Macbeth Language & structure Quiz
Macbeth by William Shakespeare · 9 multiple-choice questions with answers · about 7 min
Test your knowledge of Macbeth with 9 language & structure questions with answers and explanations — word choice, imagery, narration and how the work is built. Ideal for revision once you have read the whole play.
Word choice, imagery, narration and how the work is built. Drawn from the whole play — contains spoilers.
Skills tested: Language, Structure · Difficulty: Challenge, Standard
The answers and an explanation for each question appear as you play, and on the answer-key page of the printout.
- Lady Macbeth tells her husband to seem one thing and be another. Which pair of images does she use?
A new-born babe upon the blast · A raven hoarse on the battlement · A borrowed robe that hangs loose · An innocent flower hiding a serpent
- Macbeth sees a dagger on his way to Duncan's chamber. What explanation does he offer for it?
It is a token left for him by his wife · It is Banquo's dagger left behind · It is a creation of his fevered brain · It is a sign sent by the witches
- The Porter's comic scene follows straight after the murder. What effect does his joke about keeping hell-gate have?
It proves Duncan died in his sleep · It hides Macduff's arrival from us · It makes the castle itself seem damned · It shows the servants suspect Macbeth
- Which image does Macbeth use for his own mind after ordering Banquo's death?
A raven hoarse with croaking · A borrowed robe too large · A serpent under a flower · A mind full of scorpions
- In England, why does Malcolm describe himself to Macduff as worse than Macbeth?
To excuse his flight from Scotland · To warn Macduff away from England · To mourn his murdered father · To test whether Macduff is honest
- Hearing that his wife is dead, what image does Macbeth use for a human life?
A serpent under a flower · A sword worn to the hilt · A raven on the battlement · A poor player on a stage
- Early on, Lady Macbeth says a little water will wash the blood away. What does she say about her hands in Act V?
They are stained with wine · They are colder than Duncan's · No perfume can sweeten them · They shame her husband's heart
- What do the three promises of the cauldron scene have in common?
Each is spoken by Hecate · Each repeats an earlier prophecy · Each is true in an unexpected way · Each names Macduff directly
- Which recurring image describes Macbeth's hold on titles that are not his?
Ill-fitting borrowed clothes · A seed sown in winter · A chained and baited bear · A ship lost in thick fog
Original questions written for Pagine. Quotations are from the public-domain text.
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