Practice 100+ Macbeth MCQs with answers covering plot, characters, themes, quotes, and literary devices from Shakespeare’s tragedy for exams and quizzes.
Multiple Choice Questions: Macbeth Act I
- Where do the three Witches initially agree to meet again?
A) In a cave
B) Upon the heath
C) At Macbeth’s castle
D) By a ruined abbey Answer: B) Upon the heath - What is the Witches’ collective chant that sets an ominous tone for the play?
A) “Double, double toil and trouble”
B) “By the pricking of my thumbs”
C) “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”
D) “When shall we three meet again” Answer: C) “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” - Who is the “bloody man” that King Duncan and Malcolm meet in Scene II?
A) Ross
B) Angus
C) A bleeding Sergeant
D) Banquo Answer: C) A bleeding Sergeant - How does the Sergeant describe the state of the battle when he left it?
A) The King’s forces were clearly victorious.
B) It “doubtful it stood; / As two spent swimmers.”
C) The rebels were on the verge of defeat.
D) Macbeth had already surrendered. Answer: B) It “doubtful it stood; / As two spent swimmers.” - Who is Macdonwald described as being supplied by?
A) English forces
B) Irish rebels
C) “kerns and gallowglasses” from the western isles
D) The Norweyan king Answer: C) “kerns and gallowglasses” from the western isles - What gruesome act does Macbeth perform upon Macdonwald?
A) He beheads him in single combat.
B) He wounds him and leaves him for dead.
C) He unseamed him “from the nave to the chaps” and fixed his head upon the battlements.
D) He forces him to surrender. Answer: C) He unseamed him “from the nave to the chaps” and fixed his head upon the battlements. - From what “spring” does the Sergeant say “discomfort swells,” even after the initial victory?
A) The arrival of more rebels
B) The Norweyan lord’s fresh assault
C) Macbeth’s growing ambition
D) The treachery of the Thane of Cawdor Answer: B) The Norweyan lord’s fresh assault - How does the Sergeant compare Macbeth and Banquo’s reaction to the renewed assault?
A) As timid as hares before lions
B) As cannons “overcharged with double cracks”
C) As sparrows fighting eagles
D) As weary as old soldiers Answer: B) As cannons “overcharged with double cracks” - Who arrives in Scene II to report the final victory to King Duncan?
A) Malcolm
B) Donalbain
C) Ross
D) Lennox Answer: C) Ross - Who is identified as the “most disloyal traitor” assisting the Norweyan king?
A) Macdonwald
B) The Thane of Fife
C) The Thane of Cawdor
D) Sweno Answer: C) The Thane of Cawdor - What is the fate of the Thane of Cawdor, decreed by King Duncan?
A) Imprisonment for life
B) Exile from Scotland
C) “present death”
D) A public trial Answer: C) “present death” - Who is granted the former title of the Thane of Cawdor?
A) Banquo
B) Malcolm
C) Macbeth
D) Lennox Answer: C) Macbeth - What animal does the First Witch claim to have killed in Scene III?
A) A dog
B) A cat
C) Swine
D) A raven Answer: C) Swine - What does the First Witch intend to do to the sailor whose wife refused her chestnuts?
A) Drown his ship
B) “drain him dry as hay” and torment him with sleeplessness
C) Turn him into an animal
D) Steal his ship’s treasure Answer: B) “drain him dry as hay” and torment him with sleeplessness - What object does the First Witch show the other Witches as proof of her malice towards the sailor?
A) A lock of hair
B) A pilot’s thumb
C) A piece of ship’s timber
D) A map Answer: B) A pilot’s thumb - How does Banquo describe the Witches’ appearance to Macbeth?
A) Beautiful and ethereal
B) “So wither’d and so wild in their attire,” with beards
C) Like ancient women, but without faces
D) Tall and imposing Answer: B) “So wither’d and so wild in their attire,” with beards - What are the three direct prophecies given to Macbeth by the Witches?
A) Thane of Fife, King, Father of Kings
B) Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, King hereafter
C) Invincible in battle, Wealthy, Long-lived
D) Loyal, Brave, Respected Answer: B) Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, King hereafter - What is Banquo’s immediate reaction to the Witches’ greeting Macbeth with prophecies of royalty?
A) He is excited for Macbeth.
B) He questions if they are “fantastical” or real.
C) He warns Macbeth to ignore them.
D) He is envious of Macbeth’s fortune. Answer: B) He questions if they are “fantastical” or real. - How do the Witches describe Banquo’s future relative to Macbeth’s?
A) “Greater than Macbeth, and lesser.”
B) “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.”
C) “Not so happy, yet much happier.”
D) Both B and C Answer: D) Both B and C - What specific prophecy do the Witches give about Banquo’s lineage?
A) He will rule alongside Macbeth.
B) He will be Thane of Cawdor after Macbeth.
C) He “shalt get kings, though thou be none.”
D) His line will end with him. Answer: C) He “shalt get kings, though thou be none.” - Why is Macbeth surprised by the Witches’ second greeting, “Thane of Cawdor”?
A) He believes the Thane of Cawdor is dead.
B) He knows the Thane of Cawdor “lives, / A prosperous gentleman.”
C) He was expecting a different title.
D) He had already been offered that title. Answer: B) He knows the Thane of Cawdor “lives, / A prosperous gentleman.” - What happens to the Witches after they deliver their prophecies?
A) They fly away on broomsticks.
B) They vanish “Into the air.”
C) They transform into animals.
D) They disappear behind a curtain. Answer: B) They vanish “Into the air.” - Who confirms to Macbeth and Banquo that Macbeth has indeed been named Thane of Cawdor?
A) Duncan and Malcolm
B) Lennox and Macduff
C) Ross and Angus
D) The Sergeant Answer: C) Ross and Angus - How does Angus explain the former Thane of Cawdor’s downfall?
A) He was killed in battle.
B) He betrayed Scotland and was found guilty of “treasons capital, confess’d and proved.”
C) He fled the country.
D) He resigned his title due to old age. Answer: B) He betrayed Scotland and was found guilty of “treasons capital, confess’d and proved.” - What does Macbeth immediately realize (aside) upon hearing he is Thane of Cawdor?
A) The Witches are evil.
B) His journey home will be long.
C) “The greatest is behind,” meaning the prophecy of kingship.
D) He must thank the King profusely. Answer: C) “The greatest is behind,” meaning the prophecy of kingship. - What is Banquo’s warning to Macbeth about the “instruments of darkness”?
A) They tell “lies to betray’s.”
B) They “tell us truths, / Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s / In deepest consequence.”
C) They are harmless visions.
D) They offer only false hopes. Answer: B) They “tell us truths, / Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s / In deepest consequence.” - What “horrid image” (aside) causes Macbeth’s hair to stand on end and his heart to knock at his ribs?
A) The thought of being defeated in battle.
B) The idea of murdering Duncan.
C) The vision of Banquo’s children as kings.
D) The fear of the Witches’ revenge. Answer: B) The idea of murdering Duncan. - What does Macbeth conclude (aside) about becoming king if “chance will have me king”?
A) He must immediately take action.
B) He must rely on the Witches’ help.
C) “chance may crown me, / Without my stir.”
D) He must fight for it. Answer: C) “chance may crown me, / Without my stir.” - What new title does King Duncan bestow upon his eldest son, Malcolm, in Scene IV?
A) Thane of Fife
B) Prince of Cumberland
C) King of Scotland
D) Earl of Northumberland Answer: B) Prince of Cumberland - How does Macbeth react (aside) to Malcolm being named Prince of Cumberland?
A) He is pleased for Malcolm.
B) He sees it as “a step / On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap.”
C) He believes it solidifies his own path to the throne.
D) He is indifferent. Answer: B) He sees it as “a step / On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap.” - What does Macbeth implore the “Stars” to do in his final aside of Scene IV?
A) Guide his path to the throne.
B) “hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires.”
C) Shine brightly on his castle.
D) Reveal his destiny. Answer: B) “hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires.” - What does Lady Macbeth learn from Macbeth’s letter in Scene V?
A) Macbeth has been wounded in battle.
B) Duncan is coming to visit their castle.
C) The Witches’ prophecies about him becoming Thane of Cawdor and King.
D) Banquo is plotting against him. Answer: C) The Witches’ prophecies about him becoming Thane of Cawdor and King. - Why does Lady Macbeth fear Macbeth’s nature will prevent him from achieving the crown?
A) He is too easily distracted.
B) He is “too full o’ the milk of human kindness.”
C) He lacks the necessary courage.
D) He is too honorable. Answer: B) He is “too full o’ the milk of human kindness.” - What does Lady Macbeth mean by “unsex me here”?
A) She wants to become physically male.
B) She wishes to shed her feminine gentleness and acquire ruthless cruelty.
C) She wants to be recognized as an equal to men.
D) She is asking for male clothing. Answer: B) She wishes to shed her feminine gentleness and acquire ruthless cruelty. - What does Lady Macbeth ask the spirits to do to her blood?
A) Make it flow faster
B) “make thick my blood; / Stop up the access and passage to remorse.”
C) Purify it
D) Make it cold Answer: B) “make thick my blood; / Stop up the access and passage to remorse.” - What image does Lady Macbeth use to describe Duncan’s impending arrival and fate?
A) “The raven himself is hoarse / That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan / Under my battlements.”
B) “A dove descending.”
C) “A storm approaching.”
D) “A welcome guest.” Answer: A) “The raven himself is hoarse / That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan / Under my battlements.” - What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth about his appearance when Duncan arrives?
A) To be boisterous and jovial.
B) To “look like the innocent flower, / But be the serpent under’t.”
C) To show his true feelings.
D) To pretend to be ill. Answer: B) To “look like the innocent flower, / But be the serpent under’t.” - Who remarks on the pleasantness of Macbeth’s castle’s “seat” and air in Scene VI?
A) Banquo
B) Malcolm
C) Duncan
D) Lennox Answer: C) Duncan - What bird does Banquo note as nesting in Macbeth’s castle, indicating a delicate air?
A) An owl
B) A swallow (martlet)
C) A raven
D) A hawk Answer: B) A swallow (martlet) - How does Lady Macbeth respond to Duncan’s effusive thanks for their hospitality in Scene VI?
A) She is dismissive of his praise.
B) She claims all their service “Were poor and single business” compared to his honors.
C) She asks for more rewards.
D) She appears uncomfortable with the attention. Answer: B) She claims all their service “Were poor and single business” compared to his honors. - In his “If it were done when ’tis done” soliloquy, what is Macbeth most concerned about?
A) The act of murder itself.
B) The “consequence” and “judgment here” on earth.
C) Lady Macbeth’s reaction.
D) Whether the Witches’ prophecies are true. Answer: B) The “consequence” and “judgment here” on earth. - Macbeth states that Duncan “Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been / So clear in his great office.” What does this imply about Duncan’s reign?
A) He was a weak and ineffective ruler.
B) He was a just and honorable king.
C) He was tyrannical.
D) He was easily manipulated. Answer: B) He was a just and honorable king. - What is the only “spur / To prick the sides of my intent” that Macbeth admits to having?
A) Revenge
B) Duty
C) “Vaulting ambition”
D) Fear Answer: C) “Vaulting ambition” - What is Lady Macbeth’s immediate reaction when Macbeth says, “We will proceed no further in this business”?
A) She agrees, feeling it is too risky.
B) She questions his manhood and calls his hope “drunk.”
C) She suggests a different plan.
D) She becomes angry and threatens him. Answer: B) She questions his manhood and calls his hope “drunk.” - To what common adage does Lady Macbeth compare Macbeth’s hesitation, referring to him as “the poor cat i’ the adage”?
A) A cat that looks at a king.
B) The cat that would eat fish but not wet her feet.
C) A cat with nine lives.
D) A cat on a hot tin roof. Answer: B) The cat that would eat fish but not wet her feet. - What horrifying hypothetical does Lady Macbeth use to shame Macbeth into action?
A) She would disown him.
B) She would murder their own child if she had sworn to it.
C) She would leave him for another man.
D) She would publicly denounce him. Answer: B) She would murder their own child if she had sworn to it. - What is Lady Macbeth’s plan to make it appear that Duncan’s chamberlains committed the murder?
A) She will frame Macbeth.
B) She will get them drunk, use their daggers to kill Duncan, and smear them with blood.
C) She will bribe them to confess.
D) She will hide their bodies. Answer: B) She will get them drunk, use their daggers to kill Duncan, and smear them with blood. - What does Macbeth conclude at the very end of Act I regarding their plan?
A) He still has doubts.
B) He is “settled” and will proceed, putting on a “False face.”
C) He wants to postpone it.
D) He will let fate decide. Answer: B) He is “settled” and will proceed, putting on a “False face.” - Which character is the first to directly address the Witches in Scene III?
A) Banquo
B) Macbeth
C) Ross
D) Angus Answer: B) Macbeth - When Duncan says, “There’s no art / To find the mind’s construction in the face,” whom is he referring to and why?
A) Macbeth, because he hides his ambition.
B) Banquo, because he is difficult to read.
C) The former Thane of Cawdor, who appeared trustworthy but was a traitor.
D) Malcolm, who is too young to be judged. Answer: C) The former Thane of Cawdor, who appeared trustworthy but was a traitor.
- The line “When the battle’s lost and won” (Scene I) exemplifies which literary device?
A) Metaphor
B) Simile
C) Paradox
D) Alliteration Answer: C) Paradox - What animal familiar is associated with the First Witch when she says, “I come, Graymalkin!”?
A) A toad
B) A cat
C) A raven
D) A spider Answer: B) A cat - The Sergeant’s description of the battle in Scene II contains vivid imagery. Which phrase suggests the ferocity and stalemate of the early fight?
A) “Like valour’s minion carved out his passage”
B) “Show’d like a rebel’s whore”
C) “As two spent swimmers, that do cling together / And choke their art.”
D) “Doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe” Answer: C) “As two spent swimmers, that do cling together / And choke their art.” - What rhetorical device is used in the Sergeant’s line, “Discomfort swells. Mark, king of Scotland, mark”?
A) Hyperbole
B) Anaphora
C) Apostrophe
D) Personification Answer: B) Anaphora - When the Sergeant says Macbeth and Banquo were “As cannons overcharged with double cracks,” what quality is he emphasizing about their fighting?
A) Their recklessness
B) Their overwhelming power and intensity
C) Their precision
D) Their fear of the enemy Answer: B) Their overwhelming power and intensity - The Sergeant mentions that Macbeth and Banquo “meant to bathe in reeking wounds, / Or memorise another Golgotha.” What is the biblical allusion to Golgotha meant to convey?
A) A place of great joy and celebration.
B) A scene of immense suffering and death.
C) A location for religious pilgrimage.
D) A peaceful sanctuary. Answer: B) A scene of immense suffering and death. - Ross describes Macbeth as “Bellona’s bridegroom, lapp’d in proof.” Who is Bellona?
A) The goddess of wisdom
B) The goddess of agriculture
C) The goddess of war
D) The goddess of love Answer: C) The goddess of war - The Norweyan king, Sweno, craves “composition” after his defeat. What does “composition” mean in this context?
A) A musical piece
B) A surrender or settlement
C) A new military strategy
D) A written agreement for peace Answer: B) A surrender or settlement - What financial penalty did the Norweyans have to pay to the Scots for permission to bury their dead?
A) One thousand dollars
B) Five thousand dollars
C) Ten thousand dollars
D) All their remaining treasure Answer: C) Ten thousand dollars - The First Witch’s description of the sailor’s wife, “And munch’d, and munch’d, and munch’d,” employs which literary device?
A) Simile
B) Metaphor
C) Repetition
D) Allusion Answer: C) Repetition - When the First Witch says of the sailor, “Though his bark cannot be lost, / Yet it shall be tempest-tost,” what does “bark” refer to?
A) A dog’s bark
B) The outer layer of a tree
C) His ship
D) His voice Answer: C) His ship - Banquo’s question, “Live you? or are you aught / That man may question?” reveals his initial reaction to the Witches as one of:
A) Immediate belief
B) Fear and hostility
C) Skepticism and curiosity
D) Reverence Answer: C) Skepticism and curiosity - Macbeth’s aside, “Two truths are told, / As happy prologues to the swelling act / Of the imperial theme,” indicates his growing:
A) Guilt
B) Contentment
C) Ambition
D) Confusion Answer: C) Ambition - What does Macbeth mean by “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, / Shakes so my single state of man”?
A) He is fantasizing about a murder that hasn’t happened.
B) The idea of murder is profoundly disturbing him.
C) He believes a murder has already taken place.
D) His thoughts are so vivid they are causing him physical pain. Answer: B) The idea of murder is profoundly disturbing him. - Banquo observes Macbeth’s silent contemplation with the line, “Look, how our partner’s rapt.” What does “rapt” mean here?
A) Angered
B) Distracted
C) Deeply engrossed or absorbed
D) Sleepy Answer: C) Deeply engrossed or absorbed - What is the significance of Duncan’s statement about the former Thane of Cawdor: “nothing in his life / Became him like the leaving it”?
A) He was a terrible person who died a terrible death.
B) He was a coward who ran from battle.
C) He repented genuinely and died with dignity, surprising Duncan.
D) He was an actor who performed his death scene well. Answer: C) He repented genuinely and died with dignity, surprising Duncan. - Duncan says to Macbeth, “I have begun to plant thee, and will labour / To make thee full of growing.” This uses what kind of imagery?
A) Military imagery
B) Horticultural/gardening imagery
C) Architectural imagery
D) Nautical imagery Answer: B) Horticultural/gardening imagery - When Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth’s letter, her immediate concern about his character is that he “wouldst not play false, / And yet wouldst wrongly win.” This highlights her understanding of his:
A) Lack of courage
B) Moral conflict
C) Deep loyalty
D) Intellectual brilliance Answer: B) Moral conflict - Lady Macbeth’s desire to “chastise with the valour of my tongue / All that impedes thee from the golden round” shows her belief in the power of:
A) Physical strength
B) Persuasion and psychological manipulation
C) Divine intervention
D) Legal arguments Answer: B) Persuasion and psychological manipulation - What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, “Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, / To cry ‘Hold, hold!'”?
A) She wants darkness to conceal the murder from God’s sight and judgment.
B) She wants the night to be so dark that no one can see them.
C) She is asking for a thick blanket for warmth.
D) She fears a literal shout from the sky. Answer: A) She wants darkness to conceal the murder from God’s sight and judgment. - When Macbeth greets Lady Macbeth, he says, “I feel now / The future in the instant.” This suggests a strong sense of:
A) Fatalism
B) Impatience
C) Prescience
D) Confusion Answer: C) Prescience - Lady Macbeth’s instruction, “Leave all the rest to me,” at the end of Scene V, portrays her as:
A) Submissive
B) Decisive and controlling
C) Hesitant
D) Compassionate Answer: B) Decisive and controlling - Banquo’s description of the “temple-haunting martlet” building its nest in Macbeth’s castle (Scene VI) creates what kind of atmosphere?
A) Menacing and foreboding
B) Serene and welcoming
C) Cold and unwelcoming
D) Chaotic and noisy Answer: B) Serene and welcoming - In Scene VI, Duncan says, “The love that follows us sometime is our trouble, / Which still we thank as love.” What does he mean by this?
A) He dislikes receiving too much affection.
B) Guests can be a burden, but their hospitality is appreciated.
C) Love often leads to conflict.
D) He is troubled by his wife’s love. Answer: B) Guests can be a burden, but their hospitality is appreciated. - When Macbeth reflects on the “double trust” he holds with Duncan, he lists two specific roles. What are they?
A) His host and his friend.
B) His kinsman and his subject.
C) His general and his protector.
D) His servant and his ally. Answer: B) His kinsman and his subject. - Macbeth’s fear that “Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return / To plague the inventor” reflects his concern about:
A) Immediate capture
B) Retribution or karma
C) Public opinion
D) His own conscience Answer: B) Retribution or karma - Macbeth considers pity “like a naked new-born babe, / Striding the blast.” This image suggests pity is:
A) Weak and vulnerable, but powerful in its moral appeal.
B) Strong and destructive.
C) Insignificant.
D) A divine force that protects the innocent. Answer: A) Weak and vulnerable, but powerful in its moral appeal. - What does Lady Macbeth imply about Macbeth’s love for her when she says, “From this time / Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard / To be the same in thine own act and valour / As thou art in desire?”
A) She doubts his emotional commitment to her.
B) She questions the sincerity of his past declarations of love.
C) She believes his love is tied to his willingness to commit the murder.
D) She thinks he is afraid of her. Answer: C) She believes his love is tied to his willingness to commit the murder. - Macbeth proclaims, “I dare do all that may become a man; / Who dares do more is none.” What is he implying about Lady Macbeth’s challenge to his manhood?
A) He is unwilling to cross a moral boundary.
B) He is a superhuman warrior.
C) He believes only women can do what she asks.
D) He is too proud to listen to her. Answer: A) He is unwilling to cross a moral boundary. - Lady Macbeth’s horrific image of dashing out a babe’s brains, had she sworn to it, is used to highlight her:
A) Deep maternal instinct
B) Extreme ruthlessness and commitment to her word
C) Insanity
D) Fear of failure Answer: B) Extreme ruthlessness and commitment to her word - When Lady Macbeth says, “But screw your courage to the sticking-place, / And we’ll not fail,” what does “sticking-place” refer to?
A) A specific location in the castle
B) The point of highest tension or resolve, like a taut bowstring.
C) The place where they will hide the evidence.
D) The King’s bedchamber. Answer: B) The point of highest tension or resolve, like a taut bowstring. - What is Lady Macbeth’s plan for Duncan’s chamberlains?
A) She will murder them first.
B) She will get them drunk, so they are blamed for the murder.
C) She will convince them to join the plot.
D) She will lock them in their room. Answer: B) She will get them drunk, so they are blamed for the murder. - Macbeth’s line, “Bring forth men-children only; / For thy undaunted mettle should compose / Nothing but males,” is a compliment to Lady Macbeth’s:
A) Physical beauty
B) Intelligence
C) Ruthless determination and courage
D) Kindness Answer: C) Ruthless determination and courage - At the end of Act I, Macbeth states, “False face must hide what the false heart doth know.” This line foreshadows the theme of:
A) Loyalty
B) Appearance versus reality
C) Divine justice
D) Love and marriage Answer: B) Appearance versus reality - The phrase “When the hurlyburly’s done” (Scene I) refers to the end of:
A) The Witches’ meeting
B) The thunderstorm
C) The civil war
D) The day Answer: C) The civil war - The Witches’ mention of “Graymalkin” and “Paddock” suggests they are communicating with their:
A) Human accomplices
B) Supernatural familiars
C) Fellow Witches
D) Victims Answer: B) Supernatural familiars - What is Malcolm’s initial reaction upon seeing the bleeding Sergeant?
A) He is horrified.
B) He recognizes him as a brave soldier who fought for his freedom.
C) He dismisses him.
D) He questions his loyalty. Answer: B) He recognizes him as a brave soldier who fought for his freedom. - The Sergeant says Macdonwald “ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, / Till he unseam’d him from the nave to the chaps.” This graphic detail emphasizes Macbeth’s:
A) Skill as a surgeon
B) Extreme brutality in battle
C) Hesitation to kill
D) Politeness to his enemies Answer: B) Extreme brutality in battle - Ross reports that the Norweyans “craves composition” and will not be given “burial of his men” until they pay. This shows Duncan’s stance as:
A) Merciful
B) Unreasonable
C) Firm and demanding tribute
D) Weak Answer: C) Firm and demanding tribute - When Macbeth questions the Witches, “By Sinel’s death I know I am thane of Glamis,” what is he referring to?
A) His father’s death
B) A historical event
C) A battle he fought
D) A prophecy given earlier Answer: A) His father’s death - Banquo asks Macbeth if they have “eaten on the insane root / That takes the reason prisoner?” This suggests they are questioning the Witches’ prophecies as:
A) Divine revelation
B) Hallucinations or madness
C) Practical jokes
D) Clear and logical Answer: B) Hallucinations or madness - Ross tells Macbeth that his “personal venture in the rebels’ fight” led to the King’s “wonders and his praises” contending. This indicates Duncan’s:
A) Disbelief in the reports
B) Confusion about the battle
C) Overwhelming admiration for Macbeth’s heroism
D) Anger at Macbeth’s recklessness Answer: C) Overwhelming admiration for Macbeth’s heroism - When Duncan says to Macbeth, “The sin of my ingratitude even now / Was heavy on me,” what emotion is he expressing?
A) Guilt over past mistakes
B) A feeling of being unable to adequately reward Macbeth’s loyalty
C) Anger at Macbeth’s ambition
D) Sorrow for his own recent losses Answer: B) A feeling of being unable to adequately reward Macbeth’s loyalty - Banquo’s response to Duncan, “There if I grow, / The harvest is your own,” uses the same type of imagery as Duncan’s earlier line about “planting” Macbeth. This reinforces the theme of:
A) Loyalty and service to the king leading to reward
B) The importance of agriculture
C) The cyclical nature of conflict
D) The growth of a family Answer: A) Loyalty and service to the king leading to reward - Macbeth’s aside, “The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step / On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap,” shows that he views Malcolm as a:
A) Valuable ally
B) Political obstacle
C) Source of inspiration
D) Minor character Answer: B) Political obstacle - Lady Macbeth calls Macbeth “my dearest partner of greatness” in her letter. This implies her view of their relationship as one of:
A) Master and servant
B) Equal ambition and shared destiny
C) Platonic friendship
D) One-sided devotion Answer: B) Equal ambition and shared destiny - The messenger tells Lady Macbeth that her “fellows had the speed of him, / Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more / Than would make up his message.” This detail emphasizes the:
A) Speed of the King’s arrival
B) Exhaustion of the messenger
C) Urgency of the news
D) All of the above Answer: D) All of the above - Lady Macbeth’s cry, “Come, thick night, / And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,” is an appeal for:
A) A clear night sky
B) Darkness to conceal her wicked deeds
C) A comfortable sleep
D) Protection from harm Answer: B) Darkness to conceal her wicked deeds - What is the significance of Duncan’s immediate trust in Macbeth in Scene IV after his experience with the former Thane of Cawdor?
A) It shows Duncan learns quickly from mistakes.
B) It highlights Duncan’s poor judgment of character, setting him up for betrayal.
C) It proves Macbeth is truly trustworthy.
D) It suggests Duncan is a skilled diplomat. Answer: B) It highlights Duncan’s poor judgment of character, setting him up for betrayal. - The Witches’ final chant in Scene III, “Thrice to thine and thrice to mine / And thrice again, to make up nine,” refers to:
A) The total number of prophecies.
B) A magical incantation, often associated with powerful charms.
C) The number of times they will meet Macbeth.
D) The duration of Macbeth’s reign.
Answer: B) A magical incantation, often associated with powerful charms.