This GCSE English Literature quiz tests your knowledge of the characters in William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth. Although this play has a reasonably large number of roles, many of the scenes are dominated by Macbeth or his wife, leaving important figures such as Malcolm, Donalbain, and even Macduff apparently on the sidelines at times. The dramatis personae include the King, his sons, the Witches, Banquo and Fleance, in addition to a group of Macbeth’s fellow thanes, Lennox, Ross, Menteith, and Caithness, the hired murderers and household servants and those who oppose Macbeth’s tyrrany, especially Siward, Earl of Northumbria, and his son.
Because the play includes many minor characters as well as important figures who feature in only a few scenes, it is worth creating diagrams noting when and where these various characters appear in the play, as well as what role each plays.
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Pay close attention to the thanes who are expected to be loyal to the King, however he has gained his position. Are they implicated in Macbeth’s murders, too? What happens to anyone who opposes him?
Characterisation in drama is created through speech, actions and interaction with other characters. Gesture and costume are not described in the script, but in performance the audience of a play can understand characters better through observation of these additional details. If you can, try to watch productions of any play you study; this is an excellent way to see how its characters have been interpreted by different people. When reading Macbeth, pay close attention to asides and to any private dialogues, such as those between Macbeth and his wife, where you can learn what characters are thinking and planning. How do the two plotters in this play influence one another and overcome moments of indecision or even reluctance to carry out their plans? Who feels guilt and when?
Answer the questions below to see how well you understand the characters in Macbeth.
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1.
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Which of the following does NOT describe the King? |
|
[ ] |
Vindictive |
[ ] |
Just |
[ ] |
Firm |
[ ] |
Trusting |
|
|
2.
|
How does Macbeth respond when the King formally names him Thane of Cawdor? |
|
[ ] |
He is grateful and content to have achieved his goals |
[ ] |
He is grateful but later begins to long for greater glory |
[ ] |
He begins thinking of overcoming obstacles to the throne |
[ ] |
He refuses the honour |
|
|
3.
|
As Lady Macbeth prepares to help her husband in his treachery against the King, she says: "Make thick my blood, / Stop up th'access and passage to remorse, / That no compunctious visitings of nature / Shake my fell purpose." What is she requesting? |
|
[ ] |
She has a medical complaint from which she wishes to be healed |
[ ] |
She wishes to become unaffected by "soft" emotions |
[ ] |
She wishes to be protected from violent behaviour |
[ ] |
She wishes to become more natural in her behaviour |
|
|
4.
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Which of the following is correct? |
|
[ ] |
Macbeth shows a greater willingness to believe and trust in the witches and their prophecies than Banquo, who questions their reality |
[ ] |
Banquo shows a greater willingness to believe and trust in the witches and their prophecies than Macbeth, who questions their reality |
[ ] |
Macbeth and Banquo demonstrate an equal willingness to believe and trust in the witches |
[ ] |
Neither Macbeth nor Banquo trust in the reality of the witches or believe their prophecies |
|
|
5.
|
Macbeth justifies killing the suspected murderers of the King, saying: "Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious, / Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man. / The expedition of my violent love / Outran the pauser, reason." What does he mean? |
|
[ ] |
He is not wise, temperate, loyal or loving |
[ ] |
He is not like other men |
[ ] |
He is always wise, temperate, loyal and loving |
[ ] |
It is not possible for any man to be wise, amazed, temperate, furious, loyal and neutral at the same time |
|
|
6.
|
Who is portrayed as fatally abandoning his responsibilities in order to preserve his own life? |
|
[ ] |
Ross |
[ ] |
Lennox |
[ ] |
Macduff |
[ ] |
Fleance |
|
|
7.
|
"Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, / As the weïrd women promised, and I fear / Thou played'st most foully for't. Yet it was said / It should not stand in thy prosperity." What do Banquo's words tell us of his character? |
|
[ ] |
He mistrusts Macbeth and harbours his own ambitions |
[ ] |
He mistrusts Macbeth but intends to see that Macbeth's heirs inherit the throne |
[ ] |
He trusts Macbeth and hopes to achieve his own ambitions with Macbeth's help |
[ ] |
He trusts Macbeth and holds no ambitions of his own |
|
|
8.
|
What does Lady Macbeth's handwashing tell us about how she is affected by the murder of the King? |
|
[ ] |
She feels guilty and is convinced that the people will punish her |
[ ] |
She feels guilty while at the same time believing herself to be above blame |
[ ] |
She does not feel guilty, but is afraid of vengeance from beyond the grave |
[ ] |
She does not feel guilty and is afraid of nothing |
|
|
9.
|
Malcolm urges Macduff to avenge the deaths of his wife and children, turning his grief into anger. How does Macduff respond? |
|
[ ] |
He is silent |
[ ] |
He insists that it is unmanly to seek revenge |
[ ] |
He insists that it is unmanly to express grief |
[ ] |
He insists that he must first fully feel and express his grief |
|
|
10.
|
Who does Macbeth claim he has avoided meeting in battle? |
|
[ ] |
Siward |
[ ] |
Macduff |
[ ] |
Malcolm |
[ ] |
Menteith |
|
|
1.
|
Which of the following does NOT describe the King? |
|
[x] |
Vindictive |
[ ] |
Just |
[ ] |
Firm |
[ ] |
Trusting |
|
|
2.
|
How does Macbeth respond when the King formally names him Thane of Cawdor? |
|
[ ] |
He is grateful and content to have achieved his goals |
[ ] |
He is grateful but later begins to long for greater glory |
[x] |
He begins thinking of overcoming obstacles to the throne |
[ ] |
He refuses the honour |
|
|
3.
|
As Lady Macbeth prepares to help her husband in his treachery against the King, she says: "Make thick my blood, / Stop up th'access and passage to remorse, / That no compunctious visitings of nature / Shake my fell purpose." What is she requesting? |
|
[ ] |
She has a medical complaint from which she wishes to be healed |
[x] |
She wishes to become unaffected by "soft" emotions |
[ ] |
She wishes to be protected from violent behaviour |
[ ] |
She wishes to become more natural in her behaviour |
|
|
4.
|
Which of the following is correct? |
|
[x] |
Macbeth shows a greater willingness to believe and trust in the witches and their prophecies than Banquo, who questions their reality |
[ ] |
Banquo shows a greater willingness to believe and trust in the witches and their prophecies than Macbeth, who questions their reality |
[ ] |
Macbeth and Banquo demonstrate an equal willingness to believe and trust in the witches |
[ ] |
Neither Macbeth nor Banquo trust in the reality of the witches or believe their prophecies |
|
|
5.
|
Macbeth justifies killing the suspected murderers of the King, saying: "Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious, / Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man. / The expedition of my violent love / Outran the pauser, reason." What does he mean? |
|
[ ] |
He is not wise, temperate, loyal or loving |
[ ] |
He is not like other men |
[ ] |
He is always wise, temperate, loyal and loving |
[x] |
It is not possible for any man to be wise, amazed, temperate, furious, loyal and neutral at the same time |
|
|
6.
|
Who is portrayed as fatally abandoning his responsibilities in order to preserve his own life? |
|
[ ] |
Ross |
[ ] |
Lennox |
[x] |
Macduff |
[ ] |
Fleance |
|
|
7.
|
"Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, / As the weïrd women promised, and I fear / Thou played'st most foully for't. Yet it was said / It should not stand in thy prosperity." What do Banquo's words tell us of his character? |
|
[x] |
He mistrusts Macbeth and harbours his own ambitions |
[ ] |
He mistrusts Macbeth but intends to see that Macbeth's heirs inherit the throne |
[ ] |
He trusts Macbeth and hopes to achieve his own ambitions with Macbeth's help |
[ ] |
He trusts Macbeth and holds no ambitions of his own |
|
|
8.
|
What does Lady Macbeth's handwashing tell us about how she is affected by the murder of the King? |
|
[ ] |
She feels guilty and is convinced that the people will punish her |
[x] |
She feels guilty while at the same time believing herself to be above blame |
[ ] |
She does not feel guilty, but is afraid of vengeance from beyond the grave |
[ ] |
She does not feel guilty and is afraid of nothing |
|
|
9.
|
Malcolm urges Macduff to avenge the deaths of his wife and children, turning his grief into anger. How does Macduff respond? |
|
[ ] |
He is silent |
[ ] |
He insists that it is unmanly to seek revenge |
[ ] |
He insists that it is unmanly to express grief |
[x] |
He insists that he must first fully feel and express his grief |
|
|
10.
|
Who does Macbeth claim he has avoided meeting in battle? |
|
[ ] |
Siward |
[x] |
Macduff |
[ ] |
Malcolm |
[ ] |
Menteith |
|
|