MACBETH ACT 2 REVIEW SHEET
Selection Review A
Comprehension
Read each of the following questions. Then choose the letter of the best answer. (6 points
each)
1. Why is Banquo awake so late at night in Scene1?
A. The strange darkness of the night disturbs him.
B. He is never able to sleep in Macbeth’s castle.
C. The sound of the clock keeps waking him.
D. His restless thoughts keep him awake.
2. The sidenote for Scene 1, lines 24–28 of this drama helps you understand that Banquo
A. thinks Macbeth deserves his loyalty
B. puts his loyalty to the king ahead of ambition
C. wants to do whatever Macbeth suggests
D. wants Macbeth’s advice about the prophecy
3. What does Lady Macbeth say stopped her from killing Duncan?
A. She believes Macbeth must do the murder.
B. The shriek of an owl frightened her.
C. Duncan reminds her of her father.
D. She fears the king’s guards.
4. Macbeth most likely brings the bloody daggers to Lady Macbeth because he
A. needs to show how easy the deed was for him
B. has to prove that he has murdered Duncan
C. wants to frighten her for encouraging him
D. feels distressed and shocked at his actions
5. Who is the porter pretending to let into “hell”?
A. people that Macbeth has invited to stay
B. traitors to the king from across Scotland
C. tradesmen who have cheated him before
D. people who have done wrong things in business
6. Reread the sidenote for Scene 3, line 64. Shakespeare most likely has Macduff compare the murdered
Duncan to a Gorgon because
A. the sight is frightening
B. Gorgons used to kill kings
C. Macduff thinks Macbeth is guilty
D. the body is stonelike
7. In Scene 3, Macduff refuses to tell Lady Macbeth what has happened because he
A. thinks she will blame him for Duncan’s death
B. fears that she is also in danger from the killer
C. believes that she will die of shock and grief
D. suspects that she is guilty of the murder
8. When Banquo says he will oppose and fight the unknown traitor who killed Duncan in Scene 3, he
becomes one of the tragedy’s
A. antagonists
B. tragic heroes
C. flawed characters
D. comic relief characters
Guide to Assessment 101
9. What do Malcolm and Donalbain decide to do almost immediately after learning of Duncan’s
murder?
A. revenge Duncan’s death
B. fight each other for the crown
C. hide their grief from everyone
D. run away to protect themselves
10. What do you learn from the sidenotes for Scene 4, lines 1–4, 6–10, 12–13, and 17 of this
drama?
A. Macbeth murdered Duncan in the night.
B. The people will avenge Duncan’s death.
C. Strange events took place during the night.
D. Ross and Macduff doubt Macbeth’s loyalty.
Written Response
Short Response On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions based on
your knowledge of the play. (10 points each)
11. Macbeth says, “every noise appalls me” in Scene 2, line 56. What is one sound in Scene
2 that reflects Macbeth’s fear?
12. What is one thing that Macbeth forgets to do after killing Duncan?
Extended Response Answer the following question based on your knowledge of the play. Write one or
two paragraphs on a separate sheet of paper. (20 points)
13. How does Shakespeare show a vision of nature that is affected by and responsive to the
human actions in Act Two? Use two details from Act Two to support your response.
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Selection B/C
Comprehension
Read each of the following questions. Then choose the letter of the best answer. (6 points each)
1. Reread Scene 1, lines 19–20. These lines most likely show that Banquo is wondering whether
A. the three witches can be found again
B. the prophecy about himself is also true
C. Macbeth deserves more honors
D. Macbeth is having the same dreams
2. Why does Macbeth ask the “sure and firm-set earth” in Scene 1, line 55 to hide his movements?
A. He is listening for a sign from Lady Macbeth.
B. The night is full of strange events.
C. He is on his way to kill Duncan.
D. The darkness frightens him.
3. Reread Scene 2, line 16. Shakespeare most likely makes this dialogue part of one line of blank verse to
suggest Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are
A. whispering quietly
B. standing far apart
C. feeling confident
D. speaking quickly
4. Why is Lady Macbeth forced to put the daggers near the servants?
A. Macbeth forgot to do it in his fear and guilt.
B. They were awake when Macbeth saw them.
C. She forgot to tell Macbeth to leave them there.
D. The daggers are too bloody for Macbeth to hold.
5. Macduff ’s warm greeting for Macbeth in Scene 3 is an example of dramatic irony in this tragedy
because
A. Macduff wants to be king and rule Scotland
B. Macduff imagines that Macbeth is a murderer
C. you know that Macbeth has just killed someone
D. you know that Macbeth is a good host to guests
6. Reread Scene 3, lines 68–72 and the sidenote for line 71 of this drama. Macduff ’s references to death
are a clue that he feels
A. despair that others fail to understand what has happened
B. secret excitement and ambition for Duncan’s throne
C. grief so overwhelming that he sees death all around him
D. frustration that few people take action to find the killers
7. What emotion does Macbeth convey in Scene 3, lines 100–103?
A. admiration for the goodness of the king
B. rage that drove him to kill the guards
C. fear of the murderers in his castle
D. happiness at the death of Duncan
8. Banquo shows that he will become an antagonist in Scene 3 of this tragedy when he
A. laments Duncan’s death
B. accuses Macbeth of murder
C. tells Lady Macbeth to go to bed
D. promises to discover and fight the traitor
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SELECTION REVIEW B/C
9. What are the “things strange” from Scene 4, line 3 that the Old Man discusses?
A. unnatural events for the time of year
B. natural signs that indicate unnatural deeds
C. supernatural events that indicate happiness
D. supernatural signs that witches are working
10. Why does Macduff say that Malcolm and Donalbain are suspected of hiring their father’s
murderers?
A. They left Scotland without telling anyone.
B. Duncan’s horses are acting like children.
C. Malcolm is Duncan’s heir to the throne.
D. Few people see them weep for their father.
Written Response
Short Response On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions based on your knowledge
of the play. (10 points each)
11. Describe Duncan’s sons’ reaction to their father’s murder. Include two details from Scene 3 in your
response.
12. Write a plot summary for the events in Scene 4 that would be useful to people reading the drama.
Extended Response Answer one of the following questions based on your knowledge of the play.
Write one or two paragraphs on a separate sheet of paper. (20 points)
13. Who shows more loyalty to and affection for Duncan in Act Two: Macduff or Banquo? Support your
response with specific details from Act Two.
14. Challenge As you already know, the play has a tragic ending with the hero’s downfall.
What actions and comments in Act Two foreshadow Macbeth’s downfall? Use specific
details in your response.
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