Macbeth Review questions

When are the witches planning to meet Macbeth?

After the battle is over(lines 3 &4, scene 1)

Which words let us know that this is a play about opposites and the reversal of the natural order?

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair"

Put the following items in their "natural order" - minerals, man, beasts, plants, noble men, God, kings

God, kings, noble men, man, beasts, plants, minerals

Which three enemies of King Duncan are named in Act 1, Scene 2?

Macdonwald, the Thane of Cawdor, and the King of Norway

How healthy is the Captain in Act 1, Scene 2?

not very (he's been fighting and is covered in blood)

What name does Macbeth well deserve in Act 1, Scene 2?

brave Macbeth

What title is lost by one man and gained by another man?

Thane of Cawdor

Why does the play start with witches?

As a hook to draw people in

Translate this text into modern English - "'Aroint thee, witch!' the rump-fed ronyon cries."

"Go away, witch!" the backside-eating b**** cries.

Name two things the witches do to the sailor

push him off course & prevent him from sleeping

Which three things do the witches hail Macbeth as?

Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, & future king

How does the first witch hail Banquo?

lesser & greater than Macbeth

Translate Banquo's words into modern English. "And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray's In deepest consequence."

Often, bad things tell us the truth and win us over in order to betray us.

Translate: A deep repentance: nothing in his life Became him like the leaving it; he died As one that had been studied in his death To throw away the dearest thing he owed, As 'twere a careless trifle

The Thane of Cawdor's death is better than his life

Translate: There's no art To find the mind's construction in the face: He was a gentleman on whom I built An absolute trust.

I trusted him.

What sentiment is Duncan expressing in this passage? "O worthiest cousin! The sin of my ingratitude even now Was heavy on me: thou art so far before That swiftest wing of recompense is slow To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved, That the proportion both of thanks and payment Might have been mine! only I have left to say, More is thy due than more than all can pay."

I'm sorry i wasn't grateful. All I can say is that I can't fix it.

paradox

a contradiction that is nevertheless true

pun

a play on words, where multiple denotations of a word are implied in the same image

Monolouge

when a character delivers a lengthy speech to other characters on stage

dramatic irony

when the audience knows something the characters do not

aside

a passage by a character in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but unheard by the other characters in the play.

Milk is used here to express a quality. List four qualities usually associated with milk and suggest why milk is mentioned in this passage. Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way

Qualities: Motherly, caring, nurturing

Mentioned because: Lady Macbeth doesn't want Macbeth to have these qualities

Lady Macbeth asked to spirits to unsex her in this scene.

List three qualities that we usually think of as being feminine. List three qualities that Lady Macbeth asks for instead. "Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me her', And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood; Stop up the access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts, And take my milk for gall"

Traditional qualities: kind, considerate

Lady Macbeth's qualities: cruel, remorseful

Translate Lady Macbeth's words into modern English. "To beguile the time, Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't. He that's coming Must be provided for: and you shall put This night's great business into my dispatch"

Look innocent but be cruel.

What does King Duncan think of Inverness, Macbeth's castle? "This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Unto our gentle senses."

He likes it

Translate Duncan's words into your own words in modern English. "Where's the thane of Cawdor? We coursed him at the heels, and had a purpose To be his purveyor: but he rides well; And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess, We are your guest to-night."

Where's the thane of Cawdor? We chased him but he was too fast, and his wife helped him. We'll be staying with you tonight.

Translate: He's here in double trust; First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself.

He trusts me because i'm his subject & his host.

Summarise what Lady Macbeth is saying in this passage.

What is her purpose in saying this? "What beast was't, then, That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And, to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place Did then adhere, and yet you would make both: They have made themselves, and that their fitness now Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums, And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this."

What made you tell me this? If you were a man, you'd do it. I would've killed our kid if I knew you wouldn't do it.

Soliloquy

when a character in a play is alone onstage and is giving a long speech that only they and the audience can hear

apostrophe

addressing something non-living as if it were alive & could respond

Theme

the overall message the writer is delivering through their work. Theme can be developed through identifying binaries

Binary

The existence of opposites in a work of literature

How are themes revealed?

Through characters

Symbol

a concrete object that represents an abstract idea

Macbeth believes that he sees a dagger. Is this a real dagger?

No

What does Macbeth take this vision to mean? "Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand?"

He thinks he might be going crazy

Translate this passage into modern English. "I go, and it is done; the bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell"

I'm killing Duncan.

What important event has happened between Scene One and Scene Two?

Macbeth decides to kill Duncan

What is the reason Lady Macbeth tells herself that she did not kill King Duncan herself?

She doesn't want to have to be brave in place of her husband

Why does Macbeth think he could not say 'Amen'?

He's been too evil to say a holy word

What does Lady Macbeth mean in the following quotation? "My hands are of your colour; but I shame To wear a heart so white."

Macbeth is too good-hearted and she is ashamed of it

According to the porter which four things does drink provoke?

lechery, nose-painting, sleep, and urine

Lennox reports that it was an unruly night and many strange things happened. Thinking about the natural order, what event do you think threw the world into disorder?

Macbeth murdering Duncan

What does Macduff mean in this quotation? "Confusion now hath made his masterpiece! Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence The life o' the building!"

This is confusing. The murder is wrong and ruined everything.

Translate this passage into modern English. "Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessed time; for, from this instant, There 's nothing serious in mortality: All is but toys: renown and grace is dead; The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of"

Macbeth is "really upset" about Duncan's death

Why does Macbeth say that he killed Duncan's guards?

he was so angry about Duncan's death

How many years can the old man remember?

70

What happened to King Duncan's horses? What does this represent in relation to natural temperament and behaviour?

They ate each other. This represents that everything is turned on its head.

What does it mean that Macduff goes to his own home in Fife rather than Macbeth's coronation at Scone?

He's suspicious of Macbeth

What text in this scene reminds us that this is a play about opposites?

The part about Duncan's horses

Provide a quote that shows that Banquo is suspicious of Macbeth

Act 3, scene 1, lines 1-3

Where is Banquo going and who is going with him?

England & Ireland, Fleance

What two reasons does Macbeth have for wanting Banquo dead?

Banquo's sons are supposed to become king and he's suspicious, and he's the only person who knows what the witches said

According to Macbeth who is responsible for the problems of the two murderers?

Banquo

Assign percentages of blame for the murder of Banquo.

Lady Macbeth 50%, Macbeth 50%

Does Lady Macbeth share Macbeth's concerns about Banquo? Support your answer with a quote.

no, act 3, scene 2, lines 6-10

Provide a quote that shows that Lady Macbeth now had doubts about the murder of King Duncan.

act 3, scene 2, lines 10-14

What earlier act from this play is the following quote similar to? "Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, /Till thou applaud the deed"

Act 1

What is Banquo doing when he is attacked?

He was with Fleance riding horses to Inverness

Who kills Banquo?

the hired murderers

Who kills Fleance in Act 3, Scene 3?

nobody

Who is sitting in Macbeth's seat at the dinner table?

The Ghost of Banquo

"Thou canst not say I did it." What is Macbeth saying to the ghost?

Nobody can find out about the murders.

How does Lady Macbeth explain Macbeth's strange behavior to the other guests?

She says that he's always like this

How would you describe the mental state of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in in Act 3, Scene 4?

panicked

Who is generally believed to have written Act 3, Scene 5?

Middleton

Why is Hecate angry with the other witches?

she wasn't invited to mess with Macbeth

Lennox tells how sons are said to have killed fathers. Which sons and fathers is he talking about?

Fleance and Banquo

Do Lennox and the Lord in Act 3, scene 6 side with Macbeth or are they suspicious of him?

suspicious

What does the head covered with armour tell Macbeth?

beware the thane of Fife

What does the blood covered child tell Macbeth?

to be bloody, bold, & resolute, and that no woman will harm him

What does the child with crown on his head and a branch in his hand tell Macbeth?

to be proud and that he will not be vanquished

What does Macbeth understand the eight ghostly kings to mean?

they are Banquo's descendants that will be king

What has Macduff done?

fled to England

Is Lady Macduff happy that her husband has gone to England?

no

How would you describe the relationship between mother and son is this scene? How is this different to Lady Macbeth and how she talks about a baby?

she's nice to him

Who is responsible for the death of Lady Macduff and her son?

Macbeth

What does Malcolm mean in this passage? "When I shall tread upon the tyrant's head, Or wear it on my sword, yet my poor country Shall have more vices than it had before, More suffer and more sundry ways than ever, By him that shall succeed."

He wants to kill Macbeth, but that won't fix the problem.

What is Malcolm's weakness that he describes in this passage? "but there's no bottom, none, In my voluptuousness: your wives, your daughters, Your matrons and your maids, could not fill up The cistern of my lust, and my desire"

He wants to have a lot of sex

What are the twelve kingly graces that Malcolm names?

justice, verity, temperance, stablity, bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, devotion, patience, courage, and fortitude

Why does Malcolm say that he is deeply flawed and that Scotland would be even worse off with him as king?

he's trying to determine if Macduff is loyal to him or Macbeth

What power does the English king have?

to heal people

How does Macduff take the news about his family?

he can't understand what happened, blames himself, and wants revenge

What does Lady Macbeth see on her hands in this passage?

"Out, damned spot! out, I say!--One: two: why, then, 'tis time to do't.--Hell is murky!--Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?--Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him."

Duncan's blood

Translate this passage into modern English "The thane of Fife had a wife: where is she now?— What, will these hands ne'er be clean?--No more o' that, my lord, no more o' that: you mar all with this starting."

Lady Macduff was killed and I feel responsible. Can we just stop killing people?

Who is leading the army which is marching towards Macbeth?

Malcom, Siward, and Macduff

What does the following passage mean? "Those he commands move only in command, Nothing in love: now does he feel his title Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe Upon a dwarfish thief"

Macbeth's men feel no loyalty to him & his title is in grave danger

At what location will these men meet the English forces?

Birnam Wood

Translate this passage into modern English. "I have lived long enough: my way of life Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf; And that which should accompany old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have; but, in their stead, Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not."

I don't have any of the things people normally have when they die.

Malcolm tells the soldiers to each take a branch from a tree of Birnam Wood. Why does he do this?

camouflage

Which prophesy do we see coming true in Act 5, Scene 4?

Macbeth will be vanquished when Birnam wood comes up the hill

What is Macbeth talking about in this quote? "it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing."

the prophecy

What emotion do you think Macbeth experiences when he learns that his wife is dead?

sad, but still expected it

Who is Macbeth sending to do his killing this time?

himself

What does harbinger mean?

person or thing that brings doom

Translate this passage into modern English. "If thou be'st slain and with no stroke of mine, My wife and children's ghosts will haunt me still. I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms Are hired to bear their staves: either thou, Macbeth, Or else my sword with an unbatter'd edge I sheathe again undeeded."

If someone killed you that wasn't me, I could never forgive myself. I can't kill the hired soldiers, I need to kill you, Macbeth.

In this scene we hear that "The tyrant's people on both sides do fight". What does this tell us about the type of king Macbeth was?

Tyrannical

What does Macbeth mean by "play the Roman fool"?

To trust your friends and get killed, which is an allusion to Julius Ceaser

Does Macbeth feel guilt about the death of Macduff's family?

no

What is Macduff telling Macbeth when he says "Macduff was from his mother's womb Untimely ripp'd"?

He says he wasn't born of a woman because his mother died in childbirth