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 II
- At the beginning of Act II, what time does Fleance indicate it is?
A) Before midnight
B) Just after midnight
C) Dawn
D) Noon Answer: B) Just after midnight - What does Banquo say about the “candles” in heaven in Scene I?
A) They are shining brightly.
B) “Their candles are all out.”
C) They are flickering.
D) They are guiding his path. Answer: B) “Their candles are all out.” - What “cursed thoughts” does Banquo pray for the “merciful powers” to restrain in him?
A) Thoughts of rebellion against Duncan.
B) Thoughts related to the Witches’ prophecies.
C) Thoughts of sleep and rest.
D) Thoughts of personal gain. Answer: B) Thoughts related to the Witches’ prophecies. - What “largess” has Duncan sent to Macbeth’s household, according to Banquo?
A) Food and wine
B) Gold and jewels
C) A diamond for Lady Macbeth
D) New servants Answer: C) A diamond for Lady Macbeth - How does Macbeth respond when Banquo mentions dreaming of the “three weird sisters”?
A) He admits to thinking of them constantly.
B) He claims, “I think not of them.”
C) He expresses fear of them.
D) He says they are irrelevant now. Answer: B) He claims, “I think not of them.” - What condition does Banquo set for “cleaving to Macbeth’s consent” if it should “make honour for” him?
A) He must become Thane of Cawdor.
B) He must get revenge on his enemies.
C) He must lose none of his own honor and keep his “allegiance clear.”
D) He must become King. Answer: C) He must lose none of his own honor and keep his “allegiance clear.” - What is the first hallucination Macbeth experiences in Scene I?
A) A floating crown
B) A bloody hand
C) A dagger
D) A ghostly figure Answer: C) A dagger - Macbeth questions whether the dagger is “sensible / To feeling as to sight.” What does this mean?
A) Whether it makes sense logically.
B) Whether it is something he can touch as well as see.
C) Whether it is a warning or a guide.
D) Whether it is a sign of good or evil. Answer: B) Whether it is something he can touch as well as see. - What change does Macbeth observe in the hallucinatory dagger as he continues to stare at it?
A) It grows larger.
B) It disappears.
C) It becomes dull and rusted.
D) “gouts of blood” appear on its blade and handle. Answer: D) “gouts of blood” appear on its blade and handle. - Macbeth refers to “Pale Hecate’s offerings.” Who is Hecate?
A) A Roman goddess of the moon and crossroads, associated with witchcraft.
B) A Scottish folk hero.
C) A specific witch from the First Witch’s coven.
D) A character from Greek mythology. Answer: A) A Roman goddess of the moon and crossroads, associated with witchcraft. - Whose “ravishing strides” does Macbeth compare his stealthy approach to murder?
A) Duncan’s
B) Banquo’s
C) Tarquin’s
D) The wolf’s Answer: C) Tarquin’s - What signal does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth to indicate the time is right for the murder?
A) She calls his name.
B) She strikes upon the bell.
C) She lights a lamp in the window.
D) She sends a servant. Answer: B) She strikes upon the bell. - In Scene II, what has made Lady Macbeth “bold” and given her “fire”?
A) Her own innate courage.
B) The King’s graciousness.
C) The alcohol that made the grooms drunk.
D) Her desire for power. Answer: C) The alcohol that made the grooms drunk. - What sound does Lady Macbeth interpret as the “fatal bellman” signaling Duncan’s death?
A) A knock at the door.
B) The hoot of an owl.
C) A distant drum.
D) Macbeth’s footsteps. Answer: B) The hoot of an owl. - Why does Lady Macbeth say she didn’t commit the murder herself?
A) She lacked the courage.
B) He “resembled / My father as he slept.”
C) She knew Macbeth wanted the deed for himself.
D) She was afraid of being caught. Answer: B) He “resembled / My father as he slept.” - What is the first thing Macbeth says upon entering after the deed in Scene II?
A) “I have done the deed.”
B) “My hands are bloody.”
C) “Is it over?”
D) “What a terrible night!” Answer: A) “I have done the deed.” - What “sorry sight” does Macbeth refer to when looking at his hands?
A) Their dirtiness.
B) The blood on them.
C) Their shaking.
D) Their paleness. Answer: B) The blood on them. - Macbeth recounts hearing the chamberlains cry “God bless us!” and “Amen.” What specifically does he say he could not do?
A) Pray for them.
B) Say “Amen.”
C) Understand their words.
D) Stop them from crying. Answer: B) Say “Amen.” - What does Lady Macbeth immediately tell Macbeth about thinking “so deeply” on the deed?
A) It is necessary for planning.
B) “it will make us mad.”
C) It shows his sensitivity.
D) It will help them get away with it. Answer: B) “it will make us mad.” - What does Macbeth hallucinate a voice crying repeatedly after the murder?
A) “Murder! Murder!”
B) “Sleep no more!”
C) “Beware Macbeth!”
D) “The King is dead!” Answer: B) “Sleep no more!” - Macbeth describes sleep as “the innocent sleep,” “Balm of hurt minds,” and “Chief nourisher in life’s feast.” This extended metaphor emphasizes sleep’s role as:
A) A dangerous vulnerability.
B) A vital source of restoration and peace.
C) A waste of time.
D) A punishment for the wicked. Answer: B) A vital source of restoration and peace. - What crucial piece of evidence does Macbeth mistakenly bring with him from the murder scene?
A) Duncan’s ring
B) The grooms’ daggers
C) A bloody handkerchief
D) A note from Duncan Answer: B) The grooms’ daggers - What is Lady Macbeth’s reaction to Macbeth bringing the daggers away?
A) She is relieved.
B) She tells him he is “Infirm of purpose!” and takes them herself.
C) She helps him hide them.
D) She scolds him for being clumsy. Answer: B) She tells him he is “Infirm of purpose!” and takes them herself. - When Lady Macbeth says, “The sleeping and the dead / Are but as pictures,” what does she mean?
A) They are easy to paint.
B) They are harmless and inanimate, like images.
C) They are beautiful to look at.
D) They are only memories now. Answer: B) They are harmless and inanimate, like images. - Lady Macbeth asserts, “A little water clears us of this deed: / How easy is it, then!” This contrasts sharply with Macbeth’s feeling that:
A) The task was simple.
B) “all great Neptune’s ocean” cannot wash the blood clean.
C) The water will be too cold.
D) He needs more water. Answer: B) “all great Neptune’s ocean” cannot wash the blood clean. - What is the significance of the knocking at the gate at the end of Scene II and throughout Scene III?
A) It represents the arrival of divine judgment and the disruption of the unnatural act.
B) It is a warning from the Witches.
C) It is just a minor disturbance.
D) It signifies Macbeth’s paranoia. Answer: A) It represents the arrival of divine judgment and the disruption of the unnatural act. - What profession does the Porter jokingly imagine himself as the keeper of?
A) A castle guard
B) Hell-gate
C) A tavern
D) A prison Answer: B) Hell-gate - Which three types of people does the Porter imagine knocking at “hell-gate”?
A) A soldier, a king, a beggar
B) A farmer, an equivocator, an English tailor
C) A priest, a doctor, a lawyer
D) A thief, a murderer, a traitor Answer: B) A farmer, an equivocator, an English tailor - What “three things” does the Porter say drink especially provokes?
A) Hunger, thirst, and sleep.
B) Nose-painting, sleep, and urine.
C) Courage, anger, and sadness.
D) Joy, laughter, and sorrow. Answer: B) Nose-painting, sleep, and urine. - According to the Porter, how does drink affect “lechery”?
A) It provokes and unprovokes it.
B) It cures it completely.
C) It has no effect on it.
D) It only provokes it. Answer: A) It provokes and unprovokes it. - Who is the first to arrive at Macbeth’s castle early in the morning in Scene III?
A) Ross and Angus
B) Malcolm and Donalbain
C) Macduff and Lennox
D) Banquo and Fleance Answer: C) Macduff and Lennox - What does Macduff say Duncan commanded him to do?
A) To hunt with him.
B) To call timely on him (wake him early).
C) To prepare for his departure.
D) To attend a feast. Answer: B) To call timely on him (wake him early). - Lennox describes the night as “unruly.” Which of the following unusual occurrences does he not mention?
A) Chimneys were blown down.
B) Lamentings and strange screams of death were heard.
C) The earth “was feverous and did shake.”
D) The castle gates opened by themselves. Answer: D) The castle gates opened by themselves. - What does Macduff mean by “Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!” when he discovers Duncan’s body?
A) He is utterly bewildered.
B) Chaos has achieved its ultimate, most destructive work.
C) He is confused about who committed the crime.
D) The scene is a work of art. Answer: B) Chaos has achieved its ultimate, most destructive work. - Macduff refers to Duncan’s body as “The Lord’s anointed temple.” This emphasizes Duncan’s status as:
A) A deeply religious man.
B) A divinely chosen king, making his murder a sacrilege.
C) A builder of churches.
D) A person who frequented temples. Answer: B) A divinely chosen king, making his murder a sacrilege. - Macduff tells Macbeth and Lennox to “destroy your sight / With a new Gorgon.” What is he alluding to?
A) A terrifying mythological creature that turns onlookers to stone.
B) A beautiful, but deadly, flower.
C) A type of ancient weapon.
D) A medical condition causing blindness. Answer: Answer: A) A terrifying mythological creature that turns onlookers to stone. - How does Macduff warn Lady Macbeth about hearing the news of Duncan’s death?
A) He says it’s not proper for a woman’s ears, as “The repetition… Would murder as it fell.”
B) He simply tells her she must be strong.
C) He advises her to leave the room.
D) He tells her gently. Answer: A) He says it’s not proper for a woman’s ears, as “The repetition… Would murder as it fell.” - Macbeth laments, “Had I but died an hour before this chance, / I had lived a blessed time.” What does this statement reveal about his state of mind?
A) He truly wishes he were dead to avoid the consequences.
B) He is genuinely grieving for Duncan.
C) He is putting on a performance for the others.
D) Both A and C, indicating his complex internal conflict. Answer: D) Both A and C, indicating his complex internal conflict. - Who points out the bloody hands and faces of the chamberlains and their daggers as evidence against them?
A) Macbeth
B) Lady Macbeth
C) Lennox
D) Macduff Answer: C) Lennox - Why does Macbeth claim he killed the chamberlains?
A) He feared they would expose him.
B) His “violent love” for Duncan “Outrun the pauser, reason.”
C) Lady Macbeth commanded him to.
D) He was in a fit of rage. Answer: B) His “violent love” for Duncan “Outrun the pauser, reason.” - Macbeth describes Duncan’s body with “His silver skin laced with his golden blood.” The “golden blood” implies Duncan’s:
A) Wealth.
B) Royal and noble status.
C) Age.
D) Cowardice. Answer: B) Royal and noble status. - What does Lady Macbeth do when Macbeth gives his dramatic speech about killing the chamberlains?
A) She applauds him.
B) She faints or pretends to faint.
C) She questions his honesty.
D) She encourages him to continue. Answer: B) She faints or pretends to faint. - Why do Malcolm and Donalbain decide to flee Scotland?
A) They are secretly guilty of the murder.
B) They fear that the murderer is still among them and they are next.
C) They are too sad to remain.
D) They want to raise an army to avenge their father. Answer: B) They fear that the murderer is still among them and they are next. - To which countries do Malcolm and Donalbain flee respectively?
A) England and Ireland
B) France and Norway
C) Wales and Denmark
D) Germany and Sweden Answer: A) England and Ireland - Donalbain’s line, “There’s daggers in men’s smiles: the near in blood, / The nearer bloody,” expresses a theme of:
A) Family loyalty
B) Hidden treachery and mistrust
C) The dangers of open conflict
D) The importance of honesty Answer: B) Hidden treachery and mistrust - In Scene IV, an Old Man discusses the “dreadful hours and things strange” he has seen. What does he say about “this sore night”?
A) It was unremarkable.
B) It “Hath trifled former knowings” (surpassed all previous strange events).
C) It was just a bad dream.
D) He cannot remember it. Answer: B) It “Hath trifled former knowings” (surpassed all previous strange events). - Ross notes that by the clock it is day, “And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp.” What “travelling lamp” is he referring to?
A) The moon
B) A lantern
C) The sun
D) A star Answer: C) The sun - What unnatural event concerning birds does the Old Man describe in Scene IV?
A) Ravens attacking eagles.
B) A falcon being killed by a “mousing owl.”
C) Sparrows fighting lions.
D) Hawks nesting in houses. Answer: B) A falcon being killed by a “mousing owl.” - What strange and certain event involving Duncan’s horses does Ross report?
A) They refused to move.
B) They spoke human language.
C) They “Turn’d wild in nature, broke their stalls… contending ‘gainst obedience” and ate each other.
D) They transformed into other animals. Answer: C) They “Turn’d wild in nature, broke their stalls… contending ‘gainst obedience” and ate each other. - Who is immediately suspected of suborning the chamberlains and therefore the murder, due to their flight?
A) Banquo
B) Lady Macbeth
C) Malcolm and Donalbain
D) Ross and Macduff Answer: C) Malcolm and Donalbain - What does Ross conclude about the immediate consequence of Malcolm and Donalbain’s flight?
A) They will raise an army.
B) They are innocent.
C) “The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.”
D) The throne will remain empty. Answer: C) “The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth.” - Where has Macbeth gone “to be invested” (crowned) as king?
A) Forres
B) Inverness
C) Scone
D) Fife Answer: C) Scone - Where is Duncan’s body to be carried for burial?
A) Westminster Abbey
B) Colmekill, “The sacred storehouse of his predecessors.”
C) Inverness castle
D) A church in Forres Answer: B) Colmekill, “The sacred storehouse of his predecessors.” - Why does Macduff choose to go to Fife instead of Scone for Macbeth’s coronation?
A) He is busy with other matters.
B) He explicitly states he is suspicious of Macbeth’s quick ascent to power and the circumstances of Duncan’s death. (Implied by “Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!”)
C) He is ill.
D) He wants to avoid Ross. Answer: B) He explicitly states he is suspicious of Macbeth’s quick ascent to power and the circumstances of Duncan’s death. (Implied by “Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!”) - The Old Man’s final blessing, “God’s benison go with you; and with those / That would make good of bad, and friends of foes!” refers to those who:
A) Are innocent.
B) Seek to restore order and righteousness.
C) Benefit from chaos.
D) Are manipulative. Answer: B) Seek to restore order and righteousness. - When Banquo says, “A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, / And yet I would not sleep,” what is he describing?
A) Physical exhaustion
B) A strong desire for rest, but a conscious effort to resist sleep due to troubled thoughts.
C) A spiritual calling
D) A magical spell Answer: B) A strong desire for rest, but a conscious effort to resist sleep due to troubled thoughts. - Macbeth’s line, “Our will became the servant to defect; / Which else should free have wrought,” is his excuse for what?
A) Not having a proper feast ready for Duncan.
B) His servants being unprepared for the king’s arrival.
C) Not being able to give Banquo more time.
D) His inability to control his thoughts. Answer: B) His servants being unprepared for the king’s arrival. - Macbeth’s soliloquy about the dagger is an example of:
A) Dramatic irony
B) Comic relief
C) Psychological torment and hallucination
D) Direct address to the audience Answer: C) Psychological torment and hallucination - When Macbeth says, “Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse / The curtain’d sleep,” he is describing:
A) A peaceful night
B) A supernatural and disturbing atmosphere that suits his dark deed
C) A common occurrence in Scotland
D) The beauty of the natural world Answer: B) A supernatural and disturbing atmosphere that suits his dark deed - Lady Macbeth asserts that the “surfeited grooms / Do mock their charge with snores.” What does “mock their charge” mean here?
A) They are making fun of their duties.
B) They are failing to guard the king properly because they are unconscious from the drugs.
C) They are snoring too loudly.
D) They are imitating the king. Answer: B) They are failing to guard the king properly because they are unconscious from the drugs. - Macbeth’s inability to say “Amen” after hearing the chamberlains pray signifies his:
A) Loss of religious faith.
B) Guilt and alienation from divine grace.
C) Poor memory.
D) Lack of understanding. Answer: B) Guilt and alienation from divine grace. - Lady Macbeth instructs Macbeth to “wash this filthy witness from your hand.” What “witness” is she referring to?
A) The blood
B) The daggers
C) His guilty expression
D) The chamberlains Answer: A) The blood - Macbeth states, “No, this my hand will rather / The multitudinous seas in incarnadine, / Making the green one red.” What is “incarnadine” in this context?
A) To make white.
B) To turn blood-red.
C) To cleanse.
D) To deepen the green color. Answer: B) To turn blood-red. - Lady Macbeth’s retort, “My hands are of your colour; but I shame / To wear a heart so white,” implies:
A) She is physically stronger than Macbeth.
B) She has blood on her hands but lacks Macbeth’s moral weakness (white heart).
C) She is paler than him.
D) She is more innocent than him. Answer: B) She has blood on her hands but lacks Macbeth’s moral weakness (white heart). - The Porter’s prolonged scene serves primarily as:
A) A crucial plot point.
B) Comic relief and an atmospheric transition.
C) A moral lesson.
D) A way to introduce new characters. Answer: B) Comic relief and an atmospheric transition. - When the Porter calls someone an “equivocator,” he means someone who:
A) Tells the truth directly.
B) Uses ambiguous language to mislead or avoid commitment.
C) Is always honest.
D) Is quick to anger. Answer: B) Uses ambiguous language to mislead or avoid commitment. - Macbeth’s line, “The labour we delight in physics pain,” suggests that:
A) Hard work is always painful.
B) Enjoyable work can alleviate suffering.
C) Physical exertion causes illness.
D) He prefers to be idle. Answer: B) Enjoyable work can alleviate suffering. - Lennox’s detailed description of the unruly night builds an atmosphere of:
A) Calm and peace.
B) Supernatural disturbance and cosmic disorder.
C) Human celebration.
D) Ordinary weather patterns. Answer: B) Supernatural disturbance and cosmic disorder. - Macduff’s repeated cry of “O horror, horror, horror!” (Scene III) is an example of:
A) Understatement
B) Repetition for emphasis
C) Foreshadowing
D) Simile Answer: B) Repetition for emphasis - Macbeth’s statement, “The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees / Is left this vault to brag of,” suggests that with Duncan’s death, life has become:
A) More joyous.
B) Meaningless and devoid of value.
C) Full of new possibilities.
D) A bitter disappointment. Answer: B) Meaningless and devoid of value. - What is Donalbain referring to when he says, “The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood / Is stopp’d”?
A) Their father, Duncan, is dead.
B) They are suffering from a physical ailment.
C) Their lineage has ended.
D) They have lost their source of income. Answer: A) Their father, Duncan, is dead. - What does Banquo’s declaration, “In the great hand of God I stand; and thence / Against the undivulged pretence I fight / Of treasonous malice,” reveal about his character?
A) He is ready to join the traitors.
B) He is a pious man committed to uncovering and fighting the hidden evil.
C) He is confused and overwhelmed.
D) He is suspicious of Macbeth. Answer: B) He is a pious man committed to uncovering and fighting the hidden evil. - Malcolm’s decision to flee to England is driven by the belief that:
A) He can raise an army there.
B) It’s dangerous to show an “unfelt sorrow” and he needs to escape immediate danger.
C) He wants to avoid his brother.
D) He is innocent and has nothing to fear. Answer: B) It’s dangerous to show an “unfelt sorrow” and he needs to escape immediate danger. - Donalbain’s line, “This murderous shaft that’s shot / Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way / Is to avoid the aim,” means:
A) The arrow of murder hasn’t landed yet, so they should escape its path.
B) The murderer is still at large and their lives are in danger.
C) The murder plot is still active.
D) All of the above. Answer: D) All of the above. - The Old Man and Ross’s conversation in Scene IV emphasizes the theme of:
A) The unpredictability of weather.
B) The disruption of the natural order mirroring the unnatural deed.
C) The wisdom of old age.
D) The power of rumors. Answer: B) The disruption of the natural order mirroring the unnatural deed. - The phrase “dark night strangles the travelling lamp” is an example of:
A) Simile
B) Metaphor
C) Personification
D) Hyperbole Answer: C) Personification - Ross and the Old Man interpret the bizarre natural events (darkness at day, owl killing falcon, horses eating each other) as:
A) Coincidences.
B) Omens or portents reflecting the unnaturalness of Duncan’s murder.
C) Scientific phenomena.
D) Signs of an impending famine. Answer: B) Omens or portents reflecting the unnaturalness of Duncan’s murder. - What is the meaning of “Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up / Thine own life’s means!” in Ross’s speech?
A) Ambition that saves money.
B) Ambition that consumes or destroys its own source of sustenance.
C) Ambition that leads to poverty.
D) Ambition that makes one generous.
Answer: B) Ambition that consumes or destroys its own source of sustenance.
- Macduff’s refusal to attend Macbeth’s coronation at Scone indicates his:
A) Lack of interest in political affairs.
B) Secret alliance with Malcolm.
C) Growing suspicion and disapproval of Macbeth’s ascendancy.
D) Busy schedule. Answer: C) Growing suspicion and disapproval of Macbeth’s ascendancy. - Macduff’s parting line to Ross, “Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!” suggests his concern that:
A) New clothes are uncomfortable.
B) The old regime (Duncan’s rule) was better than the new one (Macbeth’s).
C) They will need new clothing for the coronation.
D) He misses the past. Answer: B) The old regime (Duncan’s rule) was better than the new one (Macbeth’s). - What is the significance of the fact that Duncan “shut up / In measureless content” before his murder?
A) It emphasizes the brutality of his unsuspecting death.
B) It shows his naivety.
C) It highlights his kindness.
D) It suggests he was a good king. Answer: A) It emphasizes the brutality of his unsuspecting death. - When Macbeth says, “Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell / That summons thee to heaven or to hell,” what is “it” referring to?
A) The knocking
B) His own voice
C) The bell ringing
D) The owl’s shriek Answer: C) The bell ringing - Lady Macbeth’s statement, “The attempt and not the deed / Confounds us,” means:
A) Failure to commit the deed is more damaging than the deed itself.
B) The planning of the murder was confusing.
C) They must not be caught in the act.
D) The attempt will lead to confusion. Answer: A) Failure to commit the deed is more damaging than the deed itself. - Macbeth’s reaction to his bloody hands (“they pluck out mine eyes”) shows his immediate feeling of:
A) Pride.
B) Intense guilt and horror.
C) Physical pain.
D) Confusion. Answer: B) Intense guilt and horror. - Lady Macbeth’s repeated insistence, “A little water clears us of this deed,” highlights her initial belief in:
A) The power of ritual purification.
B) The simplicity of covering up the crime.
C) Her own innocence.
D) The importance of cleanliness. Answer: B) The simplicity of covering up the crime. - The Porter’s reference to an “equivocator, that could / swear in both the scales against either scale” is a subtle commentary on:
A) Lawyers.
B) Those who use words deceptively, possibly hinting at Macbeth’s own deceit.
C) Dishonest merchants.
D) Political opportunists. Answer: B) Those who use words deceptively, possibly hinting at Macbeth’s own deceit. - When Lennox says, “My young remembrance cannot parallel / A fellow to it,” he means:
A) He cannot remember anything similar in his lifetime.
B) He cannot compare the night to anything in his memory.
C) He has never seen such a stormy night.
D) He needs help remembering. Answer: B) He cannot remember anything similar in his lifetime. - Macduff’s description of Duncan’s “gash’d stabs look’d like a breach in nature / For ruin’s wasteful entrance” suggests the murder is not just a crime, but a violation of:
A) Castle security.
B) The natural and divine order.
C) Military strategy.
D) Personal loyalty. Answer: B) The natural and divine order. - Malcolm’s aside, “Why do we hold our tongues, / That most may claim this argument for ours?” suggests he feels:
A) He should speak first because he is the eldest son.
B) He has nothing to say.
C) He should remain silent to avoid suspicion.
D) He should accuse Macbeth immediately. Answer: A) He should speak first because he is the eldest son. - Banquo’s speech beginning, “And when we have our naked frailties hid…” implies a need to:
A) Get dressed properly.
B) Recover from the shock before addressing the tragedy rationally.
C) Hide their weaknesses from the public.
D) Reveal their true feelings. Answer: B) Recover from the shock before addressing the tragedy rationally. - What is the immediate practical concern for Malcolm and Donalbain after their father’s murder?
A) Avenging his death.
B) Securing the throne.
C) Their personal safety.
D) Organizing the funeral. Answer: C) Their personal safety. - The Old Man’s opening line, “Threescore and ten I can remember well,” establishes his character as a symbol of:
A) Youth and vigor.
B) Wisdom and experience, representing traditional values.
C) Weakness and frailty.
D) Naivety. Answer: B) Wisdom and experience, representing traditional values. - Ross’s question, “Is’t night’s predominance, or the day’s shame, / That darkness does the face of earth entomb, / When living light should kiss it?” highlights:
A) His confusion about the time of day.
B) The unnaturalness of the darkness at midday, reflecting the moral darkness of the deed.
C) A weather report.
D) A philosophical debate. Answer: B) The unnaturalness of the darkness at midday, reflecting the moral darkness of the deed. - Macduff’s immediate suspicion of Malcolm and Donalbain’s flight is an example of:
A) Dramatic irony.
B) Foreshadowing.
C) Misjudgment.
D) All of the above. Answer: D) All of the above. - What does Duncan giving Lady Macbeth a diamond, “By the name of most kind hostess,” demonstrate about his character?
A) His extravagance.
B) His generosity and trust.
C) His awareness of their plot.
D) His desire to impress. Answer: B) His generosity and trust. - When Macbeth describes his vision of the dagger as “a dagger of the mind, a false creation, / Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain,” he is acknowledging it might be a product of his:
A) Imagination and guilt.
B) Supernatural intervention.
C) Lack of sleep.
D) Drunkenness. Answer: A) Imagination and guilt. - Lady Macbeth saying “What hath quench’d them hath given me fire” refers to the effect of the liquor on:
A) The grooms and herself.
B) Duncan and Macbeth.
C) Banquo and Fleance.
D) The Witches. Answer: A) The grooms and herself. - Macbeth’s lament about his bloody hands: “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand?” is an example of:
A) Hyperbole.
B) Understatement.
C) Simile.
D) Alliteration. Answer: A) Hyperbole. - The Porter’s reference to “the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire” is an ironic comment on:
A) The easy path to heaven.
B) The pleasant road to hell.
C) A beautiful garden.
D) A shortcut to prosperity. Answer: B) The pleasant road to hell. - What specific detail does Macbeth add to Lennox’s description of the chaotic night in Scene III?
A) Nothing; he simply agrees it was “a rough night.”
B) He mentions seeing ghosts.
C) He talks about the storm breaking trees.
D) He describes animals dying. Answer: A) Nothing; he simply agrees it was “a rough night.”