Macbeth: Act 3 – MCQs (25 Questions)
Choose the correct option for each question.
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Why does Macbeth become king, and what immediately troubles him?
a) The nobles elect him, but he fears Malcolm's return
b) He murders Duncan and becomes king, but fears Banquo's descendants will fulfill the prophecy
c) Lady Macbeth arranges his coronation, but he learns of rebellion
d) Duncan names him heir, but he worries about assassination -
Why does Macbeth decide to have Banquo murdered?
a) Banquo is planning to betray him
b) He fears that Banquo's descendants will become kings as the witches prophesied
c) Banquo has discovered that Macbeth murdered Duncan
d) Lady Macbeth demands Banquo's death -
How does Macbeth manipulate the murderers into killing Banquo?
a) He offers them gold and titles
b) He lies, claiming Banquo had wronged them in the past
c) He threatens their families
d) He tells them Banquo plans to kill them -
How many murderers does Macbeth hire to kill Banquo and Fleance?
a) Two murderers
b) One murderer
c) Three murderers (two initially, then a third joins)
d) Five murderers -
What happens when the murderers attack Banquo and Fleance?
a) Both are killed
b) Both escape
c) Banquo is killed, but Fleance escapes
d) Fleance is killed, but Banquo escapes -
Why is Fleance's escape so significant to Macbeth?
a) It means Banquo's line can still fulfill the witches' prophecy
b) Fleance will gather an army to attack Macbeth
c) It proves the murderers were incompetent
d) It allows Malcolm to claim the throne -
What is the name and purpose of the banquet in Act 3, Scene 4?
a) A military war council planning attacks
b) A coronation feast celebrating Macbeth becoming king
c) A funeral feast for Banquo
d) A political negotiation with English allies -
What supernatural event occurs during the banquet in Act 3, Scene 4?
a) A storm and thunder occur
b) The witches appear at the feast
c) Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo sitting in a chair
d) An angel warns Macbeth of his coming downfall -
What does Macbeth say to the ghost when he sees it?
a) "Welcome, my friend"
b) "Thou canst not say I did it"
c) "Never shake thy gory locks at me"
d) "Why do you haunt me so?" -
Can anyone else at the banquet see Banquo's ghost?
a) Yes, everyone can see it
b) Yes, only Lady Macbeth can see it
c) No, only Macbeth can see it
d) No, but they hear it speaking -
How does Lady Macbeth respond to Macbeth's frightened reaction to the ghost?
a) She runs away in fear
b) She tries to calm him and make excuses to the guests
c) She admits she sees the ghost
d) She laughs at his paranoia -
What does Macbeth observe about the ghost during the banquet?
a) The ghost speaks to him
b) The ghost bleeds blood onto the floor
c) The ghost has no blood/is bloodless
d) The ghost carries weapons -
When the ghost appears a second time at the banquet, what is Macbeth's reaction?
a) He attacks it with a sword
b) He remains calm and sits down
c) He shouts at the ghost again in terror
d) He faints -
What excuse does Lady Macbeth give to explain Macbeth's behavior at the banquet?
a) He is drunk
b) He has an old illness that sometimes affects him
c) He is emotionally fragile
d) He is possessed by evil spirits -
What decision does Macbeth make after the banquet ends?
a) He will abdicate the throne
b) He will visit the witches again to learn more about his fate
c) He will flee Scotland
d) He will murder all the nobles -
What does Macbeth mean by "Blood will have blood"?
a) Murder will be avenged by more murder
b) Blood must be spilled for victory
c) Blood will stain the throne
d) Bloody wars will come -
What does Macbeth notice about Macduff that increases his paranoia?
a) Macduff has allied with Malcolm
b) Macduff does not appear at the royal court
c) Macduff questions Macbeth's authority
d) Macduff has fled to England -
Who is Hecate and what role does she play in Act 3, Scene 5?
a) The queen of witches who scolds the three witches for meddling without her
b) A goddess who warns Macbeth of danger
c) Lady Macbeth's secret ally
d) A mysterious visitor from England -
What does Hecate tell the witches to do to Macbeth?
a) To help him succeed in all his ambitions
b) To reveal his future defeats
c) To summon visions that give him false security and draw him to confusion
d) To abandon him completely -
How does Macbeth describe his current state of mind in Act 3, Scene 2?
a) He is at peace
b) He is "full of scorpions" (filled with paranoia and fear)
c) He is content
d) He is optimistic -
What does Lady Macbeth say about their situation in Act 3, Scene 2?
a) They are secure in power
b) They have nothing to fear
c) The deed they did is not finished and brings no satisfaction
d) Their enemies will soon surrender -
What does Macbeth say about the "worm that's fled"?
a) It refers to a pest in the castle
b) It refers to Fleance, who escaped and will grow to threaten Macbeth
c) It refers to his own conscience
d) It refers to a disease -
How do the thanes begin to respond to Macbeth's behavior in Act 3?
a) They pledge eternal loyalty
b) They grow suspicious and distant
c) They offer their support
d) They remain completely unaware -
What is significant about the number three in Act 3?
a) Three people attend the banquet
b) Three murderers attack Banquo; three witches meet Hecate; three supernatural visions appear
c) Three days pass in the act
d) Nothing particularly significant -
What major theme does Act 3 reinforce about Macbeth?
a) Virtue and honor always triumph
b) Macbeth's attempts to control his fate lead him deeper into paranoia and violence
c) Evil deeds bring happiness and power
d) Witches control human destiny completely
Answer Key
i) b – He murders Duncan and becomes king, but fears Banquo's descendants will fulfill the prophecy
ii) b – He fears that Banquo's descendants will become kings as the witches prophesied
iii) b – He lies, claiming Banquo had wronged them in the past
iv) c – Three murderers (two initially, then a third joins)
v) c – Banquo is killed, but Fleance escapes
vi) a – It means Banquo's line can still fulfill the witches' prophecy
vii) b – A coronation feast celebrating Macbeth becoming king
viii) c – Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo sitting in a chair
ix) c – "Never shake thy gory locks at me"
x) c – No, only Macbeth can see it
xi) b – She tries to calm him and make excuses to the guests
xii) c – The ghost has no blood/is bloodless
xiii) c – He shouts at the ghost again in terror
xiv) b – He has an old illness that sometimes affects him
xv) b – He will visit the witches again to learn more about his fate
xvi) a – Murder will be avenged by more murder
xvii) b – Macduff does not appear at the royal court
xviii) a – The queen of witches who scolds the three witches for meddling without her
xix) c – To summon visions that give him false security and draw him to confusion
xx) b – He is "full of scorpions" (filled with paranoia and fear)
xxi) c – The deed they did is not finished and brings no satisfaction
xxii) b – It refers to Fleance, who escaped and will grow to threaten Macbeth
xxiii) b – They grow suspicious and distant
xxiv) b – Three murderers attack Banquo; three witches meet Hecate; three supernatural visions appear
xxv) b – Macbeth's attempts to control his fate lead him deeper into paranoia and violence