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Macbeth Practice Questions

Question 1

40 marks

Read the following extract from Act 1 Scene 2 of Macbeth and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play, a wounded captain reports to King Duncan on the battle against the rebel Macdonwald and the Norwegian army.

1SOLDIER. Doubtful it stood;
As two spent swimmers that do cling together
And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald
(Worthy to be a rebel, for to that
5The multiplying villainies of nature
Do swarm upon him) from the Western Isles
Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied;
And Fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling,
Show’d like a rebel’s whore. But all’s too weak;
10For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name),
Disdaining Fortune, with his brandish’d steel,
Which smok’d with bloody execution,
Like Valour’s minion, carv’d out his passage,
Till he fac’d the slave;
15Which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,
Till he unseam’d him from the nave to the chops,
And fix’d his head upon our battlements.
DUNCAN. O valiant cousin! worthy gentleman!
SOLDIER. As whence the sun ’gins his reflection
20Shipwracking storms and direful thunders break,
So from that spring, whence comfort seem’d to come
Discomfort swells. Mark, King of Scotland, mark:
No sooner justice had, with valour arm’d,
Compell’d these skipping kerns to trust their heels,
25But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage,
With furbish’d arms and new supplies of men,
Began a fresh assault.
DUNCAN. Dismay’d not this
Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?

From Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Act 1 Scene 2.

(a)

Explore how Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a soldier in this extract.

Refer closely to the extract in your answer.

(20)

(b)

In this extract, the captain describes the violence of the battle in vivid detail.

Explain the importance of violence elsewhere in the play.

In your answer, you must consider:

  • where violence is shown
  • the effects violence has within the play.

You must refer to the context of the play in your answer.

(20)

Question 2

40 marks

Read the following extract from Act 1 Scene 3 of Macbeth and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play, Macbeth and Banquo are crossing a heath on their way back from battle when they meet the three witches.

1MACBETH. Speak, if you can;—what are you?
FIRST WITCH. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!
SECOND WITCH. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!
THIRD WITCH. All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter!
5BANQUO. Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear
Things that do sound so fair?—I’ th’ name of truth,
Are ye fantastical, or that indeed
Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner
You greet with present grace and great prediction
10Of noble having and of royal hope,
That he seems rapt withal. To me you speak not.
If you can look into the seeds of time,
And say which grain will grow, and which will not,
Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear
15Your favours nor your hate.
FIRST WITCH. Hail!
SECOND WITCH. Hail!
THIRD WITCH. Hail!
FIRST WITCH. Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.
20SECOND WITCH. Not so happy, yet much happier.
THIRD WITCH. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none:
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!
FIRST WITCH. Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!
MACBETH. Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more.
25By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis;
But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives,
A prosperous gentleman; and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence
30You owe this strange intelligence? or why
Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting?—Speak, I charge you.
[Witches vanish.]
BANQUO. The earth hath bubbles, as the water has,
35And these are of them. Whither are they vanish’d?

From Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Act 1 Scene 3.

(a)

Explore how Shakespeare presents the witches in this extract.

Refer closely to the extract in your answer.

(20)

(b)

In this extract, the witches’ prophecies bring the supernatural into Macbeth’s life.

Explain the importance of the supernatural elsewhere in the play.

In your answer, you must consider:

  • where the supernatural is shown
  • the effects the supernatural has on characters within the play.

You must refer to the context of the play in your answer.

(20)

Question 3

40 marks

Read the following extract from Act 1 Scene 5 of Macbeth and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play, Lady Macbeth has just read Macbeth’s letter telling her about the witches’ prophecies.

1LADY MACBETH. Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be
What thou art promis’d. Yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great;
5Art not without ambition, but without
The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly,
That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false,
And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou’dst have, great Glamis,
That which cries, “Thus thou must do,” if thou have it;
10And that which rather thou dost fear to do,
Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither,
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear,
And chastise with the valour of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round,
15Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
To have thee crown’d withal.
Enter a Messenger.
What is your tidings?
MESSENGER. The King comes here tonight.
20LADY MACBETH. Thou’rt mad to say it.
Is not thy master with him? who, were’t so,
Would have inform’d for preparation.
MESSENGER. So please you, it is true. Our thane is coming.
One of my fellows had the speed of him,
25Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more
Than would make up his message.
LADY MACBETH. Give him tending.
He brings great news.

From Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Act 1 Scene 5.

(a)

Explore how Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth’s thoughts about her husband in this extract.

Refer closely to the extract in your answer.

(20)

(b)

In this extract, Lady Macbeth is determined that her husband will become king.

Explain the importance of ambition elsewhere in the play.

In your answer, you must consider:

  • where ambition is shown
  • the effects ambition has on characters within the play.

You must refer to the context of the play in your answer.

(20)

Question 4

40 marks

Read the following extract from Act 2 Scene 2 of Macbeth and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play, Macbeth has just murdered Duncan and has come back to his wife still carrying the bloody daggers.

1MACBETH. I’ll go no more:
I am afraid to think what I have done;
Look on’t again I dare not.
LADY MACBETH. Infirm of purpose!
5Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead
Are but as pictures. ’Tis the eye of childhood
That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal,
For it must seem their guilt.
10[Exit. Knocking within.]
MACBETH. Whence is that knocking?
How is’t with me, when every noise appals me?
What hands are here? Ha, they pluck out mine eyes!
Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood
15Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red.
Enter Lady Macbeth.
LADY MACBETH. My hands are of your color, but I shame
20To wear a heart so white. [Knocking within.] I hear knocking
At the south entry:—retire we to our chamber.
A little water clears us of this deed:
How easy is it then! Your constancy
Hath left you unattended.—[Knocking within.] Hark, more knocking.
25Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us
And show us to be watchers. Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.
MACBETH. To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself. [Knocking within.]
Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!

From Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Act 2 Scene 2.

(a)

Explore how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in this extract.

Refer closely to the extract in your answer.

(20)

(b)

In this extract, Lady Macbeth plans to make the murder look like the work of Duncan’s servants.

Explain the importance of deception elsewhere in the play.

In your answer, you must consider:

  • who deceives others
  • the effects deception has within the play.

You must refer to the context of the play in your answer.

(20)

Question 5

40 marks

Read the following extract from Act 3 Scene 1 of Macbeth and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play, Macbeth has been crowned king and is waiting alone for two men he has summoned to murder Banquo.

1MACBETH. Bring them before us.
[Exit Servant.]
To be thus is nothing,
But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo
5Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear’d: ’tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none but he
10Whose being I do fear: and under him
My genius is rebuk’d; as, it is said,
Mark Antony’s was by Caesar. He chid the sisters
When first they put the name of king upon me,
And bade them speak to him; then, prophet-like,
15They hail’d him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they plac’d a fruitless crown,
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench’d with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If’t be so,
20For Banquo’s issue have I fil’d my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder’d;
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,
25To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come, fate, into the list,
And champion me to th’ utterance!—Who’s there?—

From Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Act 3 Scene 1.

(a)

Explore how Shakespeare presents Macbeth’s feelings about Banquo in this extract.

Refer closely to the extract in your answer.

(20)

(b)

In this extract, Macbeth has become king but feels his crown is not secure.

Explain the importance of kingship elsewhere in the play.

In your answer, you must consider:

  • where kingship is shown
  • the effects of good and bad kingship within the play.

You must refer to the context of the play in your answer.

(20)

Question 6

40 marks

Read the following extract from Act 4 Scene 2 of Macbeth and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play, Macduff has fled to England without his family, and Lady Macduff talks with her young son at their castle in Fife.

1LADY MACDUFF. Sirrah, your father’s dead.
And what will you do now? How will you live?
SON. As birds do, mother.
LADY MACDUFF. What, with worms and flies?
5SON. With what I get, I mean; and so do they.
LADY MACDUFF. Poor bird! thou’dst never fear the net nor lime,
The pit-fall nor the gin.
SON. Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for.
My father is not dead, for all your saying.
10LADY MACDUFF. Yes, he is dead: how wilt thou do for a father?
SON. Nay, how will you do for a husband?
LADY MACDUFF. Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.
SON. Then you’ll buy ’em to sell again.
LADY MACDUFF. Thou speak’st with all thy wit;
15And yet, i’ faith, with wit enough for thee.
SON. Was my father a traitor, mother?
LADY MACDUFF. Ay, that he was.
SON. What is a traitor?
LADY MACDUFF. Why, one that swears and lies.
20SON. And be all traitors that do so?
LADY MACDUFF. Every one that does so is a traitor, and must be hanged.
SON. And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?
LADY MACDUFF. Every one.
SON. Who must hang them?
25LADY MACDUFF. Why, the honest men.
SON. Then the liars and swearers are fools: for there are liars and swearers
enow to beat the honest men and hang up them.
LADY MACDUFF. Now, God help thee, poor monkey! But how wilt thou do for a father?
SON. If he were dead, you’ld weep for him: if you would not, it were a good
30sign that I should quickly have a new father.
LADY MACDUFF. Poor prattler, how thou talk’st!

From Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Act 4 Scene 2.

(a)

Explore how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Lady Macduff and her son in this extract.

Refer closely to the extract in your answer.

(20)

(b)

In this extract, Lady Macduff calls her husband a traitor for leaving his family.

Explain the importance of loyalty elsewhere in the play.

In your answer, you must consider:

  • where loyalty and disloyalty are shown
  • the effects of loyalty and disloyalty within the play.

You must refer to the context of the play in your answer.

(20)

Question 7

40 marks

Read the following extract from Act 4 Scene 3 of Macbeth and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play, Ross has come to England and told Macduff that Macbeth has had his wife and children murdered.

1MACDUFF. My children too?
ROSS. Wife, children, servants, all
That could be found.
MACDUFF. And I must be from thence!
5My wife kill’d too?
ROSS. I have said.
MALCOLM. Be comforted:
Let’s make us med’cines of our great revenge,
To cure this deadly grief.
10MACDUFF. He has no children.—All my pretty ones?
Did you say all?—O hell-kite!—All?
What, all my pretty chickens and their dam
At one fell swoop?
MALCOLM. Dispute it like a man.
15MACDUFF. I shall do so;
But I must also feel it as a man:
I cannot but remember such things were,
That were most precious to me.—Did heaven look on,
And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff,
20They were all struck for thee! Naught that I am,
Not for their own demerits, but for mine,
Fell slaughter on their souls: heaven rest them now!
MALCOLM. Be this the whetstone of your sword. Let grief
Convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it.
25MACDUFF. O, I could play the woman with mine eyes,
And braggart with my tongue!—But, gentle heavens,
Cut short all intermission; front to front,
Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself;
Within my sword’s length set him; if he ’scape,
30Heaven forgive him too!
MALCOLM. This tune goes manly.

From Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Act 4 Scene 3.

(a)

Explore how Shakespeare presents the character of Macduff in this extract.

Refer closely to the extract in your answer.

(20)

(b)

In this extract, Macduff’s grief turns into a determination to kill Macbeth.

Explain the importance of revenge elsewhere in the play.

In your answer, you must consider:

  • where revenge is shown
  • the effects revenge has within the play.

You must refer to the context of the play in your answer.

(20)

Question 8

40 marks

Read the following extract from Act 5 Scene 1 of Macbeth and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play, a Doctor and a Gentlewoman are watching Lady Macbeth as she walks and talks in her sleep.

1DOCTOR. What is it she does now? Look how she rubs her hands.
GENTLEWOMAN. It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus washing her hands. I
have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour.
LADY MACBETH. Yet here’s a spot.
5DOCTOR. Hark, she speaks. I will set down what comes from her, to satisfy my
remembrance the more strongly.
LADY MACBETH. Out, damned spot! out, I say! One; two. Why, then ’tis time to do’t.
Hell is murky! Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? What need we
fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account? Yet who
10would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?
DOCTOR. Do you mark that?
LADY MACBETH. The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?—What, will these hands
ne’er be clean? No more o’ that, my lord, no more o’ that: you mar all
with this starting.
15DOCTOR. Go to, go to. You have known what you should not.
GENTLEWOMAN. She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of that: heaven knows what
she has known.
LADY MACBETH. Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will
not sweeten this little hand. Oh, oh, oh!
20DOCTOR. What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely charged.
GENTLEWOMAN. I would not have such a heart in my bosom for the dignity of the whole
body.
DOCTOR. Well, well, well.
GENTLEWOMAN. Pray God it be, sir.
25DOCTOR. This disease is beyond my practice: yet I have known those which have
walked in their sleep, who have died holily in their beds.
LADY MACBETH. Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so pale. I tell you
yet again, Banquo’s buried; he cannot come out on’s grave.
DOCTOR. Even so?
30LADY MACBETH. To bed, to bed. There’s knocking at the gate. Come, come, come, come,
give me your hand. What’s done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed, to
bed.
[Exit.]

From Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Act 5 Scene 1.

(a)

Explore how Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth’s state of mind in this extract.

Refer closely to the extract in your answer.

(20)

(b)

In this extract, Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking reveals her guilt.

Explain the importance of guilt elsewhere in the play.

In your answer, you must consider:

  • where guilt is shown
  • the effects guilt has on characters within the play.

You must refer to the context of the play in your answer.

(20)