NEW
Font size
WorksheetsThe witches Macbeth
Total questions: 15
Worksheet time: 31mins
When Macbeth seeks out the witches, how many visions (apparitions) do they show him?
2
3
4
5
Who was at the end of the line of procession of 8 Kings in the final vision and why do the witches do this?
Macduff because Macbeth will be killed by him
the ghost of Banquo because Macbeth feels secure and this will make him tormented again!
Macbeth because he is destined to have several children be kings
Malcolm because he is the rightful king
The third apparition (a crowned child holding a bough) tells Macbeth...
"Macbeth shall never vanquished be until / Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill / Shall come against him" this reveals he cannot be usurped from the crown until the wood moves to his castle
"Macbeth shall never be vanquished until we three call upon Hecate" this reveals that the witches will destroy Macbeth through their leader Hecate
"Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Siward's army arriveth to us three" this foreshadows the fact Siward and his men will destroy Macbeth alongside the witches
"Macbeth shall never vanquished be because the devil shall play with thee" this suggests that behind the witches' words is a genuine evil at work
The second apparition (a bloody child) tells Macbeth...
none of woman born shall harm Macbeth, which makes Macbeth feel invisible as all men are born from women
a man of woman born shall harm Macbeth, which makes Macbeth feel concerned as all men are born from women
a woman of man born shall tempt Macbeth, which makes Macbeth wary of his wife and the witches
no woman born shall bare your heir, which makes Macbeth realise he will never have children
What is the weather like in the opening scene and what technique is this?
Thunder and lightning pathetic fallacy
Cold and icy personification
Warm and calm repetition
Hot and humid paradox
"When the hurlyburly's done,
When the battle's lost and won."
What is the hurly-burly and name of the riddles that they use?
Battle and paradox
Speech and paraphrase
Potion and contradiction
Death and binary opposition
What prediction do the witches forecast for Banquo?
Banquo will kidnap and kill kings as a traitor "Thou shalt get kings, and thou shalt commit treachery"
Banquo will be the father of kings "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none."
Banquo will become king after Macbeth "Thou shalt get kings, and be king herefafter".
Banquo's soul will find peace "Thou shalt get kings and peace be with you"
How does Macbeth feel about the prospect of killing Duncan and becoming king?
He's worried and nervous--"unfix my hair" and make my "seated heart knock at my ribs"
He laughs at himself for his foolishness- "unfix good humour" and make "my seated heart regret myself"
He's nonchalant and doesn't seem to care either way- "ease my mind" and "surprise me not"
He's excited to get home to Lady Macbeth and begin plotting the king's death "unfix my joy" and make my "seated heart search for my love"
Macbeth shows his ambition and curiosity about becoming king in Scene 3 when he
questions the witches about the prophecy "tell me more"
listens to Banquo describe the witches "so withered and wild"
invites Duncan to come to his home "stay dine with us and rest thy weary head"
defeats many people in battle "unseem'd from the nave to the chaps"
The witches greet Macbeth by the title of
All hail Macbeth, Hail to thee Thane of Glamis
All hail Macbeth, Hail to thee Thane of Cawdor
All hail Macbeth, Hail to thee thou shalt be King, hereafter
All of the above
What does the first apparition tell Macbeth?
"beware Macduff, beware the Thane of Fife"
"beware of Malcolm, beware the Tane of Cawdor"
"beware of Fleance, beware the Thane of Glamis"
"beware of Donalbain, beware the King of England"
What does Banquo warn Macbeth?
"to win us to our death the instruments of darkness tell us facts...to betray's in deepest consequence" suggesting sometimes witches tell us truths to lead us to our harm
"to win us to our joy the instruments of darkness tell us lies... to betray's in deepest consequence" suggesting sometimes witches tell us lies to lead us to our joy
"to win us to our death the instruments of darkness tell us riddles to betray's in deepest consequence" suggesting witches fool us to kill us
"to win us to our harm the instruments of darkness tell us truths... to betray's in deepest consequence"- suggesting sometimes witches tell us truths to lead us to our harm
Why does Shakespeare open Macbeth with the witches?
to set a terrifying atmosphere and therefore instantly engage the audience by creating suspense as we wait to see what they will do
to suggest that they are vital in influencing the events of the play and their significance in the plot
to emphasise the way in which the witches aim to meet Macbeth and intrigue us why
all of these responses
Initially Macbeth feels reassured by the witches apparitons stating "Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee?" and "That will never be
Who can impress the forest, bid the tree
Unfix his earth-bound root? ". However after seeing Banquo he states:
"from this moment The very firstlings of my head shall be
The firstlings of my hand" which reveals the things he thinks through he will now act upon
"from this moment The very firstlings of my fears shall be
The firstlings of my acts" which reveals I will act on my fear
"from this moment The very firstlings of my heart shall be
The firstlings of my brain" which reveals what I feel I will think through
"from this moment/ The very firstlings of my heart shall be/ The firstlings of my hand" which reveals he intends to follow his emotions and feelings with instant action- he will no longer think things through!
