Macbeth Study Guide /Revised Questions and
Answers / Guaranteed Pass
???significance"But screw your courage to the sticking place,
And we'll not fail."
(Act I, scene vii) - Speaker: Lady Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: Macbeth
Context: Macbeth asked what would happen if they failed
Significance:
Paraphrase: We will not fail if you get your courage up.
Literary device: imagery (screw, sticking)
???significance"False face must hide what false heart doth know"
(Act I, scene vii) - Speaker: Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: Lady Macbeth
Context: she has convinced him to go forward with the murder
Significance:
Paraphrase: Put on a friendly face to hide the evil that lurks within your heart.
Connection to plot: Macbeth tells her to be a good hostess so that nobody will suspect them of the
murder plot.
Literary device: imagery
extra: 1. things aren't what they seem
,???significance"He's here in double trust:
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed: then as his host,
Who should against his murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself."
(Act I, scene vii) - Speaker: Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: himself
Context: Macbeth considers the reasons not to kill Duncan
Significance:
Paraphrase: Duncan trusts me because I am his kinsman, subject and host.
Literary device: soliloquy
???significance"I have given suck, and know
How tender it is to love the babe that milks me-
I would, whilst it was smiling in my face,
Have-plucked my nipple from his boneless gums.
And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this."
(Act I, scene vii) - Speaker: Lady Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: Macbeth
Context: Macbeth has told her that he will not kill Duncan
Significance:
Paraphrase: Do what you promised to do even if it is unpleasant. Do not let compassion sway you.
Connection to plot: Lady Macbeth tells him that he committed to doing this and that he must not back
out now.
,Literary device: Imagery (baby nursing)
???significance"I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o'er leaps itself,
And falls on the other."
(Act I, scene vii) - Speaker: Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: himself
Context: Macbeth considers the reasons not to kill Duncan
Significance:
Paraphrase: Duncan has given me no reason to kill him. Only my ambition leads me to consider his
murder.
Literary device: soliloquy and imagery (spur)
???significance"If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir."
(Act I, scene iii) - Speaker: Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: himself
Context: Macbeth is told that he was just made Thane of Cawdor
Significance: Macbeth continues to think about the prophesy and what he may need to do to bring it to
fruition
Paraphrase: If fate wants me to be king, maybe I will not need to do anything to make it happen.
Connection to plot: Macbeth is hopeful that he will not need to kill Duncan to make the prophesy true.
extra: 1. Macbeth entitled to fate 2. believing in witches prophecy
, ???significance"If it were done, when 'tis done, the 'twere well
It were done quickly."
(Act I, scene vii) - Speaker: Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: himself
Context: Duncan has arrived
Significance: He contemplates whether or not he should kill Duncan, but he kills him anyways
Paraphrase: If I could guarantee no further complications arise from the murder, and the whole matter
would be neatly concluded, then it would be best to kill Duncan and kill him quickly
Connection to plot: Macbeth is unsure of whether to kill Duncan because he is worried about future
ramifications and consequences.
Literary device: repetition (the word done)
extra: 1. If he has to do it he will do it 2. 6 reason why he doesn't want to kill Duncan 3. Macbeth's "big
soliloquy"
???significance"Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat- oppressed brain?"
(Act II, scene i) - Speaker: Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: himself and the dagger
Context: The time has come for Macbeth to carry out the murder
Significance:
Answers / Guaranteed Pass
???significance"But screw your courage to the sticking place,
And we'll not fail."
(Act I, scene vii) - Speaker: Lady Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: Macbeth
Context: Macbeth asked what would happen if they failed
Significance:
Paraphrase: We will not fail if you get your courage up.
Literary device: imagery (screw, sticking)
???significance"False face must hide what false heart doth know"
(Act I, scene vii) - Speaker: Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: Lady Macbeth
Context: she has convinced him to go forward with the murder
Significance:
Paraphrase: Put on a friendly face to hide the evil that lurks within your heart.
Connection to plot: Macbeth tells her to be a good hostess so that nobody will suspect them of the
murder plot.
Literary device: imagery
extra: 1. things aren't what they seem
,???significance"He's here in double trust:
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed: then as his host,
Who should against his murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself."
(Act I, scene vii) - Speaker: Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: himself
Context: Macbeth considers the reasons not to kill Duncan
Significance:
Paraphrase: Duncan trusts me because I am his kinsman, subject and host.
Literary device: soliloquy
???significance"I have given suck, and know
How tender it is to love the babe that milks me-
I would, whilst it was smiling in my face,
Have-plucked my nipple from his boneless gums.
And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this."
(Act I, scene vii) - Speaker: Lady Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: Macbeth
Context: Macbeth has told her that he will not kill Duncan
Significance:
Paraphrase: Do what you promised to do even if it is unpleasant. Do not let compassion sway you.
Connection to plot: Lady Macbeth tells him that he committed to doing this and that he must not back
out now.
,Literary device: Imagery (baby nursing)
???significance"I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o'er leaps itself,
And falls on the other."
(Act I, scene vii) - Speaker: Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: himself
Context: Macbeth considers the reasons not to kill Duncan
Significance:
Paraphrase: Duncan has given me no reason to kill him. Only my ambition leads me to consider his
murder.
Literary device: soliloquy and imagery (spur)
???significance"If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir."
(Act I, scene iii) - Speaker: Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: himself
Context: Macbeth is told that he was just made Thane of Cawdor
Significance: Macbeth continues to think about the prophesy and what he may need to do to bring it to
fruition
Paraphrase: If fate wants me to be king, maybe I will not need to do anything to make it happen.
Connection to plot: Macbeth is hopeful that he will not need to kill Duncan to make the prophesy true.
extra: 1. Macbeth entitled to fate 2. believing in witches prophecy
, ???significance"If it were done, when 'tis done, the 'twere well
It were done quickly."
(Act I, scene vii) - Speaker: Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: himself
Context: Duncan has arrived
Significance: He contemplates whether or not he should kill Duncan, but he kills him anyways
Paraphrase: If I could guarantee no further complications arise from the murder, and the whole matter
would be neatly concluded, then it would be best to kill Duncan and kill him quickly
Connection to plot: Macbeth is unsure of whether to kill Duncan because he is worried about future
ramifications and consequences.
Literary device: repetition (the word done)
extra: 1. If he has to do it he will do it 2. 6 reason why he doesn't want to kill Duncan 3. Macbeth's "big
soliloquy"
???significance"Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat- oppressed brain?"
(Act II, scene i) - Speaker: Macbeth
To whom lines are spoken to: himself and the dagger
Context: The time has come for Macbeth to carry out the murder
Significance:
