Name: ____________________________
Mrs. Merino
English 11
As you read, complete the following chart with information about each character.
Duncan
Malcolm
Donalbain
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
Banquo
Macduff
Lady Macduff
Fleance
Siward
Young Siward
Ross
Angus
Lennox
Manteith
Caithness
Seyton
Hecate
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Quotes to Know
Familiarize yourself with the following quotes from the play. Be sure you fully understand who said each,
and when. Also, understand the significance of each quote.
"But screw your courage to the sticking place."
Lady Macbeth Act I scene vii
"Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care."
Macbeth Act II scene ii
"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
Macbeth Act V scene v
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair."
Witches Act I scene i
"A little water clears us of this deed."
Lady Macbeth Act II scene ii
"Double, double toil and trouble:
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble."
Witches Act IV scene i
"Out, damned spot!"
Lady Macbeth Act V scene i
"Yet who would have thought the old man
to have had so much blood in him?"
Lady Macbeth Act V scene i
"Here's the smell of blood still. All the
perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand."
Lady Macbeth Act V scene i
"False face must hide what the false heart doth know."
Macbeth Act I scene vii
"I am in this earthly world, where to do harm
Is often laudable, to do good sometime
Accounted dangerous folly."
Lady Macduff Act IV scene ii
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MacBeth 1040
The historical MacBeth is at odds
with his portrayal in Shakespeare.
MacBeth defeated his
predecessor, Duncan (1034-40) and not Shakespeare's venerable,
old monarch - in battle, and took
the throne. Although evidence for
his reign is slight, for fourteen
years he appears to have ruled
equably and, in 1050, was able to
travel to Rome for a Papal
jubilee. There he scattered money
about 'as if it were seed'.
In 1054, MacBeth was
challenged by Siward, Earl of
Northumbria, in an effort to place
Malcolm (later Malcolm III), the
son of Duncan, on the throne. It
was not until 1057 that MacBeth
was killed - not by MacDuff - but
in battle at Lumphanan. Even
then, his stepson, Lulach (10578), was proclaimed King and
challenged Malcolm III (105793) until his death at Essie (in
Aberdeenshire).
-- http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/timelines/britain/inv
_macbeth.shtml
The Real Macbeth
Macbeth is based upon actual events, but only very loosely. The real Macbeth ruled as king of Scotland
from 1040-1057. He did overthrow Duncan, but Duncan was a poor king to the point of being a tyrant and
a military failure. After his death, Macbeth was elected as king of Scotland. The Elizabethan English could
not comprehend a ruler whose power was not hereditary, so they saw Macbeth as a tyrant. Lady Macbeth,
whose real name was Gruach, was a granddaughter of another king, Kenneth III. In fact, Kenneth had been
murdered by Duncan's grandfather. Malcom and Donald Ban (Donalbain) were sons of Duncan and
Malcom did become king after the death of Macbeth. The character of Macduff is not based on any
historical person. Though Banquo is said to be the ancestor of James I, he is first introduced in the 16th
century. The Earl Siward was a real person whose son died in a battle against Macbeth.
--- http://library.thinkquest.org/23293/Macbeth.htm
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Act I
Scene 1
1. Define rhymed couplet.
2. What is the rhymed couplet spoken by all the witches at the end of scene I?
3. This rhymed couplet is the witches’ most famous utterance. What theme does it
introduce?
4. Where do the witches plan to meet again and why?
Scene 2
1. What news about Macbeth does the bloodstained captain (sergeant) bring to the king?
2. Define the following terms.
Tragedy:
Tragic flaw:
Tragic hero:
3. In what way does the description of Macbeth and his deeds conform to the definition
of a tragic hero?
4. What are your first impressions of Macbeth?
5. Why does Duncan give the title of Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth?
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Scene 3
1. “Sleep” is a major theme in Macbeth. What lines introduce the theme of sleeplessness
in the play?
2. Macbeth states, “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” What words is Macbeth
echoing here?
3. Why, given the weather, does Macbeth think the day is “fair”?
4. What do the witches predict for Macbeth and Banquo?
5. Compare and contrast Banquo’s and Macbeth’s reactions to the witches.
6. Define metaphor.
7. Macbeth says, “The Thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me / In borrowed
robes?” Explain this metaphor.
8. Define aside.
9. What might Ross and Angus think if they heard Macbeth and Banquo?
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10. What does Banquo think the witches’ motives might be?
11. What do you suppose Macbeth is thinking of that makes his seated (fixed) heart
knock at his ribs in an unnatural way?
12. What does Banquo compare Macbeth an his new honors to? Explain the metaphor.
13. Is Banquo’s mood different from Macbeth’s? How?
Scene 4
1. What happened to the Thane of Cawdor?
2. What does Malcolm mean when he says, “nothing in his life / Became him like the
leaving it”?
3. Duncan says, “There’s no art / To find the mind’s construction in the face: / He was a
gentleman on whom I built / An absolute trust.” To whom is Duncan referring?
4. What do these lines tell us about Duncan?
5. Who does Duncan announce is to inherit his throne?
6. How does Macbeth react (internally) to Duncan’s announcement?
7. Where is everyone going to spend the night?
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Scene 5
1. In his letter to Lady Macbeth, how does Macbeth feel about the prophecy that he will
be king?
2. What is Lady Macbeth’s interpretation of Macbeth’s character?
3. What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, “unsex me here…” and “Make thick
my blood”?
4. What does Lady Macbeth think will happen after Duncan’s murder?
Scene 6
1. What ironic statement does Duncan make as he arrives at Macbeth’s castle?
2. What does Duncan say spurred him homeward?
3. What positive and negative qualities can you identify in Duncan?
Scene 7
1. What conflict does Macbeth express in his soliloquy at the beginning of this scene?
2. What is the only “spur” Macbeth has “to prick the sides of [his] intent”?
3. In this scene, what tactics does Lady Macbeth use to influence Macbeth?
4. What are Lady Macbeth’s plans?
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5. Who does Lady propose will take the blame for the murder?
6. Macbeth says, “Bring forth men-children only; / For thy undaunted mettle should
compose / Nothing but males.” What does he mean by this?
Act II
Scene 1
1. Who is Fleance?
2. What did the witches prophesy about Fleance?
3. Of what has Banquo been dreaming?
4. What is Macbeth’s response to the dream?
5. What hallucination does Macbeth have?
6. What is supposed to happen at the ringing of the bell?
Scene 2
1. Why was Lady Macbeth unable to murder Duncan herself?
2. Why was Macbeth unable to utter a blessing?
3. What is personified in lines 35-40?
4. What mistake did Macbeth make after the murder?
5. How does L. Macbeth plan to rectify the problem?
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6. What will L. Macbeth do to the grooms if Duncan bleeds enough?
7. Compare Lady Macbeth’s with Macbeth’s concern over the blood on their hands.
8. Why is it “best” Macbeth does not acknowledge the deed? (line 73)
Scene 3
1. To what place does the porter compare Macbeth’s castle?
2. What purpose does the porter scene serve?
3. Who has come to fetch the king?
4. What unnatural events from the night before does Lennox mention?
5. Who finds the murdered king?
6. Macduff is hesitant to tell L. Macbeth about the murder. Why? How is this ironic?
7. What reason does Macbeth give for killing the two guards?
8. What do the nobles plan to do?
9. Where do Malcolm and Donalbain go? Why?
Scene 4
1. What unnatural acts did Ross and the Old Man observe?
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2. Who does Macduff suspect?
3. Who is to be named king?
4. For what possible reason will Macduff miss Macbeth’s coronation?
Act III
Scene 1
1. Who does Banquo suspect?
2. To what does Macbeth invite Banquo?
3. Who are the “bloody cousins” who are in England and Ireland?
4. Why does Macbeth fear Banquo? (49-60)
5. What is an “unlineal hand”? A “barren scepter”? What is eating at Macbeth now?
6. Why exactly is Macbeth so angry? What has he given up in order to make
Banquo’s sons kings? (65-72)
7. What has Macbeth told the murderers about Banquo? (75-91)
8. How is Macbeth justifying to the murderers the fact that he has to ask them to do
the job of killing Banquo?
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9. What three orders does Macbeth give to the murderers? (127-139)
1.
2.
3.
Scene 2
1. Why is L. Macbeth unhappy? (4-7)
2. How is the motif of sleeplessness highlighted in lines 17-27?
3. What secret is Macbeth keeping from l. Macbeth?
4. How have Macbeth and L. Macbeth changed?
Scene 3
1. Why are the two murderers surprised?
2. How do they react to the surprise?
3. What important mistake do the murderers make?
Scene 4
1. What is the setting for this scene?
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2. What do the murders tell Macbeth?
3. How is Banquo “safe”?
4. Who is the “worm that’s fled”?
5. What does Lady Macbeth urge Macbeth to do? (33-37)
6. Why is Macbeth unable to sit at the table?
7. To whom is Macbeth speaking in lines 50-51?
8. What motion/gesture is the ghost making?
9. How does L. Macbeth explain Macbeth’s behavior to their guests?
10. To whom does Macbeth raise his glass and toast?
11. What does L. Macbeth order her guests to do after the ghost finally disappears?
12. Who, other than Banquo, failed to attend the banquet?
13. How will Macbeth find information about Macduff?
14. Who is Macbeth planning on visiting “tomorrow”?
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15. Explain these lines:
“I am in blood / Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, / Returning were
as tedious as go o’er.”
16. What does Macbeth mean by: “We are yet but young in deed”?
Scene 5
1. Why is Hecate angry with the other witches?
2. Why does Hecate call Macbeth a “wayward son”?
3. What does Hecate plan to do to Macbeth?
Scene 6
1. What does Lennox think about Duncan’s murder?
2. Where is Malcolm?
3. Where has Macduff gone? Why?
Act IV
Scene 1
1. Define assonance.
2. Why rhyming couplet do the witches repeat often?
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3. What demand does Macbeth make of the witches?
4. Identify the three apparitions and their predictions.
Apparition
Prediction
5. What final question does Macbeth demand to be answered?
6. How does he learn the answer?
7. What news does Lennox bring to Macbeth?
8. What does Macbeth plan to do?
Scene 2
1. How is L. Macduff’s mood at the beginning of the scene? Why?
2. How do you feel about L. Macduff and her son? Their relationship? Their
banter/conversation?
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3. What news does the messenger bring?
4. What becomes of L. Macduff and her son?
Scene 3
1. Why is Malcolm hesitant to believe Macduff?
2. Why does Macduff plan to leave (32-37)?
3. What metaphor/imagery is used by Malcolm to portray Scotland? (39-41)
4. For what sins does Malcolm say he is even guiltier than Macbeth? (58-66)
5. What is Macbeth’s response to Malcolm’s concern about his sins? (67-76)
6. What truth does Malcolm reveal in lines 114-135?
7. What miraculous power does King Edward possess?
8. According to Ross, in what condition is Scotland?
9. In lines 177-178, what does Ross mean when he says Macduff’s family is “well”?
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10. Define synecdoche.
11. What example of synecdoche is found in lines 201-203?
12. How does Malcolm suggest Macduff ease his great suffering? (213-215)
13. In what lines at the end of the act is a common theme repeated? (What lines?
What theme?)
Act V
Scene 1
1. What does the gentlewoman report to the doctor?
2. Why do you think the gentlewoman will not report to the doctor what she has
heard L. Macbeth saying?
3. What act does L. Macbeth repeat continually?
4. To which three events and people does L. Macbeth refer while sleeping?
Scene 2
1. Who is Siward?
2. Where do the thanes plan on meeting Malcolm and his troops?
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3. What do Caithness and Angus reveal about Macbeth?
4. What motivates Macbeth’s troops?
5. To what is Malcolm compared? (27)
6. What metaphor is made in line 30?
Scene 3
1. To what two prophecies uttered by the apparitions does Macbeth refer?
2. Which prophecy does he forget?
3. What information does the servant bring to Macbeth?
4. The imagery of the “yellow leaf” in line 23 implies the “fall” of one’s life. How
does Macbeth look upon his possible upcoming death?
5. Who is Seyton?
6. What does Macbeth tell Seyton to do with the cowardly soldiers?
7. What is the state of Lady Macbeth’s condition?
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8. What “disease” does Macbeth demand the doctor cure?
9. Why is his demand on the doctor ironic?
Scene 4
1. What does Malcolm tell his troops to do? (4-7)
2. What prophecy can you predict coming true from this?
Scene 5
1. What is Macbeth planning to do during the siege?
2. How have Malcolm’s forces been fortified?
3. What is Macbeth saying in lines 9-14?
4. What has happened to Lady Macbeth?
5. How does Macbeth feel about his life as king now?
6. What news does the messenger give to Macbeth?
7. What admirable quality does Macbeth display in lines 38-52?
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Scene 6
1. In what way are the trumpets “clamorous harbingers of blood and death”?
Scene 7
1. What prophecy is Macbeth still clinging to?
2. What happens to Young Siward?
3. What is Macduff’s only motive to fight? (14-23)
4. What does Siward predict for Malcolm?
Scene 8
1. What does Macbeth demand of Macduff? Why might he do this?
2. What is Macduff’s response to Macbeth’s claim of having a charmed life?
3. Macbeth initially refuses to fight Macduff. Why does he change his mind?
(22-34)
4. What news does Ross give Siward?
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5. What is Siward’s response?
6. With what does Macduff return to the scene?
7. What title does Malcolm bestow upon the thanes?
8. How did Lady Macbeth die?
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