Macbeth

Act I

Reading Check

1. Thane of Cawdor (1.3)

2. Malcolm (1.4)

3. Murder the king (1.5, 1.7)

Short Answer

1. The witches predict Banquo’s heirs will be king. (1.3) The witches predict Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and king. They are confident in their predictions but cryptic, and they disappear although Macbeth commands them to stay.

2. Lady Macbeth is determined to get Macbeth to do what it takes to gain power as quickly as possible. (1.5)

Act II

Reading Check

1. A dagger (2.1)

2. Macbeth (2.1-2.2)

3. Macbeth (2.3)

4. Rage (2.3)

5. To cover up his murder of the king (1.7, 2.1)

6. Macbeth (2.4)

Short Answer

1. Lady Macbeth chastises Macbeth when he does not leave the daggers by the guards. She places the daggers by the guards and leads Macbeth away to clean up. (2.2)

2. Malcolm and Donalbain leave the country, which some believe is suspicious. (2.3)

Act III

Reading Check

1. Banquo (3.1)

2. To murder them (3.1)

3. Banquo (3.3)

4. Banquo’s ghost (3.4)

5. Macbeth would have murdered them too. (3.6)

Short Answer

1. Macbeth fears the witches’ prediction about Banquo will come true: that his descendants will become king. (3.2)

2. He talks to someone no one else can see, Banquo’s ghost. (3.4)

3. Lady Macbeth tells the guests Macbeth has had spells like this since he was younger, insists he is not feeling well, and finally ends the feast. (3.4)

Act IV

Reading Check

1. The three witches (4.1)

2. Macduff’s family (4.1)

3. Ross (4.2)

Short Answer

1. The witches tell Macbeth to “beware Macduff,” that no one born of a woman will harm Macbeth, and that Macbeth will not be killed “until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him.” They also show Banquo’s relatives as king. (4.1)

2. Malcolm speaks of how awful he is and how Macbeth is better than him. When Macduff despairs for his country, Malcolm trusts he is not on Macbeth’s side. (4.3)

Act V

Reading Check

1. Blood (5.1)

2. A gentlewoman and a doctor (5.1)

3. Birnam Wood (5.4)

4. She is dead in the castle. (5.5)

5. Malcolm (5.8)

Short Answer

1. The army cuts off branches of trees and hides behind them. (5.4)

2. Macduff was born by C-section: “Macduff was from his mother's womb / Untimely ripp'd.” (5.8)

3. Macduff cuts off Macbeth’s head. (5.8)