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Macbeth

Total questions: 12

Worksheet time: 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Banquo's son who escapes death is ...

a)

Banquet

b)

Fleance

c)

Macduff

d)

Seyton

2.

Who or what makes up the "strange sights" by appearing at the banquet table?

a)

Banquo

b)

MacDuff

c)

The Witches

d)

The Ghost of Hamlet's Father

3.

Which lines best illustrate Macbeth's conflicting emotions?

Translation:
MACBETH
(to the guests) Can things like this happen so suddenly without making us all astonished? You make me feel like I don’t know myself, when I see you looking at these terrible things and keeping a straight face, while my face has gone white with fear.

a)

 

"Without our special wonder?/You make me strange"

b)

"...I think you can behold such sights,/and keep the natural ruby of your cheeks"

c)

"Can such things be,/and overcome us like a summer's cloud,"

d)

"mine is blanched with fear"

4.

Choose the correct sequence of these events from the play from first to last:

1: Macbeth gloats that none of “woman-born” will overcome him in battle.
2: Macbeth summons the witches to ask how he will be defeated.
3: Macbeth hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son.
4: Lady Macbeth urges her husband to “be a man” and claim the throne.

a)

4, 3, 2, 1

b)

1, 2, 3, 4

c)

3, 2, 4, 1

d)

3, 2, 1, 4

5.

Macbeth
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!(25)
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more.
 It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.(30)

What type of figurative language is being used in the underlined section of text? Select TWO.

a)

metaphor

b)

onomatopoeia

c)

imagery

d)

hyperbole

6.

MACBETH. I conjure you by that which you profess
(Howe'er you come to know it), answer me.
Though you untie the winds and let them fight 10
Against the churches, though the yeasty waves Confound and swallow navigation up,
Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down, Though castles topple on their warders' heads,
Though palaces and pyramids do slope
Their heads to their foundations, though the treasure
Of nature's germens tumble all together 15
Even till destruction sicken, answer me

To what I ask you.

FIRST WITCH. Speak.

SECOND WITCH. Demand.

THIRD WITCH. We'll answer.

FIRST WITCH. Say if th' hadst rather hear it from our mouths Or from our masters'.

 

Translation:

MACBETH: I don’t know how you know the things you do, but I insist that you answer my questions. I command you in the name of whatever dark powers you serve. I don’t care if you unleash violent winds that tear down churches, make the foamy waves overwhelm ships and send sailors to their deaths, flatten crops and trees, make castles fall down on their inhabitants' heads, make palaces and pyramids collapse, and mix up everything in nature. Tell me what I want to know.

 

FIRST WITCH
Speak.

 

SECOND WITCH
Demand.

THIRD WITCH
We’ll answer.


FIRST WITCH
Would you rather hear these things from our mouths or from our master’s?



Choose the answer that best finishes the following sentence:

Lines 10–19 indicate that Macbeth wants the witches to answer his questions...

a)

after they raise the winds and waves.

b)

before they cause destruction in the world.

c)

and then topple churches, castles, and pyramids so that he may win the battle

d)

despite the consequences and knowing they are evil.

7.

Which quotation from the scene where the Doctor observes Lady Macbeth's sleep walking (Act V, scene 1) best states one of the play’s themes?

a)

"Foul wisp'rings are abroad." (line 61) Translation: Evil rumors are going around.

b)

“Unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural troubles.” (lines 61–62) Translation: Unnatural acts will cause supernatural things to happen.

c)

“Remove from her the means of all annoyance / And still keep eyes upon her.” (lines 66–67) Translation: Remove anything she might hurt herself with.

d)

“My mind she has mated, and amazed my sight.” (line 68) Translation: She has bewildered my mind and amazed my eyes.

8.

Macbeth:

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day

To the last syllable of recorded time;

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!(25)

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more. It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.(30)

 

Which possible theme about Macbeth is exemplified by his "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow..." soliloquy? (Act V, Scene 5)

a)

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

b)

Cruelty and masculinity are related.

c)

Existence is brief and fragile.

d)

Unchecked ambition leads to corruption.

9.

Review Lady Macbeth's speech to her husband.

Translation:

LADY MACBETH
Were you drunk when you seemed so hopeful before? Have you gone to sleep and woken up green and pale in fear of this idea? From now on this is what I’ll think of your love. Are you afraid to act the way you desire? Will you take the crown you want so badly, or will you live as a coward, always saying “I can’t” after you say “I want to”? You’re like the poor cat in the old story.

 

Then, choose the answer below that best fits both blanks.

Lady Macbeth attempts to ____ her husband with insults like "coward" and "are you afeard." She is trying to motivate him to ____

a)

scold... act against King Duncan

b)

appease .... claim the throne at a banquet

c)

placate... act against Macduff

d)

oblivious... claim the throne at a banquet

10.

LADY MACBETH
What’s the business,
That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley
The sleepers of the house? Speak, speak!

MACDUFF
     O gentle lady,
'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak:
The repetition, in a woman’s ear,
Would murder as it fell.

Translation:

LADY MACBETH
What’s going on? Why is that terrifying trumpet calling together everyone who’s sleeping in the house? Speak up and tell me!

MACDUFF
Oh gentle lady, my news isn’t fit for your ears. If I repeated it to you, it would kill you as soon as you heard it.

 

Act 2, Scene 3 (after the murdered bodies of Duncan and his attendants are discovered). Why are Lady Macbeth’s words ironic?

a)

She asks what the commotion is about and she does not know who Macduff is.

b)

She asks what the commotion is about because she does not like surprises.

c)

She asks what the commotion is about because she has only just got to sleep.

d)

She asks what the commotion is about but she already knows.

11.

What are THREE prophecies Macbeth learns in the cave when he visits the Witches in Act IV, Sc. 1? Select THREE answers.

a)

Banquo's heirs will become king.

b)

Banquo will become king.

c)

Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor.

d)

Macbeth will become king.

e)

Lady Macbeth will become Queen.

12.

How does Lady Macbeth learn of the prophecies?

a)

Macbeth tells her when he gets to Inverness.

b)

She reads a letter from Macbeth.

c)

She has a dream.

d)

A messenger tells her.