Macbeth: Act 4 – MCQs (25 Questions)
Choose the correct option for each question.
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What are the three witches doing at the beginning of Act 4, Scene 1?
a) Plotting against Macbeth
b) Brewing a potion in a cauldron and chanting spells
c) Summoning Hecate from the underworld
d) Celebrating their victories -
What does Macbeth demand from the witches in Act 4, Scene 1?
a) The location of Macduff
b) More prophecies about his future and security
c) The secret to becoming immortal
d) Forgiveness for his crimes -
What is the first apparition that appears to Macbeth?
a) A bloody dagger
b) An armed head warning him to beware Macduff
c) Banquo's ghost
d) Lady Macbeth's shadow -
What does the second apparition tell Macbeth?
a) He will die in battle
b) Macduff will defeat him
c) None of woman born can harm him
d) Fleance will become king -
What is the third apparition and what does it promise?
a) A ghost that warns of doom
b) A crowned child with a tree who promises he is safe until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane
c) A sword that will make him invincible
d) Malcolm's sister seeking revenge -
What else does the witches show Macbeth after the three apparitions?
a) The future of England
b) A line of eight crowned kings descended from Banquo
c) The death of Lady Macbeth
d) The location of hidden treasure -
How does Macbeth interpret the second apparition's prophecy about "none of woman born"?
a) He understands it correctly
b) He believes it means no one can harm him because everyone is born of a woman
c) He knows Macduff was born by caesarean section
d) He assumes it refers to a specific person -
What does Macbeth decide to do after receiving the prophecies?
a) Flee Scotland
b) Murder Macduff's family immediately
c) Surrender the throne
d) Reconcile with his enemies -
Why does Macbeth decide to kill Macduff's family?
a) Lady Macbeth orders him to
b) The witches command it
c) He learns Macduff has fled to England and decides on preemptive revenge
d) Macduff threatens his throne directly -
What is the mood and tone of Act 4, Scene 2 at Macduff's castle?
a) Joyful and celebratory
b) Tense and tragic as Lady Macduff fears danger
c) Peaceful and innocent
d) Comedic and light -
How does Lady Macduff react to her husband's flight to England?
a) She supports his decision
b) She is calm and patient
c) She feels betrayed and angry at him for abandoning her
d) She is indifferent -
What does Lady Macduff's young son claim about his father?
a) His father is a coward
b) His father is dead
c) His father will return victorious
d) His father loves them dearly -
What warning does a messenger give Lady Macduff?
a) That her husband is returning
b) That soldiers are coming to arrest her
c) That she is in grave danger and should flee immediately
d) That there will be a feast that evening -
What happens to Lady Macduff and her children in Act 4, Scene 2?
a) They escape to England
b) They are murdered by Macbeth's soldiers
c) They hide in the castle
d) They are protected by nobles -
Where does Act 4, Scene 3 take place?
a) In Scotland
b) Outside King Edward's palace in England
c) In the witches' cavern
d) In Macbeth's castle -
Why does Malcolm initially distrust Macduff?
a) Macduff is related to Macbeth
b) Macduff has fled Scotland and left his family, making Malcolm suspicious of his loyalties
c) Macduff has fought against Malcolm's father
d) Macduff demands the Scottish crown -
How does Malcolm test Macduff's loyalty?
a) By asking him to kill Macbeth
b) By pretending to have terrible vices and seeing if Macduff still supports him
c) By forcing Macduff to make an oath
d) By asking about military strategy -
What vices does Malcolm falsely claim to have?
a) Cowardice and dishonesty
b) Lust, greed, and violence
c) Gluttony and laziness
d) Envy and pride -
How does Macduff finally prove his loyalty to Malcolm?
a) By swearing an oath
b) By refusing to return to Scotland
c) By crying out "O Scotland, Scotland!" in despair at Malcolm's supposed vices
d) By offering him money -
What does Malcolm reveal about his true character after testing Macduff?
a) He is actually evil
b) He is actually virtuous and was testing Macduff's loyalty
c) He is insane
d) He does not care about Scotland -
How many soldiers will Malcolm bring from England to fight Macbeth?
a) One thousand
b) Five thousand
c) Ten thousand
d) Twenty thousand -
What shocking news does Ross bring to Macduff in Act 4, Scene 3?
a) That Macbeth has surrendered
b) That his wife and children have been murdered by Macbeth
c) That Malcolm has been killed
d) That Scotland is now at peace -
How does Macduff respond to learning about his family's murder?
a) He becomes depressed and withdraws
b) He is momentarily grief-stricken but transforms his grief into a desire for revenge
c) He abandons the fight against Macbeth
d) He laughs in disbelief -
What miracle does Malcolm mention that King Edward of England can perform?
a) He can raise the dead
b) He can heal diseases through his miraculous power
c) He can predict the future
d) He can control the weather -
What major theme does Act 4 develop?
a) Forgiveness and redemption
b) The ambiguity of prophecy and how it can be misinterpreted
c) Love conquers all
d) Witches always tell the truth
Answer Key
i) b – Brewing a potion in a cauldron and chanting spells
ii) b – More prophecies about his future and security
iii) b – An armed head warning him to beware Macduff
iv) c – None of woman born can harm him
v) b – A crowned child with a tree who promises he is safe until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane
vi) b – A line of eight crowned kings descended from Banquo
vii) b – He believes it means no one can harm him because everyone is born of a woman
viii) b – Murder Macduff's family immediately
ix) c – He learns Macduff has fled to England and decides on preemptive revenge
x) b – Tense and tragic as Lady Macduff fears danger
xi) c – She feels betrayed and angry at him for abandoning her
xii) d – His father loves them dearly (paradoxically true despite context)
xiii) c – That she is in grave danger and should flee immediately
xiv) b – They are murdered by Macbeth's soldiers
xv) b – Outside King Edward's palace in England
xvi) b – Macduff has fled Scotland and left his family, making Malcolm suspicious of his loyalties
xvii) b – By pretending to have terrible vices and seeing if Macduff still supports him
xviii) b – Lust, greed, and violence
xix) c – By crying out "O Scotland, Scotland!" in despair at Malcolm's supposed vices
xx) b – He is actually virtuous and was testing Macduff's loyalty
xxi) c – Ten thousand
xxii) b – That his wife and children have been murdered by Macbeth
xxiii) b – He is momentarily grief-stricken but transforms his grief into a desire for revenge
xxiv) b – He can heal diseases through his miraculous power
xxv) b – The ambiguity of prophecy and how it can be misinterpreted