Act 1
Act 2
Act 3
Act 4
Act 5
100
"If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well It were done quickly..." (1.7.1-2) What is this talking about?
The murder of King Duncan.
100
What does the porter's speech do for the scene?
It acts as comic relief.
100
What causes Macbeth to 'freak out' at the dinner?
Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost.
100
What is the purpose of Malcolm lying to Macduff in scene three?
Malcolm lied to Macduff to see if he was with Macbeth or not. Macduff was loyal to his country, so he passed Malcolm's test.
100
In the first scene, what is Lady Macbeth freaking out about while sleepwalking?
Lady Macbeth believes she has blood on her hands and is trying to get it off.
200
"...why do you dress me in borrow'd robes?" (1.3.114-115) Whose borrowed robes is Macbeth dressed in?
The Thane of Cawdor.
200
What "turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out, contending 'gainst obedience"?
Duncan's horses.
200
"Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, and put a barren sceptre in my gripe..." (3.1.66-64). What does Macbeth mean by this?
Macbeth means that since he will have no sons as kings, his line will not go on. The 'fruitless crown' and 'barren sceptre' will produce no heir to the throne.
200
Who does Macbeth blame for the mysterious weather?
The three witches.
200
"...now does he feel his title hang loose about him, like a giant's robe upon a dwarfish thief" (5.2.23-25). Who is Angus talking about?
Macbeth.
300
What does Macbeth mean when he says "The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be, which the eye fears, when it is done, to see" (1.3.59-60)?
Macbeth wants to kill the king, but does not want to witness what he has done. He does not want to see the unnatural act he committed against his king.
300
Macduff says, "Is the king stirring, worthy Thane?" to Macbeth, how is this ironic?
It is ironic because Macbeth just committed the most evil act a Thane could do, kill his king. Macbeth is not worthy of anything.
300
Why is a ghost "more strange than such a murder is" (3.4.98-99)?
When someone would die that would be it, but now they come back and try to unseat the king.
300
From the standpoint of the witches, what is the purpose of the three apparitions?
The purpose of the apparitions are to make Macbeth have a false sense of security.
300
How do the soldiers disguise themselves on the way to Macbeth's castle?
They use branches from Birnam woods, which makes it look like the forest is moving.
400
"If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir." (1.3.158-159). Why does Macbeth believe he will be king without doing anything?
He was just named Thane of Cawdor, one of the witch's prophecies, without doing anything and believes the same will happen for the crown.
400
"...there, the murderers, steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers unmannerly breech'd with gore: who could refrain..." (2.3.133-135). What is the real reason why Macbeth killed the two guards?
Macbeth killed the guards as to cover his tracks. The guards would not be able to testify, making it easier to blame them.
400
Why can't Macbeth sweep away Banquo "with barefaced power" (3.2.135)?
Macbeth and Banquo have many of the same friends and if he killed Banquo everyone would suspect him.
400
"Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? but yet I'll make assurance double sure, and take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live..." (4.1.93-95) Why does Macbeth not have to fear Macduff?
The second apparition said that no man born of woman will harm Macbeth. Macbeth believes that Macduff falls under this category, but still wants to kill him.
400
Why did Macbeth not want to kill Macduff at first?
Macbeth has so much blood from Macduff's family on his hands already that he does not want anymore.
500
"I am settled, and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat" (1.7.92-93). How was Macbeth settled to the idea of killing Duncan?
Lady Macbeth calls him a coward and questions his manhood. Not wanting to seem less of a man, Macbeth continues on with his plan to kill Duncan.
500
"Our chimneys were blown down; and, as they say, lamentings heard i' the air; strange screams of death..." (2.3.61-64). What caused this to happen?
Macbeth killed the king. In the great chain of being the king is ranked higher than Macbeth would be. Macbeth broke the chain causing God's wrath to be felt.
500
What does Macbeth mean when he says, "I am in blood stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er..." (3.5.168-170)?
Macbeth means that he is into the situation so far and killed many people that it would be just as easy to continue on the same path than turn back.
500
"...from this moment the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand..." (4.1.166-168). What does Macbeth mean by this?
Macbeth means that whatever he wants or thinks he will act upon. No thinking it over.
500
"...but, for certain, he cannot buckle his distemper'd cause within the belt of rule" (5.2.16-18). What does this mean?
What Macbeth wants to do and the power he wants cannot be done within his reign. (open to interpretations)
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