Macbeth
Act III GRQ’s
http://nfs.sparknotes.com/macbeth/page_84.html
Scene i (lines 1-10) Scene i (lines 118-122)
1. Read the Review & Anticipate. What is Macbeth “on” as Act 1. What about Macbeth’s position makes it to where he would
III opens? Why is Macbeth king and not Malcolm? be justified in having Banquo put to death?
2. To himself, what does Banquo say Macbeth played foul or 2. Macbeth says that he, himself, cannot kill Banquo because
unfair for? they have mutual what?
3. What does Banquo say he should be the root of? 3. How must Macbeth act when he “learns” of Banquo’s death?
4. What is Banquo now hopeful for? (refer to footnote #39)
Scene i (lines 11-27) Scene i (lines 123-131)
1. What is a sennet? 1. What must Macbeth mask from the common eye? Why?
2. Who is Macbeth’s chief guest? 2. What does Murderer 2 agree to do?
3. Who does Macbeth request to be at his banquet tonight? 3. Why do you think Macbeth interrupts what Murderer1 says?
4. Where is Banquo going and how long will he be gone? 4. When does Macbeth day this must be done?
5. Because he values Banquo’s advice, what is Macbeth sorry 5. Who is going to give the directions for where to hide, when
that Banquo will be missing? to start the watch, and the moment the attack should take place?
Scene i (lines 28-43) Scene i (lines 131-142)
1. What does Macbeth want Banquo to back in time for? 1. Why does Macbeth want the murder to take place a good
2. Parricide is the murder of one’s parents. Therefore, who is distance away from the palace?
being accused of parricide? Where are they “hiding”? 2. Who else does Macbeth want the murderers to kill? Why?
3. Is Fleance going with Banquo? 3. Are the murderers resolved?
4. What is everyone going to do until suppertime? 4. When will Banquo’s soul find heaven?
Scene i (lines 44-72) Scene ii (lines 1-12)
1. Macbeth fears his safety as king because of who? 1. What is the rhyme scheme when Lady M. is speaking alone?
2. What about this man’s character causes Macbeth to fear him? 2. How much have the Macbeth’s spent compared to what they
3. What famous pair does Macbeth compare his relationship have gained (had)?
with this man to? 3. Rather than to live in dread and doubt, who does Lady
4. Explain the fruitless crown, barren scepter, and unlineal hand Macbeth say that it is better to be?
that Macbeth was given “by the witches”. 4. What is Lady M. afraid to leave Macbeth alone with?
5. For whom does Macbeth say he murdered the king, gave up 5. Why are his thoughts so dangerous?
his peace, and sold his soul to the devil? Does he resent it? 6. What does Lady M. say should have died along with those
6. Rather than accept his fate, what is Banquo going to do? that have been killed?
Scene i (lines 72-91) Scene ii (lines 12- 28)
1. Who is at the door? Who do you think they are here to kill? 1. What does the snake symbolize? Instead of killing the snake,
2. When did Macbeth speak with these two men? what have the Macbeth’s done to it? What is going to happen
3. When speaking with the murderers, Macbeth clears his name once this metaphorical snake has healed its wounds?
and assures the murders that their current misfortune is not his 2. Before Lady and Macbeth will live, eat, and sleep in fear,
fault, but whose? what does he claim will have to happen to the world?
4. Macbeth says that even a crazy person would believe who? 3. Rather than be anxious and frenzied, who does Macbeth say
5. How is Macbeth challenging these murderers’ manhood? it is better to be?
6. Rather than pray for the man that put them in this condition, 4. Why is Duncan at peace? What can no longer bother him?
what is Macbeth trying to get the murderers to do? 5. How does Lady M. want Macbeth to look and act tonight?
Scene i (lines 91-108) Scene ii (lines 29-40)
1. According to Macbeth in lines 96-97, what types traits do 1. Who, in particular, does Macbeth want his wife to honor at
dogs have? the banquet tonight? Why do they have to be fake to this man in
2. Who gives these dogs their separate, individual gifts? particular?
3. Is Macbeth challenging these murderers to blend in or stand 2. Why must their faces disguise their hearts?
out and let their “gifts” show? Why does he want this? 3. What is Macbeth implying by saying that his mind is full of
4. What “business” is Macbeth speaking of putting in their scorpions?
bosom that will get rid of their “enemy”? 4. Although Banquo and Fleance are still alive, what does Lady
5. As long as Banquo lives, what does Macbeth claim will be M. remind her husband will happen to them someday?
his state of health? 5. What comfort does Macbeth give his wife?
Scene i (lines 108-118) Scene ii (lines40-55)
1. Why is Murderer 2 so incensed (angry)? 1. What does Macbeth say will happen before the bat flies back
2. What is reckless about Murderer 2? and before the beetle signals that night has arrived?
3. Why is Murderer1 willing to risk his life to fix/mend the 2. What does Macbeth want Lady M. to be innocent of?
problem? What has happened in his life to make him this way? 3. What great bond does Macbeth want the night to tear up?
3. Macbeth reminds the murderers that who was their enemy? 4. Why does this bond keep Macbeth pale? Why is he afraid?
4. Who else is this man’s enemy? 5. What is being foreshadowed when Macbeth says “night’s
5. As long as he lives, what happens to Macbeth? black agents to their preys do rouse?”
Scene iii (lines 1- 22) Scene iv (lines 69- 93)
1. Why has a 3rd murderer joined the group? 1. What does Macbeth want the ghost to do?
2. As the sun sets, who gets closer to the murderers hiding spot? 2. Macbeth is saying that there is no point in burying the dead if
3. Where have Banquo’s horses been taken? Is it normal for the dead are going to come back to the living (no question)
men to walk over a mile to the castle? 3. Despite his wife’s insults, what does Macbeth insist on?
4. Who is carrying the torch? 4. Before humane laws civilized the world, what was it like?
5. What is important about the 1st murderer saying “let it come 5. What used to happen when a man was killed? How has this
down” before they attack Banquo? changed (at least for Macbeth)?
6. As Banquo is being murdered, what does he command his 6. What is more strange than murder?
son to do? 7. What does Lady M. have to remind her husband about?
7. What did the murderers fail to do that has made their entire 8. In his apology to his guests, what excuse does Macbeth give?
job unsuccessful? Thinking back to the witches’ prophecy, why 9. As Macbeth is toasting, during which he mentions how much
is this significant? he misses Banquo, who enters the room? How is this ironic?
Scene iv (lines 1- 12) Scene iv (lines 94-99)
1. How do guests sit at state banquets? (refer to footnote #1) 1. What has made the ghost’s blood cold and the bones
2. What will Lady M. be doing while Macbeth mingles and marrowless? What does it mean for “the earth to hide thee?”
greets the guests? 2. What is wrong with the eyes the ghost is glaring with? Why
3. What does Lady M. want Macbeth to tell the guests for her? might the ghost that Macbeth sees be glaring?
4. Where does Macbeth sit at the table (in relation to the guests) 3. What does Lady M. say of this “inconvenience?”
Scene iv (lines 13- 25) Scene iv (lines 100-109)
1. Whose blood is on the murderer’s face? 1. Macbeth says he would prefer to stand up to a Russian bear,
2. Macbeth says it is better for the blood to be on his face than an armed rhinoceros, and a Hyrcan tiger rather than who?
where? 2. Macbeth challenges Banquo to a duel in a far away desert –
3. What two pieces of news does the murderer bring Macbeth? but first, Banquo must become human again. If Macbeth’s
4. How does Macbeth respond to both pieces? bravery is not proven during this battle then he will let everyone
5. Instead of being “whole as marble,” and “founded as the call him a what?
rock,” what state of being is Macbeth now in? (4 things) 3. What happens to Macbeth once the ghost, once again, leaves?
Scene iv (lines 26-33) Scene iv (lines 110-121)
1. How many times did the murderers stab Banquo in the head? 1. What does Lady M. say her husband has done to the
2. How many stabs wounds would have been sufficient to kill happiness of the party with his little stunt?
Banquo? 2. Why is Macbeth upset that his guests still have normal, rosy
3. Though the grown snake is dead, what happened to the cheeks when he has a white, blanched from fear, face?
worm/baby snake? Why is Macbeth using a snake metaphor? 3. Does Macbeth understand that his guests don’t see the ghost?
4. Though the baby snake will be venomous/ dangerous later, 4. Why does Lady M. quickly kick everybody out of the house?
why is he not a threat now? What is he lacking? 5. What is Lady M. afraid Macbeth will say or give away?
Scene iv (lines 33-44) Scene iv (lines 121-
1. Read footnotes 13-15. What complaint is Lady M. playfully 1. When the guests leave, what wish do they leave for Macbeth?
giving to Macbeth? 2. Explain 3.4.123, “blood will have blood”
2. Who enters the scene and sits in Macbeth’s seat? 3. Who is the “secret’st man of blood” (or, the murderer)? Why
3. After thanking his wife for reminding him of his duty, what is Macbeth afraid that the murderer will be found out?
toast does Macbeth give in lines 39-40. 4. According to Lady M., what time of day is it?
4. What is under Macbeth’s roof? 5. Who refused to show up when Macbeth bid him?
5. When addressing is crowd, Macbeth speaks of Banquo’s 6. What has Macbeth paid to have in each of his lords’ houses?
absence and says that he hopes to challenge him for unkindness 7. Who does Macbeth say he is going to go talk to?
rather than to what? (refer to footnote 17). 8. No matter how bad it is, Macbeth needs to find out what is
Scene iv (lines 45-59) going to happen. How far is he willing to go to find out?
1. Why is it that the table appears full to Macbeth even though 9. Because Macbeth is so deep in his “river of blood” that he
Ross and Lennox are pointing to a reserved seat? has created by murdering people, would it be easier for him to
2. Who is Macbeth talking to when he says “thou canst not say I turn around or keep going?
did it?” (gory=bloody, locks=hair/head) 10. Before he has a chance to re-think anything, what does
3. When Ross sees that Macbeth is having a heated debate with Macbeth say he needs to do with all of the strange things/ideas
an “invisible guest” what does he tell the others to prepare to do? that he has in his head?
4. What lie does Lady M. tell to explain his strange behavior? 11. What does Macbeth say is the cause of his strange
5. What does Lady M. say will happen if the others at the table delusions? (refer to footnote 47)
pay attention to Macbeth during this “fit”? 12. Where are the Macbeths going at the end of this scene?
Scene iv (lines 60-69)
1. What does Macbeth “see” that would appall the devil? We will discuss Act III Scenes V
2. What does Lady M. compare his most recent “vision” to? and VI in class.
3. Lady M. compares the wimpy Macbeth to a young girl telling
a story in front of a fire to who?
4. Who is Lady M. so ashamed of her husband?
5. What does she say will happen when he snaps out of it?