Macbeth: Act 2 – MCQs (25 Questions)
Choose the correct option for each question.
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In Act 2, Scene 1, what does Banquo tell Macbeth about the witches?
a) The witches have disappeared
b) He still thinks about the witches and their prophecies
c) He no longer believes in the witches
d) The witches have predicted more prophecies -
What does Macbeth see before committing the murder?
a) A ghost of King Duncan
b) A vision of a bloody dagger floating in the air
c) An angel telling him not to murder
d) Lady Macbeth holding a torch -
What is Macbeth's response to the vision of the dagger?
a) He immediately attacks it
b) He recognizes it as a real weapon
c) He acknowledges it may be a trick of his mind but follows it anyway
d) He refuses to continue with the murder -
What signal does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth in Act 2, Scene 1?
a) A torch light
b) A loud shout
c) Ringing a bell
d) A drum sound -
Where does Macbeth commit the murder of Duncan?
a) In the castle hall
b) In Duncan's bedchamber
c) On the castle grounds
d) In Macbeth's private chamber -
What critical mistake does Macbeth make after killing Duncan?
a) He forgets to lock the door
b) He brings the bloody daggers with him instead of leaving them with the chamberlains
c) He confesses to the guards
d) He leaves evidence on the castle grounds -
Why does Lady Macbeth say she could not kill Duncan herself?
a) She was afraid of the daggers
b) Duncan looked like her father as he slept
c) Macbeth stopped her
d) She heard noises and became frightened -
What does Macbeth mean by "I have murdered sleep"?
a) He killed someone named Sleep
b) He believes he will never be able to sleep peacefully again
c) Sleep is dead in the castle
d) He murdered Duncan in his sleep -
What voice does Macbeth hear after the murder?
a) King Duncan speaking
b) A voice saying "Macbeth does murder sleep"
c) An angel calling him to prayer
d) Lady Macbeth warning him -
What does Macbeth ask about washing the blood from his hands?
a) Will soap remove the blood?
b) Will all of Neptune's ocean wash the blood clean?
c) Is there water available?
d) How long will it take to wash? -
What sound frightens Macbeth while Lady Macbeth is away?
a) Duncan crying out
b) The chamberlains waking
c) Knocking at the gate
d) Horses neighing -
What does Lady Macbeth say about the blood and washing?
a) The blood will never come off
b) They need special soap
c) A little water clears them of the deed
d) Water is useless against the blood -
What does Lady Macbeth do when Macbeth refuses to return the daggers?
a) She forces him to go back
b) She takes the daggers back herself
c) She calls for the guards
d) She leaves Macbeth alone -
What does Lady Macbeth smear on the sleeping chamberlains?
a) Duncan's blood
b) Macbeth's blood
c) Wine
d) Poison -
Who is the Porter in Act 2, Scene 3?
a) A loyal servant of Duncan
b) A drunk gatekeeper who imagines himself as a hell-porter
c) One of the chamberlains
d) A messenger from England -
What does the Porter say about the gates he is opening?
a) They are too heavy
b) They are beautiful gates
c) They are the gates of hell
d) They need repair -
Who discovers Duncan's murder?
a) Lady Macbeth
b) Banquo
c) Macduff
d) Malcolm -
What crime does Macbeth commit after Duncan's murder is discovered?
a) He flees the castle
b) He kills the chamberlains in supposed rage
c) He confesses to the murder
d) He attacks the other lords -
Why does Macbeth kill the chamberlains?
a) They discovered the murder
b) In supposed grief-stricken rage, but actually to eliminate witnesses
c) They attacked him first
d) Lady Macbeth ordered him to -
How does Lady Macbeth respond to Duncan's murder being discovered?
a) She calmly accepts the news
b) She accuses the chamberlains
c) She faints
d) She confesses to the murder -
Where do Duncan's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, decide to flee?
a) To France
b) Malcolm to England, Donalbain to Ireland
c) To Norway
d) They decide to stay and fight -
Why do Malcolm and Donalbain flee Scotland?
a) They are ordered to leave
b) They fear they may be blamed for the murder or killed
c) They want to find help
d) They are ashamed of their father -
What does the audience understand about Macbeth's guilt from Act 2?
a) He feels no guilt for the murder
b) He immediately regrets the murder and is consumed by guilt
c) He is relieved the deed is done
d) He plans to murder again -
How is Macbeth able to take the throne after Duncan's murder?
a) He is elected by the nobles
b) The chamberlains' guilt appears certain due to the blood on them
c) Duncan's sons are blame and suspected
d) Lady Macbeth declares him king -
What major theme does Act 2 introduce?
a) Love and friendship
b) Guilt, fear, and the psychological consequences of evil deeds
c) Adventure and exploration
d) Comedy and entertainment
Answer Key
i) b – He still thinks about the witches and their prophecies
ii) b – A vision of a bloody dagger floating in the air
iii) c – He acknowledges it may be a trick of his mind but follows it anyway
iv) c – Ringing a bell
v) b – In Duncan's bedchamber
vi) b – He brings the bloody daggers with him instead of leaving them with the chamberlains
vii) b – Duncan looked like her father as he slept
viii) b – He believes he will never be able to sleep peacefully again
ix) b – A voice saying "Macbeth does murder sleep"
x) b – Will all of Neptune's ocean wash the blood clean?
xi) c – Knocking at the gate
xii) c – A little water clears them of the deed
xiii) b – She takes the daggers back herself
xiv) a – Duncan's blood
xv) b – A drunk gatekeeper who imagines himself as a hell-porter
xvi) c – They are the gates of hell
xvii) c – Macduff
xviii) b – He kills the chamberlains in supposed rage
xix) b – In supposed grief-stricken rage, but actually to eliminate witnesses
xx) c – She faints
xxi) b – Malcolm to England, Donalbain to Ireland
xxii) b – They fear they may be blamed for the murder or killed
xxiii) b – He immediately regrets the murder and is consumed by guilt
xxiv) b – The chamberlains' guilt appears certain due to the blood on them
xxv) b – Guilt, fear, and the psychological consequences of evil deeds