The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II Test Review

Which of the following best states the central idea of The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II?

• Ambition leads to greatness.

• Tragedy befalls even honest people.

• A murderer must live with his conscience.

• It is important to learn from one’s mistakes.

In Act II of The Tragedy of Macbeth, why does Lady Macbeth drug the servants?

• to overpower their reluctance to assassinate King Duncan

• to make them sleep through King Duncan’s murder

• to kill them for their knowledge of the crime

• to erase their memory of the night’s events

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, what does Macbeth mean when he says that the blood on his hands will redden all the seas?

• He feels his guilt is enormous.

• He is afraid to wash the blood off his hands.

• He is afraid of being found out.

• Lady Macbeth will not be able to wash off the blood.

What reason does Lady Macbeth give for not killing King Duncan herself?

• She says that Macbeth must do the deed to prove his strength.

• She says that the witches’ prophecy was not meant for her.

• She says that the king looked like her father as he slept.

• She says that she is a woman and incapable of murder.

Part A: Which of the following best explains why Malcolm and Donalbain flee Macbeth’s castle at the end of The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II?

• They want to go to the authorities right away to tell them who the murderer is.

• They fear that they may be killed next, and they want to protect themselves.

• They want to meet privately together to figure out who the murderer is.

• They are guilty of Duncan’s murder and afraid of being found out.

Part B: Which quotation from the play best supports the answer to Part A?

• Malcolm: Why do we hold our tongues, / That most may claim this argument for ours?

• Donalbain: ... Let’s away; / Our tears are not yet brewed.

• Malcolm: What will you do? Let’s not consort with them. / To show an unfelt sorrow is an office / Which the false man does easy....

• Malcolm: This murderous shaft that’s shot / Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way / Is to avoid the aim.

Read the following speech from Act II of The Tragedy of Macbeth, which is written in blank verse—unrhymed iambic pentameter. Which of the following best describe the effect Shakespeare achieves with his use of blank verse here and throughout the play? Choose two options.

• The regular rhythm of blank verse helps listeners remember what they hear.

• The singsong quality of blank verse reminds the audience that the play is not realistic.

• The poetic quality of blank verse lessens the dramatic and emotional impact of the words.

• The steady, rhythmic beat of blank verse lends it a majestic quality that suits aristocratic characters.

• The fact that all the characters always speak in blank verse makes the dialogue sound like ordinary speech.

Most scenes in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II, follow Shakespeare’s usual pattern of ending with two rhymed lines of iambic pentameter. Scene ii, however, ends as follows: Macbeth. To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself. [Knock.] Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst! Which of the following best describes the effect that Shakespeare achieves by departing from his usual use of a rhymed couplet?

• He distances Macbeth from the guests in his castle.

• He injects some humor into an otherwise serious scene.

• He heightens the dramatic impact of Macbeth’s guilty words.

• He emphasizes the difference between Macbeth and his wife.

Part A Read the following opening of the lengthy speech that begins Scene iii of The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II. Porter. Here's a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of hell gate, he should have old turning the key. [Knock.] Knock, knock, knock! Who's there, i' th' name of Beelzebub? Here's a farmer, that hanged himself on th' expectation of plenty.... Which of the following best describes the text structure or meter of the porter’s speech?

• It is written in anapestic feet.

• It is written in trochaic feet.

• It is written in iambic feet.

• It is written in prose.

Part B Which statement best explains the effect that Shakespeare achieves by choosing the text structure or meter specified in the answer to Part A?

• It suggests that the porter’s importance will become more obvious as the play continues.

• It heightens tension by delaying the discovery of Duncan’s body.

• It indicates that the porter is a lower-ranking character.

• It shows that the porter knows who killed Duncan.