Drama: Act II – Macbeth

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, Macbeth declares he will “sleep no more” because he believes
a.
he will now become a fugitive.
c.
he will not have sweet dreams.
b.
his conscience will never let him rest.
d.
he will soon die.
B

To creep through the castle without awakening anyone, Macbeth’s footsteps must be ____ .
a.
imperial
c.
palpable
b.
multitudinous
d.
stealthy
C

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, when Lady Macbeth says “My hands are of your color, but I shame / To wear a heart so white” she means that
a.
her hands are red with King Duncan’s blood and she is ashamed.
b.
her hands are red with King Duncan’s blood and she is afraid.
c.
her hands are red with King Duncan’s blood, but, unlike her husband, she is not afraid.
d.
she will have to live with the murder of King Duncan for the rest of her life.
C

Which of the following symbols in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, Scene ii, signals that the murder has been accomplished?
a.
the knocking at the south entry
b.
the words spoken by Malcolm and Donalbain
c.
the owl’s scream and the crickets’ cries
d.
the voice Macbeth hears
C

In the Old Man’s dialogue in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, Scene iv, which of the following symbolizes King Duncan?
a.
a mousing owl
c.
a horse
b.
darkness
d.
a falcon
D

As soon as Macbeth commits murder, the weight of his conscience becomes almost ____ .
a.
stealthy
c.
palpable
b.
multitudinous
d.
augmented
C

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, Scene ii, Lady Macbeth’s purpose in drugging the servants is
a.
so they will commit King Duncan’s murder.
b.
so they will sleep through King Duncan’s murder.
c.
to erase their memory of the night.
d.
to kill them for their knowledge of the crime.
B

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, what reason does Lady Macbeth give for not killing King Duncan herself?
a.
She says that she is a woman and incapable.
b.
She says the witches’ prophesy forbids it.
c.
She says the king looked like her father as he slept.
d.
She says that her husband must do it to prove his strength.
C

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, what does Macbeth really mean when he indicates that the blood on his hands will redden all the seas?
a.
It is a comment on his profound guilt.
b.
Lady Macbeth will not be able to wash off the blood.
c.
It is a comment on his fear of being found out.
d.
He is afraid to wash the blood off his hands.
A

Why do you suppose Shakespeare made Banquo the last person Macbeth sees before he murders King Duncan in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II?
a.
Banquo, who is loyal to the king, represents Macbeth’s last chance to do what is right and call off his murderous plan.
b.
Banquo and Macbeth have both heard the witches’ prophesies and Banquo probably knows what Macbeth is about to do.
c.
Shakespeare needed a bit of comic relief in the scene.
d.
Shakespeare needed to introduce the character of Fleance, who accompanies Banquo in the scene.
A