Macbeth - Exam Questions v2 - Act 1 Scene 3 and Act 1 Scene 5

Sep 30, 2026

Exam questions based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth extracts, focusing on how the play presents key characters and dramatic themes. Tasks include analysing Lady Macbeth’s power from Act 1 Scene 5, evaluating Macbeth’s belief in the supernatural from a witches encounter, and assessing Macbeth as a hero from an Act 5 siege context. Additional prompts require evaluating the witches’ presentation from Act 1 Scene 3 and exploring Lady Macbeth as the dominant partner in a key Act 1 conversation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Lady Macbeth as a powerful woman

Shakespeare’s presentation in the speech and in the play as a whole

Macbeth’s belief in the supernatural

Macbeth’s reaction to the witches here

Macbeth’s beliefs elsewhere in the play

Macbeth as a hero

Macbeth in the siege speech

Macbeth in the play as a whole

The witches’ portrayal

The witches in the extract

The witches and/or smaller characters in the play as a whole

Lady Macbeth as the dominant partner

The dominant partnership in the relationship

Macbeth Read the following extract from Act 1 Scene 5 of Macbeth and then answer the question that follows. At this point in the play Lady Macbeth is speaking. She has just received the news that King Duncan will be spending the night at her castle. The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements. Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe topfull Of direst cruelty; make thick my blood, Stop up th’access and passage to remorse That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose nor keep peace between Th’effect and it. Come to my woman’s breasts, And take my milk for gall, you murd’ring minsters, Wherever in your sightless substances You wait on nature’s mischief. Come, thick night, And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, To cry ‘Hold, hold!’ Starting with this speech, explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a powerful woman. Write about: 􀁸 how Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth in this speech 􀁸 how Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth in the play as a whole. [30 marks] SPaG [4 marks] Macbeth At this point in the play, Banquo and Macbeth have just met the witches. The witches have just told Macbeth he will one day be the King of Scotland. | BANQUO
Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair? I' the name of truth, Are ye fantastical, or that indeed
Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner You greet with present grace and great prediction Of noble having and of royal hope,
That he seems rapt withal: to me you speak not. If you can look into the seeds of time,
And say which grain will grow and which will not, Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear Your favours nor your hate.
First Witch
Hail!
Second Witch
Hail!
Third Witch
Hail!
First Witch
Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.
Second Witch
Not so happy, yet much happier.
Third Witch
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none:
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!
First Witch
Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!
MACBETH
Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more: By Sinel's death I know I am thane of Glamis; But how of Cawdor? The thane of Cawdor lives, A prosperous gentleman; and to be king Stands not within the prospect of belief, No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence You owe this strange intelligence? or why Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you.
(The Witches vanish) | 5
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25 | | --- | --- | Starting with this conversation, explain how far Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a character who believes in the supernatural power of the witches. Write about: 􀁸 How Shakespeare presents Macbeth’s reaction to the witches here 􀁸 How Shakespeare presents his beliefs in them elsewhere in the play. Macbeth Read the following question from Act 5 Scene 3 of Macbeth and then answer the question that follows. At this point in the play Macbeth is under siege from the English army. Starting with this speech, explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a hero. Write about: • how Shakespeare presents Macbeth in this speech • how Shakespeare presents Macbeth in the play as a whole. [30 marks] AO4 [4 marks] Macbeth Read the following extract from Act 1 Scene 3 of Macbeth and then answer the question that follows. At this point in the play the witches have met and are now ready to meet Macbeth and deliver his predictions. 0.1 ALL (3witches chant) The weird sisters, hand in hand, Posters of the sea and land, Thus do go about, about: Thrice to thine and thrice to mine And thrice again, to make up nine. Peace! the charm's wound up. Enter MACBETH and BANQUO MACBETH So foul and fair a day I have not seen. BANQUO How far is't call'd to

FAQs

What does the Lady Macbeth question (Act 1 Scene 5) ask you to explain?

It asks you to explain how far Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a powerful woman, starting from her speech and then considering her throughout the play.

How does the Macbeth question about the witches differ from the Lady Macbeth questions?

It focuses on how far Macbeth believes in the witches’ supernatural power, examining his reaction in the moment and his beliefs elsewhere in the play.

What is required in the question about Macbeth as a hero?

It asks you to begin with Macbeth’s speech during an English siege and explain how far Shakespeare presents him as a hero, then relate this to his overall portrayal in the play as a whole.

Sep 30, 2026

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