The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II
William Shakespeare


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

a. Ambition leads to greatness.
b. Tragedy befalls even honest people.
c. A murderer must live with his conscience.
d. It is important to learn from one's mistakes.


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

a. to overpower their reluctance to assassinate King Duncan
b. to make them sleep through King Duncan's murder
c. to kill them for their knowledge of the crime
d. to erase their memory of the night's events


3.) 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?

a. He feels his guilt is enormous.
b. He is afraid to wash the blood off his hands.
c. He is afraid of being found out.
d. Lady Macbeth will not be able to wash off the blood.

4.) What reason does Lady Macbeth give for not killing King Duncan herself?
a. She says that Macbeth must do the deed to prove his strength.
b. She says that the witches' prophecy was not meant for her.
c. She says that the king looked like her father as he slept.
d. She says that she is a woman and incapable of murder.

5.) As Act II of The Tragedy of Macbeth closes, which of the following are revealed?

a. Animals are acting in bizarre ways.
b. The old man's prediction has come true.
c. Lady Macbeth has recovered from her sudden illness.
d. Funeral arrangements for Duncan have not yet been made.

6.) Which of the following could be described as a person acting in a stealthy manner?

a. Miriam slammed the door so hard that the windows shook.
b. Jake tiptoed slowly down the hall to avoid attracting anyone's attention.
c. Ramón practiced for his big trumpet solo in the upcoming concert.
d. Dr. Patel greeted her friends warmly and invited them inside.

7.) Which of the following actions most clearly illustrates sacrilegious behavior?
a. hesitating to make important decisions
b. failing to show up on time for appointments
c. treating an object of worship with contempt
d. doing one's duty without question or complaint

8.) Which of the following is the best definition of equivocate?
a. to lie
b. to scoff
c. to argue
d. to whisper


9.) In Act II of The Tragedy of Macbeth, what does the cry "Sleep no more! /Macbeth does murder sleep. ..." mean to Macbeth?

a. It points to his need to flee and become a fugitive.
b. It causes him to fear that he will be the next person to die.
c. It underscores the idea that his conscience will not let him rest.
d. It leads him to suspect that he has been identified as Duncan's assassin.

10.) In Act II of The Tragedy of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth declares, “My hands are of your color, but I shame / To wear a heart so white...." What does she most likely mean?

a. Her hands are red with King Duncan's blood, and she will have to live with guilt over the murder for the rest of her life.
b. Like Macbeth, her hands are red with King Duncan's blood; unlike Macbeth, she is not afraid of the consequences.
c. She and Macbeth are of the nobility and can expect a bright future now that Duncan is gone.
d. She is an accomplice to Duncan's murder; unlike her husband, she believes that the king deserved to die.


11.) The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A: Given her speech and actions in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act II,
choose the most reasonable prediction of Lady Macbeth's feelings about the murder as the play continues.

a. She will confess to committing the murder in order to save Macbeth.
b. She will suggest to Macbeth that they flee to England or Ireland.
c. She will develop intense feelings of guilt like the ones Macbeth has already shown.
d. She will kill Macbeth because he is the only one who knows about her involvement in the crime.

Part B: Which excerpt from the dialogue best supports the answer to Part A?

a. Macbeth. This is a sorry sight.
Lady Macbeth. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
b. Lady Macbeth. These deeds must not be thought / After these ways; so, it will make us mad.
c. Lady Macbeth. ... Go get some water, / And wash this filthy witness from your hand.
d. Macduff. Our royal master's murdered. Lady Macbeth. Woe, alas!/ What, in our house?