Welcome to our blog post ISC Macbeth Workbook Answers : Act 1, Scene 5 of William Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, “Macbeth.” As dedicated learners and educators, we recognize the importance of unraveling the nuances of Shakespearean literature, which is why we’ve curated this comprehensive guide specifically tailored to the ISC curriculum.
Within this blog, we’ll explore Act 1, Scene 5, utilizing the meticulously crafted workbook provided by Morning Star publishers. Our objective is to not only present multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and detailed answers but also to foster a deeper comprehension of the play’s themes, characters, and linguistic complexities.
While our responses are structured based on the workbook, we encourage students to use this resource as a springboard for their own exploration. Shakespeare’s works offer rich layers of interpretation, inviting individual analysis. Therefore, feel empowered to adapt and personalize our insights to suit your unique learning style and needs.
Whether you’re striving for academic excellence or simply eager to unravel the depths of “Macbeth,” join us on this enlightening journey through Act 1, Scene 5. Let’s embark on an adventure where Shakespeare’s words transcend time, captivating minds across generations.
Table of Contents
Workbook Summary :
The scene takes place in Macbeth’s castle at Inverness. The scene introduces us to the second great character, Lady Macbeth. She has an iron will and determination that makes her to goad Macbeth on to murder.
Macbeth sends his wife a letter telling her about the prophecies of the witches. He tells her the greatness that has been promised to him. After reading the letter, Lady Macbeth ponders over the character of Macbeth and finds it that her husband lacks the will and determination. He is too full of the milk of human kindness to do the cruel deed although he has all the ambition to be the King. The third prophecy of the witches can be fulfilled only by murdering Duncan. Now that the King would be their guest for the night, they have a good opportunity to do so. Lady Macbeth is afraid of the noble nature of her husband. She says :
Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be
What thou art promis’d; yet do I fear thy nature,
It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way.
She eagerly awaits his return so that she may pour her spirit into his ear. Just then, a messenger comes in with the news that Duncan is coming to her castle as their guest. She is first excited with the news; but restrains herself. Her soliloquy, after she has read the letter of Macbeth, shows she had spoken to Macbeth earlier of the possibility of him becoming the King. She would now proceed to make the possibility a reality. She invokes the spirits to unsex her and harden her heart so as to shut out all natural feelings. She asks the impulses, which prompt to murder, to turn her milk into bitter gall. She also invokes the dark spirit of night to hide her knife so that it may not see the deed it does. Lady Macbeth says:
‘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.’
Macbeth reaches his castle at Inverness and is greeted by his wife. He tells her that Duncan is coming to stay with them for the night. She replies that he will never return alive. Murderous thoughts are manifested on the face of Macbeth. She asks him to hide his looks and to look innocent like the flower but be the snake under it. She says:
To beguile the time,
Look like the time, bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue; look like th’innocent flower,
But be the serpent under’t.
Workbook MCQs :
1. Who is referred to as They’ in the first line of this scene?
(a) The three rebels
(b) The three nobles
(c) The three witches
(d) The three generals
Answer :- (c) The three witches
2. Whose “day of success” is referred to in this scene?
(a) Duncan’s
(b) Macbeth’’s
(c) Banquo’s
(d) Malcolm’s
Answer :- (b) Macbeth’s
3. What “success’ is referred to by the speaker?
(a) Macbeth’s victory in the battle
(b) Macdonwald’s victory in the battle
(c) Macbeth being announced as the future king
(d) None of the above.
Answer :- (a) Macbeth’s victory in the battle
4. Which prophecy of the three witches proved correct before this scene?
(a) Macbeth would become the King of Scotland
(b) Macbeth would be conferred with the title of Thane of Cawdor.
(c) Macbeth would become the King of Norway
(d) None of the above.
Answer :- (b) Macbeth would be conferred with the title of Thane of Cawdor.
5. According to Lady Macbeth which trait of Macbeth would prevent him from achieving his goal?
(a) Valour
(b) Loyalty
(c) Honesty
(d) Kindness
Answer :- (d) Kindness
6. According to Lady Macbeth, Macbeth can achieve his goal by which of the following traits?
(a) Wickedness
(b) Honesty
(c) Loyalty
(d) Deceit
Answer :- (a) Wickedness
7. Lady Macbeth says that the crown is promised to her husband by both’. Who are the both”?
(a) Bravery
(b) Fate
(c) Supernatural prophecy
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Answer :- (d) Both (b) and (c) – Fate and Supernatural prophecy
8. Lady Macbeth begs evil powers to take away from her which of the following?
(a) Weakness of a woman
(b) Her love for Macbeth
(c) Her passivity
(d) None of the above
Answer :- ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ).
9. Which of the following is NOT asked by Lady Macbeth for altering her character?
(a) Defeminise her
(b) Dehumanise her
(c) Deform her
(d) None of the above
Answer :- ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ).
10. Who are referred to by Lady Macbeth as ‘murdering ministers?
(a) Evil spirits
(b) Those who were disloyal to Duncan
(c) Macbeth and Banquo
(d) None of the above.
Answer :- ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ).
11. In this scene what is the purpose of Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy?
(a) To ponder on her husband’s valour
(b) To endorse the inverted values of the witches
(c) To goad her husband to murder Duncan
(d) All of the above.
Answer :- ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ).
12. This scene depicts Lady Macbeth as a
(a) Strong willed woman
(b) Determined woman
(c) Unscrupulous woman
(d) All of the above
Answer :- ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ).
Complete The Sentences :
- Lady Macbeth believes that Macbeth would not be able to carry out the cruel deed of murdering King Duncan because she perceives him as too full of the “milk of human kindness,” indicating his compassionate and gentle nature.
- Lady Macbeth asks her husband to hide his looks because his facial expressions might betray his inner turmoil and hesitation, potentially arousing suspicion or alerting others to their nefarious intentions.
- Macbeth wavers but Lady Macbeth’s resolution appears to be absolute because she is determined to seize power and is willing to go to any lengths, including murder, to achieve her ambitions, contrasting with Macbeth’s hesitancy and moral qualms.
- Lady Macbeth invokes the spirits of evil to defeminize and dehumanize her because ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ).
- Lady Macbeth describes the messenger who brings the news of Duncan’s arrival at her castle as a raven because ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ).
- Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth to act according to the occasion because ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ).
