Macbeth
Before We Start
Handout 5
Name
Date
Hour
Novel Road Map to Success
These questions help you stay on track with the plot of the story, as well as build your
reading comprehension.
Directions: Answer these questions on a separate piece of paper as you read.
Act I, Scene I
1. What is the setting of the opening scene?
2. What are the three witches discussing?
Act I, Scene II
1. Why does Duncan believe the soldier can provide them with news?
2. How did Macdonwald behave in battle?
3. When the Norwegians began a new attack, what did Macbeth and Banquo do?
4. What news does the thane of Ross bring?
5. How does Duncan respond to the news of Cawdor’s behavior?
Act I, Scene III
1. How do the three witches greet Macbeth?
2. What do the three witches prophesy concerning Banquo?
3. What is Banquo’s reaction to the three witches?
4. What does Banquo mean when he says, “What, can the devil speak true?”
5. What is Macbeth’s impression of the three witches after learning he has been named
thane of Cawdor?
Act I, Scene IV
1. What is Macbeth’s attitude toward Duncan when the scene opens?
2. Duncan names his elder son as the Prince of Cumberland. Why is this a problem for
Macbeth?
Act I, Scene V
1. How does Lady Macbeth react to her husband’s letter?
2. What does Lady Macbeth say will happen to Duncan when she learns that he is
coming to Inverness?
3. Why does Lady Macbeth tell her husband to leave all of the plans to her?
Act I, Scene VI
1. Who greets Duncan at Inverness?
Act I, Scene VII
1. What does Macbeth mean when he says Duncan is “here in double trust”?
2. Why does Macbeth tell Lady Macbeth that they will not follow through with their
plans?
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Macbeth
Novel Road Map to Success
Before We Start
Handout 5, continued
3. How does Lady Macbeth taunt Macbeth into action?
4. What is the actual plan?
Act II, Scene I
1. What do we learn from the discussion between Banquo and Fleance?
2. What does Banquo tell us that Duncan gave to Lady Macbeth?
3. What emotions does Macbeth display during the soliloquy that begins, “Is this a
dagger which I see before me?”
Act II, Scene II
1. How does Lady Macbeth get the plot started?
2. Why doesn’t Lady Macbeth simply kill Duncan while she is in the room?
3. After Macbeth kills Duncan, Lady Macbeth says, “These deeds must not be thought /
After these ways; so, it will make us mad.” What does this suggest about the rest of
the play?
4. What does Macbeth do wrong, and how does Lady Macbeth fix it?
5. What are they hurrying to do as the scene comes to an end?
6. How does Macbeth feel in the last lines?
Act II, Scene III
1. Why does Macduff arrive at Inverness early in the morning?
2. How does Macbeth greet Macduff?
3. What does Lennox say about the night that just passed?
4. How does Macduff react to finding Duncan murdered?
5. What does Macbeth say in response to Malcolm’s question, “O, by whom?”
6. What do Malcolm and Donalbain decide to do after learning of their father’s murder?
Act II, Scene IV
1. What strange events do Ross and the old man discuss?
2. What do Macduff and Ross think about Malcolm’s and Donalbain’s escape?
3. Why will Macbeth become the king?
Act III, Scene I
1. Where does this scene take place?
2. What is Banquo’s opinion of what has happened?
3. What do Banquo and Macbeth discuss?
4. What does Macbeth mean when he says, “To be thus is nothing; / But to be safely
thus”?
5. Why is Macbeth upset over the witches’ prophecy about Banquo?
6. How does Macbeth convince the murderers to kill Banquo?
Act III, Scene II
1. What does Lady Macbeth tell her husband?
2. What does Lady Macbeth know about the plot to kill Banquo?
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Macbeth
Novel Road Map to Success
Before We Start
Handout 5, continued
Act III, Scene III
1. What happens when the murderers attack Banquo and Fleance?
2. Why do they say the “best half” got away?
Act III, Scene IV
1. How does the scene begin?
2. How does Macbeth react when he sees the first murderer in the doorway?
3. Who enters and takes Macbeth’s seat?
4. What is Macbeth’s initial reaction to spotting Banquo’s ghost?
5. How does Lady Macbeth explain Macbeth’s confusing statements?
6. What does Lady Macbeth say to Macbeth?
7. Why does everyone leave the party?
8. What does Macbeth plan to do the next day?
Act III, Scene V
1. What does Hecate tell the three witches?
Act III, Scene VI
1. What does Lennox tell us about Macduff?
2. What does the lord tell Lennox?
Act IV, Scene I
1. What are the witches doing when this scene opens?
2. What is the refrain or chorus of their song?
3. How does Macbeth greet the witches?
4. What is the first apparition and what does it prophesy?
5. What is the second apparition and what does it prophesy?
6. What is the third apparition and what does it prophesy?
7. What is the last apparition?
8. How does Macbeth plan to protect himself from Macduff’s threat?
Act IV, Scene II
1. How does Lady Macduff react when Ross tells her that Macduff has gone to England?
2. Why does Lady Macduff tell her son that his father is dead?
3. What happens at the end of the scene?
Act IV, Scene III
1. How does Macduff feel about Scotland at the beginning of the scene?
2. How does Macduff characterize Macbeth?
3. How does Malcolm characterize himself initially in this scene?
4. Macduff tries to persuade Malcolm that he is fit to rule, but eventually Macduff says
what?
5. What does Malcolm say after Macduff’s outburst?
6. What has Old Siward done?
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© 2005. Teacher’s Discovery®
Macbeth
Novel Road Map to Success
Before We Start
Handout 5, continued
7.
8.
9.
10.
What do we learn about the king of England?
How does Ross describe Scotland to Macduff?
What is Macduff’s reaction to the murder of his wife and children?
How does Malcolm respond to the news?
Act V, Scene I
1. According to the waiting-gentlewoman, what has Lady Macbeth been doing?
2. When Lady Macbeth first enters the scene, what is she saying and doing?
3. What does the gentlewoman say about trading places with Lady Macbeth?
4. What does the doctor do for Lady Macbeth?
Act V, Scene II
1. What do the noblemen propose to do?
2. What is Macbeth doing in preparation for the attack?
Act V, Scene III
1. How does Macbeth reassure himself in the beginning of the scene?
2. What does Seyton tell Macbeth?
3. What does the doctor tell Macbeth about
Lady Macbeth’s condition?
4. When Macbeth tells the doctor to cure her,
how does the doctor respond?
Act V, Scene IV
1. What does Malcolm command the soldiers
to do with the trees in Birnam Wood?
Act V, Scene V
1. What does Macbeth say about the possibility
of the army attempting to besiege the castle?
2. Why do the women cry out?
3. What is Macbeth’s response to Lady
Macbeth’s death?
Act V, Scene VI
1. What happens in this scene?
Act V, Scene VII
1. What happens between Young Siward
and Macbeth?
Act V, Scene VIII
1. Why is Macduff able to kill Macbeth?
2. How does the play end?
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© 2005. Teacher’s Discovery®