Macbeth Study Questions
ACT ONE, scenes 1-3
In the first three scenes of Act One, rather than meeting Macbeth immediately, we are
presented with others' reactions to him. Scene one begins with the witches, accepted
symbols of evil. They arrange to meet with Macbeth sometime in the near future when a
battle which is obviously in progress is concluded. They also introduce the central
paradox of the play: fair is foul, foul is fair.
Answer the following questions:
1) What reasons can you think of as to why Macbeth is first introduced to us through the
witches ?
2)Explain what you think is meant by the paradoxical:
Fair is foul, foul is fair .
Scene two provides us with the views Duncan, the King, and the bloodied Captain have of
Macbeth.
3) Paraphrase the Captain's description of the battle and the part played by Macbeth in
securing victory.
4)What impression do you gain of Macbeth from this description?
5)The Thane of Cawdor was obviously a traitor. What does Duncan's comment:
No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive
Our bosom interest:
suggest about Duncan's former relationship with him?
6) Given the fact that Macbeth was first mentioned by the witches, the idea of fair is foul,
foul is fair was introduced in scene one and that Duncan was deceived by Cawdor, to what
extent are you prepared to accept at face value the assessment of Macbeth as brave and
noble?
The first part of scene three sees a return of the witches.
7)Carefully read their discussion of their attempt to take revenge on the sailor's wife. What
does this episode suggest about the extent and the limits of their powers?
Macbeth's entry is a shock because his first words echo those of the witches in scene
one:
So foul and fair a day I have not seen
8) What might this mean in a literal sense?
9) What effect does it have on our initial response to Macbeth?
Macbeth and Banquo are confronted by the witches who predict both Macbeth's and
Banquo's future.
Analyse Banquo's reaction to their prophesy regarding Macbeth.
10) What does he suggest about Macbeth's reaction?
11)What is significant about his use of the words fear and fair in this context?
12) What does his challenge to the witches suggest about his character?
, Immediately following the disappearance of the witches, Ross and Angus bring the news
that we, as an audience, already know regarding the Thaneship of Cawdor. This situation
where the audience knows more than the characters is called dramatic irony.
13) How does Banquo react?
14)Macbeth's reaction takes the form of a metaphor:
why do you dress me
In borrowed robes
Explain this metaphor. The clothes metaphor is used throughout the play. Pay careful
attention to how and why it is used whenever you come across it.
15)Why does Banquo warn Macbeth about his reaction to the prophecies? What does this
warning suggest about Banquo's understanding of Macbeth's character and ambitions?
16) Paraphrase this warning.
Macbeth's response comes in the form of a soliloquy.(A speech which reflects the
thoughts of a character. It is heard by the audience but not by the other characters in the
play.)
Carefully read from the start of Macbeth's soliloquy to the end of the scene.
17)Paraphrase this soliloquy.
18)What does the soliloquy suggest about Macbeth's state of mind
19)What decision does Macbeth come to?
20)Explain Banquo's use of a clothing metaphor.
In scene three Macbeth and Banquo are received by Duncan.
21)How does Duncan's comment:
There's no art
Find the mind's construction in the face
reflect the fair is foul theme?
22) What does Duncan say to each of Macbeth and Banquo?
23)How does each respond?
24) How does Macbeth react to the naming of Malcolm as heir to the throne?
25) What does Macbeth mean when he says:
Stars hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires:
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be
What the eye fears, when it is done, to see?
Act One scenes 5, 6, and 7 introduce Lady Macbeth and explore her relationship with
Macbeth. These are very important scenes because our response to the relationship
between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is crucial to our interpretation of the play.
26)What does the tone of Macbeth's letter suggest about his relationship with her?
ACT ONE, scenes 1-3
In the first three scenes of Act One, rather than meeting Macbeth immediately, we are
presented with others' reactions to him. Scene one begins with the witches, accepted
symbols of evil. They arrange to meet with Macbeth sometime in the near future when a
battle which is obviously in progress is concluded. They also introduce the central
paradox of the play: fair is foul, foul is fair.
Answer the following questions:
1) What reasons can you think of as to why Macbeth is first introduced to us through the
witches ?
2)Explain what you think is meant by the paradoxical:
Fair is foul, foul is fair .
Scene two provides us with the views Duncan, the King, and the bloodied Captain have of
Macbeth.
3) Paraphrase the Captain's description of the battle and the part played by Macbeth in
securing victory.
4)What impression do you gain of Macbeth from this description?
5)The Thane of Cawdor was obviously a traitor. What does Duncan's comment:
No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive
Our bosom interest:
suggest about Duncan's former relationship with him?
6) Given the fact that Macbeth was first mentioned by the witches, the idea of fair is foul,
foul is fair was introduced in scene one and that Duncan was deceived by Cawdor, to what
extent are you prepared to accept at face value the assessment of Macbeth as brave and
noble?
The first part of scene three sees a return of the witches.
7)Carefully read their discussion of their attempt to take revenge on the sailor's wife. What
does this episode suggest about the extent and the limits of their powers?
Macbeth's entry is a shock because his first words echo those of the witches in scene
one:
So foul and fair a day I have not seen
8) What might this mean in a literal sense?
9) What effect does it have on our initial response to Macbeth?
Macbeth and Banquo are confronted by the witches who predict both Macbeth's and
Banquo's future.
Analyse Banquo's reaction to their prophesy regarding Macbeth.
10) What does he suggest about Macbeth's reaction?
11)What is significant about his use of the words fear and fair in this context?
12) What does his challenge to the witches suggest about his character?
, Immediately following the disappearance of the witches, Ross and Angus bring the news
that we, as an audience, already know regarding the Thaneship of Cawdor. This situation
where the audience knows more than the characters is called dramatic irony.
13) How does Banquo react?
14)Macbeth's reaction takes the form of a metaphor:
why do you dress me
In borrowed robes
Explain this metaphor. The clothes metaphor is used throughout the play. Pay careful
attention to how and why it is used whenever you come across it.
15)Why does Banquo warn Macbeth about his reaction to the prophecies? What does this
warning suggest about Banquo's understanding of Macbeth's character and ambitions?
16) Paraphrase this warning.
Macbeth's response comes in the form of a soliloquy.(A speech which reflects the
thoughts of a character. It is heard by the audience but not by the other characters in the
play.)
Carefully read from the start of Macbeth's soliloquy to the end of the scene.
17)Paraphrase this soliloquy.
18)What does the soliloquy suggest about Macbeth's state of mind
19)What decision does Macbeth come to?
20)Explain Banquo's use of a clothing metaphor.
In scene three Macbeth and Banquo are received by Duncan.
21)How does Duncan's comment:
There's no art
Find the mind's construction in the face
reflect the fair is foul theme?
22) What does Duncan say to each of Macbeth and Banquo?
23)How does each respond?
24) How does Macbeth react to the naming of Malcolm as heir to the throne?
25) What does Macbeth mean when he says:
Stars hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires:
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be
What the eye fears, when it is done, to see?
Act One scenes 5, 6, and 7 introduce Lady Macbeth and explore her relationship with
Macbeth. These are very important scenes because our response to the relationship
between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is crucial to our interpretation of the play.
26)What does the tone of Macbeth's letter suggest about his relationship with her?
