Tuesday

 MACBETH: ACT II Questions

Scene i

1) Who says the following: “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 away in repose.” What is significant about the quote? How has the atmosphere of the castle been changed?



2) Why does Banquo mention his dream of the Weird Sisters? Hint: Ironically this is his last dream.


3) What does Macbeth say he and Banquo will talk about later in private?


4) Reread lines 42-70. Briefly summarize what Macbeth is saying in this soliloquy.


5) How does the illusion of the dagger play into the mindset of either witchcraft or Macbeth losing it.

Scene ii

1) What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, “That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold”?


2) Symbolically what does the fatal bellman toll? More than one thing here. And who is the fatal bellmen—the one Lady Macbeth hears?


3) How do you read the lines, “Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done ‘t.” What does this say about Lady Macbeth?


4) Sleep is an important symbol in this play. Please keep a list of all the times (with line numbers) that sleep is mentioned in Act II. Attach and turn this list in with these questions.

5) What is meant when Macbeth says, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep”?


6) Why is Lady Macbeth upset with Macbeth towards the end of scene ii?


7) What is symbolic about the knocking that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hear?


8) What does Lady Macbeth say about washing of hands at the end of the scene? Do you believe her?


Scene iii

1) How is the Porter a humorous character? What does he say about drink? How does he metaphorical set the atmosphere of the scene?


2) Who is at the gates? (more than 1 person)



3) What does Macduff mean when he says, “Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!”?


4) How does Macbeth react to the news of the king’s murder? How does Lady Macbeth react?
5) Where do Donalbain and Malcolm decide to go? Why?


Scene iv

1) What is meant by the old man when he says, “On Tuesday last, a falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place, was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed”? What is symbolically suggested here? Hint: Relate the birds to scene ii.


2) What does Macduff say about Malcolm and Donalbain?

3) What does Macduff say about Macbeth?

4) What is meant by the line, “Lest our old robes sit easier than our new”?

5) Why doesn’t Macduff go to the coronation?