This GCSE English Literature quiz tests your understanding of William Shakepeare’s Macbeth. This play was written over four hundred years ago and the form of English in which it is written is known as “Early Modern”. Sounds easy to understand, right? You have already noticed, of course, that Shakespeare’s English differs from your own. Sometimes these differences appear in the spelling, sometimes in unfamiliar words, and sometimes in the jokes. It is worth persevering with Early Modern English, however. This is certainly a case where practice helps! Reading slowly, reading sections more than once and reading aloud will all help with comprehension.
Pay close attention to the methods and techniques which have been used to convey meaning, analysing character, setting, plot, theme and dialogue.
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Comprehension of literary texts involves several different levels simultaneously, from basic understanding of plot to a more sophisticated understanding of the themes. Pay attention to events which the audience observes, and those which are only reported. In Macbeth some violent scenes are staged while others are reported by characters. Why might that be?
As when studying other types of fiction, it is a good idea to create a timeline. This will help you to remember the chronology of events and the structure of the play. Although the main events of the play are ordered chronologically, time in Macbeth is rather vague and it is not always clear how much time passes between events. Create act and scene summaries to help your revision of the text.
Take some time to analyse the beginnings and endings of acts and scenes in the play. Consider possible reasons for the play beginning as it does with the witches, rather than with Duncan or on the battlefield with Macbeth. What do we learn in the first scene? What, if anything, do we know about past events? How do we learn about characters? In what way are future events foreshadowed? Undertaking detailed analysis of this sort will boost your knowledge and understanding of the text!
Read the questions below on Macbeth and test your knowledge and understanding of the text.
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1.
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How does Duncan, King of Scotland, reward Macbeth's role in the battle against Sweno? |
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| [ ] |
He awards him the title, Thane of Cawdor |
| [ ] |
He appoints Macbeth to be his heir |
| [ ] |
He makes Macbeth King of Scotland |
| [ ] |
He rewards Macbeth by treating him with suspicion |
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2.
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From whom does Macbeth first learn he shall be the new Thane of Cawdor? |
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| [ ] |
Banquo |
| [ ] |
Duncan |
| [ ] |
Ross |
| [ ] |
The witches |
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3.
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Lady Macbeth learns of the witches' prophecy in a letter from her husband. What does she decide to do in response? |
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| [ ] |
Encourage him to be patient and hope that the prophecy comes true |
| [ ] |
Persuade her husband to act to take the crown |
| [ ] |
Discourage her husband from fruitless ambitions |
| [ ] |
Encourage her husband to attempt to win the crown by noble deeds |
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4.
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In Act Two, Scene Two, Lady Macbeth says, "My hands are of your colour." Why do the hands of Lady Macbeth come to resemble those of her husband? |
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| [ ] |
Her hands are covered with blood when she helps to murder the King |
| [ ] |
Her hands are covered with blood when she plants the bloody daggers on the grooms as incriminating evidence |
| [ ] |
Her hands are covered with blood when she murders the grooms |
| [ ] |
Macbeth does not participate in the murders; therefore Lady Macbeth's bloody hands do not resemble her husband's |
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5.
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Malcolm and Donalbain flee Macbeth's home after their father's murder. What is the effect of this action? |
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| [ ] |
Neither son can challenge Macbeth for the throne |
| [ ] |
Both sons are suspected of the murder |
| [ ] |
They save their own lives |
| [ ] |
All of the above |
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6.
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What does Macbeth instruct the murderers to do? |
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| [ ] |
To kill Banquo |
| [ ] |
To kill the King |
| [ ] |
To kill Lennox |
| [ ] |
To defeat Malcolm, Siward, Macduff and the other lords |
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7.
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Why does Macbeth see Banquo as a rival? |
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| [ ] |
The witches prophesy that Banquo will be King after Macbeth |
| [ ] |
Macbeth knows that Banquo is plotting to overthrow him |
| [ ] |
The witches prophesy that Banquo's line of descendants will include kings |
| [ ] |
Macbeth has always been enemies with Banquo |
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8.
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How does the prophecy that he shall not be defeated until 'Great Birnam Wood come to high Dunsinane Hill' make Macbeth feel? |
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| [ ] |
Suspicious |
| [ ] |
Invincible |
| [ ] |
Angry |
| [ ] |
Cautious |
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9.
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What appears to cause Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking? |
|
| [ ] |
Guilt |
| [ ] |
Hatred |
| [ ] |
Scheming |
| [ ] |
The sounds of battle |
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10.
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How does Birnam Wood come to Dunsinane? |
|
| [ ] |
'Birnam Wood' is the code name of the attacking army |
| [ ] |
The prophecy is false: Birnam Wood does not come to Dunsinane, but Macbeth is defeated nevertheless |
| [ ] |
The attacking soldiers carry tree branches |
| [ ] |
The wood is magical and can shift positions |
|
|
|
1.
|
How does Duncan, King of Scotland, reward Macbeth's role in the battle against Sweno? |
|
| [x] |
He awards him the title, Thane of Cawdor |
| [ ] |
He appoints Macbeth to be his heir |
| [ ] |
He makes Macbeth King of Scotland |
| [ ] |
He rewards Macbeth by treating him with suspicion |
|
|
|
2.
|
From whom does Macbeth first learn he shall be the new Thane of Cawdor? |
|
| [ ] |
Banquo |
| [ ] |
Duncan |
| [ ] |
Ross |
| [x] |
The witches |
|
|
|
3.
|
Lady Macbeth learns of the witches' prophecy in a letter from her husband. What does she decide to do in response? |
|
| [ ] |
Encourage him to be patient and hope that the prophecy comes true |
| [x] |
Persuade her husband to act to take the crown |
| [ ] |
Discourage her husband from fruitless ambitions |
| [ ] |
Encourage her husband to attempt to win the crown by noble deeds |
|
|
|
4.
|
In Act Two, Scene Two, Lady Macbeth says, "My hands are of your colour." Why do the hands of Lady Macbeth come to resemble those of her husband? |
|
| [ ] |
Her hands are covered with blood when she helps to murder the King |
| [x] |
Her hands are covered with blood when she plants the bloody daggers on the grooms as incriminating evidence |
| [ ] |
Her hands are covered with blood when she murders the grooms |
| [ ] |
Macbeth does not participate in the murders; therefore Lady Macbeth's bloody hands do not resemble her husband's |
|
|
|
5.
|
Malcolm and Donalbain flee Macbeth's home after their father's murder. What is the effect of this action? |
|
| [ ] |
Neither son can challenge Macbeth for the throne |
| [ ] |
Both sons are suspected of the murder |
| [ ] |
They save their own lives |
| [x] |
All of the above |
|
|
|
6.
|
What does Macbeth instruct the murderers to do? |
|
| [x] |
To kill Banquo |
| [ ] |
To kill the King |
| [ ] |
To kill Lennox |
| [ ] |
To defeat Malcolm, Siward, Macduff and the other lords |
|
|
|
7.
|
Why does Macbeth see Banquo as a rival? |
|
| [ ] |
The witches prophesy that Banquo will be King after Macbeth |
| [ ] |
Macbeth knows that Banquo is plotting to overthrow him |
| [x] |
The witches prophesy that Banquo's line of descendants will include kings |
| [ ] |
Macbeth has always been enemies with Banquo |
|
|
|
8.
|
How does the prophecy that he shall not be defeated until 'Great Birnam Wood come to high Dunsinane Hill' make Macbeth feel? |
|
| [ ] |
Suspicious |
| [x] |
Invincible |
| [ ] |
Angry |
| [ ] |
Cautious |
|
|
|
9.
|
What appears to cause Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking? |
|
| [x] |
Guilt |
| [ ] |
Hatred |
| [ ] |
Scheming |
| [ ] |
The sounds of battle |
|
|
|
10.
|
How does Birnam Wood come to Dunsinane? |
|
| [ ] |
'Birnam Wood' is the code name of the attacking army |
| [ ] |
The prophecy is false: Birnam Wood does not come to Dunsinane, but Macbeth is defeated nevertheless |
| [x] |
The attacking soldiers carry tree branches |
| [ ] |
The wood is magical and can shift positions |
|
|
