The Tragedy of Macbeth

Act I“There’s no way to read a person’s mind by his face.”

–King Duncan (I.iv.13-14).

I.iii Discussion Questions

1. What is the witches’ prophesy for Macbeth?

2. Is Macbeth making a mistake by ignoring his friend Banquo? Support your opinion.

3. Should Macbeth trust the witches? Support your opinion.

4. What do the witches say about Banquo?

I.iv Discussion Question

5. Describe Macbeth’s and Duncan’s relationship.

I.v Discussion Questions

6. How does Lady Macbeth view her husband?

7. How does she want him to act towards Duncan?

I.vi Discussion Question

8. Describe Lady Macbeth’s personality.

I.vii Discussion Questions

9. List the steps of Lady Macbeth’s plan to kill Duncan and blame it on someone else.

10.Would could go wrong with this plan.

Act II

II.i Discussion Question

1. What role does the supernatural play in Macbeth?

II.ii Discussion Question

2. How does Macbeth and Lady Macbeth react to their killing of the King? Hint: They have different feelings.

II.iii Discussion Question

3. What is the reasoning behind Malcolm and Donalbain’s sudden departure?

4. Why did Shakespeare have the Porter make jokes about the afterlife?

II.iv Discussion Questions

5. What strange things has the Old Man seen and how are they perceived?

6. How do the Roman Citizens view Donalbain and Malcolm’s disppearance?

Act III

III.i Discussion Question

1. Describe the role that the witches’ prophesy plays in this Act.

III.ii Discussion Questions

2. What happens to Banquo and why?3. How is Macbeth two faced when it

comes to Duncan and Banquo?

III.iii Discussion Question

4. Explain Fleance’s significance to Macbeth and Banquo.

III.iv Discussion Questions

5. How is Macbeth exposing himself to the public?

III.v Discussion Questions

6. Who ultimately decides Macbeth’s Destiny? Support your Opinion. *This will be an essay choice.

7. How do the Witches manipulate Macbeth?

III.vi Discussion Question

8. How has Macduff changed since Duncan’s death?

Act IV

IV.i Discussion Questions

1. Describe the powerful apparitions that are presented to Macbeth by the witches.

2. How has Macbeth’s thirst for power spun out of control?

IV.ii Discussion Question

3. What does Lady Macduff assume about her husband? Is it true, why or why not?

IV.iii Discussion Questions

This scene is filled with the “good” side decieving each other.4. How does the “good” side deceive each

other?5. Is Shakespeare telling us that human

nature is filled with deception? Support your opinion.

Act V

V.i Discussion Question

1. Describe Lady Macbeth’s bizarre behavior.

V.ii Discussion Questions

2. Why and for what are the characters preparing?

3. Where will it occur? What is the locations significance?

V.iii Discussion Question

4. Why does Macbeth feel invincible?

V.iv Discussion Question

5. Which characters are going to battle against Macbeth?

V.v Discussion Question

6. What happens to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

V.vi Discussion Question

7. Who leads the first assault and why?

V.vii Discussion Question

8. What is Macbeth’s last act of villiany?

9. Why does Macduff seek revenge against Macbeth?

V.viii Discussion Question

10.Describe Macbeth’s death.11.Was the witches’ second prophecy

for Macbeth true? Support your opinion.