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 generation
Table of Contents
Workbook Summary :
Macbeth before his actual return to his castle at Inverness, writes a letter to his wife, Lady Macbeth telling her about the prophecies of the witches and the partial fulfilment of one of them. Reading the letter, Lady Macbeth takes stock of her husband’s nature and in her soliloquy she ponders upon the different aspects of his character.
She is afraid of his noble nature. She feels that he is wanting in the energy of will that is necessary to commit a murder. She feels that he is too soft hearted and will not be able to commit the deed although he has all the ambitions of wanting to be king. She feels his nature is 100 full of the milk of human kindness that it may refuse to take the shortest route to success. The third prophecy can be fulfilled only by getting rid of Duncan. She eagerly awaits his return so that she can pour her spirit into his ears and whip his spirit to action which is necessary for the fulfilment of the prophecy.
Just then a messenger comes in to give her the news of Duncan’s proposed visit to her castle that evening. Speaking to herself of Duncan’s ‘fatal entrance upon my battlements’ she calls upon all the spirits to change her sex, fill her with the most terrible cruelty from head to toe and make her devoid of all human pity. She invokes the spirits who invisibly attend on murders to change the milk in her breast to poison and to let the dark spirit of the night to hide her dagger so that it may not be able to see the deed it does. Thus, we see her struggling against her own feminine nature.
Macbeth enters the room at this point and is greeted by her. When he tells her that Duncan will be here this night and leave the next morning, she retorts, ‘O never shall that morrow see!. Looking at his face which has murderous thoughts reflecting upon it, she advises him to look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’t. She also tells him to leave everything to her.
Workbook MCQs :
1.What is Lady Macbeth reading as she enters?
a. A letter written by her relative
b. A letter written by king Duncan
с. Macbeth’s letter to her
d. A piece of paper
Answer :- с. Macbeth’s letter to her
2. What is the ‘day of success’ Macbeth is referring to in his letter?
a. King Duncan’s announcement of Malcolm being his heir
b. His victory in killing and defeating the rebels
c. His meeting the three witches
d. His visit to Duncan’s castle
Answer :- b. His victory in killing and defeating the rebels
3 How does Macbeth, according to his letter, take the prophecy of the witches?
a. Indifferently
b. Fear stricken
c. Rapt in amazement
d. As a gospel truth
Answer :- d. As a gospel truth
4. Which kind of knowledge, according to Macbeth, do the witches have?
a. The same knowledge as human beings have b.
b. Deceitful knowledge
c. Divine knowledge
d. More than what human beings have
Answer :- d. More than what human beings have
5. Which prophecy made by the witches has already proved to be true ‘before this scene?
a. Macbeth being conferred the added title of Thane of Cawdor
b. Macbeth being conferred the title of Thane of Ross
c. Macbeth being declared Duncan’s heir
d. His being declared king of Scotland by Duncan
Answer :- a. Macbeth being conferred the added title of Thane of Cawdor
6. How does Macbeth address the witches in his letter?
a. The three old hags
b. The three witches
c. The three evil creatures
d. Weird sisters
Answer :- d. Weird sisters
7. How does Macbeth address his wife in his letter?
a. My wife and partner
b. My beloved and precious wife
c. My dearest partner of my greatness
d. My future Queen of Scotland
Answer :- c. My dearest partner of my greatness
8. Lay it to thy heart Macbeth means to say
a. Take care of your heart
b. Keep my news to yourself (a secret)
c. Inform everyone about what I have written
d. Ponder in your heart
Answer :- b. Keep my news to yourself (a secret)
9. Lady Macbeth assesses her husband’s qualities which are:
1. He is too righteous and noble by nature so murdering Duncan would be unthinkable to him.
2. He is determined and steadfast by nature in achieving his ambition and will not dither.
3. He has high ambitions but will only achieve them through noble means.
4. He is cruel and will not think twice about murdering his king.
a. 1 and 2
b. 3 and 4
c. 1 and 3.
d. 1 and 4
Answer :- c. 1 and 3.
10. Lady Macbeth feels that the prophecy of Macbeth becoming king of Scotland can only be fulfilled by
a. convincing Duncan to make her husband king
b. forcing Duncan to pronounce Macbeth the next king
c. murdering king Duncan
d. waiting for Duncan to die
Answer :- c. murdering king Duncan
11. Lady Macbeth waits for her husband’s return in order to
a. Goad him to whip up his courage to murder Duncan
b. Hear from him all that he has conveyed to her in his letter.
c. Try to influence him to think about their future
d. Tell him to watch and wait and not take any decision.
Answer :- a. Goad him to whip up his courage to murder Duncan
12. Lady Macbeth telling the messenger to tend to the fellow shows
a. She is not bothered about the fellow who is unable to breathe properly.
b. She is caring about the welfare of her domestic staff.
c. She is very worried about the fellow who is so short of breath
d. She is only interested in the news the messenger has brought.
Answer :- d. She is only interested in the news the messenger has brought.
13. What fateful news has the messenger brought?
a. That Macbeth would soon be here at the castle
b. That king Duncan would be at her castle that night
c. That the king was almost at the door of her castle
d. That Macbeth will not be coming home that night
Answer :- b. That king Duncan would be at her castle that night
14. Lady Macbeth compares the messenger whose voice is hoarse, to
a. A deer who has ridden here so fast
b. A Raven, the bird of ill omen
c. An eagle, a scavenger
d. A dove which brings peace
Answer :- b. A Raven, the bird of ill omen
15. Lady Macbeth prays to the spirits to
a. Give her peace of mind
b. Give her ideas as to how to kill Duncan
c. Fill her with manly qualities like cruelty from head to toe
d. Fill her with womanly tenderness and love for Duncan.
Answer :- c. Fill her with manly qualities like cruelty from head to toe
16. An example of personification is when Lady Macbeth tells herself:
a. The raven himself is hoarse
b. Come, you spirits
c. That my keen knife see not the wound it makes
d. Nor heaven peep through th blanket of the dark.
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
17. Lady Macbeth welcomes home her husband with the greeting:
a. Welcome home Thane of Glamis
b. Welcome home, Thane of Glamis and Thane of Cawdor
c. Welcome home, Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and going to be greater than both Glamis and Cawdor.
d. Welcome home, King of Scotland
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
18. ……and I feel now
The future in the instant
Lady Macbeth means to say that
a. She is already experiencing the future as if it existed just now.
b. She feels worried about the future from this moment
c. She is very happy about the future they will have
d. She is ignorant about their future at this moment
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
19. How does Macbeth address his wife as he comes in?
a. My dear wife
b. My dearest love
c. Hello Wife
d. My dearest wife
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
20. What does his wife say when Macbeth tells her that Duncan would leave the next day (‘tomorrow’)?
a. Should we let him see tomorrow?
b. O never/shall the sun that morrow see
c. And when goes hence?”
d. Only look up clear,’
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
21. Lady Macbeth is certain that this work of one night would give to them
a. Absolute power and complete mastery for the rest of their days once Macbeth becomes king
b. Some power for the rest of their days when he becomes king
c. Sleepless nights once he becomes king
d. Give them some control over King Duncan.
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
22. Lady Macbeth warns her husband that their purpose will fail if he
a. Becomes weak
b. Does not decide what to do
c. Shows signs of fear upon his face
d. Refuses to co-operate with her plans
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
23. What does Lady Macbeth tell her husband which shows that she is very confident about the night’s business?
a. Leave all the rest to me.’
b. O never!
c. And when goes hence?
d. Only look up clear
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
24. Lady Macbeth’s tendency to replace the word ‘murder’ with substitutes like, ‘he that’s coming must be ‘provided for’ and ‘this night’s business’ show that she is
a. completely devoid of conscience
b. not completely devoid of conscience
c. ruthless
d. greedy for power
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Workbook Questions :
(i) Macbeth being a loving husband, writes a letter to his wife because he wants to share with his beloved wife all the happening-the prophecies of witches and their partial fulfilment.
(II) Macbeth asks his wife to keep what he has written to her a secret because all this is personal and confidential which others should not know.
(III) Lady Macbeth is apprehensive about Macbeth’s nature because he is by nature very soft hearted and full of milk of human kindness.
(IV) Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to come home quickly because she wants to encourage him and drive out from his heart all doubts.
(V) Lady Macbeth admonishes the Messenger by saying that he is mad because he does not mention his master Macbeth is also with the king.
(VI) As Lady Macbeth struggles against her feminine qualities, she calls upon the Spirits of Darkness to unsex her because For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(VII) Lady Macbeth wants the atmosphere to be covered with darkness because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(VIII) Lady Macbeth tells her husband that he must hide his looks because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(IX) Lady Macbeth tells her husband to leave the night’s great business in her hands because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(X) Lady Macbeth tells her husband to ‘only look up clean’ because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Question Answers :
(i) What did Macbeth write to his wife, Lady Macbeth, in his letter to her. Quote the lines which express that she is his ‘dearest partner. Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words.
Answer :- Addressing Lady Macbeth as “My dearest partner of greatness” Macbeth revealed to her that the three witches had met him on the day of his victory. They addressed him as the Thane of Cawdor. He was surprised. Then they hailed him as the king of Scotland. When Macbeth tried to ask them some questions they disappeared. But soon after his meeting with them the messengers of king Duncan came and told him that he had been made the Thane of Cawdor. Thus, the prophecy of the witches turned out to be true. He is very happy and shares his joy with his wife. But he also asks her to keep it a secret.
(II) Referring closely to this scene, state how Macbeth’s face gives away his feelings. What advice does Lady Macbeth give him regarding this matter? Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100- 150 words.
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(III) a. Keeping in mind that Lady Macbeth is the authoritative figure in her relationship with her husband, what is your opinion about her (as Macbeth’s wife) as the decision maker at this point of the play? Write your answer in about 200-250 words.
Answer :- At this point in the play, Lady Macbeth emerges as the dominant decision-maker in her relationship with Macbeth, showcasing her strong will and authoritative nature. Unlike her husband, who hesitates due to moral conflict, she is bold, ruthless, and determined to seize power. She takes charge of their deadly plan, proving herself to be more decisive than Macbeth.
Lady Macbeth dominates their domestic life, instructing her husband on how to behave. She tells him to “look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it”, advising him to hide his evil intentions behind a welcoming face. This reveals her manipulative and strategic mind—she understands the importance of deception in achieving their goal.
When Macbeth wavers, she takes control of the situation, telling him to leave the murder plan to her. She warns him not to show any fear or hesitation, emphasizing that only through cold-blooded action can they become king and queen. Her firmness and lack of conscience contrast sharply with Macbeth’s growing anxiety, making her the driving force behind the regicide.
While her leadership ensures their initial success, it also foreshadows disaster. Her ruthless ambition pushes Macbeth into darkness, but her eventual mental breakdown proves that even the strongest cannot escape guilt.
b. Once Lady Macbeth gets to know about Duncan’s visit to her castle, she is determined that he must be killed. How does she mentally prepare herself to become strong enough to help carry out this horrible act? Write your answer in about 200-250 words.
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Essay Question :
Q. Summarize the estimate of her husband’s character given by Lady Macbeth on receiving the letter. How far is the estimate justified her?
Answer :- Lady Macbeth, on receiving the letter from her husband in which he apprised her of the predictions of the witches and how they have been partially fulfilled in his case, ignites Lady Macbeth’s passion. She immediately decides that the third prediction of the witches has to come true at any cost. For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
