edMe Reading app for Wizard of Oz(TM). It has high-quality formative questions to ensure that your student gets the most out of this great book.
"Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red."
Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 75–78
"Within this hour at most
I will advise you where to plant yourselves…"
Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 141–142
What does "plant" mean in this sentence?
| 1) | What is the main idea of Act 3? |
| 4) | Macbeth tells the murderers:
"Within this hour at most What does "plant" mean in this sentence? |
| 5) | Macbeth says,
"Ere we will eat our meal in fear and sleep What does "affliction" mean in this sentence? |
| 6) | Macbeth says:
"You know your own degrees, sit down: at first What does "degrees" mean in this sentence? |
| 7) | Why does Macbeth hire murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance? |
| 8) | What does Macbeth tell the murderers to make them eager to kill Banquo? |
| 10) | Which of the following statements describes Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 3? |
| 11) | What does Lady Macbeth mean in this quote?
"O proper stuff! |
| 12) | Macbeth acts strangely at the banquet.
How does Lady Macbeth explain his behavior to the banquet guests? |
| 13) | What does Macbeth reveal to Lady Macbeth in the quote below?
"There's not a one of them but in his house |
| 14) | What does Macbeth mean in his quote below?
"I am in blood |
| 15) | Why does Macbeth want to go to see the witches? |
| 16) | Which word best describes the tone of Lennox's speech? |
| 17) | Where has Macduff gone at the end of Act 3? |
| 18) | Were there any events that weren't clear to you? |
"…but there's no bottom, none,
In my voluptuousness: your wives, your daughters,
Your matrons and your maids, could not fill up
The cistern of my lust, and my desire
All continent impediments would o'erbear
That did oppose my will. Better Macbeth,
Than such an one to reign."
Act 4, Scene 3, Lines 61–66
"Foul whisp'rings are abroad: unnatural deeds
Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets:"
Act 5, Scene 1, Lines 79–81
What does "discharge" mean in this passage?
ACT 2, SCENE 1
Setting: Inverness. Court within the castle.
Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE, bearing a torch before them.
| BANQUO | How goes the night, boy? | |
| FLEANCE | The moon is down; I have not heard the clock. | |
| BANQUO | And she goes down at twelve. | |
| FLEANCE | I take't, 'tis later, sir. | |
| BANQUO | Hold, take my sword. There's husbandry in heaven; | |
| Their candles are all out. Take thee that too. | ||
| A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, | ||
| And yet I would not sleep: merciful powers, | ||
| Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature | ||
| Gives way to in repose! | ||
| Enter MACBETH, and a Servant with a torch. | ||
| Give me my sword. | ||
| Who's there? | 10 | |
| MACBETH | A friend. | |
| BANQUO | What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a–bed: | |
| He hath been in unusual pleasure, and | ||
| Sent forth great largess to your offices. | ||
| This diamond he greets your wife withal, | ||
| By the name of most kind hostess; and shut up | ||
| In measureless content. | ||
| MACBETH | Being unprepared | |
| Our will became the servant to defect | ||
| Which else should free have wrought. | ||
| BANQUO | All's well. | |
| I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters: | 20 | |
| To you they have show'd some truth. | ||
| MACBETH | I think not of them: | |
| Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve, | ||
| We would spend it in some words upon that business, | ||
| If you would grant the time. | ||
| BANQUO | At your kind'st leisure. | |
| MACBETH | If you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tis, | |
| It shall make honour for you. | ||
| BANQUO | So I lose none | |
| In seeking to augment it, but still keep | ||
| My bosom franchised and allegiance clear, | ||
| I shall be counsell'd. | ||
| MACBETH | Good repose the while! | |
| BANQUO | Thanks, sir: the like to you! | 30 |
| Exeunt BANQUO and FLEANCE. | ||
| MACBETH | Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready, | |
| She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed. | ||
| Exit Servant. | ||
| Is this a dagger which I see before me, | ||
| The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. | ||
| I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. | ||
| Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible | ||
| To feeling as to sight? or art thou but | ||
| A dagger of the mind, a false creation, | ||
| Proceeding from the heat–oppressed brain? | ||
| I see thee yet, in form as palpable | 40 | |
| As this which now I draw. | ||
| Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going; | ||
| And such an instrument I was to use. | ||
| Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses, | ||
| Or else worth all the rest; I see thee still, | ||
| And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, | ||
| Which was not so before. There's no such thing: | ||
| It is the bloody business which informs | ||
| Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one halfworld | ||
| Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse | 50 | |
| The curtain'd sleep; witchcraft celebrates | ||
| Pale Hecate's offerings, and wither'd murder, | ||
| Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf, | ||
| Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace. | ||
| With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design | ||
| Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm–set earth, | ||
| Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear | ||
| Thy very stones prate of my whereabout, | ||
| And take the present horror from the time, | ||
| Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives: | 60 | |
| Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives. | ||
| A bell rings. | ||
| I go, and it is done; the bell invites me. | ||
| Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell | ||
| That summons thee to heaven or to hell. | ||
| Exit. |
"Ere we will eat our meal in fear and sleep
In the affliction of these terrible dreams
That shake us nightly…"
Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 17–18
What does "affliction" mean in this sentence?
ACT 4, SCENE 1
Setting: A cavern. In the middle, a boiling cauldron.
[Thunder. Enter the three Witches]
| First Witch | Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd. | |
| Second Witch | Thrice and once the hedge–pig whined. | |
| Third Witch | Harpier cries 'Tis time, 'tis time. | |
| First Witch | Round about the cauldron go; | |
| In the poison'd entrails throw. | ||
| Toad, that under cold stone | ||
| Days and nights has thirty–one | ||
| Swelter'd venom sleeping got, | ||
| Boil thou first i' the charmed pot. | ||
| ALL | Double, double toil and trouble; | 10 |
| Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. | ||
| Second Witch | Fillet of a fenny snake, | |
| In the cauldron boil and bake; | ||
| Eye of newt and toe of frog, | ||
| Wool of bat and tongue of dog, | ||
| Adder's fork and blind–worm's sting, | ||
| Lizard's leg and owlet's wing, | ||
| For a charm of powerful trouble, | ||
| Like a hell–broth boil and bubble. | ||
| ALL | Double, double toil and trouble; | 20 |
| Fire burn and cauldron bubble. | ||
| Third Witch | Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf, | |
| Witches' mummy, maw and gulf | ||
| Of the ravin'd salt–sea shark, | ||
| Root of hemlock digg'd i' the dark, | ||
| Liver of blaspheming Jew, | ||
| Gall of goat, and slips of yew | ||
| Silver'd in the moon's eclipse, | ||
| Nose of Turk and Tartar's lips, | ||
| Finger of birth–strangled babe | 30 | |
| Ditch–deliver'd by a drab, | ||
| Make the gruel thick and slab: | ||
| Add thereto a tiger's chaudron, | ||
| For the ingredients of our cauldron. | ||
| ALL | Double, double toil and trouble; | |
| Fire burn and cauldron bubble. | ||
| Second Witch | Cool it with a baboon's blood, | |
| Then the charm is firm and good. | ||
[Enter HECATE to the other three Witches]
| HECATE | O well done! I commend your pains; | |
| And every one shall share i' the gains; | 40 | |
| And now about the cauldron sing, | ||
| Live elves and fairies in a ring, | ||
| Enchanting all that you put in. | ||
[Music and a song: 'Black spirits,' &c]
[HECATE retires]
| Second Witch | By the pricking of my thumbs, | |
| Something wicked this way comes. | ||
| Open, locks, | ||
| Whoever knocks! | ||
| [Enter MACBETH] | ||
| MACBETH | How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags! | |
| What is't you do? | ||
| ALL | A deed without a name. | |
| MACBETH | I conjure you, by that which you profess, | 50 |
| Howe'er you come to know it, answer me: | ||
| Though you untie the winds and let them fight | ||
| Against the churches; though the yesty waves | ||
| Confound and swallow navigation up; | ||
| Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down; | ||
| Though castles topple on their warders' heads; | ||
| Though palaces and pyramids do slope | ||
| Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure | ||
| Of nature's germens tumble all together, | ||
| Even till destruction sicken; answer me | 60 | |
| To what I ask you. | ||
| First Witch | Speak. | |
| Second Witch | Demand. | |
| Third Witch | We'll answer. | |
| First Witch | Say, if thou'dst rather hear it from our mouths, | |
| Or from our masters? | ||
| MACBETH | Call 'em; let me see 'em. | |
| First Witch | Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten | |
| Her nine farrow; grease that's sweaten | ||
| From the murderer's gibbet throw | ||
| Into the flame. | ||
| ALL | Come, high or low; | |
| Thyself and office deftly show! | ||
[Thunder. First Apparition: an armed Head]
| MACBETH | Tell me, thou unknown power,–– | |
| First Witch | He knows thy thought: | |
| Hear his speech, but say thou nought. | 70 | |
| First Apparition | Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; | |
| Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough. | ||
| [Descends] | ||
| MACBETH | Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks; | |
| Thou hast harp'd my fear aright: but one | ||
| word more,–– | ||
| First Witch | He will not be commanded: here's another, | |
| More potent than the first. | ||
[Thunder. Second Apparition: A bloody Child]
| Second Apparition | Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! | |
| MACBETH | Had I three ears, I'ld hear thee. | |
| Second Apparition | Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn | |
| The power of man, for none of woman born | 80 | |
| Shall harm Macbeth. | ||
| [Descends] | ||
| MACBETH | Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? | |
| But yet I'll make assurance double sure, | ||
| And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live; | ||
| That I may tell pale–hearted fear it lies, | ||
| And sleep in spite of thunder. | ||
[Thunder. Third Apparition: a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand ]
| What is this | ||
| That rises like the issue of a king, | ||
| And wears upon his baby–brow the round | ||
| And top of sovereignty? | ||
| ALL | Listen, but speak not to't. | |
| Third Apparition | Be lion–mettled, proud; and take no care | 90 |
| Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: | ||
| Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until | ||
| Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill | ||
| Shall come against him. | ||
| [Descends] | ||
| MACBETH | That will never be | |
| Who can impress the forest, bid the tree | ||
| Unfix his earth–bound root? Sweet bodements! good! | ||
| Rebellion's head, rise never till the wood | ||
| Of Birnam rise, and our high–placed Macbeth | ||
| Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath | ||
| To time and mortal custom. Yet my heart | 100 | |
| Throbs to know one thing: tell me, if your art | ||
| Can tell so much: shall Banquo's issue ever | ||
| Reign in this kingdom? | ||
| ALL | Seek to know no more. | |
| MACBETH | I will be satisfied: deny me this, | |
| And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know. | ||
| Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this? | ||
| [Hautboys] | ||
| First Witch | Show! | |
| Second Witch | Show! | |
| Third Witch | Show! | |
| ALL | Show his eyes, and grieve his heart; | 110 |
| Come like shadows, so depart! | ||
[A show of Eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand; GHOST OF BANQUO following]
| MACBETH | Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo: down! | |
| Thy crown does sear mine eye–balls. And thy hair, | ||
| Thou other gold–bound brow, is like the first. | ||
| A third is like the former. Filthy hags! | ||
| Why do you show me this? A fourth! Start, eyes! | ||
| What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom? | ||
| Another yet! A seventh! I'll see no more: | ||
| And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass | ||
| Which shows me many more; and some I see | 120 | |
| That two–fold balls and treble scepters carry: | ||
| Horrible sight! Now, I see, 'tis true; | ||
| For the blood–bolter'd Banquo smiles upon me, | ||
| And points at them for his. | ||
| [Apparitions vanish] | ||
| What, is this so? | ||
| First Witch | Ay, sir, all this is so: but why | |
| Stands Macbeth thus amazedly? | ||
| Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites, | ||
| And show the best of our delights: | ||
| I'll charm the air to give a sound, | ||
| While you perform your antic round: | 130 | |
| That this great king may kindly say, | ||
| Our duties did his welcome pay. | ||
[Music. The witches dance and then vanish, with HECATE]
| MACBETH | Where are they? Gone? Let this pernicious hour | |
| Stand aye accursed in the calendar! | ||
| Come in, without there! | ||
| [Enter LENNOX] | ||
| LENNOX | What's your grace's will? | |
| MACBETH | Saw you the weird sisters? | |
| LENNOX | No, my lord. | |
| MACBETH | Came they not by you? | |
| LENNOX | No, indeed, my lord. | |
| MACBETH | Infected be the air whereon they ride; | |
| And damn'd all those that trust them! I did hear | ||
| The galloping of horse: who was't came by? | 140 | |
| LENNOX | Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word | |
| Macduff is fled to England. | ||
| MACBETH | Fled to England! | |
| LENNOX | Ay, my good lord. | |
| MACBETH | Time, thou anticipatest my dread exploits: | |
| The flighty purpose never is o'ertook | ||
| Unless the deed go with it; from this moment | ||
| The very firstlings of my heart shall be | ||
| The firstlings of my hand. And even now, | ||
| To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done: | ||
| The castle of Macduff I will surprise; | 150 | |
| Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword | ||
| His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls | ||
| That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; | ||
| This deed I'll do before this purpose cool. | ||
| But no more sights!––Where are these gentlemen? | ||
| Come, bring me where they are. | ||
| [Exeunt] |
"With this there grows
In my most ill–composed affection such
A stanchless avarice that, were I king,
I should cut off the nobles for their lands,
Desire his jewels and this other's house,
And my more–having would be as a sauce
To make me hunger more, that I should forge
Quarrels unjust against the good and loyal,
Destroying them for wealth."
Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 75–84
