Macbeth Act 4 Guided Reading Questions

Sc. 3, Lines 2-8: What is ironic about Macduff's speech?

It is ironic that Macduff says "strike heaven on the face" because Macbeth just had his entire family killed and they were innocent like heaven.

Sc. 3, Lines 200-224: Use the dialogue between Ross and Macduff to make inferences about these characters' feelings. How does Ross feel about having to tell Macduff about the murders of his wife and children? How does Macduff feel about his family's death?

Ross and Macduff are very upset. Ross feels like Macduff will hate him for being the one to tell him about the bad news. Macduff is so upset and angry at Macbeth.

Sc. 2, Lines 32-50: What evidence of the son's maturity is in these lines? Describe the son's character in one or two words.

The son knows Macduff is not dead, and he asks his mom what she will do without a husband. The son is wise and clever.

Sc. 3, Lines 141-159: What does the reader learn about King Edward from the doctor's and Malcolm's speeches? Think about how Scotland under Macbeth's rule can be used in an analogy to a sick patient. Carry the analogy further to explain how King Edward's healing powers may be related to conditions in Scotland

We learn that King Edward is a good man, and comes to see the sick men. Macbeth's rule has been miserable and awful. He has killed so many people, and that is what sickness does to people. King Edward's healing powers for the sick can be used in "healing" Scotland because he can help bring Scotland back to a good ruler.

Sc. 2, Lines 69-79: Paraphrase Lady Macduff's thoughts about "this earthly world." What theme developing since Act I do the ideas in this soliloquy support?

"I have done nothing to hurt anyone, but I realize in the world, that doing bad is praised. To do something good, can result in you being punished. Why do I use the excuse I am a lady to not do any harm?" The theme developing since Act I is fair is foul and foul is fair.

Sc. 3, Lines 114-132: At what point does the audience know Malcolm has been testing Macduff all along? Review lines 125-132. What qualities does Malcolm say he truly has?

Malcolm begins to tell Macduff that Macbeth has sent many spies to get him to come back, so he was saying all of these things he would never do. Malcolm says he will be just like his father, and that he already has an army to get Scotland back.

Sc. 3, Lines 44-102: What kind of king does Malcolm claim he would be? Why would he admit to this huge character flaw?

Malcolm claims he would be a bad king. He would take any women he wanted, and he would make Macbeth look like an angel. He says he would do this to test Macduff and see if he is loyal to his country.

Sc. 3, Line 238: What does Malcolm mean by this?

Malcolm is saying that Macbeth is going to pay for what he has done.

Sc. 3, Lines 200-224: How do Malcolm and Macduff's ideas of manhood differ?

Malcolm's idea of manhood is fighting when you're angry, while Macduff wants to grieve his family's death.

Sc. 1, Lines 150-153: Why does Macbeth decide to kill Macduff's family?

Macbeth decides to kill Macduff's family because he is mad at MacDuff. He wishes that he killed MacDuff in the beginning and now will kill MacDuff's wife, kids, and anyone that works for him.

Sc. 1, Lines 141-154: Describe Macbeth's reaction to the news that Macduff has fled to England. What does Macbeth say he will do from now on, and what action is he planning to take?

Macbeth is frustrated that MacDuff fled to England and he says that he will kill MacDuff's family.

Sc. 1, Lines 50-61: Who does Macbeth say can set loose these storms?

Macbeth says he knows that the witches can control everything.

Sc. 1, Lines 97-105: What text reflects Macbeth's ego and ambition?

Macbeth says how these things will never happen, and he begins to ask if Banquo's sons will become king and when the witches tell him to ask no more questions he says he will curse them for eternal life.

Sc. 3, Lines 164-180: Explain the ambiguity of Macduff's use of "at their peace" in line 179 and Ross's response of "at peace" in line 180.

Macduff asks if his family is okay, and Ross says, they were peaceful when he left them.

Sc. 3, Lines 73-110: Summarize the conversation between Macduff and Malcolm. Does Macduff seem honorable? Why or why not?

Macduff tells Malcolm he will give him anything he wants to make him come back to be king. Macduff does seem honorable, because he wants Malcolm to come back so bad he will do anything for him to agree.

Sc. 3, Lines 164-180: What series of events described by Ross will likely lead to a disastrous conclusion for Macbeth? What cascade of character flaws in Macbeth has likely caused these events to unfold?

Ross tells Macduff about his entire family is dead, adn Malcolm tells him to use his grief as anger against Macbeth. Macbeth's greed is the reasons these events have taken place.

Sc. 1, Lines 69-94: What might the armed head, or head wearing armor, symbolize?

The armed head may symbolize battle, and the armed head is telling Macbeth to beware of MacDuff.

Sc. 1, Lines 50-61: What images does Macbeth use in his speech?

The imagery that Macbeth creates is very dark and gloomy. Its describing a terrible storm.

Sc. 3, Lines 8-17: Explain the irony in Malcolm's speech.

The irony in Malcolm's speech is that Macbeth was a trusted man and, now he has done so many horrible things. "This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues..."

Sc. 2, Lines 3-17: Identify and explain the irony in these lines. Why does Lady Macduff tell her son that his father is dead, even though the boy heard her discussion with Ross?

The irony in these lines is Lady Macduff telling Ross that her husband was a bad man for leaving her and their children. This is ironic because he left them to help them and all of the countries people. Lady Macduff tells her son that Macduff is dead because she thinks he is a traitor.

Sc. 1, Lines 1-21: What is the repeated couplet in the witches' dialogue? What point or idea does the couplet express?

The repeated couplet in the witches dialogue is a spell. The other words in the couplet is them adding in ingredients and creating something evil in the couldron.

Sc. 1, Lines 69-94: Which part of the text here is related to the second apparition that may give Macbeth a false sense of security?

The second apparition is a bloody child and it says none of a women born will hurt him. So that means, no one can hurt him. He will believe that he is in complete safety.

Sc. 2, Lines 69-79: Describe how the son feels about his father.

The son stands up for his father and the murderers kill him first then his entire family. This shows that the son feels so much love for his father.

Sc. 1, Lines 69-94: What does the third apparition represent? How might the apparition's words affect Macbeth? How might the symbolism of the three apparitions foreshadow future events related to a theme?

The third apparition represents nothing. It is saying he will be at lead until the woods come to his home. This foreshadows Macbeth having way to safe feeling in the world.

Sc. 1, Lines 1-21: Describe the mood that is established in the scene description and stage direction at the beginning of Scene 1. What elements help to create that mood? What tone might readers expect in the dialogue that follows? How does the stage direction further readers' understanding of the witches?

The words that the witches use gives off an eerie mood, and makes the setting very creepy. The tone that the the readers might expect in the dialogue is terror. The stage direction makes the readers' understand that the witch are weird and creepy women.

Sc. 1, Lines 144-154: What does Macbeth's speech reveal about his changing character? How does his speech develop a theme of the drama?

This speech shows that Macbeth has shifted from feeling guilty for just thinking about killing the king to now killing anyone that gets in his way.

Sc. 1, Lines 50-61: What does this speech suggest about Macbeth? How does the speech support a theme?

This speech suggests that Macbeth is not afraid and he is brave. This supports the theme of Macbeth becoming more and more evil.

Sc. 1, Lines 97-105: Recall the witches' prophecy to Banquo in Act 1, Scene 3. Make an inference about what is going through Macbeth's mind after seeing the apparitions of eight kings that look like Banquo.

What could be going through Macbeth's mind when he sees a line of Banquo's heirs in line for the throne is anger and he is probably wanting to kill all of them. He feels like he went through all of the trouble to become king and it will be taken from him.