Macbeth - Basic info and Plot

Question 1

What happens in Act 1, Scene 1?

Answer 1

The three witches meet on the heath and discuss when to meet with Macbeth.

Question 2

What happens in Act 1, Scene 2?

Answer 2

King Duncan is told of Macbeth and Banquo’s bravery in battle and their success in defeating the invaders/rebels.

Question 3

What happens in Act 1, Scene 3?

Answer 3

Returning from battle, Macbeth and Banquo meet the three witches who tell the first set of prophecies. Ross and Angus arrive and tell Macbeth that he is now the Thane of Cawdor.

Question 4

What are Macbeths prophecies in Act 1, Scene 3?

Answer 4

1. “All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis” (Witch 1) 2. “All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor” (Witch 2) 3. “All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” (Witch 3).

Question 5

What are Banquo’s prophecies in Act 1, Scene 3?

Answer 5

1. “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater” (Witch 1) 2. “Not so happy, yet much happier” (Witch 2) 3. “Thou shalt get king, though thou be none” (Witch 3).

Question 6

What happens in Act 1, Scene 4?

Answer 6

Macbeth and Banquo return from the battle and meet with Duncan. Duncan praises Macbeth and Banquo for their bravery before announcing that Duncan’s eldest son, Malcolm, will become the next king. Duncan will feast at Macbeth’s castle that evening.

Question 7

What happens in Act 1, Scene 5?

Answer 7

Lady Macbeth receives Macbeth’s letter about the witches’ prophecies and Macbeth’s promotion to Thane of Cawdor, which seems to show the witches’ prophecies are true! Eager to become queen, Lady Macbeth has some private doubts about Macbeth’s ability to see the prophecies through. At the end of the scene, Macbeth arrives and Lady Macbeth begins to manipulate him.

Question 8

What happens in Act 1, Scene 6?

Answer 8

Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle.

Question 9

What happens in Act 1, Scene 7?

Answer 9

A feast is taking place, but Macbeth is alone as he considers the rights and wrongs of murdering Duncan in a soliloquy. Lady Macbeth interrupts Macbeth and says king Duncan is asking for him. Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth he will not go ahead with the plan to murder Duncan, but Lady Macbeth persuades him to change his mind and commit to killing Duncan as originally planned.

Question 10

What happens in Act 2, Scene 1?

Answer 10

The night of Duncan’s murder. Macbeth bumps into Banquo and they discuss the witches’ prophecies. On the way to murder Duncan, Macbeth sees a vision of a dagger.

Question 11

What happens in Act 2, Scene 2?

Answer 11

Macbeth murders king Duncan and begins to experience guilt. Lady Macbeth continues to manipulate Macbeth and tells him “a little water clears us of this deed”.

Question 12

What happens in Act 2, Scene 3?

Answer 12

Macduff arrives with Lennox. It’s early morning and their knocking wakes the porter up. The porter compares Macbeth’s castle to “hell gate”. Macduff finds Duncan’s murdered body. The Macbeths pretend to be shocked!

Question 13

What happens in Act 2, Scene 4?

Answer 13

Ross discuss the unnatural events that happened the night of Duncan’s murder. Macduff tells Ross that Duncan’s sons (Malcolm and Donalbain) have fled Scotland. Macduff leaves Macbeth’s castle and returns home to his family.

Question 14

What happens in Act 3, Scene 1?

Answer 14

Macbeth sees Banquo as a threat, for the witches foretold that Banquo’s family would eventually take the crown. So, Macbeth hires three murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance.

Question 15

What happens in Act 3, Scene 2?

Answer 15

In a brief soliloquy, Lady Macbeth shows she is uneasy at how the plan is working out. Macbeth hints to Lady Macbeth about his plan to kill Banquo but refuses to tell her any specifics - Lady Macbeth is cut out of the plan!

Question 16

What happens in Act 3, Scene 3?

Answer 16

Banquo is murdered, but Fleance manages to escape!

Question 17

What happens in Act 3, Scene 4?

Answer 17

During Macbeth’s feast, the First Murderer brings news of Banquo’s death and Fleance’s escape to Macbeth. Returning to the feast, Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost!

Question 18

What happens in Act 3, Scene 5?

Answer 18

The three witches meet with Hecate, the queen of the witches. Hecate tells the witches off for meeting with Macbeth without her permission. Hecate then instructs the three witches to prepare for a second meeting with Macbeth.

Question 19

What happens in Act 3, Scene 6?

Answer 19

Lennox and another scottish noble talk about the murders of Duncan and Banquo. They suspect Macbeth is involved somehow and call him a “tyrant”. We learn that Malcolm is raising an army in England and Macbeth is preparing for war. Lennox hopes Malcolm and Macduff will return to Scotland and defeat Macbeth.

Question 20

What happens in Act 4, Scene 1?

Answer 20

The witches prepare for Macbeth. Macbeth arrives and the witches summon three apparitions: a severed head, a bloody child, and a royal child holding a tree.

Question 21

What are the three apparitions in Act 4, Scene 1?

Answer 21

There are three apparitions. 1) A severed head says “beware Macduff”. 2) A bloody child tells Macbeth that he can’t be killed by anyone born from a woman. 3) A royal child holding a tree tells Macbeth that he will not be defeated “until Great Birnam Wood… shall come against him”.

Question 22

What happens in Act 4, Scene 2?

Answer 22

Ross warns Lady Macduff that she in danger before he leaves for England. However, it’s too late, for Macbeth’s three murderers soon show up and kill Lady Macduff and her children.

Question 23

What happens in Act 4, Scene 3?

Answer 23

Malcolm and Macduff are in England when Ross arrives and breaks the news to Macduff that his family has been slaughtered. Macduff vows vengeance on Macbeth!

Question 24

What happens in Act 5, Scene 1?

Answer 24

Lady Macbeth suffers from incredible guilt and she reveals details of Duncan’s murder to her Doctor and Gentlewoman as she sleepwalks. Lady Macbeth tries desperately to clean her hands of imaginary blood - a sign of her guilty conscience.

Question 25

What happens in Act 5, Scene 2?

Answer 25

Malcolm and the English army march towards Dunsinane and discuss the “tyrant” Macbeth and his war preparations.

Question 26

What happens in Act 5, Scene 3?

Answer 26

Macbeth still trusts the witches’ prophecies and mocks his servant for being afraid of Malcolm’s approaching army. The Scottish Doctor discusses Lady Macbeth’s condition and Macbeth demands the Doctor cure her. Alone on stage the doctor says he wishes he could escape Dunsinane!

Question 27

What happens in Act 5, Scene 4?

Answer 27

Malcolm’s army camouflage themselves with branches from Birnam wood and advance on Macbeth’s castle!

Question 28

What happens in Act 5, Scene 5?

Answer 28

Lady Macbeth dies. Macbeth pauses briefly to mourn her before mocking life itself, calling it “a tale / Told by an idiot”. This shows Macbeth’s increasing sense of defeat. Macbeth learns that Birnam wood is moving towards Dunsinane and he begins to “doubt th’equivocation” of the witches. Nonetheless, Macbeth refuses to die without a fight!

Question 29

What happens in Act 5, Scene 6?

Answer 29

Malcolm, Siward and Macduff prepare to attack.

Question 30

What happens in Act 5, Scene 7?

Answer 30

Macbeth kills Young Siward.

Question 31

What happens in Act 5, Scene 8?

Answer 31

Macduff finds Macbeth and they fight to the death. Macduff kills Macbeth.

Question 32

What happens in Act 5, Scene 9?

Answer 32

Macduff returns with Macbeth’s severed head and declares Malcolm the rightful king of Scotland.