Macbeth IV

brinded

brindled, or having grey or black streaks against a tan or light-colored background.

hedge-pig

hedgehog

Harpier

an attendant spirit like Graymalkin and Paddock in Act I, Scene I

Swelt'red . . . got

venom sweated out while sleeping

Fillet

slice

fenny

from a swamp

blind-worm's

legless lizard's

howlet's

owl's

Witch mummy

mummified flesh of a witch

ravined

ravenous

Which phrase best describes the impression we get of Macduff's son before he is murdered? Explain your choice, citing details from The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act IV, to support your answer.

a, Explanation: Only this answer reflects the whimsical remarks of the boy ("as birds do, mother") and obvious affection he has for his mother. Choices b, c, and d are not supported by the text, their negative qualities quite contrary to the impression th

What do you predict about the apparitions' last two predictions in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act IV? Do you think the seeming impossibility of their happening means that Macbeth is safe, as he believes? Or do you think there will be a way for what seems imp

Students are likely to predict that what seems impossible will in fact happen, since "Fair is foul and foul is fair," and the unexpected has been happening all along. They may also point out that the supernatural characters are not friends of Macbeth (or

Write a brief essay about the imagery in the witches' chant (Scene i, lines 1-38) and the mood that the images help create. Examine the senses to which the different images appeal. Then consider how the images, taken as a whole, establish a particular moo

Students should cite examples of images, indicate the sense or senses to which each image appeals, and then consider how all the negative images work together to create a mood they are likely to describe as eerie, horrid, and/or evil. Among the many image

Shakespeare is often praised for his profound understanding of human nature. Evaluate this praise based on the details of The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act IV. Setting aside the behavior of the nonhuman characters (the witches, Hecate, and the apparitions), foc

Students should evaluate this praise based on the details of Act IV. They should focus on the behavior of Macbeth, Malcolm, Macduff, Lady Macduff and her son, and Ross and point out that their behavior and attitudes seem realistic. They should also explai

In a brief essay, discuss the poetic form of the witches' chant in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act IV. How is it different from blank verse? Why do you think Shakespeare uses this form instead of blank verse? Answer these questions then cite specific examples

Students should recognize that the chant, unlike blank verse, uses end rhyme and that the lines are shorter than blank verse's iambic pentameter (five-beat) lines. They may speculate that Shakespeare uses this form because a witches' chant should by its n

Based on The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act IV, write a few paragraphs tracing the murders thus far. Explain the reasons that Macbeth commits or orders each murder and the mounting horror of his acts. What does his behavior suggest about violence and its outcome

Students should recognize that the murder of Duncan is motivated by ambition; the murder of Duncan's guards, by self-preservation; the murder of Banquo and attempted murder of his son, in part by ambition or pride (about his future descendants) and in par

What recurring image in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act IV, is associated with Lady Macduff and her son? Cite examples of this imagery and explain the qualities that it helps to convey.

c, Explanation: Examples include Lady Macduff's many remarks about flying and birds in IV, ii, 1-13; the exchange between son and mother in IV, ii, 32-36; and Malcolm's poignant remark in IV, iii, 218-219. The bird imagery stresses that Macduff's home is

In the witches' chant in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act IV, Scene i, lines 1-38, what do all the images have in common? Cite examples to show why each choice is correct or incorrect.

b, Explanation: This is the only choice that accurately sums up the imagery in the chant. Choice a is incorrect because the images are generally negative and often disgusting. Choice c is incorrect because some of the images ("bubble, bubble," for example

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Macbeth appears only in the first of the three scenes in Act IV, yet his presence is strongly felt in Scenes ii and iii. Write an essay explaining how that presence is felt. How are the feelings of Lady Macduff produced by that

Students should tell how Macbeth's presence is felt in each of the two scenes. For example, they might state that Lady Macduff's anger and fear in Scene ii, though directed at her absent husband, are really produced by the atmosphere of insecurity created

What method does Malcolm initially use to test Macduff's loyalty, and why is he so suspicious of Macduff? Cite details from The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act IV, to support your answer.

Sample answer: He claims to be worse than Macbeth and uninterested in helping to free Scotland from Macbeth's tyranny. He does so because he is in fact plotting against Macbeth and does not initially trust Macduff, since Macbeth has sent others to spy on

Which senses do the following lines from Act IV, Scene iii of The Tragedy of Macbeth appeal to?
This avarice / Sticks deeper, grows with more pernicious root / Than summer-seeming lust, and it hath been / The sword of our slain kings.

sight and touch

One of the images that runs throughout The Tragedy of Macbeth is that of

blood

Which of the following lines spoken by Malcolm in Act IV of The Tragedy of Macbeth best conveys how he really feels about Scotland?

. . . It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash / Is added to her wounds.

In Act IV of The Tragedy of Macbeth,when Macduff's mother asks him how he is going to manage now that his father is dead, Macduff's son remarks, "as birds do, mother." Based on this remark, which of the following best illustrates the impression we get of

charming, naive, and affectionate

Which of the following words would best replace the underlined word in the following line from Shakespeare's Macbeth?
Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.

spotted

What is a Harpier?

a demon spirit

After visiting the witches in Act IV of The Tragedy of Macbeth, why does Macbeth initially change his mind and decide not to have Macduff killed?

He knows Macduff has fled to England.

A major purpose of Act IV of The Tragedy of Macbeth is to foreshadow events related to

Macbeth's downfall.

Witch 2 says, "By the pricking of my thumb, Something wicked this way comes." Who
arrives?

Macbeth arrives

What four things did the witches show Macbeth? What does each show/say? What isMacbeth's reaction?

They showed him an armed head, a bloody child, a crowned child with a tree in its hand,
and, finally, eight kings followed by Banquo's ghost. Respectively, they showed/told
Macbeth to beware of Macduff, that he would not be harmed by anyone "born of woman

Macbeth says (about the witches), "Infected be the air whereon they ride, And damned all
those that trust them!" What is Macbeth, in effect, saying about himself?

He is saying that he is now damned since he has trusted them.

What is Lady Macduff's attitude at the moment about her husband Macduff?

Lady Macduff is furious at her husband's abandonment-she calls him a traitor and a coward. She tells her son it is left up to the mother to protect her young now, and that his father is dead.

Why is Malcolm in England?

Malcolm flees to England because after his father, King Duncan, is murdered, he is afraid that he's next. He wants to get out of where he lives to be safe.

Why does Macduff travel to England?

Macduff travels to england because he does not agree with Macbeth's rule/leadership. He looks for supporters to help to overthrow him and get a new leader.

Why does Malcolm test Macduff?

Malcolm tests Macduff because he's afraid that Macbeth sent Macduff to get Malcolm and trick him to return home. He wants to assure that Macduff is actually truthful in saying that he doesn't like Macbeth. After all, they all were very fond of him before

What news does Ross bring to Macduff?

Ross brings news of Macduff's family's murders

What does Malcolm tell Macduff to do with his grief?

Malcolm tells Macduff to turn his grief into anger. This is just after Ross comes into the scene, and informs Macduff that Macbeth has just murdered his wife and son.

What does Malcolm resolve to do by the end of Act 4?

Malcolm decides that he will go and overthrow Macbeth.

Which senses do the following lines from Act IV, Scene iii of The Tragedy of Macbeth appeal to?
This avarice / Sticks deeper, grows with more pernicious root / Than summer-seeming lust, and it hath been / The sword of our slain kings.

sight and touch

One of the images that runs throughout The Tragedy of Macbeth is that of

Blood

Which of the following lines spoken by Malcolm in Act IV of The Tragedy of Macbeth best conveys how he really feels about Scotland?

. . . It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash / Is added to her wounds.

In Act IV of The Tragedy of Macbeth,when Macduff's mother asks him how he is going to manage now that his father is dead, Macduff's son remarks, "as birds do, mother." Based on this remark, which of the following best illustrates the impression we get of

charming, naive, and affectionate

After visiting the witches in Act IV of The Tragedy of Macbeth, why does Macbeth initially change his mind and decide not to have Macduff killed?

He knows Macduff has fled to England.

A major purpose of Act IV of The Tragedy of Macbeth is to foreshadow events related to

Macbeth's downfall.

What is a Harpier?

a demon spirit

Which of the following words would best replace the underlined word in the following line from Shakespeare's Macbeth?
Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.

Spotted

After visiting the witches in Act IV of The Tragedy of Macbeth, why does Macbeth initially change his mind and decide not to have Macduff killed?

He knows Macduff has fled to England.

In Act IV of The Tragedy of Macbeth,when Macduff's mother asks him how he is going to manage now that his father is dead, Macduff's son remarks, "as birds do, mother." Based on this remark, which of the following best illustrates the impression we get of

charming, naive, and affectionate

One of the images that runs throughout The Tragedy of Macbeth is that of

blood

A major purpose of Act IV of The Tragedy of Macbeth is to foreshadow events related to

Macbeth's downfall.

What is a Harpier?

a demon spirit

Which of the following lines spoken by Malcolm in Act IV of The Tragedy of Macbeth best conveys how he really feels about Scotland?

. . . It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash / Is added to her wounds.

Which of the following words would best replace the underlined word in the following line from Shakespeare's Macbeth?
Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.

spotted

In The Tragedy of MacBeth, Act III, what is the cause of Macbeth's irrational behavior at the banquet?

his guilty conscience

There is none but ____ /Whose being I do fear and under him/My genius is rebuked . . . .

he

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, Scene ii, Lady Macbeth's purpose in drugging the servants is

so they will sleep through King Duncan's murder.

Shakespeare is often praised for his profound understanding of human nature. Evaluate this praise based on the details of The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act IV. Setting aside the behavior of the nonhuman characters (the witches, Hecate, and the apparitions), foc

Malcolm, Macduff, Lady Macduff and her son, and Ross and point out that their behavior and attitudes seem realistic. They should also explain that Shakespeare's knowledge of human nature holds up across the centuries. Students may disagree with this premi

What method does Malcolm initially use to test Macduff's loyalty, and why is he so suspicious of Macduff? Cite details from The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act IV, to support your answer.

He claims to be worse than Macbeth and uninterested in helping to free Scotland from Macbeth's tyranny. He does so because he is in fact plotting against Macbeth and does not initially trust Macduff, since Macbeth has sent others to spy on him and he thin

To which senses do Malcolm's images of Scotland in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act IV, Scene iii, lines 45-47, most clearly appeal? Explain your answer.
a. sight, sound, and taste
b. sight, taste, and smell
c. touch, smell, and sound
d. touch, sound, and sigh

d. touch, sound, and sight

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Macbeth appears only in the first of the three scenes in Act IV, yet his presence is strongly felt in Scenes ii and iii. Write an essay explaining how that presence is felt. How are the feelings of Lady Macduff produced by that

Lady Macduff's anger and fear in Scene ii, though directed at her absent husband, are really produced by the atmosphere of insecurity created by Macbeth's tyranny, and that the family's murders were ordered by Macbeth. Students may also mention that the m

It might be said that with every act in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Macbeth becomes more evil. In Act I, Macbeth hears the witches' prophecies and considers doing evil; in Act II, he kills King Duncan; and in Act III, he kills his comrade Banquo. In an essay,

Macduff's family murdered in Act IV, Macbeth for the first time commits a crime against completely innocent and defenseless people whose lives have little impact on his political power. This makes it an even more vicious crime than his previous murders. T

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act IV, why does Macbeth take comfort in the second and third predictions of the apparitions?

He believes that they can never come true�he does not think it possible for there to be a person "not of woman born" or for "Birnam wood to come to Dunsinane.

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act IV, which adjective would Macduff and Malcolm be most likely to use to describe Macbeth's rule on Scotland? Explain why it is right or wrong.
a. judicious
b. sundry
c. credulous
d. pernicious

d. pernicious

What do you predict about the apparitions' last two predictions in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act IV? Do you think the seeming impossibility of their happening means that Macbeth is safe, as he believes? Or do you think there will be a way for what seems imp

since "Fair is foul and foul is fair," and the unexpected has been happening all along. They may also point out that the supernatural characters are not friends of Macbeth (or any other human being) and that they seem bent on spreading evil and creating m

Critics sometimes suggest that the fourth acts of Shakespeare's plays represent a letdown in dramatic tension between the rising action of the earlier acts and the culminating events of the fifth act. Write an essay in which you evaluate each of the three

They might find the first scene effective because of its frightening, otherworldly quality. They might suggest that the scene gives Macbeth more knowledge of his situation and shows the audience how brazen he has become. Students might find Scene ii effec

What recurring image in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act IV, is associated with Lady Macduff and her son? Cite examples of this imagery and explain the qualities that it helps to convey.
a. witches
b. flowers
c. birds
d. eggs

c. birds