Macbeth Act 1 to 5 with complete solution
Act One
1. What is the point of the first scene literally and in
reference to the whole play?
To establish the dark and dramatic mood, imagery and themes of the play.
2. What does Duncan call Macbeth when he hears
Macbeth has defeated Macdonwald?
He calls him "valiant Cousin! Worthy gentleman!"
This is ironic, being said to the man who will be his murderer.
3. Who is sentenced to death?
The Thane of Cawdor is sentenced to death.
4. What do the witches predict in I.iii for Macbeth?
For Banquo?
They predict Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor and eventually the king.
They predict that Banquo will be "lesser than Macbeth, and greater, Not so happy, and
yet happier" and that his descendants will be kings although he will not be one.
5. What news does Ross bring Macbeth?
Ross tells Macbeth that Macbeth now holds the title of the Thane of Cawdor.
6. Banquo, like Macbeth, is surprised that the witches have predicted Macbeth's new
title. He is, however, leery. What does he say about the motives of the "instruments of
darkness"?
He says they often tell of good things which may
happen without telling the bad consequences.
7. Malcolm describes Cawdor's last moments before execution. What is
Duncan's reply?
You can't tell what is in a person's heart by looking at his face.
8. Macbeth says, "Stars, hide your fires, Let not light see my black and deep desires."
What are Macbeth's desires?
He now desires to be the king, and he realizes that something will have to be done with
the
present king (and his sons) before his desires can become reality.
9. After Lady Macbeth reads the letter, what does she tell us is her opinion of
Macbeth, and how does she plan to help him?
In short, Lady Macbeth thinks Macbeth could be a good king, but he lacks the
hardheartedness
which would allow him to get to the position. She'll talk him into it.
10. What is Lady Macbeth's "prayer" to the spirits after she learns Duncan is
coming"?
She wants to be filled with cruelty, given a hard heart and the thick blood necessary to
do what has to be done in order to make Macbeth king.
11. What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth when he arrives home?
She tells him he must learn to look innocent even when his heart is full of evil. He has to
learn to hide his true feelings.
12. What are Macbeth's arguments to himself against killing Duncan?
, Macbeth is Duncan's kinsman and his subject. Duncan is a good king and virtuous man;
he
has done no particular evil.
Duncan is a popular king, and his death would bring sorrow and unrest upon Scotland.
13. What arguments does Lady Macbeth use to convince Macbeth to commit the
murder?
She tells him not to be a coward, not to say
later that he "could have been" when he could
"be" king. She tells him to be a man and go get what he wants. She says if she had
made the promise to do this, that she would have killed her own baby to carry forth with
her promise.
14. What is Lady Macbeth's
plan?
She will drug the kings grooms (guards). Macbeth
will then go into the king's room and murder him in his sleep.
Act Two
1. What is Macbeth's lie to Banquo about the witches' predictions?
He says he doesn't even think about them.
2. What is the signal Lady Macbeth is to give Macbeth to let him know that she has
taken care of the guards (grooms)?
She will ring a bell.
3. What excuse does Lady Macbeth give for not killing Duncan herself?
He looked like her father sleeping there.
4. After Macbeth kills Duncan, he goes to Lady Macbeth and is concerned about not
being able to say "Amen." What is her advice to him?
She tells him not to think about it so much, or it will make them crazy. (Notice that
shedoes later, in fact, go mad and commit suicide.)
5. Then, Macbeth is worried about hearing a voice saying, "Macbeth does murder
sleep." What does Lady Macbeth then
tell him to do?
She tells him to go get some water and wash "this filthy witness" from his hands. In
other words, get cleaned up and forget about it.
6. Why won't Macbeth take the daggers back to the scene of the crime?
He can't bear to look at Duncan again.
7. Who was knocking?
Macduff and Lennox were knocking at the gate.
8. What three things does drinking provoke?
It provokes "nose-painting, sleep, and urine."
9. How does Lennox describe the night, and what is Macbeth's response?
Lennox goes through a great description of the terrible night, saying it predicted terrible,
confusing times ahead. Macbeth brushes it off by saying it was a "rough night."
10. What did Macduff discover?
Macduff discovered Duncan's body.
11. Macduff says, "Oh, gentle lady, 'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak. The
repetition, in a woman's ear, Would murder as it fell." What is ironic about
this?
Act One
1. What is the point of the first scene literally and in
reference to the whole play?
To establish the dark and dramatic mood, imagery and themes of the play.
2. What does Duncan call Macbeth when he hears
Macbeth has defeated Macdonwald?
He calls him "valiant Cousin! Worthy gentleman!"
This is ironic, being said to the man who will be his murderer.
3. Who is sentenced to death?
The Thane of Cawdor is sentenced to death.
4. What do the witches predict in I.iii for Macbeth?
For Banquo?
They predict Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor and eventually the king.
They predict that Banquo will be "lesser than Macbeth, and greater, Not so happy, and
yet happier" and that his descendants will be kings although he will not be one.
5. What news does Ross bring Macbeth?
Ross tells Macbeth that Macbeth now holds the title of the Thane of Cawdor.
6. Banquo, like Macbeth, is surprised that the witches have predicted Macbeth's new
title. He is, however, leery. What does he say about the motives of the "instruments of
darkness"?
He says they often tell of good things which may
happen without telling the bad consequences.
7. Malcolm describes Cawdor's last moments before execution. What is
Duncan's reply?
You can't tell what is in a person's heart by looking at his face.
8. Macbeth says, "Stars, hide your fires, Let not light see my black and deep desires."
What are Macbeth's desires?
He now desires to be the king, and he realizes that something will have to be done with
the
present king (and his sons) before his desires can become reality.
9. After Lady Macbeth reads the letter, what does she tell us is her opinion of
Macbeth, and how does she plan to help him?
In short, Lady Macbeth thinks Macbeth could be a good king, but he lacks the
hardheartedness
which would allow him to get to the position. She'll talk him into it.
10. What is Lady Macbeth's "prayer" to the spirits after she learns Duncan is
coming"?
She wants to be filled with cruelty, given a hard heart and the thick blood necessary to
do what has to be done in order to make Macbeth king.
11. What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth when he arrives home?
She tells him he must learn to look innocent even when his heart is full of evil. He has to
learn to hide his true feelings.
12. What are Macbeth's arguments to himself against killing Duncan?
, Macbeth is Duncan's kinsman and his subject. Duncan is a good king and virtuous man;
he
has done no particular evil.
Duncan is a popular king, and his death would bring sorrow and unrest upon Scotland.
13. What arguments does Lady Macbeth use to convince Macbeth to commit the
murder?
She tells him not to be a coward, not to say
later that he "could have been" when he could
"be" king. She tells him to be a man and go get what he wants. She says if she had
made the promise to do this, that she would have killed her own baby to carry forth with
her promise.
14. What is Lady Macbeth's
plan?
She will drug the kings grooms (guards). Macbeth
will then go into the king's room and murder him in his sleep.
Act Two
1. What is Macbeth's lie to Banquo about the witches' predictions?
He says he doesn't even think about them.
2. What is the signal Lady Macbeth is to give Macbeth to let him know that she has
taken care of the guards (grooms)?
She will ring a bell.
3. What excuse does Lady Macbeth give for not killing Duncan herself?
He looked like her father sleeping there.
4. After Macbeth kills Duncan, he goes to Lady Macbeth and is concerned about not
being able to say "Amen." What is her advice to him?
She tells him not to think about it so much, or it will make them crazy. (Notice that
shedoes later, in fact, go mad and commit suicide.)
5. Then, Macbeth is worried about hearing a voice saying, "Macbeth does murder
sleep." What does Lady Macbeth then
tell him to do?
She tells him to go get some water and wash "this filthy witness" from his hands. In
other words, get cleaned up and forget about it.
6. Why won't Macbeth take the daggers back to the scene of the crime?
He can't bear to look at Duncan again.
7. Who was knocking?
Macduff and Lennox were knocking at the gate.
8. What three things does drinking provoke?
It provokes "nose-painting, sleep, and urine."
9. How does Lennox describe the night, and what is Macbeth's response?
Lennox goes through a great description of the terrible night, saying it predicted terrible,
confusing times ahead. Macbeth brushes it off by saying it was a "rough night."
10. What did Macduff discover?
Macduff discovered Duncan's body.
11. Macduff says, "Oh, gentle lady, 'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak. The
repetition, in a woman's ear, Would murder as it fell." What is ironic about
this?
