Macbeth Quiz

Which word best describes the mood Shakespeare tries to create in the opening scene?

• Serious

• Peaceful

• Idyllic

• Haunting

We know this because the text says…

• A.    “When shall we three meet again?”

• A.    “That will be ere the set of sun”

• “The play opens up in a wild and lonely place in medieval Scotland”

• A.    “Thunder and lighting. Enter three witches”

We first hear Macbeth’s name from…

• The witches

• The captain

• Ross

• The King

Macbeth getting the title of thane of Cawdor is ironic because…

• Macbeth doesn’t have ambition and didn’t want this title

• Macbeth already knows and believes that he is going to get this title but must act surprised

• Macbeth gets this title because the Thane of Cawdor is a traitor and Macbeth too becomes a traitor

• Macbeth wants this title, but Banquo is jealous of him

What is Banquo referring to when he says “why do you start; and seem to fear things that do sound so fair?”

• Macbeth’s reaction to the witches’ prophecies for himself

• Macbeth’s reaction to the witches’ prophecies for Banquo

• Macbeth’s reaction to the congratulations from the king about his new title

• Macbeth’s reaction to a new job assignment for himself from Ross

Which lines tell us that Banquo seeks to know his future?

• “I’ the name of truth, Are ye fantastical, or that indeed which outwardly ye show?”

• “My noble partner you greet with present grace and great prediction of noble having and of royal hope, That he seems rapt withal:”

• “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 your favours nor your hate.”

By Macbeth’s initial reaction to the prophecies, we know…

• His ambition is already starting to get out of control

• Two of the predictions seem so impossible that he can’t believe them

• His desire to be king is so strong that he will do whatever it takes

• He is already letting power start to corrupt his mind

We know Macbeth’s initial reaction because Macbeth says…

• “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more”

• “But how of Cawdor? The thane of Cawdor lives…and to be king stands not within the prospect of belief”

• “Why upon this blasted heath you story our way with such prophetic greeting?”

• “Speak, I charge you”

When the witches give Macbeth his prophecy, this is a form of dramatic irony because…

• Something happens that was unexpected, “The thane of Cawdor lives a prosperous gentleman”

• Ross says something sarcastic, “He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor…hail most worthy thane”

• The audience knows that he is getting this title, but Macbeth does not, “Go pronounce [the thane of Cawdor’s] present death, and with its former title greet Macbeth”

• The witches know something that Macbeth does not, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!”

Shakespeare most likely uses dramatic irony in Act I to…

• Show Macbeth’s evilness to the audience

• Show Banquo’s jealousy when he finds outs Macbeth’s new title

• Show the witches’ role in planting seeds of ambition in Macbeth’s mind

• Show King Duncan’s intentions in promoting Macbeth