Act 4

Question 1

In Act 4 scene 1, what gruesome animal imagery do the witches use in their “deed without a name”

Answer 1

“eye of newt”
“lizard’s leg”

Question 2

In Act 4 scene 1, after ingredients have been added to the cauldron, what do the witches chant in unison?

Answer 2

“double, double toil and trouble, fire burn, and cauldron bubble”

Question 3

In Act 4 scene 1, a quote where the witch is announcing Macbeth’s arrival.

Answer 3

“something wicked this way comes”

Question 4

“double, double toil and trouble, fire burn, and cauldron bubble”

analysis

Answer 4

plosive sounds create an aggressive and intense atmosphere. Adding to the witches sinister, pernicious portrayal.

synchronised chanting and rhyme emphasises the sinister atmosphere.

Embodies the Jacobean stereotype of how witches behave, completely terrifying the audience.

Question 5

In Act 4 scene 1, a quote where the witches add part of a baby into the cauldron.

Answer 5

“finger of birth-strangled babe”

Question 6

“finger of birth-strangled babe”

analysis

Answer 6

shows just how sinister the witches are, that they would go to the immoral extent of killing a baby to put in the spell.

children symbolise purity and innocence.
the ingredients in the cauldron are at their darkest when the “finger” of an innocent “babe” is added because it symbolises how the natural order is destroyed.

the plosive and alliterative “b” and “d” sounds accentuate the supernatural, evil atmosphere.

Question 7

“something wicked this way comes”

analysis

Answer 7

Macbeth has completely descended into evil to the point his sinister aura is felt before his physical presence and even the menacing witches admit he is evil.

He is described as “something”-not a person.
Macbeth lacks the fundamental human attributes of compassion, mercy and guilt. So he is no longer seen a a human.
Showcased when he kills Macduff’s family on a whim, without remorse.

Question 8

In Act 4 scene 1, Macbeth’s use of imperatives to command the witches to obey him.

Answer 8

“answer me”
“call ‘em, let me see ‘em”

Question 9

In Act 4 scene 1, what was the “(first apparition)”?
foreshadows?

Answer 9

“(an armed head)”
foreshadowing Macbeth’s beheading

Question 10

In Act 4 scene 1, what stage direction shows what the apparitions do after their speech?

analysis

Answer 10

“(descends)”
supernatural creatures possibly returning to hell.

Question 11

In Act 4 scene 1, what did the “(armed head)” say?

Answer 11

“Macbeth! - beware Macduff, beware the Thane of Fife”

Question 12

In Act 4 scene 1, what was the “(second apparition)”?

Answer 12

“(a bloody child)”
symbolises how the natural order is broken - innocent children are attacked
symbolises Macduff’s children who Macbeth mercilessly killed

Question 13

In Act 4 scene 1, what did the “(bloody child)” say?

Answer 13

“none of woman born shall harm Macbeth”

Question 14

In Act 4 scene 1, after Macbeth was told “none of woman born shall harm” him, what quote does Macbeth use to say he will take no chances with Macduff?

Answer 14

“I’ll make assurance double sure”

Question 15

In Act 4 scene 1, what was the “(third apparition)”?

Answer 15

“(a child crowned, with a tree in his hand”)”
symbolises Banquo’s sons reigning
the tree symbolises how the soldiers who ambushed Macbeth’s castle cut down trees to hide behind.

Question 16

In Act 4 scene 1, what did the “crowned” “child” say?

Answer 16

“Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him”

Question 17

In Act 4 scene 1, what does Macbeth say will happen if the witches do no answer him?

Answer 17

“deny me this, and an eternal curse fall on you”

Question 18

In Act 4 scene 1, “(a show)” of what comes out which terrorises Macbeth?

Answer 18

“(a show of eight kings, and the last with a glass in his hand)”
“(Banquo’s ghost following)”

Question 19

In Act 4 scene 1, “as the eight” king appears what does Macbeth say he holds?

Answer 19

“who bears a glass which shows me many more”

Question 20

In Act 4 scene 1, what does Lennox tell Macbeth about Macduff’s whereabouts?

Answer 20

“Macduff is fled to England”

Question 21

In Act 4 scene 1, a quote where Macbeth says he will now be acting instantly on his whims, impulsively.

Answer 21

“the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand”

Question 22

In Act 4 scene 1, what does Macbeth plan to do in order to “make assurance double sure” that Macduff is not a threat.

Answer 22

”

Question 23

In Act 4 scene 2, 2 quotes that show Lady Macduff feels betrayed by Macduff abandoning her.

Answer 23

“to leave his wife, to leave his babes”
“He loves us not”

Question 24

In Act 4 scene 2, what does the messenger warn Lady Macduff?

Answer 24

No

Question 25

In Act 4 scene 2, Lady Macduff telling her son Macduff is dead.

Answer 25

“Sirrah, your father is dead”

Question 26

In Act 4 scene 2, after Lady Macduff tells her son Macduff is dead, what interrogatives does she use?

analysis

Answer 26

“what will you do now? How will you live?”

Lady Macduff is genuinly worried how her son will cope without a father.
Highlighting their intimate, maternal bond.

And showing Lady Macduff’s nuturing and maternal nature.
Which juxtaposes Lady Macbeth who would savagely “dashed the brains out” of her baby as it was “smilling in (her) face”

Question 27

In Act 4 scene 2, a quote where Lady Macduff says to do bad is praised, and to do good is considered a dangerous act.

Answer 27

“to do harm is often laudable
“Good” “dangerous folly”

Question 28

In Act 4 scene 2, a quote Lady Macduff’s son says he that if Macduff was really dead Lady Macduff would mourn for him.

Answer 28

“If he were dead, you’d weep for him”

Question 29

In Act 4 scene 2, a quote that shows Lady Macduff’s son getting murdered
Why is this significant?

Answer 29

“(stabbing him)”

first time we see a murder committed on stage, in front of the audience. Especially appalling and terrorising that it’s a child.

Shakespeare specifically chose to kill a child because of the symbolism of purity and innocence. Showing Macbeth has reached maximum cruelty and inhumanity.

Question 30

In Act 4 scene 3, what does Malcom call Macbeth, and what does the name Macbeth do to him?

Answer 30

“this tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongue”

Question 31

In Act 4 scene 3, what does Malcom “grant” Macbeth?

Answer 31

“I grant him bloody, luxurious, avaricious”
“smacking in every sin”

Question 32

In Act 4 scene 3, what does Macduff say causes the “fall of many kings”?

analysis

Answer 32

“boundless intemperance in nature is a tyranny”

lack of self control is fatal and catastrophic.
Suggesting Macbeth has reached a point of no return, and his demise is plausible.

Question 33

In Act 4 scene 3, according to Malcom, what attributes does a good king have?

Answer 33

“stableness”
“courage”
“devotion”
“mercy”

Question 34

In Act 4 scene 3, a quote about angels.

Answer 34

“angels are bright still, though the brightest fell”

1- it’s hard to tell who is genuinly good, and who uses it as a facade to mask their true immorality.
good and evil is blurred

2-Duncan was good, yet he was murdered. No one is safe.

Question 35

In Act 4 scene 3, a quote where Macduff is saying Scotland is injured by Macbeth’s “great tyranny”. And what personification of Scotland does Malcom use?

Answer 35

“bleed, bleed, poor country! Great tyranny!”
“it weeps, it bleeds”

Question 36

In Act 4 scene 3, a quote showing Malcom is trying to test Macduff’s loyalty.

Answer 36

“my poor country shall have more vices”
“more suffer… shall succeed”

Question 37

In Act 4 scene 3, after Macduff proves his loyalty, what does Malcom call him?

Answer 37

No

Question 38

In Act 4 scene 3, hat does Rosse say when he announces Macduff’s family was killed?

Answer 38

“your wife and babes savagely slaughtered”

Question 39

“your wife and babes savagely slaughtered”

analysis

Answer 39

Macbeth’s tyranny and malevolence is clearly stated for the audience to comprehend.

“your wife and babes” - symbolise innosence and purity
-evoking more sympathy and passion from the audience.

sibilance - sinister nature of Macbeth.
-the murders stemed from pure evil
And suggests done swiftly/quickly
-without hesitation
-contrasting his procrastination to kill Duncan

Question 40

In Act 4 scene 3, Malcon tells Macduff to do what “like a man” (the murder of his family), what does Macduff say in response?

Answer 40

“Dispute it like a man”
“but I must also feel it as a man”

Question 41

Act 4 summary
scene 1
scene 2
scene 3

Answer 41

scene 1 - the witches show Macbeth 3 apparitions and a show of eight kings.
scene 2 - Lady Macduff and her children are killed by murderers.
scene 3 - Malcom pretends to be a greater tyrant than Macbeth to test Macduff’s loyalty.