Macbeth Edition

WHO WANTS TO BE A SHAKESPEAREAN MILLIONAIRE?

What country takes advantage of the fact that there’s a civil war going on in Scotland at the beginning of the play?

Norway

QUESTION #1

What is the title which Duncan bestows on Malcolm

in Act I,iv?

The Prince of Cumberland

QUESTION #2

What is the tragic term which means “fatal flaw” in Greek?

Hamartia

QUESTION #3

Who does Macbeth “unseam from the nave to the chops?”

Macdonald

QUESTION #4

Where are kings of Scotland crowned?

Scone

QUESTION #5

Specifically, what does Lady Macbeth ask evil spirits to do

for her?

“unsex me” (take away her feminine characteristics)

QUESTION #6

What title did Macbeth inherit from his father, Sinel?

Thane of Glamis

QUESTION #7

What are two characteristics that Malcolm says he has

which disqualify him as a king of Scotland?

Lust, Avarice (greed)

QUESTION #8

What job does the character Seyton have in Macbeth’s

court?

Armour bearer

QUESTION #9

What title does Macduff hold?

The thane of Fife

QUESTION #10

A certain type of foolish birds makes its (procreant cradle) nest in castles.

Who is this bird symbolic of? Duncan

Bonus Question: What is this bird called?

The martlet

QUESTION #11

Which thanes fulfill the witches’ first prophecy?

Lennox and Ross

QUESTION #12

What natural law states that God has a plan for every

creature and a specific role they’re supposed to fulfill?

The Great Chain of Being

QUESTION #13

After their father’s murder, where do Malcolm and

Donaldbain go, respectively?Malcolm England

Donaldbain Ireland

QUESTION #14

Provide three pieces of evidence that demonstrate that Macbeth has

become insane.

Sees visions (dagger), hears voices (Macbeth will sleep no more),

becomes paranoid (hires an extra murderer)

QUESTION #15

What Greek term refers to the turning point in a tragedy?

PerepeteiaBonus: What is the

perepeteia in the play?The murder of Duncan

QUESTION #16

How does Lady Macbeth convince Macbeth to kill

Duncan? (one of two ways)Insults his manhood

Convinces him that it will be easy

QUESTION #17

What does Macbeth compare the potential murderers’

manhood to in order to shame them into killing Banquo?

Dogs

QUESTION #18

In tragedy, the catharsis is the point where things are set right and the

audience is cleansed of their feelings of pity and fear. What are two points of

catharsis at the end of the play?Malcolm (the rightful heir) becomes king, Macbeth is punished for his crimes, the exiled friends can return (Donaldbain, Fleance) and the thanes become earls

QUESTION #19

What form does the apparition take that tells Macbeth to

“beware Macduff?”

An armed (armoured) head

QUESTION #20

What is Macbeth’s hamartia?

His vaulting ambition

QUESTION 21

Define anagnorisis.

When the hero discovers the nature of things fully (i.e. he

goes from a state of ignorance to knowledge)

QUESTION #22

Who is the Queen of the witches?

Hecate

QUESTION #23

What evidence is there that the murder of Duncan was not the result of fate?

Macbeth said that, “if chance will have me king, then chance may crown me without my stir.” (i.e. If fate is real, then I won’t have to do anything to make this happen.) He also

weighs the pros and cons of murdering Duncan and makes a conscious choice for

evil.

QUESTION #24

Provide three reasons which excuse or at least explain Macbeth’s murder

of Duncan.

Lady Macbeth influenced him, The witches manipulated him, and

Macbeth was insane at the time of the murders.

QUESTION #25

What are three two qualities that Lady Macbeth believes make a man a “real man?”

Courage & Keeping your word

QUESTION #26

Using an example to contrast each character, how does Macduff demonstrate that he is courageous, but Macbeth is not?

He tells Macbeth to “turn, hell-hound, turn” and won’t kill “wretched kerns who are hired to bear their staves.” Macbeth

can’t stand up to his wife and kills defenceless old men, women and children.

QUESTION #27

The fact that Lady Macbeth begins to sleepwalk, Duncan’s horses eat each other, and the

stars don’t come out the night of Duncan’s murder reflect which

theme?Disorder

QUESTION #28

The fact that the witches’ prophecy that Macbeth will be thane of

Cawdor comes true, Malcolm and Donaldbain run away, and Malcolm

says he’s not fit to rule all demonstrate what theme?Appearances vs. Reality

QUESTION #29

The expression, “out, out brief candle” is a metaphor for

what?

The shortness of life

QUESTION #30