Characters & Places
Name the character whose ghost appears at Macbeth’s banquet.
Banquo
Name the three things promised about Macbeth in the witches’ prophecies in Act I.
Thane of Glamis
Thane of Cawdor
Future King
Who says “Out, damned spot!”? In what scene does it occur?
Lady Macbeth, Act 5 sleepwalking scene
What recurring theme does Lady Macbeth’s hand‑washing scene represent?
Guilt/ guilty consience
Lady Macbeth's "unsex me here" soliloquy in Act I, Scene 5 reveals:
her desire to become masculine to be able to commit murder
Which thane’s title is given to Macbeth early in the play after the original thane is executed for treason?
Cawdor
Who is Hecate?
head of the witches
Who speaks “Is this a dagger which I see before me…” and what does the vision signify?
Macbeth; the vision externalizes his guilty conscience and escalating murderous intent
What is Macbeth's tragic flaw?
unchecked or overly ambitious
Which countries do Malcolm and Donalbain flee to after Duncan’s murder?
Malcolm to England; Donalbain to Ireland
Which character escapes the murderers, preventing Macbeth from fully securing his line of succession?
Fleance
In Act 1 the witches tell Banquo he will be “lesser than Macbeth, and greater.” What does this paradox suggest?
Banquo may be lesser in immediate title but greater in moral character; his descendants will inherit the kingship while he will not
Who hears/imagines “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep”—and what theme does this line highlight?
Macbeth (he hears a voice); it highlights loss of innocence/peace and the psychological consequences of murder
How does the play treat the theme of sleep? Provide one specific example.
Sleep symbolizes innocence and peace; Duncan’s murder destroys it—Macbeth’s line “Macbeth shall sleep no more”; Lady Macbeth’s insomnia shows guilt
What is one consequence of Banquo’s murder?
*hint: There is one about the prophecy and there is one about what happens to Macbeth's state of mind
Fleance escapes so prophecy threat remains.
Macbeth’s paranoia increases (Banquo’s ghost), weakening his rule.
Where does Malcolm go to gather forces to overthrow Macbeth?
Malcolm gathers forces in England (and is crowned at Scone)
One of the prophecies says that Macbeth "can not be killed by any man born of a woman." Who does he find out can kill him and why?
Macduff, because he was born by caesarean (c-section).
Name two dramatic effects of Banquo’s ghost appearing at the banquet.
Public exposure of Macbeth’s guilt (he behaves erratically); undermines Macbeth’s authority and raises suspicion among the thanes
Give one example of nature reacting unnaturally after Duncan’s murder and explain one dramatic purpose of this theme.
Examples: daytime darkness at Duncan’s murder; Duncan’s horses turning wild/eating each other. Purpose: to emphasize cosmic disorder and show that regicide upsets natural and moral order.
After the Act 4 prophecies, what action does Macbeth take regarding Macduff, and what consequence does it produce?
Macbeth has Macduff's wife and children killed; consequence: Macduff joins Malcolm and leads forces against Macbeth, helping the rebellion.
Which specific place does Macbeth fear when told Birnam Wood will come to it?
Dunsinane
Name one of the three apparitions shown to Macbeth in Act 4 and the single warning/message it gives.
(1) Armed head — beware Macduff. (2) Bloody child — none of woman born shall harm Macbeth. (3) Child crowned with a tree — Macbeth safe until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane.
When Macbeth says, “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,” what does it mean?
Macbeth is saying that life is meaningless and it reflects despair, exhaustion, and moral decay after he murders so many people.
Blood is a persistent thematic image. Identify and explain two scenes when blood is present and what it symbolizes.
Macbeth brings bloody daggers from Duncan’s chamber, showing the physical act of murder. S
Lady Macbeth’s imagined indelible bloodstains in Act 5 represent psychological guilt that cannot be washed away.
In one sentence, explain why Macbeth becomes king and what or whom was his influence.
Macbeth becomes king, because he murders Duncan with the influence of the witches' prophecies and Lady Macbeth's encouragement.