Who's the Liar?
Vocabulary
The Basics
Quotes
Miscellaneous
100
"Sit, worthy friends. My lord is often thus, And hath been from his youth. Pray you keep seat. The fit is mometary."
LADY MACBTH lies to those in attendance at the banquet. She explains Macbeth's odd behavior at the sight of Banquo's ghost as a lingering illness from his childhood, which he occasionally still suffers.
100
Incapable of being broken; permanent
What is indissoluble?
100
Who suspects Macbeth of the murders?
What is Banquo?
100
"To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus--Our fears in Banquo stick deep"
What is Macbeth?
100
What does the word "weird" (wyrd) mean?
What is fate?
200
"My lord is often thus, And has been from his youth.
LADY MACBETH lies to the nobleman about Macbeth's "disorder" while he hallucinates Banquo's ghost.
200
To make enraged; fill with anger
What is incense?
200
What goes wrong in the plot to kill Banquo and Fleance?
What is Fleance escapes?
200
"O treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly fly!"
What is Banquo?
200
Why might Shakespeare hide the identity of the mysterious third murderer?
The secret identity reinforces the impression that Macbeth has spies everywhere and no longer trusts anyone. He is paranoid.
300
"Know that it was he, in the times past, which held you so under fortune, which you thought had been our innocent self."
MACBETH IS LYING TO THE MURDERERS. He tells them that their sorry state in life is the fault of Banquo not himself.
300
Full of good humor; genial and playful.
What is jovial?
300
Does Macbeth take Lady Macbeth into his confidence about the plot to murder Banquo?
No he does not. This signifies a major change in their relationship as they have now reversed roles.
300
"Naught's had, all's spent, where our desire is got without content."
What is Lady Macbeth?
300
What is sleep a metaphor for? BONUS: How is sleep significant in this act?
Sleep is a metaphor for peace. Previously, Macbeth had taken away King Duncan's peace by killing him in his sleep. Macbeth recognizes that he would lose his own peace by committing this crime. Sleep is significant in this act because Macbeth is unable to sleep due to the many nightmares he has. He lacks peace.
400
"Who may I rather challenge for unkindness than pity for mischance."
MACBETH IS LYING TO THE LORDS AT THE BANQUET. He says he hopes Banquo is absent due to rudeness rather than some unfortunate accident.
400
To fill with horror and shock
What is appall?
400
How does Lady Macbeth attempt to cover up for Macbeth at the banquet?
She explains that he has a disorder since he was young. Everyone may disregard his actions and continue enjoying the celebration.
400
"Ay, my good lord, safe in a ditch he bides, with twenty trenched gashes on his head; the least a death to nature."
What is the murderer?
400
Why does Macbeth begin to suspect Macduff?
Macbeth mistrusts all of his subjects, particularly Macduff for failing to attend the coronation and the royal banquet. Macduff is someone whom Macbeth cannot control.
500
Thou hast it now: King Cawdor, Glamis, all, as the weird women promised; and I fear, Thou play'dst most foully for it."
BANQUO recognizes that Macbeth may be lying about his hand in the murder of the King.
500
Something done or given to make up for injury, loss, etc.
What is amends?
500
Who is Hecate and what is she doing there?
Hecate is the Goddess of Witchcraft. She is there to scold the witches for telling Macbeth riddles without her knowledge of them doing so.
500
"Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck till thou applaud the deed."
What is Macbeth?
500
A foil is a minor character whose attitudes, beliefs, and behavior differ significantly from those of a main character. Through these differences, the foil helps highlight specific attributes--both good and bad--of the main character. Who could be a foil to Macbeth?
Either Banquo or Macduff.