about not being able to say “Amen” what is her advice to him? | She told him to ignore it and that it is not a big deal. |
| Then, Macbeth is worried about hearing a voice saying, “Macbeth does murder sleep.” What does Lady Macbeth then tell him to do? | She told him to take the daggers back to the guards and smear blood on him and then wash his hands & relax |
| Why won’t macbeth take the daggers back to the scene of the crime? | He was scared to see what he had done |
| Who was knocking? | Macduff and Lennox |
| How does Lennox describe the night, and what is Macbeth’s response? | terrible, unruly, strange things happened, chimneys were blown down, there was an earthquake, they heard strange screams of death in the air. it was a rough night |
| What did Macduff discover? | He found that king duncan was murdered. |
| Macduff says “Oh gentle lady, ‘Tis not for you to hear what I can speak. The repetition, in a woman’s ear, would murder as it fell.” What is ironic about this? | Lady Macbeth already knew Duncan was dead because she helped plan his murder |
| What excuse or explanation did Macbeth give for killing the guards? What is the real reason? | Macbeth said he was so mad he killed the guards, but his real reason was to keep them from telling because the drugs had started to wear off and they were beginning to wake up. |
| Why do Malcolm and Donalbain leave? | So they do not get murdered because Malcolm is next in line for the throne and so is DonalbainMalcolm goes to england- donalbain goes to ireland |
| why does ross not believe malcolm and donalbain were responsible for duncan’s murder? | it would be against human nature to kill their own father because they loved him and it is not necessary. |
| Why does Macbeth want Banquo and Fleance dead? | He is worried that the witches’ predictions might come true and doesn’t want that to threaten his power. He didn’t want to deal with them as rivals |
| What is Macbeth’s plan for killing Banquo and Fleance? Does it work? | Macbeth hired two murderers to attack Banquo and fleance on their way back home. the plan does not work how macbeth wanted. Fleance escaped but Banquo was killed. |
| Macbeth says, “The worm that’s fled hath nature that in time will venom breed, no teeth for the present” What does that mean? | Fleance escaped and that is not a big problem now but it will become a huge problem later. |
| Who (what) did Macbeth see at the banquet table | ghost of Banquo |
| How does lady macbeth cover for macbeth at the banquet? What excuses does she give for his wild talk? | Macbeth has had an illness ever since he was young that causes him to see things and hallucinate, especially when he gets tired. Macbeth sat down and told the others of his strange illness and how it gets wild at night. She sent everyone home |
| Who else was missing from the banquet table (besides Banquo)? | Macduff |
| Macbeth says, ” i am in blood stepped in so far that I should not wade no more, returning were as tedious as go over” What does he mean? | he is in too deep. he has already gone too far that if he tried to stop and go back now it would be just as difficult as going on with it |
| what does Hecate want the witches to do? | -give macbeth more information-present the apparitions to him-lead macbeth on and give him more information about his doom-to continue to draw macbeth onto his ruin. |
| What does Lennox think about Macbeth, Fleance, and Duncan’s sons? | Macbeth- great king, great guyFleance- killed banquoDuncan’s sons- killed Duncan |
| Witch 2 says, ” by the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes” who comes? | Macbeth |
| What is macbeth’s attitude towards the witches this time? | he is demanding and rude |
| What four things did the Witches show macbeth? what does each say/show? What is Macbeth’s reaction? | 1. an armored head that says “beware of Macduff”2. A bloody child that said no man born of a woman would ever kill Macbeth3. A child crowned with a tree in his hand (symbol of malcolm) said no one will vanquish macbeth until birnum wood moves to Dunsinane (macbeth’s castle)4. 8 Kings & Banquo–banquo’s descendants being king. Macbeth takes all these things literally and doesn’t really worry about them |
| Macbeth says about the witches “Infected be the air whereon they ride, and damned all those that trust them!” What is Macbeth, in effect, saying about himself? | he is mad he trusted them |
| Where is Macduff | he fled to england |
| Why does Macbeth have Macduff’s family and servants killed? | because Macduff betrayed him. to teach macduff a lesson. |
| Why does Lady Macduff’s son say liars and swearers are fools? | Because the liars and swearers outnumber the honest men, so they should rise up and kill the honest men |
| Malcolm says “Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell. though all things foul would wear the brows of grace, yet grace must still look so” What does this mean? | bad things can look/seem like good things and still be bad. Looks aren’t always what they seem |
| macduff says “Oh Scotland, Scotland!” Why? | he is worried about his country and he thinks it is doomed |
| What news does ross bring to macduff? | that Macduff’s family has been murdered |
| What do the doctor and gentlewoman see Lady Macbeth doing? What do they decide to do about it? | sleepwalking and washing her hands…trying to wash the blood from her hands. Confesses the murders. They decide not to mention what they heard but to keep a close eye on her |
| What does Macbeth want the doctor to do for his wife? | cure her. Give her a medicine that will erase the memory from her mind. |
| What trick does malcolm use to hide the number of men in his army? | for every soldier to break off a branch and hold it in front of oneself so they cannot see how many soldiers there are. |
| Malcolm says “and none serve with him but constrained things whose hearts are absent too” what does that mean? | Those who are fighting for him are only fighting for him because they have to. their hearts arent in it and if it were up to them they would leave him |
| What is Macbeth’s reaction to Lady macbeth’s death? | not too concerned. said she was going to die soon anyway. treated it as an inconvenience and had no time to grieve |
| What is Macbeth’s reaction to the news that birnam wood is moving? | he thinks the messenger is lying. he is ready to battle and die. his confidence is failing and he’s beginning to have doubt and fear |
| Who first fights Macbeth? what happens? | Young Siward and he is slain |
| macbeth says to Macduff, “but get thee back, my soul is too much charged with blood of thine already. ” to what is he referring? | he already is guilty of killing macduff’s whole family |
| When does Macbeth know he is in trouble? | when he heard that the birnam wood was moving |
| how does macbeth die? | he is fighting with Macduff and Macduff beheads macbeth |
| who will be king of scotland? | Malcolm |
Macbeth Study Guide questions
August 3, 2019