MACBETH: TEST REVIEW ACTS 1-3

A

100

What is the central theme of Act I of The Tragedy of Macbeth? A.the price of fame c.betrayal B.the supernatural d.loyalty in battle

What is C

200

Based upon the information in Act I of The Tragedy of Macbeth, what can you infer about King Duncana. A. He is a weak leader. b.He is a shrewd military planner. c.He is in no hurry to join the battle D. He places a high value on bravery and loyalty.

What is D

300

Based upon the information in Act I of The Tragedy of Macbeth, what appears to be Macbeth’s character flaw? A. an obsessive need to be loved c. a desire for power B. cowardice d. slow-wittedness

What is c

400

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, Macbeth declares he will “sleep no more” because he believes a.he will now become a fugitive. b.he will not have sweet dreams. c his conscience will never let him rest. d.he will soon die.

c

500

During the Elizabethan period, theater companies began to a.travel more. b.use actors who were usually members of the nobility. c.use permanent performance spaces. d.cast men to play women and women to play men.

What is c

B

100

Throughout Act I of The Tragedy of Macbeth, Macbeth’s plans and actions seem to be motivated most of all by a. his lust for wealth. c. his wife’s encouragement. b. the support of the witches. d. the advice of Banquo.

What is c

200

In Act I of The Tragedy of Macbeth, why does Lady Macbeth think Macbeth has a poor chance of achieving power? a. He is not ruthless enough. b. He lacks sufficient ambition. c. He is too loyal to King Duncan. d. He does not have the wit to devise a workable plan.

What is A

300

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, in what way is Lady Macbeth stronger than her husband? a.She is harsher with the servants. b.She is better able to pretend she loves King Duncan. c.She stands firm when Macbeth begins to waver in his deadly purpose. d.She understands the witches’ prophesies.

What is c

400

Which would be true if you were watching a play at the Globe Theater back in Shakespeare’s day? a.The stage lighting would come from candles. b.The play would most likely be about a religious subject. c.The illusions of time and space would come from the words of the play. d.The audience would number about 15,000 people per performance.

What is c

500

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, Scene ii, Lady Macbeth’s purpose in drugging the servants is a.so they will commit King Duncan’s murder. b.so they will sleep through King Duncan’s murder. c.to erase their memory of the night. d.to kill them for their knowledge of the crime.

b

C

100

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, what does Macbeth really mean when he indicates that the blood on his hands will redden all the seas? a.It is a comment on his profound guilt. b.Lady Macbeth will not be able to wash off the blood. c.It is a comment on his fear of being found out. d.He is afraid to wash the blood off his hands.

What is a

200

Why do you suppose Shakespeare made Banquo the last person Macbeth sees before he murders King Duncan in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II? a. Banquo, who is loyal to the king, represents Macbeth’s last chance to do what is right and call off his murderous plan. b.Banquo and Macbeth have both heard the witches’ prophesies and Banquo probably knows what Macbeth is about to do. c.Shakespeare needed a bit of comic relief in the scene. d.Shakespeare needed to introduce the character of Fleance, who accompanies Banquo in the scene.

What is a

300

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, what reason does Lady Macbeth give for not killing King Duncan herself? a.She says that she is a woman and incapable. b.She says the witches’ prophesy forbids it. c.She says the king looked like her father as he slept. d.She says that her husband must do it to prove his strength.

What is c

400

Unrhymed iambic pentameter is also called a.blank verse. b dialogue. c a metric foot. d.trochee.

What is a

500

Based upon the information in Act I of The Tragedy of Macbeth, what can you infer about King Duncan? a.He is a weak leader. b.He is a shrewd military planner. c.He is reluctant to join his men in battle. d.He places a high value on bravery and loyalty.

What is d

D

100

In The Tragedy of MacBeth, Act III, to persuade the two murderers to agree to kill Banquo, Macbeth tells them a.he will make them officials of the court. b.they will be given a large sum of money and a place to live. c.that Banquo has been the cause of all their misery. d.that they will be immune from imprisonment forever.

What is c

200

Act III of The Tragedy of Macbeth serves mainly to a.introduce the play’s climax. b.introduce important new characters. c. expose Macbeth’s mounting troubles. d.resolve the play’s central conflicts.

What is b

300

In The Tragedy of MacBeth, Act III, what is the cause of Macbeth’s irrational behavior at the banquet? a.too much to drink c.a sudden illness b.a lack of sleep d.his guilty conscience

What is d

400

In The Tragedy of MacBeth, Act III, Macbeth’s guilt causing him to imagine he sees Banquo’s ghost at the banquet is an example of a.external conflict. b.theme. c internal conflict. d.poetic license.

What is c

500

By the end of Act III of The Tragedy of MacBeth, how has Macbeth changed since the beginning of the play? a.He is now quick to use treachery to suit his ends. b.He now enjoys the respect of his comrades. c.He is now comfortable with the witches’ prophecies. d.He now has confidence in his ability to rule.

What is a

E

100

In The Tragedy of Macbeth which of the following is an external conflict? a.Before Macbeth kills King Duncan, he imagines he sees a dagger floating in the air in front of him. b.Macbeth regrets killing King Duncan, although he would do it again if necessary. c.Macbeth wants Banquo dead, so he hires men to murder him. d.At the banquet, Macbeth’s guilty conscience conjures up an image of the dead Banquo.

What is c

200

In The Tragedy of MacBeth, why does Macbeth fear Banquo? a.Banquo is loyal to the true king. b.He knows that Banquo wants to kill him. c.Banquo wants to steal the crown away from him.

What is a

300

In The Tragedy of MacBeth, Act III, when Lady Macbeth claims “Nought’s had, all’s spent, / Where our desire is got without content . . .” she means that a.she and Macbeth have quarreled. b.she and Macbeth have risked everything but have gained no happiness because they are living in fear. c.she regrets the killing of Duncan. d.she does not want Macbeth to have Banquo killed.

What is b

400

In The Tragedy of MacBeth, Act III, why does Macbeth send along a third murderer to join the first two in killing Banquo? a.Macbeth has become terribly suspicious and trusts no one; he sends the third murderer to make certain the job gets done. b.The third murderer had his own reasons for wanting Banquo dead and asked to be sent. c.Macbeth knows that Fleance is strong and quick; he feels a third murderer will be needed. d.The first and second murderers are employed by Banquo.

What is a

500

In The Tragedy of MacBeth, Act III, when Macbeth says “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown / And put a barren scepter in my gripe . . .” he means a.he is powerless. b.he will be prosecuted for his crimes. c.he and Lady Macbeth want many children. d.he has no male heir.

What is d