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? Banquo. He says he can't sleep because of dark thoughts and demons. It seems mysterious. 



2) Why does Banquo mention his dream of the Weird Sisters? Hint: Ironically this is his last dream. He says that they have provided some truth. He claims that his dream was saying that something bad will happen to Duncan. Its a prediction of what will happen.


3) What does Macbeth say he and Banquo will talk about later in private? Macbeth claims that he has not thought about the three witches since they met in the woods.


4) Reread lines 42-70. Briefly summarize what Macbeth is saying in this soliloquy. He's imagining the murder weapon, its telling him to kill Duncan.


5) How does the illusion of the dagger play into the mindset of either witchcraft or Macbeth losing it. It most likely has to do with the witches, because they did tell him he'd be king. 

Scene ii

1) What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, “That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold”? The demons make her 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? He's been told to kill Duncan. The bellman Lady Macbeth is the one that hears the owl.


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? She would have personally killed him, if only he didn't look like her father. 


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. Scene 1: 5,50,14. Scene 2: 13,22,42. 

5) What is meant when Macbeth says, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep”? He will never be able to sleep, no matter what. 


6) Why is Lady Macbeth upset with Macbeth towards the end of scene ii? Because Macbeth didn't leave the Daggers in the guards hands. 


7) What is symbolic about the knocking that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hear? The knocking could possibly be God.


8) What does Lady Macbeth say about washing of hands at the end of the scene? Do you believe her? She claims that if he washes his hands, all the evil would leave him. Not necessarily. 


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? He goes on humorously, saying he was up late doing inappropriate things. making jokes about drinking and urination. He's trying to lighten the sad mood everyone is in. 


2) Who is at the gates? (more than 1 person) Someone who was found guilty for treason. 



3) What does Macduff mean when he says, “Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!”? Because someone broke into the castle to do something bad.


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?  She faints. If they're innocent, they want to leave because they would most likely be targeted next.

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. The Falcon would be the king and the Owl would be Macbeth, he has ideas of who killed Duncan.


2) What does Macduff say about Malcolm and Donalbain? He says that they fled because they are guilty.

3) What does Macduff say about Macbeth? He is going to get Scone. 

4) What is meant by the line, “Lest our old robes sit easier than our new”? He's questioning if Duncan was a better king than Macbeth would be.

5) Why doesn’t Macduff go to the coronation? Because he is suspicious of Macbeth.