ACT III - Scene II Quiz — Macbeth

by William Shakespeare

Comprehension Quiz: ACT III - Scene II

Where does Act 3, Scene 2 of Macbeth take place?

  • A battlefield
  • The royal palace
  • The witches' heath
  • Banquo's chambers

What does Lady Macbeth ask the servant at the beginning of the scene?

  • Whether Duncan's body has been found
  • Whether Banquo has left court
  • Whether the feast is prepared
  • Whether Fleance has arrived

What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says "Nought's had, all's spent, / Where our desire is got without content"?

  • They have spent too much money on the coronation
  • Gaining the throne has brought them no happiness
  • They should have desired less from the beginning
  • Their servants are unhappy with the new regime

What does Macbeth mean by "We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it"?

  • They have frightened Banquo into leaving Scotland
  • They have wounded but not eliminated the threat to their power
  • They have failed to find the witches again
  • They have destroyed only part of Duncan's army

Why does Macbeth say he envies Duncan?

  • Because Duncan was a more beloved king
  • Because Duncan is dead and therefore at peace beyond all harm
  • Because Duncan had more legitimate heirs
  • Because Duncan never had to deal with the witches

What literary device is used in the line "O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife"?

  • Simile
  • Metaphor
  • Personification
  • Alliteration

What does Macbeth tell Lady Macbeth to do regarding Banquo at the feast?

  • To avoid Banquo entirely
  • To honor Banquo with special attention
  • To watch Banquo for signs of treachery
  • To seat Banquo far from the royal table

Why does Macbeth tell Lady Macbeth to "Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck"?

  • He wants to protect her reputation at court
  • He is keeping Banquo's planned murder secret from her
  • He does not trust her to keep a secret
  • He wants her to focus on the banquet preparations

What does "seeling night" refer to in Macbeth's closing speech?

  • Night that conceals stolen goods
  • Night that blinds the day, from a falconry term for sewing shut a hawk's eyelids
  • Night that seals doors and windows
  • Night that brings healing sleep

How does the power dynamic between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth shift in this scene compared to Act 1?

  • Lady Macbeth becomes even more dominant
  • They become equal partners in crime
  • Macbeth takes the lead while Lady Macbeth seeks reassurance
  • Both withdraw from planning any further action

What does Macbeth's closing couplet "Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill" mean?

  • Good things eventually overcome evil
  • Evil deeds grow stronger through further evil
  • Bad beginnings can be redeemed through courage
  • Illness makes the body stronger over time

Which of the following best describes the dramatic irony in this scene?

  • Lady Macbeth knows about Banquo's murder but pretends not to
  • The audience knows Macbeth has hired murderers, but Lady Macbeth does not
  • Banquo suspects Macbeth but attends the feast anyway
  • The servant overhears the murder plot but says nothing

Comprehension Quiz

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