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Macbeth Acts 1 & 2 Quiz

Total questions: 40

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
The setting of Macbeth take place in __________.
a)
England
b)
Norway
c)
Ireland
d)
Scotland
2.

What does Banquo say about the motives of the "instruments of darkness" in reference to the three witches?

a)
They are greedy and only make predictions when someone pays enough
b)
Good conquers evil, and their predictions will not come true
c)
They often tell of good things without telling the bad consequences
d)
"That witches be crazy, and don't know what they are saying!"
3.

Who is made heir to Duncan's throne?

a)

Macbeth

b)

Macduff's son, Fleance

c)

Duncan's son, Malcom

d)

Macduff

4.

What does Lady Macbeth resolve to do once she learns of the prophesies?

a)

Talk to the 3 witches

b)

Kill Duncan herself

c)

Protect Duncan from Macbeth's blood lust.

d)

Whatever it takes to help Macbeth become king.

5.

How does Lady Macbeth intimidate her husband in her speech to him?

a)

She says she will kill him if he doesn't go through with the murder

b)

She says he is a liar if he doesn't go through with the murder

c)

She says she is manlier than he is because she'd kill her own child if she'd promised to

d)

She says she will divorce him if he doesn't go through with the murder

6.

What title does Duncan bestow upon Macbeth?

a)

Thane of Scotland

b)

Thane of Cawdor

c)

Thame of Glamis

d)

Thame of Glasbury

7.
The Porter scene serves the purpose of 
a)
providing comic relief for the audience
b)
providing a reasonable length of time for Macbeth and his wife to get into bed
c)
providing a first view of Macduff as a foil for Macbeth
d)
wait, who's the Porter?
8.

Who said it? "Stars hide your fires. Let not light see my

black and deep desires"

a)

Macbeth

b)

Banquo

c)

Lady Macbeth

d)

Witches

9.

Who said it? "Look like th’innocent flower but be the

serpent under’t"

a)

Macbeth

b)

Banquo

c)

Lady Macbeth

d)

Witches

10.

What is Macbeth's reaction to killing Duncan?

a)

He was happy he would be the next king

b)

He was relieved it was finally done

c)

He immediately felt immense guilt

d)

He was proud he'd had the courage to do it

11.

Why is Lady Macbeth mad at her husband when he returns from killing Duncan?

a)

He killed the guards, which wasn't part of the plan

b)

He was being too emotional

c)

He forgot to leave the daggers with the guards

d)

He blamed her for having to kill his cousin

12.

What was Lady Macbeth's reason for not killing Duncan herself?

a)

She was secretly in love with him

b)

He reminded her too much of her father

c)

She was trying to frame Macbeth for all of it

d)

She was too scared

13.

What is Macbeth's lie to Banquo about the witches' predictions?

a)

He says he does not remember what they said.

b)

He says he does not even think about them.

c)

He says they made a lucky guess on their predictions, but they are wrong about him ever being king.

d)

He says only fools and women believe such nonsense.

14.

What excuse did Macbeth give for killing the guards (grooms)? What is his real reason?

a)

He was drunk and didn't realize what he had done. He didn't want anyone to suspect Lady Macbeth.

b)

He did it out of pain and rage, but he actually wanted to be rid of any possible witnesses.

c)

They were attacking him, and he did it in self defense. He wanted it to look like a plot to murder him, too.

d)

The witches predicted it, and he could not help himself. He was afraid they would not be loyal to him once he became king.

15.

Why do Malcom and Donalbain leave?

a)

They don't want to be accused of the crime.

b)

They are going to take the sad news to their mother.

c)

They are afraid the murderer will be after them, too.

d)

They want to start making the funeral arrangements.

16.

What character trait does the following quote reveal?

"The Prince of Cumberland: that is a step/ On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,/ For in my way it lies" (1.4.48-50).

a)

Macbeth's loyalty

b)

Macbeth's fate

c)

Macbeth's guilt

d)

Macbeth's ambition

17.

Who said it?

"And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,/ The instruments of darkness tell us truths;/ Win us with honest trifles, to betray's/ In deepest consequence" (1.3.122-125)

a)

Macbeth

b)

Lady Macbeth

c)

Duncan

d)

Banquo

18.

The witches greet Macbeth with ALL of the following titles EXCEPT

a)

Thane of Glamis

b)

Thane of Cawdor

c)

King hereafter

d)

Father of Kings

19.

Why was the original Thane of Cawdor executed?

a)

He cheated on his wife.

b)

He committed treason against King Duncan and Scotland.

c)

He killed the Queen.

d)

He refused to go into battle because he was a coward.

20.
  1. Lady Macbeth believes that in order to carry out the murder, she must behave more like a...

a)

lady

b)

troll

c)

man

d)

child

21.
  1. In Act I, scene 7, what is the plan for killing Duncan?

a)

Give the king a potion that will make him sleep for a week, but seem dead. When he awakens, in a tomb, they will kill him for real.

b)

They will wait until he is asleep, feed his guards a wine that will make them pass out, and then use the guards’ dagger to kill Duncan.

c)

Macbeth will kill him in front of everyone at dinner and declare himself king.

d)

They will kidnap the king and bring him to the forest, where they will injure him and leave him to be eaten by bears.

22.
  1. Who convinces Macbeth to proceed with his plan to kill the king?

a)

Malcolm

b)

Donalbain

c)

Banquo

d)

Lady Macbeth

23.
  1. In Macbeth’s soliloquy, what does he imagine is in his hand?

a)

A dagger

b)

A sword

c)

A crown

d)

A serpent

24.
  1. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth can best be described as ...

a)

lonely and depressed

b)

admirable and courageous

c)

timid and fearful

d)

ruthless and mean-spirited

25.
  1. What is the significance of the phrase "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" as spoken by the witches?

a)

It indicates the witches' love for the weather.


b)

It suggests that appearances can be deceiving.

c)

It is a spell for good weather.

d)

It means that the witches prefer fair weather.

26.
  1. What prophecy do the witches make regarding Banquo?

a)

He will become king.

b)

He will betray Macbeth.

c)

He will die in battle.

d)

His children will be kings.

27.
  1. What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth when he arrives home?

a)

He should act more aggressively towards Duncan

b)

He should beware of Banquo because of the prophecy.

c)

He should learn to look innocent even when his heart is full of evil.

d)

He should wait a few days before killing Duncan.

28.
Which two characters show some suspicion of Macbeth when he becomes king?
a)

Banquo and Macduff

b)

Malcolm and Donaldbain

c)

Lennox and Ross

d)

Macduff and the Porter

29.

After Macbeth kills Duncan, he goes to Lady Macbeth and is concerned about not being able to say "Amen." What is her advice to him?

a)

He should keep trying and soon he will succeed

b)

It does not matter whether or not he can say it

c)

They shouldn't think about it or it will make them crazy

d)

After things calm down he can go to the priest and ask for forgiveness

30.

Macbeth is worried about hearing a voice saying, "Macbeth does murder sleep." What does Lady Macbeth then tell him to do?

a)

Have a glass of wine and relax

b)

Get cleaned up and forget about it

c)

Have the minstrel come and sing some quiet tunes to put them to sleep

d)

Go for a walk in the garden and get some fresh air.

31.

Who said, "Methought i heard a voice cry "Sleep No More! Macbeth doth murder sleep"- the innocent sleep"

a)

Macbeth

b)

Macduff

c)

Lady Macbeth

d)

Malcolm

32.

Where do Duncans sons go when they run away

a)

England and Ireland

b)

Spain

c)

Italy and Greece

d)

America

33.

A popular literary device often used in drama to reveal the innermost thoughts of a character.

a)

soliloquy

b)

aside

c)

paradox

d)

thought bubbles

34.

Macduff says, "Oh, gentle lady, 'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak. The repetition, in a woman's ear, Would murder as it fell." What is ironic about this?

a)

He pretended to be brave, but he really wasn't.

b)

He sounded concerned about Lady Macbeth, but he really thought women were weak and foolish

c)

He tried to sound upset, but he was glad the king was dead.

d)

He didn't know about Lady Macbeth's part in the murder

35.

Why is Macbeth named King instead of Duncan's son and heir, Malcolm?

a)

Because Malcolm makes a deal with Macbeth to forfeit the throne in exchange for not being murdered.

b)

Because Macbeth has bribed the other thanes.

c)

Because Malcolm has fled and Macbeth is the most powerful thane and kinsman.

d)

Because Macbeth is the most popular and well-liked.

36.

Why do the Thanes think the guards killed Duncan?

a)

They assumed they were paid off

b)

They assumed they were assassins from Norway

c)

They didn't think that - they knew Macbeth was behind it

d)

Because they were upset that Duncan promoted Macbeth

37.

What is the signal Lady Macbeth is to give Macbeth to let him know that she has taken care of the guards?

a)

She will ring a bell.

b)

She will send a servant to say she is ill and wants to see him.

c)

She will light three candles in her bedroom window.

d)

She will stand at the window and whistle like a bird.

38.

Why does Ross not believe Malcom and Donalbain were responsible for Duncan's murder?

a)

He was with them and knows they are innocent.

b)

It was against their personal natures and against nature as the ruling force in the

universe.

c)

They know that killing their father would only provoke a fight between themselves, and one or both of them would probably be killed.

d)

Both are too weak, cowardly, and unambitious to want to be king.

39.

What does Macbeth say he can't get off his hands?

a)

the bruises

b)

the cuts

c)

the sweat

d)

the blood

40.

Why does Lady Macbeth ask evil spirits to "unsex" her?

a)

During the time period, it was believed that women were incapable of violent, heinous acts.

b)

Lady Macbeth wants to become king herself, planning to kill her husband when he takes the throne.

c)

Lady Macbeth thinks she needs the physical strength of a man to fight Banquo, Duncan, and Malcolm.

d)

During the time period, it was believed that women used witchcraft to shapeshift into other people.