Macbeth Study Guide (All Acts) Complete
Scene Analysis & Verified Q&A.
In lines 10-11, what is the meaning of these lines and what theme do
these lines introduce? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓Appearances are
deceiving; The witches delight in the confusion of good and bad, beauty
and ugliness.
What mood is established with the appearance of three witches in the
first scene of this play? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓Considering the
scene's stage direction (thunder and lightning) and the fact that the
witches call on evil spirits, the mood established is dark and ominous
(suggests something bad will happen in the future)
What element do the witches represent that was also present in
Beowulf and Sir Gawain? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓supernatural
Reread lines 15-40. What great feat has Macbeth accomplished for
Duncan? What does it convey about his character? ~CORRECT
ANSWER~✓✓Macbeth has defeated the king's enemies. This action
convey's Macbeth's bravery and loyalty.
Note the use of blood in this scene (lines 18, 38-40). What is the
significance expressed here? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓To signify how
bloody the fighting was.
,Reread lines 35-42. How does Macbeth react to the new assault by
Norway? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓He is unfazed and redoubles his
fighting efforts.
In what way does the word choice in lines 53-55, highlight the mood?
~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓Each of the lines ends with a forbidding
phrase - terrible murders, disloyal, traitor, dismal conflict - that serves
to increase the ominous mood in this scene.
Reread lines 50-68. According to the report that Ross makes, what has
Macbeth accomplished? How does the king reward Macbeth for his
ambition? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓Macbeth has restored order to
Scotland by defeating the Thane of Cawdor and the King of Norway.
Duncan's response of "Great happiness!" indicates that he is very
pleased with Macbeth. He undoubtedly views Macbeth as heroic, for he
declares Macbeth worthy to receive the title Thane of Cawdor.
Review the plot summary for Scene 2. Does Macbeth seem to be overly
ambitious at this point? Explain. ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓The plot
summary implies that Macbeth's ambition is to serve his king by
winning a victory over the king's opponents. Such an ambition seems
moderate and honorable.
What is the metaphor expressed in line 24? What does this suggest
about the witches' powers? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓A bark is a word
for a ship; a bark in tempest is used as a metaphor for a soul in turmoil.
What does this suggest about the witches' powers? The witches do not
, have ultimate control over people's lives or decisions? They cannot take
the sailor's life and soul unless he surrenders to evil.
What is the meaning of weird in line 32? ~CORRECT
ANSWER~✓✓Weird derives from the Old English word wyrd meaning
"fate" or "destiny". It could also refer to the Three Fates that
determined the course of human life.
In lines 65-66, explain the two paradoxes in the witches' prophecy about
Banquo. ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓Banquo will be less than Macbeth
because he will not be king like Macbeth, but Banquo will be greater
than Macbeth because Banquo will have a line of heirs to the throne.
Reread lines 39-78. In what ways have the witches shown that they
represent supernatural forces? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓The witches
physical appearance shows that they are wild, unnatural creatures
(lines 39-47). In addition, they predict the future (lines 48-68), and they
disappear when they have finished (lines 79-82).
In lines 65-68, the witches compare Banquo to Macbeth and prophesy
that Banquo will not be king but will father (get) future kings. What do
you think their words predict for Macbeth? ~CORRECT
ANSWER~✓✓The witches' words predict that Macbeth will be king but
that he may have an unhappy reign. Their words also suggest that the
throne will pass from Macbeth to the sons of Banquo rather than to any
children that Macbeth himself may have and that Macbeth ultimately
will not receive as much glory as Banquo will receive.
Scene Analysis & Verified Q&A.
In lines 10-11, what is the meaning of these lines and what theme do
these lines introduce? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓Appearances are
deceiving; The witches delight in the confusion of good and bad, beauty
and ugliness.
What mood is established with the appearance of three witches in the
first scene of this play? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓Considering the
scene's stage direction (thunder and lightning) and the fact that the
witches call on evil spirits, the mood established is dark and ominous
(suggests something bad will happen in the future)
What element do the witches represent that was also present in
Beowulf and Sir Gawain? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓supernatural
Reread lines 15-40. What great feat has Macbeth accomplished for
Duncan? What does it convey about his character? ~CORRECT
ANSWER~✓✓Macbeth has defeated the king's enemies. This action
convey's Macbeth's bravery and loyalty.
Note the use of blood in this scene (lines 18, 38-40). What is the
significance expressed here? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓To signify how
bloody the fighting was.
,Reread lines 35-42. How does Macbeth react to the new assault by
Norway? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓He is unfazed and redoubles his
fighting efforts.
In what way does the word choice in lines 53-55, highlight the mood?
~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓Each of the lines ends with a forbidding
phrase - terrible murders, disloyal, traitor, dismal conflict - that serves
to increase the ominous mood in this scene.
Reread lines 50-68. According to the report that Ross makes, what has
Macbeth accomplished? How does the king reward Macbeth for his
ambition? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓Macbeth has restored order to
Scotland by defeating the Thane of Cawdor and the King of Norway.
Duncan's response of "Great happiness!" indicates that he is very
pleased with Macbeth. He undoubtedly views Macbeth as heroic, for he
declares Macbeth worthy to receive the title Thane of Cawdor.
Review the plot summary for Scene 2. Does Macbeth seem to be overly
ambitious at this point? Explain. ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓The plot
summary implies that Macbeth's ambition is to serve his king by
winning a victory over the king's opponents. Such an ambition seems
moderate and honorable.
What is the metaphor expressed in line 24? What does this suggest
about the witches' powers? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓A bark is a word
for a ship; a bark in tempest is used as a metaphor for a soul in turmoil.
What does this suggest about the witches' powers? The witches do not
, have ultimate control over people's lives or decisions? They cannot take
the sailor's life and soul unless he surrenders to evil.
What is the meaning of weird in line 32? ~CORRECT
ANSWER~✓✓Weird derives from the Old English word wyrd meaning
"fate" or "destiny". It could also refer to the Three Fates that
determined the course of human life.
In lines 65-66, explain the two paradoxes in the witches' prophecy about
Banquo. ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓Banquo will be less than Macbeth
because he will not be king like Macbeth, but Banquo will be greater
than Macbeth because Banquo will have a line of heirs to the throne.
Reread lines 39-78. In what ways have the witches shown that they
represent supernatural forces? ~CORRECT ANSWER~✓✓The witches
physical appearance shows that they are wild, unnatural creatures
(lines 39-47). In addition, they predict the future (lines 48-68), and they
disappear when they have finished (lines 79-82).
In lines 65-68, the witches compare Banquo to Macbeth and prophesy
that Banquo will not be king but will father (get) future kings. What do
you think their words predict for Macbeth? ~CORRECT
ANSWER~✓✓The witches' words predict that Macbeth will be king but
that he may have an unhappy reign. Their words also suggest that the
throne will pass from Macbeth to the sons of Banquo rather than to any
children that Macbeth himself may have and that Macbeth ultimately
will not receive as much glory as Banquo will receive.
