Macbeth Act II Discussion Questions*
These questions will be asked in class as part of discussion, or they may be given out as homework, exit/entrance tickets, or essay assignments. Not all of these questions may be asked, but many of them will. Please pay attention to in-class directions.
Scene One
Act Two is concerned with the murder of Duncan and its immediate aftermath. Scene one builds tension as Macbeth prepares to commit the act.
Examine the dialogue between Macbeth and Banquo at the start of the scene.
Read the "Is this a dagger..." soliloquy carefully.
Why does Macbeth kill Duncan?
Scene One
Act Two is concerned with the murder of Duncan and its immediate aftermath. Scene one builds tension as Macbeth prepares to commit the act.
Examine the dialogue between Macbeth and Banquo at the start of the scene.
- How would you describe Macbeth's state of mind?
- In what ways is Macbeth different from the man we saw at the end of act one?
Read the "Is this a dagger..." soliloquy carefully.
- Is Macbeth manifesting this dagger from his imagination, or is this some kind of spell or hoax?
- What are the implications of each choice? That is, if the dagger is imaginary, what does this vision suggest about Macbeth's state of mind?
- Why does someone like Macbeth, a seasoned soldier who has killed many enemies in battle, feel this kind of emotional intensity before killing Duncan?
- Is Macbeth insane?
- If the dagger vision is evidence that Macbeth is an imaginative person, why does he lack the imagination or foresight necessary to see the implications of his actions -- or the implication of the witches' prophecy for Banquo?
- In what ways does this soliloquy represent an apparent change in Macbeth?
Why does Macbeth kill Duncan?
- If Macbeth truly believes the witches' prophecies are real, why does he take direct actions to make himself king when he could let "chance...crown [him] without [his] stir"?
- To what extent is Macbeth to blame for his own actions?
- If Lady Macbeth or the witches are to blame, why are they, especially since Macbeth is a grown man in a position of power and privilege they do not have?
Scene Two
Scene two begins with Lady Macbeth admitting to having consumed alcohol in order to be able to fulfill her role in the murder of Duncan.
Scene two begins with Lady Macbeth admitting to having consumed alcohol in order to be able to fulfill her role in the murder of Duncan.
- What does this suggest about her strength of character?
- Explore how Shakespeare builds tension throughout the scene.
- What does Macbeth mean when he says that he has murdered sleep?
- Closely examine the statement, "A little water clears us of this deed." Why "a little" water? Why is Lady Macbeth choosing to minimize this issue?
- How do we interpret the vague statement "this deed" rather than the more descriptive word "murder"? What does it suggest about the Macbeths that both of them are repeatedly unable or reluctant to say the word "murder" or "death"?
Scene Three
Scene three introduces a brief moment of comic relief. This is a technique used to relieve the tension that has been built up in the audience so that they are emotionally able to cope with the tension that is to follow. The Porter is a drunken peasant who jokes about a range of people well known to a Shakespearean audience who he believes will go hell for their pretentiousness. He also makes a number of sexual jokes. Following the appearance of the Porter, the tension rises with the arrival of Macduff and the discovery of the murder.
Scene three introduces a brief moment of comic relief. This is a technique used to relieve the tension that has been built up in the audience so that they are emotionally able to cope with the tension that is to follow. The Porter is a drunken peasant who jokes about a range of people well known to a Shakespearean audience who he believes will go hell for their pretentiousness. He also makes a number of sexual jokes. Following the appearance of the Porter, the tension rises with the arrival of Macduff and the discovery of the murder.
- How does Macbeth justify his murder of the grooms?
- Why do you think Lady Macbeth faints at this point?
- How does Banquo respond to the murders?
- Why do Malcolm and Donalbain flee?
Scene Four
Scene four begins with a discussion between Ross and an old man.
Scene four begins with a discussion between Ross and an old man.
- What is interesting about the events which they discuss?
- What do you think those events symbolize?
- What does Macduff's decision not to attend the coronation suggest about his attitude to Macbeth?
- Some questions taken or adapted from this site: caldwell.wikispaces.com/file/view/Macbeth+Study+Questions.doc
- Some questions taken or adapted from this site: www.appohigh.org/.../Macbeth%20Study%20Questions%20Act%201.doc