Macbeth – Act IV
Questions for discussion:
Act IV, Scene 1
1. Compare the witches’ speech pattern with Macbeth’s. What effect is Shakespeare
creating by altering the speech patterns like this?
2. Describe the three apparitions and the significance of each? What, after this, does
Macbeth resolve?
3. Pleased with the information, what one further thing does Macbeth desire to know and
what is the answer he gets?
4. What is his resolve at the end of this scene? How is this different from his previous
actions?
Act IV, Scene 2
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What does Shakespeare achieve with the conversation between Ross and Lady Macduff?
What is the purpose of the exchange between Lady Macduff and her son?
What effect is created by the Messenger’s entering to warn Lady Macduff?
Why does Shakespeare show the son’s murder onstage?
Act IV, Scene 3
1. What additional evidence does Shakespeare give his audience that Macbeth is a tyrant?
How does Malcolm test Macduff’s honesty? How does Macduff nearly fail the test?
What finally convinces Malcolm?
2. What suspicion of Macduff does Malcolm voice?
3. How do Malcolm’s comments about Macbeth again bring to mind the “fair is foul”
theme?
4. What literary device is Shakespeare employing when Malcolm says, “Angels are bright
still, though the brightest fell”?
5. After receiving word of his family’s slaughter, what does Macduff resolve?
Macbeth – Act V
Complete a close reading of this passage from Act V, Scene 5
Macbeth: She should have died hereafter;
There would have been a time for such a word.
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.
5
10
Discussion points:
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Unfamiliar vocabulary
Pronoun references—to what does it refer in line 10?
Discuss the meaning of the comparison in lines 8-12; also, what literary device(s)
does Shakespeare employ in these lines?
In lines 5-7, what is history compared to?
Discuss significance of the tale being told by an idiot
What event has prompted this, Macbeth’s most famous soliloquy?
Act V Questions for discussion:
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What is ironic about Lady Macbeth’s constant “hand washing”?
What is Lady Macbeth’s condition, and how does Macbeth believe it could be cured?
Scene VIII: What information does Macduff tell Macbeth that makes him frightened?
What is Macbeth’s response?
Why does Macbeth quickly change his mind about fighting?
On what note does the play end?
Also, if time, discuss the ongoing items that I have printed on Acts I-III guides prior to now.