Category: Wizard of Oz

edMe Reading app for Wizard of Oz(TM). It has high-quality formative questions to ensure that your student gets the most out of this great book.

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Act 2

Text of Book

Act 2, page 1

Act 2, page 2

Act 2, page 3

Act 2, page 4

Questions

1) What is the main idea of Act 2?

2) Macbeth says,

"Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven, or to hell."

What does "summons" mean in this passage?

3) Lady Macbeth says,

"Alack! I am afraid they have awaked.
And 'tis not done: th'attempt and not the deed
Confounds us."

What does "Confounds" mean in this passage?

4) Macduff wakes everyone after discovering the murdered Duncan saying:

"Ring the alarum bell! Murder and treason!
Banquo and Donalbain! Malcolm! Awake!
Shake off this downy sleep, death's counterfeit,
And look on death itself!"

What does "sleep, death's counterfeit" mean in this passage?

5) Macbeth says,

"Here lay Duncan,
His silver skin laced with his golden blood,
And his gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature"

What does "breach" mean in this passage?

6) What does Macbeth imagine that he sees which seems to lead him to Duncan's room?

7) How was Macbeth able to get past Duncan's chamberlains to gain access to Duncan's room?

8) Which word describes Macbeth's and Lady Macbeth's attitudes toward Duncan's murder?

9) Who finds Duncan's murdered body?

10) Where do Malcolm and Donalbain go after their father is murdered?

11) What does Macbeth mean in this quote?

"Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red."
Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 75–78

12) The same quote from the last question is copied below. What does "blood" represent in this quote?

"Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red."
Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 75–78

13) In Act 2, Scene 4 Ross and an old man discuss some of the bizarre happenings in nature that seem to suggest that something is wrong. Which three strange occurrences do they discuss?

14) Who is the porter pretending to be as he answers the knock at the gate?

15) When Macbeth is being questioned about why he killed the chamberlains, what does Lady Macbeth do to draw everyone's attention away from her husband?

16) Were there any events that weren't clear to you?

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Question #3

Macduff says:

"Not in the legions
Of horrid hell can come a devil more damned
In evils to top Macbeth."
Act 4, Scene 3, Lines 54–56

What does "legions" mean in this sentence?





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Act 5, page 0

Table of Contents

ACT 5, SCENE 1
Setting: Dunsinane. Ante–room in the castle.

[Enter a Doctor of Physic and a Waiting–Gentlewoman]

Doctor I have two nights watched with you, but can perceive
no truth in your report. When was it she last walked?
Gentlewoman Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen
her rise from her bed, throw her night–gown upon
her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it,
write upon't, read it, afterwards seal it, and again
return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.
Doctor A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once 10
the benefit of sleep, and do the effects of
watching! In this slumbery agitation, besides her
walking and other actual performances, what, at any
time, have you heard her say?
Gentlewoman That, sir, which I will not report after her.
Doctor You may to me: and 'tis most meet you should.
Gentlewoman Neither to you nor any one; having no witness to 20
confirm my speech.
[Enter LADY MACBETH, with a taper]
Lo you, here she comes! This is her very guise;
and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close.
Doctor How came she by that light?
Gentlewoman Why, it stood by her: she has light by her
continually; 'tis her command.
Doctor You see, her eyes are open.
Gentlewoman Ay, but their sense is shut.
Doctor What is it she does now? Look, how she rubs her hands. 30
Gentlewoman It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus
washing her hands: I have known her continue in
this a quarter of an hour.
LADY MACBETH Yet here's a spot.
Doctor Hark! she speaks: I will set down what comes from
her, to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly.
LADY MACBETH Out, damned spot! out, I say!––One: two: why,
then, 'tis time to do't.––Hell is murky!––Fie, my 40
lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? What need we
fear who knows it, when none can call our power to
account?––Yet who would have thought the old man
to have had so much blood in him.
Doctor Do you mark that?
LADY MACBETH The thane of Fife had a wife: where is she now?––
What, will these hands ne'er be clean?––No more o'
that, my lord, no more o' that: you mar all with
this starting. 50
Doctor Go to, go to; you have known what you should not.
Gentlewoman She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of
that: heaven knows what she has known.
LADY MACBETH Here's the smell of the blood still: all the
perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little
hand. Oh, oh, oh!
Doctor What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely charged. 60
Gentlewoman I would not have such a heart in my bosom for the
dignity of the whole body.
Doctor Well, well, well,––
Gentlewoman Pray God it be, sir.
Doctor This disease is beyond my practise: yet I have known
those which have walked in their sleep who have died
holily in their beds.
LADY MACBETH Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so
pale.––I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried; he 70
cannot come out on's grave.
Doctor Even so?
LADY MACBETH To bed, to bed! there's knocking at the gate:
come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What's
done cannot be undone.––To bed, to bed, to bed!
[Exit]
Doctor Will she go now to bed?
Gentlewoman Directly.
Doctor Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds
Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds 80
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets:
More needs she the divine than the physician.
God, God forgive us all! Look after her;
Remove from her the means of all annoyance,
And still keep eyes upon her. So, good night:
My mind she has mated, and amazed my sight.
I think, but dare not speak.
Gentlewoman Good night, good doctor.
[Exeunt]

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Question #3

Lady Macbeth says,

"Alack! I am afraid they have awaked.
And 'tis not done: th'attempt and not the deed
Confounds us."

What does "Confounds" mean in this passage?





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Act 3, page 1

Table of Contents

ACT 3, SCENE 1
Setting: Forres. The palace.

[Enter BANQUO]

BANQUO Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weird women promised, and, I fear,
Thou play'dst most foully for't: yet it was said
It should not stand in thy posterity,
But that myself should be the root and father 5
Of many kings. If there come truth from them––
As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine––
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well,
And set me up in hope? But hush! no more. 10

[Sennet sounded. Enter MACBETH, as king, LADY MACBETH, as queen, LENNOX, ROSS, Lords, Ladies, and Attendants ]

MACBETH Here's our chief guest.
LADY MACBETH If he had been forgotten,
It had been as a gap in our great feast,
And all–thing unbecoming.
MACBETH To–night we hold a solemn supper sir, 15
And I'll request your presence.
BANQUO Let your highness
Command upon me; to the which my duties
Are with a most indissoluble tie
For ever knit. 20
MACBETH Ride you this afternoon?
BANQUO Ay, my good lord.
MACBETH We should have else desired your good advice,
Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,
In this day's council; but we'll take to–morrow. 25
Is't far you ride?
BANQUO As far, my lord, as will fill up the time
Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better,
I must become a borrower of the night
For a dark hour or twain. 30
MACBETH Fail not our feast.
BANQUO My lord, I will not.
MACBETH We hear, our bloody cousins are bestow'd
In England and in Ireland, not confessing
Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers 35
With strange invention: but of that to–morrow,
When therewithal we shall have cause of state
Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: adieu,
Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you?
BANQUO Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon 's. 40
MACBETH I wish your horses swift and sure of foot;
And so I do commend you to their backs. Farewell.
[Exit BANQUO]
Let every man be master of his time
Till seven at night: to make society
The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself 45
Till supper–time alone: while then, God be with you!

[Exeunt all but MACBETH, and an attendant]

Sirrah, a word with you: attend those men
Our pleasure?
ATTENDANT They are, my lord, without the palace gate.
MACBETH Bring them before us. 50
[Exit Attendant]
To be thus is nothing; (Soliloquy Analysis)
But to be safely thus.––Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind, 55
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none but he
Whose being I do fear: and, under him,
My Genius is rebuked; as, it is said,
Mark Antony's was by Caesar. He chid the sisters 60
When first they put the name of king upon me,
And bade them speak to him: then prophet–like
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown,
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe, 65
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding. If 't be so,
For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace 70
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come fate into the list.
And champion me to the utterance! Who's there! 75

[Re–enter Attendant, with two Murderers]

Now go to the door, and stay there till we call.
[Exit Attendant]
Was it not yesterday we spoke together?
First Murderer It was, so please your highness.
MACBETH Well then, now
Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know 80
That it was he in the times past which held you
So under fortune, which you thought had been
Our innocent self: this I made good to you
In our last conference, pass'd in probation with you,
How you were borne in hand, how cross'd, 85
the instruments,
Who wrought with them, and all things else that might
To half a soul and to a notion crazed
Say 'Thus did Banquo.'
First Murderer You made it known to us. 90
MACBETH I did so, and went further, which is now
Our point of second meeting. Do you find
Your patience so predominant in your nature
That you can let this go? Are you so gospell'd
To pray for this good man and for his issue, 95
Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave
And beggar'd yours for ever?
First Murderer We are men, my liege.
MACBETH Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men;
As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, 100
Shoughs, water–rugs and demi–wolves, are clept
All by the name of dogs: the valued file
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,
The housekeeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature 105
Hath in him closed; whereby he does receive
Particular addition. from the bill
That writes them all alike: and so of men.
Now, if you have a station in the file,
Not i' the worst rank of manhood, say 't; 110
And I will put that business in your bosoms,
Whose execution takes your enemy off,
Grapples you to the heart and love of us,
Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect. 115
Second Murderer I am one, my liege,
Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Have so incensed that I am reckless what
I do to spite the world.
First Murderer And I another 120
So weary with disasters, tugg'd with fortune,
That I would set my lie on any chance,
To mend it, or be rid on't.
MACBETH Both of you
Know Banquo was your enemy. 125
Both Murderers True, my lord.
MACBETH So is he mine; and in such bloody distance,
That every minute of his being thrusts
Against my near'st of life: and though I could
With barefaced power sweep him from my sight 130
And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,
Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall
Who I myself struck down; and thence it is,
That I to your assistance do make love, 135
Masking the business from the common eye
For sundry weighty reasons.
Second Murderer We shall, my lord,
Perform what you command us.
First Murderer Though our lives–– 140
MACBETH Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour at most
I will advise you where to plant yourselves;
Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time,
The moment on't; for't must be done to–night,
And something from the palace; always thought 145
That I require a clearness: and with him––
To leave no rubs nor botches in the work––
Fleance his son, that keeps him company,
Whose absence is no less material to me
Than is his father's, must embrace the fate 150
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart:
I'll come to you anon.
Both Murderers We are resolved, my lord.
MACBETH I'll call upon you straight: abide within.
[Exeunt Murderers]
It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul's flight, 155
If it find heaven, must find it out to–night.

[Exit]

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Question #11

What does Lady Macbeth mean in this quote?

"O proper stuff!
This is the very painting of your fear:
This is the air–drawn dagger which you said,
Led you to Duncan."
Act 3, Scene 4, Lines 61–64





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Question #4

Macduff says:

"When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again,
Since that the truest issue of thy throne
By his own interdiction stands accurst,
And does blaspheme his breed?"
Act 4, Scene 3, Lines 105–108

What does "issue" mean in this passage?