Macbeth Study Guide Questions Essay Example
Act One
1. What does Duncan call Macbeth when he hears Macbeth has defeated Macdonwald?
He calls him "valiant Cousin! Worthy gentleman!"
2. Who is sentenced to death?
The Thane of Cawdor is sentenced to death.
3. What news does Ross bring Macbeth?
Ross tells Macbeth that Macbeth now holds the title of the Thane of Cawdor.
4. 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.
5. What is Lady Macbeth's plan?
She will drug the kings grooms. Macbeth will then go into the king's room and murder him in his sleep.
Act II
6. What excuse does Lady Macbeth give for not killing Duncan herself?
He looked like her father sleeping there.
7. What did Macduff discover?
Macduff discovered Duncan's body.
8. Why do Malcolm and Donalbain leave?
They fear that the king's murderer will be after them, too.
Act III
9. Why does Macbeth want Banquo and Fleance dead?
He knows they suspect him of foul play, and he is furious that he has done all of the work of becoming king, and Banquo's descendants will benefit from it.
10. What is Macbeth's plan for killing Banquo and Fleance? Does it work?
He gets two convicted murderers to wait along the road to ambush them. The murderers kill Banquo, but Fleance escapes.
11. Who (what) did Macbeth see at the banquet table?
He saw Banquo's ghost.
12. Who else was missing from the banquet table (besides Banquo)?
Macduff is missing.
Act IV
13. What four things did the witches show Macbeth? What does each show/say? What is Macbeth's reaction?
They showed him an armed head, a bloody child, a crowned child with a tree in its hand, and, finally, eight kings followed by Banquo's ghost. Respectively, they showed/told Macbeth to beware of Macduff, that he would not be harmed by anyone "born of woman," that he would not be vanquished until Birnam Wood would come to Dunsinane, and that Banquo's
1. What does Duncan call Macbeth when he hears Macbeth has defeated Macdonwald?
He calls him "valiant Cousin! Worthy gentleman!"
2. Who is sentenced to death?
The Thane of Cawdor is sentenced to death.
3. What news does Ross bring Macbeth?
Ross tells Macbeth that Macbeth now holds the title of the Thane of Cawdor.
4. 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.
5. What is Lady Macbeth's plan?
She will drug the kings grooms. Macbeth will then go into the king's room and murder him in his sleep.
Act II
6. What excuse does Lady Macbeth give for not killing Duncan herself?
He looked like her father sleeping there.
7. What did Macduff discover?
Macduff discovered Duncan's body.
8. Why do Malcolm and Donalbain leave?
They fear that the king's murderer will be after them, too.
Act III
9. Why does Macbeth want Banquo and Fleance dead?
He knows they suspect him of foul play, and he is furious that he has done all of the work of becoming king, and Banquo's descendants will benefit from it.
10. What is Macbeth's plan for killing Banquo and Fleance? Does it work?
He gets two convicted murderers to wait along the road to ambush them. The murderers kill Banquo, but Fleance escapes.
11. Who (what) did Macbeth see at the banquet table?
He saw Banquo's ghost.
12. Who else was missing from the banquet table (besides Banquo)?
Macduff is missing.
Act IV
13. What four things did the witches show Macbeth? What does each show/say? What is Macbeth's reaction?
They showed him an armed head, a bloody child, a crowned child with a tree in its hand, and, finally, eight kings followed by Banquo's ghost. Respectively, they showed/told Macbeth to beware of Macduff, that he would not be harmed by anyone "born of woman," that he would not be vanquished until Birnam Wood would come to Dunsinane, and that Banquo's