macbeth exam essay questions

by William Shakespeare

Macbeth essay questions.

Macbeth is often cited as a famous example of what the American sociologist Robert Merton called a “self-fulfilling prophecy.” Discuss how the mechanism of the witches’ prophecy works in terms of its self-fulfillment.

Suggested Answer

The question may be approached by examining the psychology behind Macbeth’s character and his relationship with Lady Macbeth (e.g. his easily-tempted character becomes his fate). It may also be fruitful to perform a close reading of the passage around Banquo’s famous lines “If you can look into the seeds of time / And say which grain will grow and which will not, / Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear / Your favours nor your hate” (1.3.55-59). An ambitious essay might also consider a comparison to Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex or another play containing a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Imagine a staging of Macbeth. Who would play the third murderer who appears unannounced? Who would play the anonymous messenger who warns Lady Macduff about her imminent doom? Why?

Consider current and past productions of Macbeth. There is a certain logic to staging Macbeth as the third murderer, for example, and Ross as the messenger. How would a different staging change the dynamics of the play?

Some critics have considered the porter scene out of place in an otherwise cruel and compact play. Does it really provide comic really relief? How do you imagine the scene to be staged?

Suggest Answer

Compare and contrast a lighter, comic staging to a darker, hellish staging. Here, the issue is simply tone, as the text supports either interpretation. If the porter's comic relief is properly juxtaposed against the violent circumstances, he comes across more as pitiable than a discordant jester.

Macbeth is the one to express doubts over murdering Duncan but it is Lady Macbeth on whom the burden of crime takes its toll. How do the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth develop differently over the course of the play?

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth can be considered to have switched characters, in a broad sense, over the course of the play. Lady Macbeth goes from proclaiming “unsex me here” to “All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand” (I v 39; V i 42-43), Macbeth becomes more resolute and tyrannical as the play progresses. And yet Lady Macbeth also shows a morsel of humanity early on in the play. After she has intoxicated Duncan’s two guards, she remarks: “I laid their daggers ready; / He could not miss’em. Had he [Duncan] not resembled / My father as he slept, I had done’t” (2.2.11-13). The question lies in the judgment of whether a coherent psychological picture underlies the two characters, or whether they serve to illustrate some more or less formulaic “meaning.”

Perform a close reading of Macbeth’s soliloquy beginning “She should have died hereafter” and ending “It is a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing” (5.5.7-27). Why does Macbeth believe that Lady Macbeth should have died on a future date? What does he think lies in the future? What does this say about his character?

There are many possible interpretations of the passage—in particular of his comment about Lady Macbeth’s death. One answer will draw on Macbeth’s lines immediately preceding the soliloquy in question. In the past, he claims, a sound such as Lady Macbeth’s shriek of death would have shocked him deeply, but at present he has become unmoved and apathetic. Macbeth still seems to believe that the future holds peace for his reign. At the same time, he seems to have already accepted Lady Macbeth’s death as inevitable. What does this calm acceptance say about how his character has changed?

What is the significance of Macbeth’s vision of the dagger and of Banquo’s ghost in the play?

Macbeth’s visions seem to be indicative of his guilty conscience. At the same time, they also seem to interact with the supernatural order that the witches have brought about - the three apparitions and their specific prophecies. It would also be interesting to consider different stagings of such visions.

Discuss the exchange between Malcolm and Macduff in Act V Scene iii. Is Malcolm really testing Macduff—and if so, why does he do it? What is the dramatic significance of the testing?

The scene immediately proceeds the murder of Lady Macduff and Macduff’s son. Given the dramatic irony that Macduff has yet to hear the news, the scene seems to heighten the sense of cruelty that pervades the play. It may also be worthwhile to consider a counterfactual alternative: what would have happened if Macduff had responded differently? Could he have responded differently?

Discuss the dramatic conclusion of Macbeth. The resolution to the problems presented by the later prophecies relies on a play of words. Macduff was not technically “born” of a woman, so to speak, and Birnam Wood only “comes” to Dunsinane Hill in a manner of speaking. For a play as grave as Macbeth , does not such a resolution seem strangely lacking in gravity?

The resolution of the play may attest to the power of words. The plot of the play—in all its terrible events of regicide and murders—are after all driven by nothing but a few words uttered by three weird sisters. These same words, of course, are powerful enough to overthrow a kingdom twice.

Why can Macbeth not bring himself to pronounce one “Amen” when Duncan’s guards say “God bless us” on their deathbeds (2.2.26-27)? Does this paint a coherent psychological picture? If not, what dramatic purpose does the scene serve?

Although Macbeth does not always act rationally, he is by no means an unintelligent character. On the contrary, his famous soliloquy beginning “She should have died hereafter” in Act V Scene v is testament to his perceptive worldview—if not his poetic sensibility. His inability to pronounce “Amen” may attest to the fact that he finds such a pronouncement overwhelmingly hypocritical.

The account of Duncan and Macbeth differs significantly between Macbeth and its primary source, Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland . Compare the two accounts and discuss the effects of Shakespeare’s changes.

In Holinshed's account, Macbeth is a ruthless and valiant leader who rules competently after killing Duncan, whereas Duncan is portrayed as a young and soft-willed man. Shakespeare draws out certain aspects of the two characters in order to create a stronger sense of polarity. Whereas Duncan is made out to be a venerable and kindly older king, Macbeth is transformed into an indecisive and troubled young man who cannot possibly rule well.

Macbeth Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Macbeth is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

The third which says that Banquo's sons shall be kings, Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!

Macbeth Act 1 Scene 3 questions

What is significant about the first words that Macbeth speaks in the play?

A motif or recurring idea in the play is equivocation. There is the balance of the dark and the light, the good and the bad. Macbeth's first line reflects this. It...

What news took the wind out of Macbeth's invincibility?

Macbeth rethinks his invincibility when MacDuff tells him that he was torn from his mother's womb.

Study Guide for Macbeth

Macbeth study guide contains a biography of William Shakespeare, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Macbeth
• Macbeth Summary
• Macbeth Video
• Character List

Essays for Macbeth

Macbeth essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

• Serpentine Imagery in Shakespeare's Macbeth
• Macbeth's Evolution
• Jumping the Life to Come
• Deceptive Appearances in Macbeth
• Unity in Shakespeare's Tragedies

Lesson Plan for Macbeth

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Macbeth
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Macbeth Bibliography

E-Text of Macbeth

Macbeth e-text contains the full text of Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

• Persons Represented
• Act I, Scene I
• Act I, Scene II
• Act I, Scene III
• Act I, Scene IV

Wikipedia Entries for Macbeth

• Introduction
• Sources for the play
• Date and text

William Shakespeare

• Literature Notes
• Essay Questions
• Macbeth at a Glance
• Play Summary
• About Macbeth
• Character List
• Summary and Analysis
• Act I: Scene 1
• Act I: Scene 2
• Act I: Scene 3
• Act I: Scene 4
• Act I: Scene 5
• Act I: Scene 6
• Act I: Scene 7
• Act II: Scene 1
• Act II: Scene 2
• Act II: Scene 3
• Act II: Scene 4
• Act III: Scene 1
• Act III: Scene 2
• Act III: Scene 3
• Act III: Scene 4
• Act III: Scene 5
• Act III: Scene 6
• Act IV: Scene 1
• Act IV: Scene 2
• Act IV: Scene 3
• Act V: Scene 1
• Act V: Scene 2
• Act V: Scene 3
• Act V: Scene 4
• Act V: Scene 5
• Act V: Scene 6
• Act V: Scene 7
• Act V: Scene 8
• Act V: Scene 9
• Character Analysis
• Lady Macbeth
• Character Map
• William Shakespeare Biography
• Critical Essays
• Major Themes
• Major Symbols and Motifs
• Macbeth on the Stage
• Famous Quotes
• Film Versions
• Full Glossary
• Practice Projects
• Cite this Literature Note

Study Help Essay Questions

1. Agree or disagree with the following statement: " Macbeth is a play about courage, which asserts the triumph of good over evil." In answering this question, you should remember that courageous acts are not always motivated by virtue.

2. Examine to what extent Lady Macbeth is to blame for her husband's downfall. Discuss the relationship between the couple as the play develops.

3. Discuss whether Macbeth is truly a tragic figure.

4. Some people suggest that the porter scene is included only so that the actor playing Macbeth has time to wash the blood off his hands. Do you agree? Or do you think the scene serves other purposes? Explain your answer.

5. From your reading, explain what Shakespeare imagined to be the qualities of a good king. How do Duncan and Macbeth fit this role? How might Malcolm do so?

6. Consider the use that Shakespeare makes of supernatural elements in this play. Be sure to include the Witches, the dagger, Banquo's ghost, the apparitions, and the Old Man's observations in your assessment.

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1. Dynamic characters change over the course of a story.

• How does Lady Macbeth change over the course of the play? ( topic sentence )
• Discuss 3 scenes that show Lady Macbeth changing from the beginning of the play to the end. Include details and quotes to document the changes, and explain how they reveal her shifts.
• In your conclusion, explain why the changes in Lady Macbeth are significant to the story as a whole.

2. Though sometimes people think violence is the answer to a problem, it almost always leads to more violence.

• How does violence cause more violence in Macbeth ? ( topic sentence )
• Explain 3 scenes that illustrate violence causing violence. Use evidence and reasoning to support your analysis.

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--> directory : Essay Topics The supernatural plays an important role in . To what extent does it motivate Macbeth's actions? Discuss King Duncan and examine what contribution he makes to the play. In constructing , Shakespeare dramatically altered historical characters to enhance certain themes. Examine Shakespeare's sources and discuss why he made these radical changes. Is Lady Macbeth more responsible than Macbeth for the murder of King Duncan? Is Lady Macbeth a more evil character than her husband and, if so, why? The sleepwalking scene in Act V is one of the most memorable in all of drama. Relate this scene to the overall play and examine what makes Lady Macbeth's revelation so provoking. Choose two of the minor characters in and examine how they contribute to the play's action. The witches tell Banquo that he will be the father of future kings. How does Banquo's reaction reveal his true character? Examine Macbeth's mental deterioration throughout the play. Discuss the speech Macbeth gives upon hearing that his wife is dead in Act V, Scene V. How do his words capture one of the major themes in the drama? _____ : The Complete Play with Annotations and Commentary : Blank Verse and Rhymed Lines Character Introduction (Biblical) Plot Summary (Acts 1 and 2) Plot Summary (Acts 3, 4 and 5) Q & A Study Quiz (with detailed answers) (Full) : Exploring the Witches' Control Over Nature in Macbeth Essays There are loads of ways you can approach writing an essay, but the two i favour are detailed below., the key thing to remember is that an essay should focus on the three aos:, ao1: plot and character development; ao2: language and technique; ao3: context, strategy 1 : extract / rest of play, the first strategy basically splits the essay into 3 paragraphs., the first paragraph focuses on the extract, the second focuses on the rest of the play, the third focuses on context. essentially, it's one ao per paragraph, for a really neatly organised essay., strategy 2 : a structured essay with an argument, this strategy allows you to get a much higher marks as it's structured to form an argument about the whole text. although you might think that's harder - and it's probably going to score more highly - i'd argue that it's actually easier to master. mainly because you do most of the work before the day of the exam., to see some examples of these, click on the links below:, lady macbeth as a powerful woman, macbeth as a heroic character, the key to this style is remembering this: you're going to get a question about a theme, and the extract will definitely relate to the theme., the strategy here is planning out your essays before the exam, knowing that the extract will fit into them somehow., below are some structured essays i've put together., macbeth and gender. 1. Shakespeare ( AQA GCSE English Literature ) Revision note, macbeth: overview. The Macbeth question is part of Paper 1, Section A of your GCSE. You must write one response to one set question. This page offers some helpful information and links to other sections with more in-depth revision notes, allowing you to aim for the highest grade. This page includes: A summary of Macbeth A brief overview of what is required in the exam Macbeth characters Macbeth context Macbeth themes Macbeth quotes Top tips for the highest grade Macbeth summary Macbeth is a play written by English playwright William Shakespeare in approximately 1606. It is a classic Shakespearean tragedy, which typically depicts a tragic character and a fatal flaw which ultimately results in conflict and a final restoration of the status quo. Macbeth is renowned for being Shakespeare's only tragedy in which the villain is also the hero. For more on the conventions of tragedy, see our Macbeth: Writer’s Methods and Techniques page. Macbeth takes place in medieval Scotland and tells the story of Macbeth, a valiant warrior who is told by three witches that he will become King of Scotland. Spurred on by his wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth's ambition becomes overpowering and he assassinates King Duncan and ascends to the throne. As a result of his treacherous acts, Macbeth and his wife become increasingly paranoid, resulting in further murders and Lady Macbeth's suicide.  Eventually, civil conflict breaks out, and Macbeth is overthrown. For a more detailed summary of the play, please see the Macbeth: Plot Summary page. How is Macbeth assessed in the exam? Your GCSE Paper 1 requires you to answer two questions in 1hr 45min. That means you have approximately 52 minutes to plan, write and check your Macbeth essay Paper 1 is worth 64 marks and accounts for 40% of your overall GCSE grade The Macbeth essay is worth 34 marks in total, because it also includes 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar Section A of Paper 1 contains the Macbeth question and you are required to answer the one available question on the play Your question will also include a printed extract of about 25 lines from the play It is a closed-book exam, which means you will not have access to a copy of the text (other than the printed extract) in your exam You will be asked a question that asks you to analyse and write in detail about an aspect of Macbeth Your answer will need to address both the extract from the play that you will be given, and the play as a whole For a much more detailed guide on answering the Macbeth question, please see our revision notes on How to Answer the Shakespeare Essay Question . Although Shakespeare plays often have a huge number of characters, the characters you should focus on when revising Macbeth are: Lady Macbeth There are also other minor characters in Macbeth who play a significant role in the play, such as the Three Witches and Malcolm. When studying a Shakespeare play or any other text, it is crucial to understand that characters are deliberate inventions made by the writer for a specific purpose. These characters frequently represent concepts or ideas, and writers such as Shakespeare use them to explore these ideas and beliefs. For more details on how Shakespeare uses his characters in Macbeth, please see the Macbeth: Characters revision notes page. Understanding what context is can sometimes be difficult at GCSE. Examiners define context as the ideas and perspectives addressed by a writer through their text, not as historical information or biographical facts about the writer. Therefore, the Macbeth context you should explore in your essay response is not information about medieval Scotland, or facts about William Shakespeare, but ideas about: Gender Roles God and the Great Chain of Being Some of these ideas and perspectives are universal, so your own opinions of them are valid, and will be rewarded in an exam. For a detailed breakdown of the contextual topics listed above, see the Macbeth: Contex t page. Understanding the themes that Shakespeare explores in Macbeth is one of the best approaches any student can take when revising the play. This is because to get the highest mark on your exam, you need to take what examiners call a “conceptualised approach”: a detailed and perceptive exploration of Shakespeare’s ideas and intentions. The main themes explored by Shakespeare in Macbeth are: Ambition and Power The Supernatural Appearance versus Reality Corruption of Nature There are many more themes and ideas explored by Shakespeare in Macbeth than those listed above, and you are encouraged to investigate these as well. However, the list above is a good place to start and detailed breakdowns of each of these themes can be found on our Macbeth: Themes page. Although you are given credit for including quotations from Macbeth in your answer, it is not a requirement of the exam. In fact, examiners say that “references” to the rest of the play are just as valid as direct quotations: this is when students pinpoint individual moments in the play, rather than quoting what the characters say. In order to select references really successfully, it is extremely important that you know the play itself very well, including the order of the events that take place in the play. This detailed act-by-act breakdown of the plot will help you to revise the chronology of Macbeth. However, it can also be beneficial to go over a few - carefully chosen - lines from the play that can be used on various themes and characters. For a comprehensive analysis of each of these quotations, see our Macbeth: Key Quotations page. Please see our revision pages on the Shakespeare exam for guides on: Structuring the Macbeth essay Macbeth methods and techniques How to include context in a Macbeth essay Understanding the Macbeth mark scheme A Macbeth model answer 194 IMAGES Macbeth GCSE Essay Question Macbeth Final Exam! Perfect for teaching Macbeth in the high school Macbeth AQA exam questions Macbeth GCSE Exam Question Pack (AQA English Literature 8702 Macbeth Exam Practice Questions Macbeth Essay Questions VIDEO Biology 2nd sec. l Night Exam (Essay questions) 2024 GCSE Exams: How to revise for the Macbeth exam! #gcseenglish Macbeth Study: External exam introduction paragraph tips (the basics) مراجعة ليلة الامتحان تانية ثانوي ( chemistry ) بحل 6 امتحانات المعاصر و امتحان الوزارة Macbeth: One FULL Essay Plan Which Fits EVERY GCSE Question ENGLISH LITERATURE || MACBETH BY SHAKESPEARE || QUIZ || QUESTIONS COMMENTS Grade 9 Macbeth Essay Question Model Answer Grade 9 Macbeth Essay Question Model Answer. Your WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Literature Shakespeare component will ask you to write two essays on Macbeth: One short essay question based on an extract from the play. One longer essay question — you won't have access to an extract. This revision guide is for the longer, 25-mark essay. Macbeth Essay Questions Macbeth Essay Questions. Macbeth is often cited as a famous example of what the American sociologist Robert Merton called a "self-fulfilling prophecy.". Discuss how the mechanism of the witches' prophecy works in terms of its self-fulfillment. The question may be approached by examining the psychology behind Macbeth's character and his ... PDF Macbeth exam questions Read the following extract from Act 3 Scene 4 and answer the question that follows. At this point in the play, Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo. Avaunt! and quit my sight! let the earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which thou dost glare with! Macbeth: Study Help Get free homework help on William Shakespeare's Macbeth: play summary, scene summary and analysis and original text, quotes, essays, character analysis, and filmography courtesy of CliffsNotes. In Macbeth , William Shakespeare's tragedy about power, ambition, deceit, and murder, the Three Witches foretell Macbeth's rise to King of Scotland but also prophesy that future kings will descend from ... Macbeth Model Answers. 1 34 marks. Macbeth. Read the following extract from Act 2 Scene 2 of Macbeth and then answer the question that follows. At this point in the play, Macbeth has murdered Duncan and has returned to Lady Macbeth. 5. MACBETH Methought I heard a voice cry, 'Sleep no more: Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep, Macbeth Essay Questions 1. Dynamic characters change over the course of a story. Discuss 3 scenes that show Lady Macbeth changing from the beginning of the play to the end. Include details and quotes to document the changes, and explain how they reveal her shifts. In your conclusion, explain why the changes in Lady Macbeth are significant to the story as a whole. 2. Sample exam question Take a look at a sample exam question and answers for William Shakespeare's play Macbeth with BBC Bitesize GCSE English Literature (AQA). Macbeth Examination Questions and Answers 2. How do you reconcile Macbeth's prompt murder of the grooms with his horror at the mere thought of killing Duncan, and his refusal to carry the bloody daggers back to the chamber? 3. Is Lady Macbeth's swoon, on hearing of the murder of the grooms, real or feigned - and the grounds of your opinion? 4. Macbeth Essay Topics 5) The sleepwalking scene in Act V is one of the most memorable in all of drama. Relate this scene to the overall play and examine what makes Lady Macbeth's revelation so provoking. 6) Choose two of the minor characters in Macbeth and examine how they contribute to the play's action. 7) The witches tell Banquo that he will be the father of ... PDF Essay Questions on William Shakespeare's Macbeth Essay Questions on William Shakespeare's Macbeth. 1) Discuss the various roles of the witches in 'Macbeth' with special emphasis on Coleridge's remark that "the witches have the power of tempting those that have been tempters themselves.". 2) What is, at the end of the play, your attitude to Macbeth? GCSE English Literature Paper 1: Macbeth The Exam Question There will only be one question based on Macbeth. You will not have to choose a question. The examiner will provide a brief explanation of where in the play the extract comes from. One extract from the play will be printed for you. You should refer to this for at PDF Section A: Shakespeare Answer one question from this section on your chosen text. Macbeth Read the following extract from Act 1 Scene 5 of Macbeth and then answer the question that follows. At this point in the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are talking. Lady Macbeth is informing Macbeth of her plans for King Duncan who will be visiting. How to answer a 'Macbeth' question How to answer a. Macbeth. question. The firsst question you'll answer on English Literature Paper 1 will be on Macbeth by William Shakespeare. You have 1 hour 45 minutes for his paper so you should spend around 55 minutes on this question. Like the A Christmas Carol question, you will be given an extract to analyse in your essay - you should ... AQA English Revision Strategy 2: A structured essay with an argument. The key to this style is remembering this: You're going to get a question about a theme, and the extract will DEFINITELY relate to the theme. The strategy here is planning out your essays BEFORE the exam, knowing that the extract will fit into them somehow. Below are some structured essays I've ... Sample Answers Macbeth becomes a violent king, largely as a result of his guilt and fear of being exposed. Compared to Duncan, he is unpopular and disliked to the extent that Malcolm eventually gathers an army to overthrow him. When he says 'Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefor Cawdor/Shall sleep no more' he is talking about his titles that Duncan ... PDF Six Macbeth' essays by Wreake Valley students In Act 5. 1 Lady Macbeth starts to sleep walk because she can't deal with the fact that her husband killed King Duncan and that it's all her fault and she says "My bloody hands". This shows she's saying it's her fault and she holds the guilt. This leads to her committing suicide in Act 5.5. Level 5 essay. Macbeth Your GCSE Paper 1 requires you to answer two questions in 1hr 45min. That means you have approximately 52 minutes to plan, write and check your Macbeth essay. Paper 1 is worth 64 marks and accounts for 40% of your overall GCSE grade. The Macbeth essay is worth 34 marks in total, because it also includes 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and ... 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