Vogel
Macbeth Test Study Guide
English IV
Name ______________________________________ Date __________ Pd. ___________
If you complete the ENTIRE study guide, there is NO WAY you will not do well on the
Macbeth test!
NO, you may NOT use the study guide on the test. BUT, you will be able to use the
printed out copies of our notes from class while you are taking the test. (They won’t
give you all the answers but will be good for guidance.)
Macbeth Timeline
Put the following events in order by act.
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The Weird Sisters meet with Macbeth.
Macbeth prepares to murder the king.
Macbeth hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance.
The Weird Sisters revisit Macbeth and make new “predictions”.
Lady Macbeth sleepwalks.
Murderers kill Banquo but Fleance escapes.
Macbeth begins to think about killing King Duncan.
Macbeth sees a bloody dagger.
Guards are drunk and passed out while King Duncan is asleep.
Macbeth becomes worried that Banquo knows the truth about the murder of King
Duncan.
Hecate and the witches cast spells on Macbeth.
Malcolm becomes king.
The doctor hears that Lady Macbeth and Macbeth killed Malcolm, Macduff’s wife and
Banquo.
Three ghosts (apparitions) tell Macbeth: no man born of woman can harm Macbeth,
Macbeth will rule until the forest at Birnam marches toward the castle, and Banquo’s
children will rule Scotland.
The witches predict three things for Macbeth: Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and
King of Scotland.
Vogel
Macbeth Test Study Guide
English IV
Identify Primary Characters
Write the name of the character each statement describes.
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Duncan’s youngest son who runs away with his brother.
Thane of Cawdor
Suspected of murdering Duncan because he ran away.
Banquo’s son who escapes.
The witches’ predict his sons and grandsons will be king but not him.
Shows up at Macbeth’s palace and ruins the banquet.
Goes to England to join Malcolm.
Rewarded Macbeth by giving him the title, Thane of Cawdor.
Shows guilt and fear while sleepwalking.
The witches predict he is “lesser than Macbeth, and greater.”
Killed King Duncan
Encourages the murder of Duncan
Multiple Choice and/or True or False
Act One
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Who is the King of Scotland in this act?
What are the THREE prophecies for MB?
What are Banquo’s Prophecies?
Who does Duncan name as his heir, Prince of Cumberland?
Who is the Prince of Cumberland’s (Duncan’s heir) brother?
What are LM’s thoughts as she reads of the prophecy that her husband will be king?
What FOUR points does MB make for why he should NOT kill Duncan?
How does LM persuade MB to kill Duncan?
What is MB’s reaction to his wife’s encouragement for killing Duncan (esp. the ripping of
a baby from her breast and smashing its brains out)?
LM tells MB to look as innocent as ___________________ but be the
________________ beneath it.
Vogel
Macbeth Test Study Guide
English IV
Act Two
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What is the porter’s purpose in this act?
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Why is LM’s welcome to King Duncan considered dramatic irony?
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What is the plan for killing Duncan?
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Why can’t LM kill the king?
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What does MB see in front of him before he murders Duncan?
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Who discovers Duncan’s body?
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Who murders Duncan’s guards?
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Who flees Scotland as soon as they hear of King Duncan’s murder?
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What do Ross and an old man discuss outside the castle after the murder? Be specific.
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What is MB afraid he will never do again?
Act Three
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Why does MB have to murder Banquo?
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How does MB convince the murderers to kill Banquo?
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Who, with Banquo, does not get murdered? What is this person’s relationship to
Banquo?
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Why is dinner interrupted in Act Three?
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How does LM cover for MB’s behavior?
Vogel
Macbeth Test Study Guide
English IV
Act Four
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What would the witches like to do to MB when he comes to see them?
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What are the FOUR apparitions MB gets from the witches?
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What do EACH of the FOUR apparitions mean?
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MB hears that Macduff is raising an army against him. What does MB do to retaliate?
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Why does Malcolm try to trick Macduff into believing he would be a bad king?
Act Five
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What does LM do as she sleepwalks?
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Which nation helps to invade Scotland?
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How does Birnam Wood come to Dunsinane?
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MB kills ________________________ to restore his belief that “no man born of woman
shall harm MB”.
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Before Macduff kills MB, what apparition comes true?
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Why is Macduff able to kill MB?
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Why would LM have committed suicide?
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Who is the King of Scotland?
Vogel
Macbeth Test Study Guide
Miscellaneous
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What is MB’s tragic flaw?
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Who is the author of MB?
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What is a soliloquy?
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What is an aside?
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What is Dramatic Irony?
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What kind of play is Macbeth?
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Why might the witches have been the cause of MB’s downfall?
English IV