Plot
What prophecy do the witches give Macbeth at the beginning of the play?
What is Thane of Cawdor and king.
Who is Macbeth’s best friend?
Banquo
What does the blood symbolize in the play?
Guilt.
“Out, damned spot! Out, I say!” Who says this and what is the "spot"?
Lady Macbeth, referring to an imagined bloodstain symbolizing her guilt.
Who kills King Duncan?
Macbeth
How is Banquo’s prophecy different from Macbeth’s?
Banquo is told that he will not be king, but his descendants will.
What theme does Macbeth’s rise to power and subsequent downfall represent?
The corrupting nature of unchecked ambition.
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” Who says this and it is an example of what literary device.
The witches; paradox
What hallucination does Macbeth have before killing Duncan?
He sees a floating dagger leading him to Duncan’s room.
Who convinces Macbeth to kill Duncan?
Lady Macbeth.
How does Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking symbolize her mental state?
It shows her overwhelming guilt and descent into madness.
“Come, you spirits/ That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here/ And fill me, from the crown to the toe, topfull/ Of direst cruelty
Lady Macbeth is calling upon dark spirits to strip away her femininity and make her cruel enough to assist in Duncan’s murder. She wants to be rid of any feelings of guilt or compassion that might prevent her from helping Macbeth seize power.
How does Lady Macbeth die?
Suicide
What role does Macduff play in Macbeth’s downfall?
Macduff kills Macbeth.
What does the appearance of Banquo’s ghost at the banquet represent?
Macbeth’s guilt and fear of losing his power.
“Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?” Who says this and what is the significance?
Macbeth, it symbolizes his guilt and his resolve to commit murder.
Who becomes king at the end of the play
Malcom
Why does Macbeth fear Banquo?
Because the witches say Banquo’s descendants will inherit the throne.
How does nature react to Duncan’s murder?
The weather becomes stormy, and unnatural events occur (e.g., horses eating each other), symbolizing the disturbance of the natural order.
“Now does he feel his title/ Hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe/ Upon a dwarfish thief.”
Angus is saying that Macbeth, who gained the throne through treachery, is unfit to be king. The "giant’s robe" symbolizes the kingship, which is too great for Macbeth, whom Angus compares to a "dwarfish thief." The line suggests that Macbeth’s reign is illegitimate and that he does not have the stature to hold the title of king.