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 IV
- What is the witches’ chant as they prepare their cauldron?
A) “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.”
B) “Something wicked this way comes.”
C) “Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.”
D) “When shall we three meet again?” Answer: C) “Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” - What is the first ingredient the First Witch puts into the cauldron?
A) Fillet of a fenny snake.
B) Toad, that under cold stone… Swelter’d venom sleeping got.
C) Eye of newt.
D) Wool of bat. Answer: B) Toad, that under cold stone… Swelter’d venom sleeping got. - Which of the following is NOT an ingredient in the witches’ cauldron?
A) Liver of blaspheming Jew.
B) Finger of birth-strangled babe.
C) Heart of a loyal subject.
D) Nose of Turk and Tartar’s lips. Answer: C) Heart of a loyal subject. - Who arrives to commend the Witches for their work around the cauldron?
A) Macbeth.
B) Hecate.
C) Banquo’s ghost.
D) Lennox. Answer: B) Hecate. - What warning does the Second Witch give when Macbeth approaches?
A) “Open, locks, / Whoever knocks!”
B) “By the pricking of my thumbs, / Something wicked this way comes.”
C) “Harpier cries ‘Tis time, ’tis time.”
D) “All hail, Macbeth!” Answer: B) “By the pricking of my thumbs, / Something wicked this way comes.” - How does Macbeth address the Witches upon his arrival?
A) “Good sisters, well met!”
B) “You secret, black, and midnight hags!”
C) “My dearest friends.”
D) “Honored ladies.” Answer: B) “You secret, black, and midnight hags!” - When Macbeth demands answers, he conjures the Witches by appealing to their ability to:
A) Control nature and bring destruction.
B) See into the future.
C) Heal the sick.
D) Bring back the dead. Answer: A) Control nature and bring destruction. - What is the Witches’ collective response when Macbeth asks them what they are doing?
A) “A charm of powerful trouble.”
B) “A deed without a name.”
C) “Our duties did his welcome pay.”
D) “Things that go bump in the night.” Answer: B) “A deed without a name.” - What choice do the Witches offer Macbeth regarding the prophecies?
A) To hear them from their mouths or from Hecate.
B) To hear them from their mouths or from their masters (spirits).
C) To hear them now or later.
D) To hear them or to receive a gift. Answer: B) To hear them from their mouths or from their masters (spirits). - What is the appearance of the First Apparition?
A) A bloody Child.
B) A Child crowned, with a tree in his hand.
C) An armed Head.
D) The Ghost of Banquo. Answer: C) An armed Head. - What is the prophecy given by the First Apparition?
A) “Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until / Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him.”
B) “None of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth.”
C) “Beware Macduff; / Beware the thane of Fife.”
D) “Thou shalt be king hereafter.” Answer: C) “Beware Macduff; / Beware the thane of Fife.” - What is the appearance of the Second Apparition?
A) A bloody Child.
B) A Child crowned, with a tree in his hand.
C) An armed Head.
D) The Ghost of Banquo. Answer: A) A bloody Child. - What is the prophecy given by the Second Apparition?
A) “Beware Macduff.”
B) “Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until / Great Birnam wood… Shall come against him.”
C) “None of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth.”
D) “Thou shalt be king hereafter.” Answer: C) “None of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth.” - How does Macbeth initially interpret the Second Apparition’s prophecy regarding “none of woman born”?
A) He believes he is invincible and has nothing to fear from Macduff.
B) He fears all men.
C) He believes only women can harm him.
D) He plans to kill all women. Answer: A) He believes he is invincible and has nothing to fear from Macduff. - Despite the Second Apparition’s prophecy, Macbeth says he will “make assurance double sure” regarding Macduff. What does he decide to do?
A) Befriend him.
B) Send him a warning.
C) Kill him anyway.
D) Ignore him. Answer: C) Kill him anyway. - What is the appearance of the Third Apparition?
A) A bloody Child.
B) A Child crowned, with a tree in his hand.
C) An armed Head.
D) The Ghost of Banquo. Answer: B) A Child crowned, with a tree in his hand. - What is the prophecy given by the Third Apparition?
A) “Beware Macduff.”
B) “None of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth.”
C) “Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until / Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him.”
D) “Thou shalt be king hereafter.” Answer: C) “Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until / Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him.” - How does Macbeth react to the Third Apparition’s prophecy about Birnam Wood?
A) He is terrified.
B) He believes it’s impossible and a source of comfort.
C) He immediately plans to burn the wood.
D) He asks for clarification. Answer: B) He believes it’s impossible and a source of comfort. - What final question does Macbeth demand the Witches answer, despite their reluctance?
A) Will he always be king?
B) Will he have a son?
C) Shall Banquo’s issue ever / Reign in this kingdom?
D) When will the war begin? Answer: C) Shall Banquo’s issue ever / Reign in this kingdom? - What appears in the “show” the Witches conjure in response to Macbeth’s final demand?
A) Eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand, followed by Banquo’s ghost.
B) Duncan’s ghost.
C) Lady Macbeth.
D) Macduff. Answer: A) Eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand, followed by Banquo’s ghost. - The “two-fold balls and treble scepters” carried by some of the kings in the vision signify:
A) Their immense wealth.
B) The dual kingdoms of England and Scotland, and the triple crowns of Great Britain.
C) Their numerous victories.
D) Their magical powers. Answer: B) The dual kingdoms of England and Scotland, and the triple crowns of Great Britain. - What is Macbeth’s reaction to the final vision of kings and Banquo’s ghost?
A) He is overjoyed.
B) He is filled with horror and rage, recognizing the truth of Banquo’s lineage.
C) He is confused.
D) He laughs it off. Answer: B) He is filled with horror and rage, recognizing the truth of Banquo’s lineage. - After the Witches vanish, what does Macbeth proclaim about the “pernicious hour” he met them?
A) It should be celebrated.
B) It should “Stand aye accursed in the calendar!”
C) It was a moment of great revelation.
D) He wishes it had never happened. Answer: B) It should “Stand aye accursed in the calendar!” - Who enters immediately after the Witches vanish, bringing news to Macbeth?
A) Ross.
B) Lady Macbeth.
C) Lennox.
D) A Murderer. Answer: C) Lennox. - What news does Lennox deliver to Macbeth?
A) That Malcolm has returned.
B) That Macduff is dead.
C) That Macduff is “fled to England.”
D) That the feast was a success. Answer: C) That Macduff is “fled to England.” - Macbeth states, “The flighty purpose never is o’ertook / Unless the deed go with it.” This means he plans to:
A) Act without hesitation.
B) Think carefully before acting.
C) Rely on fate.
D) Delay his plans. Answer: A) Act without hesitation. - What is Macbeth’s immediate, violent resolution upon hearing of Macduff’s flight?
A) To pursue Macduff to England.
B) To attack Macduff’s castle and kill his wife, babes, and all in his line.
C) To send a warning to Macduff.
D) To surrender his throne. Answer: B) To attack Macduff’s castle and kill his wife, babes, and all in his line. - In Scene II, why is Lady Macduff upset with her husband?
A) He didn’t say goodbye.
B) She believes his flight was “madness” and fears it makes him appear a traitor.
C) He took all their money.
D) He married someone else. Answer: B) She believes his flight was “madness” and fears it makes him appear a traitor. - Lady Macduff argues that even the “poor wren” will fight for its “young ones in her nest” against the owl. This analogy implies:
A) Macduff is a brave bird.
B) Macduff lacks natural parental instinct or love.
C) She is a weak mother.
D) Owls are dangerous. Answer: B) Macduff lacks natural parental instinct or love. - How does Ross try to defend Macduff’s actions to Lady Macduff?
A) By saying Macduff is cowardly.
B) By stating Macduff “is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows / The fits o’ the season.”
C) By agreeing with her.
D) By promising his return. Answer: B) By stating Macduff “is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows / The fits o’ the season.” - Lady Macduff tells her son, “Father’d he is, and yet he’s fatherless.” This is an example of:
A) A riddle.
B) A paradox.
C) A compliment.
D) A literal statement. Answer: B) A paradox. - The conversation between Lady Macduff and her son reveals the son to be:
A) Naive and foolish.
B) Quick-witted and intelligent beyond his years.
C) Disrespectful.
D) Timid. Answer: B) Quick-witted and intelligent beyond his years. - Lady Macduff’s son defines a “traitor” as:
A) One who kills.
B) One “that swears and lies.”
C) One who runs away.
D) One who is hanged. Answer: B) One “that swears and lies.” - What ironic observation does Lady Macduff make about the world before the Messenger arrives?
A) That good always triumphs.
B) “where to do harm / Is often laudable, to do good sometime / Accounted dangerous folly.”
C) That justice always prevails.
D) That evil is always punished. Answer: B) “where to do harm / Is often laudable, to do good sometime / Accounted dangerous folly.” - What warning does the Messenger give to Lady Macduff?
A) That her husband is safe.
B) That “some danger does approach you nearly” and she should flee.
C) That a feast is being prepared.
D) That the king is visiting. Answer: B) That “some danger does approach you nearly” and she should flee. - How does Lady Macduff’s son respond to the Murderer calling his father a traitor?
A) He cries.
B) He attempts to flee.
C) He calls the Murderer a “shag-hair’d villain” and denies the accusation.
D) He begs for mercy. Answer: C) He calls the Murderer a “shag-hair’d villain” and denies the accusation. - What happens to Lady Macduff’s son?
A) He escapes.
B) He is stabbed and dies.
C) He is taken captive.
D) He faints. Answer: B) He is stabbed and dies. - At the beginning of Scene III, what does Macduff suggest he and Malcolm do to grieve their country’s state?
A) Weep in “some desolate shade.”
B) “Hold fast the mortal sword” and fight for their “down-fall’n birthdom.”
C) Return to Scotland immediately.
D) Forget their sorrows. Answer: B) “Hold fast the mortal sword” and fight for their “down-fall’n birthdom.” - Why is Malcolm initially suspicious of Macduff?
A) Macduff is known to be treacherous.
B) Macduff left his family behind in Scotland and Macbeth has not yet harmed him.
C) Macduff is too eager for battle.
D) Macduff wants the throne for himself. Answer: B) Macduff left his family behind in Scotland and Macbeth has not yet harmed him. - Malcolm uses the analogy “Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell” to imply:
A) All angels are good.
B) Even good people can fall, but goodness can still exist.
C) Lucifer (the brightest angel) was evil.
D) Appearances can be deceiving, and evil can masquerade as good. Answer: D) Appearances can be deceiving, and evil can masquerade as good. - What vice does Malcolm first claim to possess to test Macduff’s loyalty?
A) Lust (voluptuousness/boundless intemperance).
B) Avarice (greed).
C) Cowardice.
D) Cruelty. Answer: A) Lust (voluptuousness/boundless intemperance). - How does Macduff react to Malcolm’s claim of boundless lust?
A) He agrees it’s a terrible vice and says Malcolm is unfit to rule.
B) He dismisses it, suggesting Malcolm can hide it and Scotland has “willing dames enough.”
C) He is shocked and leaves.
D) He says he has the same vice. Answer: B) He dismisses it, suggesting Malcolm can hide it and Scotland has “willing dames enough.” - What second vice does Malcolm claim to possess, describing it as “A stanchless avarice”?
A) Pride.
B) Gluttony.
C) Greed.
D) Envy. Answer: C) Greed. - How does Macduff react to Malcolm’s claim of insatiable avarice?
A) He says it’s a minor fault.
B) He acknowledges it as a deeper, more “pernicious root” than lust but suggests Scotland has enough “foisons” (abundance) to satisfy it.
C) He is delighted.
D) He threatens Malcolm. Answer: B) He acknowledges it as a deeper, more “pernicious root” than lust but suggests Scotland has enough “foisons” (abundance) to satisfy it. - What is the third and most damning vice Malcolm claims to lack, stating he would “Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell”?
A) Justice, temperance, patience, and all “king-becoming graces.”
B) Mercy.
C) Courage.
D) Wisdom. Answer: A) Justice, temperance, patience, and all “king-becoming graces.” - How does Macduff react to Malcolm’s final self-accusation that he lacks all kingly virtues and would destroy peace?
A) He says Malcolm is fit to govern.
B) He cries out, “O Scotland, Scotland!” and declares Malcolm “not to live,” banishing himself from Scotland.
C) He is silent.
D) He laughs. Answer: B) He cries out, “O Scotland, Scotland!” and declares Malcolm “not to live,” banishing himself from Scotland. - What does Malcolm say Macduff’s “noble passion” and “integrity” have done for his “soul”?
A) Made him trust Macbeth.
B) “Wiped the black scruples, reconciled my thoughts / To thy good truth and honour.”
C) Made him despair.
D) Confirmed his fears. Answer: B) “Wiped the black scruples, reconciled my thoughts / To thy good truth and honour.” - Malcolm reveals his true nature after Macduff’s strong reaction, admitting that his self-slander was a test to guard against:
A) Over-credulous haste (being too trusting).
B) Macbeth’s spies (“trains”).
C) His own ambition.
D) Macduff’s treachery. Answer: A) Over-credulous haste (being too trusting). - What good qualities does Malcolm claim to possess in his true confession?
A) Unknown to woman, never forsworn, never broke faith, delights in truth.
B) Strong and courageous.
C) Wealthy and powerful.
D) Cunning and manipulative. Answer: A) Unknown to woman, never forsworn, never broke faith, delights in truth. - Who is already setting forth with “ten thousand warlike men” to aid Malcolm and Macduff?
A) Ross.
B) The English King.
C) Old Siward.
D) Fleance. Answer: C) Old Siward. - What “disease” does the Doctor describe King Edward curing with his touch?
A) The plague.
B) Leprosy.
C) “The evil” (scrofula, or “King’s Evil”).
D) Madness. Answer: C) “The evil” (scrofula, or “King’s Evil”). - This “miraculous work” performed by King Edward signifies:
A) His medical expertise.
B) His divine right to rule and his saintly nature, contrasting with Macbeth.
C) His magical abilities.
D) His kindness. Answer: B) His divine right to rule and his saintly nature, contrasting with Macbeth. - Who arrives at the end of Scene III to deliver news to Macduff and Malcolm?
A) Lady Macduff.
B) Fleance.
C) Ross.
D) Lennox. Answer: C) Ross. - How does Ross initially describe Scotland under Macbeth’s rule?
A) Flourishing and peaceful.
B) “Almost afraid to know itself… our grave; where nothing, / But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile.”
C) Prosperous but sad.
D) Strong and united. Answer: B) “Almost afraid to know itself… our grave; where nothing, / But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile.” - Ross’s description of Scotland as a place where “sighs and groans and shrieks that rend the air / Are made, not mark’d” indicates:
A) People are happy.
B) Suffering is so common it goes unnoticed.
C) Music is popular.
D) There is great joy. Answer: B) Suffering is so common it goes unnoticed. - When Macduff asks about his family, Ross first replies, “Why, well,” and then “Well too.” This is an example of:
A) Literal truth.
B) Evasion and ambiguity, leading to dramatic irony for the audience.
C) Good news.
D) A joke. Answer: B) Evasion and ambiguity, leading to dramatic irony for the audience. - Ross finally breaks the news that Macbeth has:
A) Captured Macduff’s family.
B) Sent an army to attack England.
C) “surprised” Macduff’s castle and “Savagely slaughter’d” his “wife and babes.”
D) Forgiven Macduff. Answer: C) “surprised” Macduff’s castle and “Savagely slaughter’d” his “wife and babes.” - Malcolm advises Macduff to “Give sorrow words: the grief that does not speak / Whispers the o’er-fraught heart and bids it break.” This suggests:
A) Silence is golden.
B) Expressing grief is important for healing.
C) Macduff should not speak.
D) Grief is not real unless spoken. Answer: B) Expressing grief is important for healing. - Macduff’s anguished cry, “He has no children,” when speaking of Macbeth, implies:
A) Macbeth cannot understand his pain.
B) Macbeth is sterile.
C) Macduff wishes Macbeth had children so he could seek revenge on them.
D) He is asking if Macbeth has children. Answer: A) Macbeth cannot understand his pain. - Macduff calls Macbeth an “O hell-kite!” This is a term of:
A) Affection.
B) Extreme hatred and condemnation.
C) Neutral observation.
D) Admiration. Answer: B) Extreme hatred and condemnation. - Macduff laments that “All my pretty chickens and their dam / At one fell swoop?” This metaphor emphasizes:
A) The tenderness of his family.
B) The swift and devastating nature of the attack.
C) His love for animals.
D) His anger at a bird. Answer: B) The swift and devastating nature of the attack. - Malcolm tells Macduff to “Dispute it like a man.” Macduff responds, “But I must also feel it as a man.” This exchange highlights:
A) Malcolm’s lack of sympathy.
B) The contrast between stoic male strength and the necessity of emotional expression.
C) Macduff’s weakness.
D) A disagreement over tactics. Answer: B) The contrast between stoic male strength and the necessity of emotional expression. - Macduff takes personal responsibility for his family’s slaughter, saying, “They were all struck for thee! naught that I am, / Not for their own demerits, but for mine.” This reveals his feeling of:
A) Innocence.
B) Guilt and self-blame.
C) Anger at God.
D) Confusion. Answer: B) Guilt and self-blame. - Malcolm advises Macduff, “Be this the whetstone of your sword: let grief / Convert to anger.” This is a call to:
A) Forgive Macbeth.
B) Channel his sorrow into vengeful action.
C) Give up the fight.
D) Sharpen his sword. Answer: B) Channel his sorrow into vengeful action. - Macduff’s final vow is to bring Macbeth “front to front” and not to forgive him if he “scape.” This indicates his desire for:
A) A peaceful resolution.
B) A direct, personal confrontation and ultimate revenge.
C) Retreat.
D) Negotiation. Answer: B) A direct, personal confrontation and ultimate revenge. - What does Malcolm mean when he says, “Macbeth / Is ripe for shaking, and the powers above / Put on their instruments”?
A) Macbeth is ready for a dance.
B) Macbeth’s tyranny is at its peak and divine forces are aligning to overthrow him.
C) Macbeth is preparing for a harvest.
D) Macbeth is getting old. Answer: B) Macbeth’s tyranny is at its peak and divine forces are aligning to overthrow him. - The last line of Act IV, “The night is long that never finds the day,” is a proverb that suggests:
A) Darkness will last forever.
B) Every period of suffering will eventually end with hope and resolution.
C) The battle will take place at night.
D) They must wait for daylight. Answer: B) Every period of suffering will eventually end with hope and resolution. - The witches’ detailed recipe for the “hell-broth” emphasizes:
A) Their culinary skills.
B) The unnatural, grotesque, and evil nature of their magic.
C) Their knowledge of medicine.
D) Their connection to nature. Answer: B) The unnatural, grotesque, and evil nature of their magic. - Macbeth’s demand, “Though you untie the winds and let them fight / Against the churches… answer me,” demonstrates his:
A) Piety.
B) Desperation and willingness to embrace destructive forces for answers.
C) Fear of storms.
D) Love for the church. Answer: B) Desperation and willingness to embrace destructive forces for answers. - The First Apparition (Armed Head) is often interpreted as symbolizing:
A) Macbeth’s ultimate victory.
B) Macbeth’s decapitation at the end of the play.
C) The head of a specific enemy.
D) Courage in battle. Answer: B) Macbeth’s decapitation at the end of the play. - The Second Apparition (Bloody Child) is often interpreted as symbolizing:
A) Macbeth’s own bloody nature.
B) Macduff, who was “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb (not “of woman born”).
C) Fleance, the innocent victim.
D) A child who will be king. Answer: B) Macduff, who was “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb (not “of woman born”). - The Third Apparition (Child crowned, with a tree in his hand) is often interpreted as symbolizing:
A) Malcolm, who will command the army advancing from Birnam Wood.
B) Fleance, as the future king.
C) A king who loves nature.
D) A child destined to rule peacefully. Answer: A) Malcolm, who will command the army advancing from Birnam Wood. - Macbeth’s interpretation of the prophecies is primarily driven by:
A) Rational thought.
B) Hope and self-serving delusion.
C) Fear of the unknown.
D) Trust in the Witches. Answer: B) Hope and self-serving delusion. - The “glass in his hand” carried by the last king in the show of kings signifies:
A) A drinking goblet.
B) A mirror, showing a long line of Banquo’s descendants.
C) A crystal ball.
D) A spyglass. Answer: B) A mirror, showing a long line of Banquo’s descendants. - Macbeth’s immediate reaction to the news of Macduff’s flight to England shows his characteristic flaw of:
A) Indecision.
B) Impulsive and ruthless action without careful consideration.
C) Cowardice.
D) Compassion. Answer: B) Impulsive and ruthless action without careful consideration. - Lady Macduff’s complaint, “His flight was madness: when our actions do not, / Our fears do make us traitors,” implies that:
A) Fear is a justifiable reason to flee.
B) Running away can make an innocent person appear guilty.
C) Her husband is a coward.
D) She is also afraid. Answer: B) Running away can make an innocent person appear guilty. - Ross’s speech about Scotland suffering, where “the dead man’s knell / Is there scarce ask’d for who,” indicates:
A) A lack of church bells.
B) The extreme frequency of deaths, rendering individual mourning almost impossible.
C) People are too busy to ask.
D) People are forgetful. Answer: B) The extreme frequency of deaths, rendering individual mourning almost impossible. - Malcolm’s test of Macduff is primarily designed to ascertain Macduff’s:
A) Physical strength.
B) Loyalty to Scotland and its rightful king, rather than to personal ambition.
C) Wealth.
D) Strategic military knowledge. Answer: B) Loyalty to Scotland and its rightful king, rather than to personal ambition. - Macduff’s strong negative reaction to Malcolm’s imagined vices proves to Malcolm that Macduff is:
A) Unsuitable to lead.
B) Truly dedicated to Scotland’s welfare, not just removing Macbeth for personal gain.
C) Easily angered.
D) Disloyal to the throne. Answer: B) Truly dedicated to Scotland’s welfare, not just removing Macbeth for personal gain. - The dramatic irony in Scene II comes from:
A) Lady Macduff being unaware of her husband’s true motives for fleeing.
B) The audience knowing the murderers are coming before Lady Macduff does.
C) The son’s clever remarks.
D) Ross’s departure. Answer: B) The audience knowing the murderers are coming before Lady Macduff does. - The murder of Lady Macduff and her son, while not on stage, is considered particularly heinous because:
A) They are innocent, defenseless victims.
B) It shows Macbeth’s increasing brutality and paranoia.
C) It eliminates Macduff’s entire immediate line.
D) All of the above. Answer: D) All of the above. - Macduff’s initial response to Ross’s cryptic news about his family, “Hum! I guess at it,” shows his:
A) Lack of concern.
B) Preternatural intuition or a terrible premonition.
C) Confusion.
D) Disbelief. Answer: B) Preternatural intuition or a terrible premonition. - Malcolm’s statement, “Receive what cheer you may: / The night is long that never finds the day,” offers a message of:
A) Despair.
B) Hope and encouragement that their suffering will end.
C) Indifference.
D) A call to immediate action without rest. Answer: B) Hope and encouragement that their suffering will end. - The purpose of the scene with the Doctor discussing King Edward’s healing powers is to:
A) Provide a historical anecdote.
B) Highlight the contrast between the saintly, benevolent King Edward and the tyrannical Macbeth.
C) Introduce a new character.
D) Show the power of medicine. Answer: B) Highlight the contrast between the saintly, benevolent King Edward and the tyrannical Macbeth. - The phrase “blood-bolter’d Banquo” means Banquo is:
A) Covered in blood, as if with clots or mud.
B) Full of life.
C) Wearing a blood-red cloak.
D) Very angry. Answer: A) Covered in blood, as if with clots or mud. - When Macbeth says, “What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?” he is expressing his horror that:
A) His own life is ending.
B) Banquo’s descendants will reign until the end of time.
C) The Witches are laughing at him.
D) The vision is never-ending. Answer: B) Banquo’s descendants will reign until the end of time. - The Witches’ dance after the apparitions is intended to:
A) Celebrate their success.
B) Further confuse and torment Macbeth.
C) Show their joy.
D) Exercise. Answer: B) Further confuse and torment Macbeth. - The primary emotion evoked in Macbeth by the apparitions, despite their seemingly reassuring messages, is:
A) Contentment.
B) Heightened anxiety and a renewed determination to act ruthlessly.
C) Relief.
D) Peace. Answer: B) Heightened anxiety and a renewed determination to act ruthlessly. - Lady Macduff’s use of “Poor monkey!” to her son is a term of:
A) Insult.
B) Affectionate exasperation.
C) Scorn.
D) Disappointment. Answer: B) Affectionate exasperation. - The messenger’s quick departure from Macduff’s castle (“I dare abide no longer”) suggests:
A) He is afraid of Lady Macduff.
B) He fears being caught bringing a warning against Macbeth’s orders.
C) He has other urgent business.
D) He is rude. Answer: B) He fears being caught bringing a warning against Macbeth’s orders. - Malcolm’s willingness to reveal his true, virtuous nature to Macduff is triggered by Macduff’s demonstration of:
A) Anger.
B) Despair for Scotland and rejection of Malcolm’s supposed vices.
C) Fear.
D) Greed. Answer: B) Despair for Scotland and rejection of Malcolm’s supposed vices. - The “ten thousand warlike men” mentioned by Malcolm are from:
A) Scotland.
B) Ireland.
C) England.
D) Norway. Answer: C) England. - Macduff’s question, “Is it a fee-grief / Due to some single breast?” means:
A) Is it a general sorrow for everyone?
B) Is it a personal grief that concerns only one person?
C) Is it a grief that costs money?
D) Is it a common fee? Answer: B) Is it a personal grief that concerns only one person? - Ross delays telling Macduff the full truth about his family initially because:
A) He enjoys seeing Macduff suffer.
B) He fears the devastating impact of the news.
C) Malcolm forbade him to speak.
D) He is unsure of the facts. Answer: B) He fears the devastating impact of the news. - Macduff saying “Heaven forgive him too!” if Macbeth “scape” after their confrontation is an example of:
A) Forgiveness.
B) A curse in disguise, wishing ill on Macbeth even if he somehow avoids Macduff’s sword.
C) Piety.
D) Irony. Answer: B) A curse in disguise, wishing ill on Macbeth even if he somehow avoids Macduff’s sword. - The overall atmosphere of Act IV, Scene I, with the Witches and apparitions, is one of:
A) Lightheartedness and joy.
B) Foreboding and supernatural horror.
C) Peace and tranquility.
D) Scientific discovery. Answer: B) Foreboding and supernatural horror. - Macduff’s castle is in which region?
A) Dunsinane.
B) Forres.
C) Fife.
D) Glamis. Answer: C) Fife. - The dialogue between Lady Macduff and her son, despite its tragic outcome, serves to highlight:
A) The innocence and vulnerability of Macbeth’s victims.
B) The son’s witty nature.
C) The mother’s despair.
D) All of the above. Answer: D) All of the above. - Malcolm’s confession of false vices to Macduff is known as a:
A) Monologue.
B) Soliloquy.
C) Test of loyalty.
D) Diversion. Answer: C) Test of loyalty. - The events of Act IV propel the plot towards:
A) Macbeth’s triumph.
B) The final confrontation and overthrow of Macbeth.
C) A peaceful resolution.
D) The Witches’ disappearance. Answer: B) The final confrontation and overthrow of Macbeth.