Macbeth Quotes with analysis

Question 1

Act 1
For _____ Macbeth- well he _______ that name

Answer 1

For brave Macbeth- well he deserves that name

Question 2

“Look like the innocent __ but be the __ underneath” (lady macbeth)

Answer 2

“Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent underneath” (lady macbeth)

Question 3

Act 1
Cannot be ill, cannot be _____, if ill then why hath it given me the earnest of _______ commencing in a ____ (Macbeth)

Answer 3

Act 1
Cannot be ill, cannot be good, if I’ll then why hath it given me the earnest of success commencing in a truth (Macbeth)

Question 4

Act 1
When you _____ do it, then you were a ___ (Lady Macbeth to Macbeth)

Answer 4

Act 1
When you durst do it, then you were a man (Lady Macbeth to Macbeth)

Question 5

Act 1
Art not without ________ but without the _______ should ______ it (Lady Macbeth)

Answer 5

Act 1
Art not without ambition but without the illness should attend it (Lady Macbeth)

Question 6

We will not _______ further in this ________ (_______)

Answer 6

We will not proceed further in this business (Macbeth)

Question 7

Act 1
Stars hide your _____ let not _____ see my ______ and deep _______ (Macbeth)

Answer 7

Act 1
Stars hide you fires let not light see my black and deep desired (Macbeth)

• this quote is saying that Macbeth cannot express his “desires” (of killing duncan and becoming king) he needs to keep it an utmost secret
• personification. Stars are presented as entities that can “hide” things

Question 8

Act 1
Look like the ________ ______ but be the _______ under ‘t (Macbeth)

Answer 8

Act 1
Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under ‘t (Macbeth)

Question 9

Act 2
Is this a ______ which I ___ before me (Macbeth)

Answer 9

Act 2
Is this a dagger which I see before me (Macbeth)

Question 10

Act 2
Will all ________ _____ wash this _____ off my hands (Macbeth)

Answer 10

Act 2
Will all Neptune’s ocean wash this blood of my hands (Macbeth)

Question 11

Act 2
A little ______ clears us of this _____ (Lady Macbeth)

Answer 11

Act 2
A little water clears us of this deed (Lady Macbeth)

Question 12

Act 1 “Come you __, that tend on mortal thoughts, __ me here” (lady macbeth)

Answer 12

“Come you spirits, that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here” (lady macbeth)

Question 13

“All the perfumes of __ will not __ this little hand” (lady macbeth)

Answer 13

“All the perfumes of arabia will not sweeten this little hand” (lady macbeth)

This is a contrast as to when she was commanding and emasculating
“Perfume” is used to mask scents much like lady macbeth is attempting to mask her guilt

Question 14

“O full of __ is my mind, dear __” (macbeth)

Answer 14

“O full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife” (macbeth)

Question 15

“My __ is too much charged with __ of thine already” (__ before his fight with macduff)

Answer 15

“My soul is too much charged with blood of thine already” (macbeth before his fight with macduff)

Question 16

What is macbeths hamartia

Answer 16

His unchecked ambition

Question 17

What methods does Shakespeare use

Answer 17

Foreshadowing irony
Motifs :Sleep blood hallucinations light and dark

Question 18

How does Macbeth say that the crown is not secure ‘we have s—- the snake, not k—- it’ act 3 sc 1

Answer 18

‘We have scorch’d the snake, not killed it.’ (More murder is necessary)

Question 19

Summarise act 1

Answer 19

A1 The Witches meet and plan to confront Macbeth.witches give prophecies
Lady Macbeth reads his letter and calls on evil spirits to “unsex” her.
• Macbeth returns; they plot Duncan’s murder.
• Macbeth wavers, but Lady Macbeth manipulates him into agreeing.

Question 20

Summarise act 2

Answer 20

Regicide and Rising Guilt
• Macbeth hallucinates the dagger leading him to Duncan.
• Macbeth kills King Duncan in his sleep.
• Lady Macbeth plants the bloody daggers on Duncan’s guards.
• Macduff discovers the body; Macbeth kills the guards to cover up.
• Malcolm and Donalbain flee

Question 21

Summarise act 3

Answer 21

Paranoia and Tyranny
• Macbeth fears Banquo due to the prophecy about Banquo’s descendants.
• He hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance.
• Banquo is murdered, but Fleance escapes.
• Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost at a banquet, causing a public outburst.
• Lady Macbeth tries to calm him, but his mental instability worsens.
• Macduff goes to England to seek help from Malcolm to overthrow Macbeth.

Question 22

Summarise act 4

Answer 22

Act 4 – Overconfidence and Brutality
• Macbeth visits the Witches again — they show three apparitions:
1. Beware Macduff.
2. None born of woman shall harm Macbeth.
3. He won’t be defeated until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane.
• He becomes overconfident.
• Macbeth has Macduff’s family murdered, showing his growing cruelty.

Question 23

Summarise act 5

Answer 23

Downfall and Justice
• Lady Macbeth, overcome with guilt, sleepwalks and imagines blood on her hands.
• The English army approaches, camouflaged with branches from Birnam Wood — the prophecy begins to come true.
• Lady Macbeth dies, likely by suicide.
• Macbeth still believes he’s invincible, but Macduff reveals he was born by Caesarean section — “not of woman born.”
• Macduff kills Macbeth, and Malcolm becomes king, restoring order.

Question 24

Act 1 soliloquy ‘I have no s—-… but only v—- ambition

Answer 24

“I have no spur… but only / Vaulting ambition”

Question 25

Who is Macbeth speaking to? Act 3 “never s—- / thy g— locks at me’

Answer 25

“Never shake / Thy gory locks at me” banquos ghost

Question 26

Act 4- “none of w—- born shall h—- Macbeth”

Answer 26

“None of woman born shall harm Macbeth” Creates a false sense of security

Question 27

Act 4- who says “Something w—— this way comes”

Answer 27

“Something wicked this way comes” The witches, addressing Macbeth. Ironic even the witches call him evil

Question 28

Act 4- another prophecy “until/great B——- wood to high D——- hill/ shall come against him”

Answer 28

“until / Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill / Shall come against him.”

Question 29

What does this quote show about what Macbeth has become? “The castle of M—— I will s——… and give to th’ edge o’ th’ s——/ his wife, his b—-“

Answer 29

“The castle of Macduff I will surprise… and give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword / His wife, his babes” Reveals Macbeth’s ruthlessness and descent into tyranny

Question 30

‘Sleep no more’ ‘Macbeth h—- m—— sleep”

Answer 30

“Sleep no more! Macbeth hath murdered sleep!” insinuating that Macbeth has now killed his peace, and will be forever in his state of guilt. 'Murder' indicates not only was the action intentional, but it was done brutally and with voilence, which macbeth now feels remorse for.

Question 31

Act 5 “ a tale told by an i—-“ what does this mean from Macbeth’s perspective

Answer 31

“ a tale told by an idiot” he is suggesting that his fate is a script that has been written by God showing his disbelief and rejection of Christianity. -would’ve been shocking to Jacobean audience.

Question 32

Act 5 Who says “Out, damned ——!”

Answer 32

Lady Macbeth, she cannot get a spot of blood off. Her hands shown her guilt consuming her.

Question 33

Act 5 “This dead b—— and his f——-like queen” – Malcolm

Answer 33

“This dead butcher and his fiend-like queen” – Malcolm shows the restoration of natural order Final judgment on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

Question 34

Act 1 scene 1 Fair is _____, and _____ is fair. (The witches)

Answer 34

Fair is foul, and foul is fair. (The witches) [This literally means “good is bad and bad is good”.] The use of opposites here in this contradictory statement shows that all is not what it seems, and highlights the witches’ role in the confusion, chaos and disorder that are present from the start of the play. The alliteration here serves to emphasise this theme.

Question 35

Act 1 scene 2 For brave ______ – well he _______ that name

Answer 35

For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name The effect of the adjective “brave”, serves to emphasise others’ high opinions of Macbeth at the beginning of the play, and Macbeth’s use of violence in battle for positive ends, i.e. to defend his country. This contrasts with Macbeth’s misuse of violence for his own selfish ends later in the play and with his later being referred to as a “tyrant”.

Question 36

Act 1 scene 2 Till unseam’d him from the ____ to th’ _____

Answer 36

Till unseam’d him from the nave to th’ chaps In addition to highlighting Macbeth’s bravery in battle and his allegiance to his country at the beginning of the play, the decapitation of Macdonald foreshadows Macbeth’s own death at Macduff’s hands at the end of the play.

Question 37

Act 1 scene 2 _______ bridegroom (Ross, talking about Macbeth)

Answer 37

Bellona’s bridegroom (Ross, talking about Macbeth) Bellona is the Roman goddess of war so this description of Macbeth highlights his bravery in battle. It could be argued, however, that the description of Macbeth as “Bellona’s bridegroom” rather than as Mars [Roman god of war] himself hints at the role that Lady Macbeth will play in the decision to kill Duncan, suggesting that Macbeth is in thrall to her and acting as an early indication of his manipulability.

Question 38

Act 1 scene 3 So ____ and ____ a day I have not seen. (Macbeth)

Answer 38

So foul and fair a day I have not seen. (Macbeth) These are Macbeth’s first words and are an echo of the witches’ words in scene 1 (“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”). This further highlights the chaos and disorder that are about to be unleashed and immediately links Macbeth with the witches, associating him with evil and hinting at what is to come.

Question 39

Act 1 scene 3 And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, / The instruments of ________ tell us ______, / Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s / In deepest consequence. (Banquo)

Answer 39

And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, / The instruments of darkness tell us truths, / Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s / In deepest consequence. (Banquo) The noun “darkness” is used here to emphasise the evil nature of the witches, as dark is associated with evil. The juxtaposition of the verbs “win” and “betray” demonstrates the witches’ manipulativeness and untrustworthiness – that they pretend to be presenting something that will be positive for the hearer but the prophecies turn out to be not what they seem, which leads to the hearer being tricked by the witches. Banquo’s untrusting and sceptical attitude towards the witches contrasts sharply with that of Macbeth and demonstrates that he would make a much worthier king than Macbeth. The fact that he refers to the “deepest consequence” of the witches’ manipulation shows that he understands how terrible the consequences of being taken in by the witches would be, with the superlative “deepest” emphasising the extent of the potential repercussions.

Question 40

Act 1 scene 4 This supernatural soliciting / ______ be ill, cannot be _____. If ill, / Why hath it given me earnest of _____ / Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor: / If good, why do I yield to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth _____ my ____ / And make my seated heart_____ at my _____, / Against the use of nature? (Macbeth)

Answer 40

This supernatural soliciting / Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, / Why hath it given me earnest of success / Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor: / If good, why do I yield to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, / Against the use of nature? (Macbeth) The contrast between the antonyms “ill” and “good” demonstrates Macbeth’s confusion here – unlike Banquo, he does not realise that the witches are trying to “win” him with something that “cannot be ill”, nor does he realise that the fear he feels at the thought of that which “cannot be good” is a sign that they are also intending to “betray” him. Furthermore, the repetition of “cannot be” also highlights Macbeth’s confusion. In conjunction with the two questions he asks himself (“If ill […]? If good […]?”), the impression that is created is one of a man who lacks the clarity of thought to make the right decision, namely to not act upon the prophecies that he has heard.

Question 41

Act 1 scene 4 There’s no art / To find the mind’s construction in the face. /He was a gentleman on whom I built / An absolute _____ (Duncan)

Answer 41

There’s no art / To find the mind’s construction in the face. /He was a gentleman on whom I built / An absolute trust (Duncan) The juxtaposition of the nouns “mind” and “face” emphasises the contrast between appearance and reality, suggesting that it is not possible to tell what someone is thinking by looking at their face. (This links with “Look like th’ innocent flower / But be the serpent under ’t”.) Duncan trusts the original Thane of Cawdor who then betrays him. The use of the adjective “absolute” to describe that trust emphasises the extent to which he trusted him. The tragedy here is that the new Thane of Cawdor (Macbeth) also betrays Duncan. This leads Malcolm to test Macduff’s loyalty (Act 4 Scene 3) to ensure that he avoids betrayal.

Question 42

Act 1 scene 5 Yet I do fear thy nature; / It is too full o' the ____of human ______ / To catch the nearest way; thou wouldst be great, / Art not without _______; but without / The illness should attend it. (Lady Macbeth)

Answer 42

Yet I do fear thy nature; / It is too full o' the milk of human kindness / To catch the nearest way; thou wouldst be great, / Art not without ambition; but without / The illness should attend it. (Lady Macbeth) Here, Lady Macbeth acknowledges Macbeth’s “ambition” but laments the absence of “illness” [used here to mean wickedness] that is needed to realise that ambition. The juxtaposition of the prepositional phrases “not without ambition” and “without the illness” highlights the fact that Macbeth’s ambition alone is not enough for them to achieve what they want: he needs to also be cruel and ruthless, and it is Lady Macbeth’s task to use her own persuasive powers to bring out these qualities.

Question 43

Act 1 scene 5 Hie thee ______, / That I may pour my spirits in thine ____/ And chastise with the valor of my ______ (Lady Macbeth)

Answer 43

Hie thee hither, / That I may pour my spirits in thine ear / And chastise with the valor of my tongue (Lady Macbeth) The juxtaposition here of “thine ear” and “my tongue”, and in particular the contrast between the possessive determiners “thine” and “my” and the body parts “ear” and “tongue”, indicates that Lady Macbeth knows that she will need to use persuasive language in order to influence Macbeth and make him carry out the murder. It also highlights the power imbalance between her and her husband: “my tongue” suggests activity on Lady Macbeth’s part, i.e. she will be doing the talking, whereas “thine ear” indicates passivity on Macbeth’s part, i.e. he will be doing the listening. This is strongly suggestive of Macbeth’s manipulability, which plays a key role in his downfall.

Question 44

Act 1 scene 7 We will ______ no further in this _______. (Macbeth)

Answer 44

We will proceed no further in this business. (Macbeth) When left to make his own decision, Macbeth decides against killing the king. This is highly significant, as the audience is left in no doubt that Macbeth’s ambition alone is not enough to make him commit regicide: it is this combined with his weak and manipulable nature, and Lady Macbeth’s exploitation of this, that leads to his committing the murder. This highlights the importance of Lady Macbeth’s role in the sequence of events.

Question 45

Act 3 scene 2 O full of _________ is my _____ (Macbeth)

Answer 45

O full of scorpions is my mind (Macbeth) The use of the metaphor here shows Macbeth’s disturbed and fearful state of mind and indicates that killing Duncan has not brought the happiness he thought it would.

Question 46

Act 5 scene 3 That which should accompany old age, /As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have, but in their stead / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honor, breath / Which the poor heart would fain deny and dare not. (Macbeth)

Answer 46

That which should accompany old age, /As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have, but in their stead / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honor, breath / Which the poor heart would fain deny and dare not. (Macbeth) The contrast here between the list of things that Macbeth should have been able to enjoy in old age and the list of things he now has instead serves to highlight all that he has lost in committing regicide. In particular, the juxtaposition of “honor” and “mouth-honor” suggests that he has lost the genuine respect of his friends and now only has people paying lip-service to him. The emphasis on what he has lost serves as a warning to others considering regicide.

Question 47

Act 5 scene 8 And be these juggling _____no more ______ (Macbeth)

Answer 47

And be these juggling fiends no more believed (Macbeth) Here, Macbeth finally realises that he has been manipulated and tricked by the witches. The use of the metaphor “juggling” emphasises the deliberate manipulation and trickery to which Macbeth has fallen victim. His use of the noun “fiends” to refer to the witches indicates that he has finally realised their true nature. Structurally, the positioning of this realisation is highly significant, coming as it does in the very last scene of the play: this contrasts with Banquo’s clear-headed understanding of the true nature of the witches, which is made clear right at the start of the play when Macbeth and Banquo first meet the witches.