Welcome to our blog post ISC Macbeth Workbook Answers : Act 1, Scene 4 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 4, 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 4. Let’s embark on an adventure where Shakespeare’s words transcend time, captivating minds across generations.
Table of Contents
Workbook Summary :
Duncan, along with his sons and lords, is eagerly waiting to receive Macbeth, the valiant hero and Banquo in his palace at Forres. Malcolm, his son, giving a touch of nobility in the traitor’s death, relates to him how the Thane of Cawdor, faced his execution in such a calm, dignified and honourable manner and that he never appeared so honourable as when he faced his death by execution. The king laments that he misjudged the treachery in Cawdor’s heart just by looking at his face which means that appearances and reality are so different.
Duncan is filled with joy to see Macbeth as he, along with Ross and Angus, enters the room and while embracing him, welcomes him and Banquo with great happiness and gratitude. The noble king apologises to Macbeth on two issues- one that there has been a great delay in rewarding him and secondly that Macbeth’s heroic deeds are so great that no matter how much he tries, he can never match them, in short, he deserves much more than Duncan can give. Macbeth replies that he owes his king his services and his loyalty and that in ensuring his safety, he is only discharging his duties.
In this happy mood, Duncan makes an announcement which is that he will make Malcolm, his elder son the heir to the throne of Scotland and that he will be called Prince of Cumberland. This decision of Duncan renders Malcolm to be the next king of Scotland. This announcement comes as a shock to Macbeth who in his soliloquy, at once decides there and then that he will murder Duncan and fulfil his ambition. His inflamed imagination even travels to the night of the proposed murder; so much so that he asks the stars in the sky not to shine at the time when he commits the deed.
In his happiness, Duncan tells Macbeth that he intends to go to Inverness, Macbeth’s home and thus strengthen the bond of affection between them. Macbeth takes his leave to hurry to his castle.
Macbeth’s soliloquy, made just after Malcolm being declared as the Prince of Cumberland. reveals that he has resolved to remove all obstacles and go ahead with his plan to murder Duncan and become king.
The scene ends with suspense for the audience knows that Macbeth has planned to murder his king but Duncan himself is unaware of what is to befall him.
Workbook MCQs :
1. King Duncan, along with his sons and attendants is waiting to welcome
a. Macbeth
b. Banquo
c. The victorious generals, Macbeth and Banquo
d. Ross and Angus
Answer :- c. The victorious generals, Macbeth and Banquo
2. King Duncan wishes to know from Malcolm whether
a. Macbeth has arrived or not
b. Cawdor has been executed or not
c. Ross and Angus have arrived yet
d. He wants to be king after him
Answer :- b. Cawdor has been executed or not
3. The Thane of Cawdor had been defeated by
a. Ross.
b. Angus, leading Duncan’s army
c. Macbeth, leading Duncan’s army
d. Banquo, who is with Macbeth
Answer :- c. Macbeth, leading Duncan’s army
4. There’s no art To find the man’s construction in the face:
What does king Duncan realise as he makes the above statement?
a. That one cannot judge a man by his face
b. That one should judge a man by his appearance
c. That a person’s character can be judged by reading his face.
d. That one should trust people.
Answer :- a. That one cannot judge a man by his face
5. Which literary device is used when king Duncan says that treachery of the heart cannot be judged by a man’s face
a. Satire
b. Personification
c. Dramatic irony
d. Oxymoron
Answer :- c. Dramatic irony
6. Who is praised for meeting his death with dignity?
a. Sweno
b. Macdonwald
c. The Thane of Cawdor
d. Ross
Answer :- c. The Thane of Cawdor
7. Who was the ‘gentleman’ on whom Duncan had placed his ‘absolute trust”?
a. Macbeth
b. Macdonwald
c. The Thane of Cawdor
d. Ross
Answer :- c. The Thane of Cawdor
8. How are king Duncan and Macbeth related?
a. They are own brothers
b. They are cousins
c. They are father and son
d. They are far off cousins
Answer :- b. They are cousins
9. While praising Macbeth for his bravery and loyalty Duncan feels that he
a. Cannot thank him enough for what he has done
b. Will not thank him for all that he has done
c. Is unable to praise him
d. Feels it was his duty to be loyal to him
Answer :- a. Cannot thank him enough for what he has done
10. Two examples of irony are when Macbeth says”
1. The service and loyalty I owe,/in doing so, pays itself
2. Your highness’ part is to receive our duties.;
3. ..our duties are to your throne and state…….
4. So humbly take my leave.’
a. 1 and 3
b. 1 and 4
с. 2 and 3
d. 1 and 2
Answer :- a. 1 and 3
11. According to Duncan who deserves as much praise as Macbeth?
a. Ross
b. Only Macbeth
c. Banquo
d. Angus
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
12. What characteristic trait of Duncan is emphasized in this scene?
a. He is too kind and forgiving a ruler
b. He is far too generous
c. He does not praise anyone much
d. He is as swift to punish as he is to praise and reward
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
13. Whom does Duncan proclaim as his heir?(say air)
a. Macbeth
b. Donalbain
c. Banquo
d. His eldest son, Malcolm
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
14. Malcolm will be known as
a. The Thane of Cawdor
b. The Thane of Fife
c. The Prince of Cumberland
d. The Prince of Cumland
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
15. What does Banquo mean when he tells Duncan:
There if I grow
The harvest is your own.
a. If you keep a garden, invite me
b. If you rear me in the garden of your heart then also keep Macbeth there
c. If you nurture me in the garden of your heart, the fruit (my love) will be yours
d. If you plant a tree the fruit will be yours, not mine
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
16. Where does Duncan wish to go now?
a. To Fife
b. To Macbeth’s castle at Inverness
c. To the battlefield
d. Back to his castle
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
17. What is his intention in going there?
a. Just a casual visit to his castle
b. To spend time with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
c. To strengthen the bond of affection between him and Macbeth
d. To have a change from his own home.
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
18. Who does king Duncan mean when he exclaims My worthy Cawdor!
a. The original Thane of Cawdor
b. Macbeth
c. Ross
d. Banquo
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
19. What does Macbeth regard as an obstacle to his ambition of becoming king?
a. Duncan’s praise for Banquo
b. Malcolm’s nomination as Duncan’s heir
c. Duncan’s visit to his castle at Inverness
d. Duncan wanting to go meet his wife
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
20. What are Macbeth’s feelings for Malcolm now that he has been declared as heir?
a. A feeling of love and bonding
b. A feeling of animosity
c. A friendly feeling
d. A feeling of indifference towards him
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Workbook Questions:-
(I) Duncan is firm in punishing traitors because he immediately orders the execution of the traitor the Thane of Cawdor.
(II) There is irony when king Duncan says that a person can be deceived by a person’s outward appearance because the person turns out to be different from what he appeared to be.
(III) Duncan says that the sin of ingratitude weighs heavy on him because Macbeth has done so much for him and he has not given him any reward so far.
(IV) Duncan gives the warmest welcome to the brave Macbeth because he is over powered by a feeling of gratefulness to Macbeth who has saved his kingdom.
(V) Duncan feels that he is too slow in rewarding Macbeth because he (Macbeth) has surpassed in merit so quickly that he (Duncan) feels left behind in rewarding him for his merit.
(VI) Macbeth tells Duncan that he is already amply rewarded (pays itself) because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(VII) Duncan wishes to go to Macbeth’s castle because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(VIII) The title of Thane of Cawdor given to Macbeth by Duncan is ironic because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(IX) Macbeth calls upon the stars to hide their lights because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(X) Macbeth wishes that the eye ‘wink’ at the hand because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Question Answers :
(I) How does Macbeth’s proposed treachery surpass that of the Thane of Cawdor’s especially after all that Ross and Angus have related to him about Duncan’s generous praise of him? Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words.
Answer :- The Thane of Cawdor assisted the king of Norway when he launched a fresh attack on Duncan’s army. A fearful battle was fought. Macbeth clad in full armour faced the king of Norway and defeated him. For his ungratefulness the Thane of Cawdor was sentenced to death. He met with his end bravely and calmly. King Duncan having full faith in Macbeth, rewarded him immediately. He made him the Thane of Cawdor. He also praised Macbeth’s loyalty and his devotion to the throne. But Macbeth, to fulfil his soaring ambition planned to kill Duncan who wanted to strengthen his bond of kinship with Macbeth. So Macbeth’s treachery certainly surpassed that of the Thane of Cawdor.
(II) According to you what kind of a king is Duncan? Has Duncan learnt not to trust blindly after the Thane of Cawdor’s treachery at this point of the play? Write your opinion in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words.
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(III) a. Why had king Duncan given orders for the Thane of Cawdor to be executed? Give a vivid description of how Malcolm relates the execution of the Thane of Cawdor’s execution to his father. Why is Macbeth perplexed when Ross addresses him as the Thane of Cawdor? Write your answer in about 200-250 words.
Answers:- King Duncan ordered the execution of the Thane of Cawdor because he betrayed Scotland by secretly helping the king of Norway in battle. The disloyal thane had supplied arms and soldiers to the enemy, nearly leading to Scotland’s defeat. However, Macbeth’s bravery turned the tide—he crushed the rebellion and captured the traitor.
When Malcolm describes the execution to Duncan, he notes that the Thane of Cawdor faced death with surprising dignity. Despite his treason, he accepted his punishment calmly and honorably, confessing his crimes and showing remorse. This contrasts sharply with his treacherous actions, leaving Duncan to reflect on how deceptive appearances can be—a theme that foreshadows Macbeth’s own betrayal later.
Macbeth is perplexed when Ross calls him Thane of Cawdor because he does not yet know that the title has been stripped from the traitor and granted to him as a reward. Since the witches had earlier prophesied he would become Thane of Cawdor, this sudden fulfillment of their words shocks and excites him, planting the first seeds of ambition and unease in his mind.
b. The soliloquy of Macbeth reveals to us that he is already planning the murder of his king Duncan. Write your answer in about 200-250 words.
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Essay Question :
Q. Comment on the soliloquy of Macbeth when he hears of the nomination of Malcolm as heir to the throne.
Answer :- The declaration of Duncan of proclaiming Malcolm as the Prince of Cumberland is one which forms the crux of Macbeth’s soliloquy. Macbeth is far advanced in crime by now which makes him devoid of emotions. He has made up his mind to remove all obstacles standing in his way, With the announcement of Malcolm’s elevation to the position of the heir apparent to the throne, For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
