Macbeth Quotations

Question 1

Ambition

Answer 1

“Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself” (Macbeth admits ambition is his only motive)

Question 2

Stars

Answer 2

“Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires” (Macbeth hiding ambition)

Question 3

Spur

Answer 3

“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent” (No reason except ambition)

Question 4

Thou wouldst be

Answer 4

“Thou wouldst be great; art not without ambition” (Lady Macbeth on Macbeth)

Question 5

I dare do

Answer 5

“I dare do all that may become a man” (Macbeth on honour and masculinity)

Question 6

Graces

Answer 6

“The king-becoming graces” (Malcolm listing qualities of a good king)

Question 7

Tyrant

Answer 7

“This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues” (Macduff on Macbeth)

Question 8

Bleed

Answer 8

“Bleed, bleed, poor country!” (Scotland suffering under Macbeth)

Question 9

Angels

Answer 9

“His virtues will plead like angels” (Duncan presented as a good king)

Question 10

Sleep

Answer 10

“Macbeth does murder sleep” (Guilt destroys peace)

Question 11

Ocean

Answer 11

“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?” (Macbeth’s guilt)

Question 12

Water

Answer 12

“A little water clears us of this deed” (Lady Macbeth dismissing guilt)

Question 13

Spot

Answer 13

“Out, damned spot!” (Lady Macbeth sleepwalking)

Question 14

Perfumes

Answer 14

“All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand” (Overwhelming guilt)

Question 15

Blood

Answer 15

“I am in blood stepped in so far” (Macbeth trapped in violence)

Question 16

Serpent

Answer 16

“Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” (Deception and evil)

Question 17

Unseamed

Answer 17

“Unseamed him from the nave to the chaps” (Macbeth’s violent heroism)

Question 18

Brains

Answer 18

“Dash’d the brains out” (Lady Macbeth’s shocking violence)

Question 19

Fair

Answer 19

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (Theme of deception)

Question 20

False

Answer 20

“False face must hide what the false heart doth know” (Macbeth hiding his intentions)

Question 21

Instruments

Answer 21

“The instruments of darkness tell us truths” (Banquo suspicious of witches)

Question 22

All hail

Answer 22

“All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (Prophecy sparks ambition)

Question 23

Chance

Answer 23

“If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me” (Fate vs free will)

Question 24

Dagger

Answer 24

“Is this a dagger which I see before me?” (Hallucination before murder)

Question 25

Born

Answer 25

“None of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (Misleading prophecy)

Question 26

Wood

Answer 26

“Birnam Wood to Dunsinane” (Impossible prophecy)

Question 27

Milk

Answer 27

“Too full o’ the milk of human kindness” (Lady Macbeth sees Macbeth as weak)

Question 28

Unsex

Answer 28

“Unsex me here” (Lady Macbeth rejecting femininity)

Question 29

Spirits

Answer 29

“Come, you spirits” (Calling on evil forces)

Question 30

Man

Answer 30

“When you durst do it, then you were a man” (Lady Macbeth manipulating masculinity)

Question 31

Mother

Answer 31

“From his mother’s womb untimely ripped” (Macduff not ‘born’ normally)

Question 32

Feel

Answer 32

“I must also feel it as a man” (Masculinity linked to emotion)

Question 33

Hell-hound

Answer 33

“Turn, hell-hound, turn!” (Macbeth presented as evil)

Question 34

Lesser

Answer 34

“Lesser than Macbeth, and greater” (Paradox about Banquo)

Question 35

Fouly

Answer 35

“I fear thou play’dst most foully for’t” (Banquo suspects Macbeth)

Question 36

Fruitless

Answer 36

“Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown” (Macbeth jealous of Banquo)

Question 37

Tomorrow

Answer 37

“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” (Macbeth’s despair)

Question 38

Life

Answer 38

“Life’s but a walking shadow” (Life is meaningless to Macbeth at the end)

Question 39

Grace

Answer 39

Grace of Grace Malcom’s rule is presented as blessed by God

Question 40

Thanes

Answer 40

Thanes and kingsmen henceforth be earls

Question 41

Butcher

Answer 41

Dead butcher and his fiend like queen

Question 42

The queen

Answer 42

The queen my lord is dead seytons only words

Question 43

Time

Answer 43

The time is free liberation from Macbeth