The Tragedy of Macbeth Guide Acts III-VName _________________________Directions: While reading play use text-based details to answer the following questions. This packet will be handed in as part of the periodic for this assignment. Answers must be thoughtful, clear, and legible for assessment. If I cannot read or understand your answers, deductions will be taken from your upcoming periodic. _______

Act III scene i

1. In his soliloquy, what suspicion and hope does Banquo reveal?______________________________________________________________________________

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2. In reading the dialogue between Macbeth and Banquo, how has their relationship changed now that Macbeth is King? How has Macbeth’s demeanor changed from his last scene?______________________________________________________________________________

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3. Macbeth seems very interested in Banquo’s travel plans. Why do you suppose that is?

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4. Why is Banquo the only person Macbeth fears? What disturbs Macbeth about Banquo’s character?______________________________________________________________________________

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5. What is it about the Witches’ prophecies that frustrate Macbeth? What does he feel his efforts to attain the throne may have been for nothing? Does he regard Fate as inevitable?______________________________________________________________________________

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6. How does Macbeth motivate the murderers to kill Banquo? Why doesn’t he do it himself?

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7. What is the plan for Banquo’s murder? Who else is to be killed?

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8. Macbeth’s hiring of murderers shows the audience what about his character?

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Act III scene ii

9. Do Lady Macbeth and Macbeth feel comfortable in their positions? Why? What does Macbeth say about Duncan to illustrate his point?______________________________________________________________________________

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10. What does Macbeth mean when he tells Lady Macbeth that they must “make our faces vizards to our hearts / Disguising what they are”? What earlier advice does this echo of Lady Macbeth’s? Consequently, what theme does this refer to?______________________________________________________________________________

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11. What strong metaphor does Macbeth use to describe his mental state? What is he worried about? Is Lady Macbeth aware of his plans to resolve his worries?______________________________________________________________________________

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12. How have Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s roles changed from earlier in the play?

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Act III scene iii

13. What happens during the ambush? What causes the murderers to leave the job half done?

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14. What do Banquo’s dying words relate back to the prophecies?

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Act III scene iv

15. What is Macbeth’s response to Fleance’s escape? What does the murderer tell Macbeth about Banquo’s Death?______________________________________________________________________________

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16. Upon returning to the banquet table, what does Macbeth see and how does he respond? How do the guests respond?______________________________________________________________________________

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17. How does Lady Macbeth explain Macbeth’s behavior? How does she criticize him? What previous hallucination does she recall for him?______________________________________________________________________________

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18. What is Macbeth’s behavior like for the rest of the dinner? What does Lady Macbeth do?

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19. Give a few reasons for why Banquo’s ghost haunts Macbeth and not Duncan’s ghost.

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20. What is Macbeth’s concern about Macduff?

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21. Who does Macbeth decide to visit next? What image does he use to describe his current situation?______________________________________________________________________________

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22. In what ways can Banquo be seen as a foil to Macbeth?

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Act III scene v

23. Who is Hecate, and why is she angry?

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24. What does Hecate plan for Macbeth?

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25. What ideas does Hecate state about Macbeth’s freewill versus him being controlled by fate?

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Act III scene vi

26. Lennox is very careful with his words in his speech. What/Who is Lennox afraid of?

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27. Where has Macduff gone? Who is he consulting with and why?

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28. According to the Lord, what problems are plaguing Scotland? What is the source of these troubles?______________________________________________________________________________

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Act IV scene i

29. What is Macbeth’s behavior like when he is interacting with the Witches?

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30. Retell what happens when Macbeth sees the first apparition: who does it warn him about?

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31. What is the second apparition, and what does it reveal to Macbeth? What is Macbeth’s response?______________________________________________________________________________

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32. What is the third apparition, and what is its message? How does Macbeth respond?

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33. What is Macbeth’s final question? What answer does he get and what is his response?

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34. What news does Lennox bring to Macbeth? How does Macbeth want to change his actions?

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35. What is Macbeth’s plan at the end of the scene? How does this plan differ from his others?

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Act IV scene ii

36. Why does Lady Macduff think Macduff’s flight is “madness”? What does Ross tell her?

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37. Why does Ross describe the current times as “cruel”?

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38. Why does Lady Macduff tell her son that Macduff is dead? What kind of child is he?

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39. Why does Lady Macduff feel that is unfair that she must flee? How does she evaluate the world in a similar way to Ross?______________________________________________________________________________

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Act IV scene iii

40. What are some reasons that Malcolm gives about being suspicious of Macduff? What is Macduff’s response?______________________________________________________________________________

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41. What theme does Malcolm attempt to convey about mankind when he discusses angels?

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42. How does Malcolm test Macduff’s loyalty? What is Macduff’s initial response? What finally indicates to Malcolm that Macduff is truly loyal?______________________________________________________________________________

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43. What support does Malcolm have for his cause?

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44. What strange power does the King of England possess? What makes him a good king?

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45. What news does Ross bring to Macduff?

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46. What does Macduff want to do? Does Macduff think that he can make Macbeth feel the same kind of pain that he feels at this moment?______________________________________________________________________________

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Act V scene i

47. What problem has the Gentlewoman reported about Lady Macbeth to the Doctor?

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48. What physical action is Lady Macbeth doing that the Doctor notices?

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49. How does Lady Macbeth’s behavior in this scene contrast with her behavior previously?

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50. What secrets does Lady Macbeth speak about while sleepwalking?

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51. How does the Doctor account for her behavior? What does he suggest for her?

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Act V scene ii

52. Who do Lennox, Angus, Menteith, and Caithness support? Where are they headed, and why is that location significant?______________________________________________________________________________

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53. What does Angus say about the men that Macbeth commands?

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54. How is the plant metaphor used by Lennox when speaking about Macbeth?

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Act V scene iii

55. What are Macbeth’s troops doing? Why does he remain so confident?

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56. What is Lady Macbeth’s condition, and how does Macbeth believe is could be cured?

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57. How does Macbeth act in this scene? What does he ask the Doctor to do for Scotland?

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Act V scene iv

58. What tactical strategy does Malcolm implement? Why is this important to the play?

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Act V scene v

59. How does the sound of the woman’s cry affect Macbeth?

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60. In reaction to the news of Lady Macbeth’s death, Macbeth delivers his most famous soliloquy. What is the main idea of his speech?______________________________________________________________________________

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61. What does Macbeth now recognize about the prophecies?

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Act V scene vi

62. Where are Malcolm’s forces located now, and why is that significant?

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Act V scene vii

63. Why does Macbeth continue to scorn his opponents, despite his many setbacks?

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64. What does Siward mean when he says Macbeth’s men, “on both sides do fight’?

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Act V scene viii

65. Why does Macbeth at first not want to fight Macduff?

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66. What information does Macduff reveal about himself that makes Macbeth frightened?

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67. What spurs Macbeth to continue fighting Macduff when he does not want to?

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68. What comforts Siward about his son’s death?

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69. What is the final resolution of the play? Who is King? What will happen to the country?

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