Welcome to our blog post ISC Macbeth Workbook Answers : Act 5, Scene 2 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 5, Scene 2, 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 5, Scene 2 . Let’s embark on an adventure where Shakespeare’s words transcend time, captivating minds across generation
Table of Contents
Workbook Summary :
This scene marks the beginning of an attack on Scotland against Macbeth. Malcolm and Macduff along with Old Siward and several Scotch Lords who have deserted Macbeth march towards Scotland. Menteith, Cathiness, Angus, Lennox are all waiting for the English army led by Malcolm Macduff and Siward. They intend to join their forces at Birnam Wood. Macbeth on the other hand, though fortified by a sense of security, does not delay in fortifying Dunsinane. The tyrant is suffering inwardly from a feeling of distress as every hour his army is being deserted and the forces are joining the enemy and even those who still keep company are serving him half heartedly, more out of compulsion than loyalty. In spite of all these unforeseen circumstances Macbeth is not ready to surrender and hopes to defy his enemy by shutting himself in his castle.
Workbook MCQs :
1. By whom is the English power led?
a. By Malcolm, his uncle Siward and Macduff
b. By Donalbain and the King of Ireland
c. By King Edward and his army
d. By Menteith, Angus and Caithness
Answer :- a. By Malcolm, his uncle Siward and Macduff
2. Where shall Angus meet the English power?
a. Near Inverness
b. Near Birnamwood
c. In the desolate heath
d. A mile before the castle of Macbeth
Answer :- b. Near Birnamwood
3. What is the tyrant doing?
a. Defending his castle at Inverness
b. Defending his castle at Dunsinane
c. Trying to gather an army
d. Praying to God to protect him from his enemies
Answer :- b. Defending his castle at Dunsinane
4. How are the murders the tyrant has committed clinging like fetters to his hands?
a. Every moment he is tortured by his conscience
b. Every moment a new revolt reproaches him for his treachery
c. Every moment some widow wails her loss
d. Every moment he is accused for all the murders he has committed
Answer :- b. Every moment a new revolt reproaches him for his treachery
5. Why does Macbeth feel that his title hangs loose about him?
1. Macbeth feels that his kingship does not fit him well
2. Macbeth feels that Malcolm deserved to be King
3. Kingship to Macbeth is like the robe of a giant sitting loosely on the body of a dwarf
4. Macbeth does not have royal blood running in his veins
a. 1 and 2
b. 1 and 3
C. 2 and 4
d. 3 and 4
Answer :- b. 1 and 3
6. “now does he feel his title
Hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe Upon a dwarfism thief”
What is the literary device used in the above lines?
a. Imagery
b. Simile
c. Metaphor
d. Personification
Answer :- b. Simile
7. Why is Macbeth’s troubled mind revolting against him?
a. All his faculties hate themselves for belonging to him
b. All his faculties are directed towards the witches
C. He has gone against God’s will
d. He has sold his soul to the witches
Answer :- a. All his faculties hate themselves for belonging to him
8. Towards whom does Caithness request the English army to march?
a. To march forward to give their allegiance to the legitimate heir of Duncan
b. To march towards the tyrant and accept him as their King
c. To march towards the castles of Macbeth
d. To march towards their doom
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
9. Why should they shed every drop of their blood?
a. To purify their blood of the sin of treachery
b. To purge the country of the tyrant
c. To become martyrs and display patriotism
d. To fight for a democratic rule free from monarchy
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
10. What is Malcolm compared to?
a. A dove which is a sign of peace
b. A brave lion
c. A flower
d. The sun which spreads his rays of happiness
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
11. What do they strive to weed out from the country?
a. The rebellious elements of their country
b. The cowards who are submissive to the tyrant
c. The evil influence of the witches
d. The murderers of Banquo and the family of Macduff.
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
12 . “To dew the sovereign flower”
What do the above lines mean?
a. Strengthen the position of the rightful heir to the throne
b. To beautify the garden with flowers
c. To welcome Malcolm with flowers
d. To water the flowers of the King
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
13. What does Lennox want to do to Macbeth?
a. To acknowledge him as a king
b. To drive him away from Scotland
c. To enter into an alliance with him
d. To destroy him
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
14. Who are deserting Macbeth?
a. The family of Macbeth
b. His friends
с. The Lords and nobles
d. His servants
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
15. What does Macbeth propose to do?
a. To take the help of the witches to fight the approaching army
b. To resist the approaching army
c. To enter into a peace treaty with the approaching army
d. To runaway and save himself from the approaching army
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Contextual Questions :
(I) The feeling of revenge is very strong in the English army because Macbeth has obtained the throne by evil means.
(II) Angus decides to meet the English army near Birnamwood because soldiers from England are coming that way.
(III) Lennox is certain that Donalbain is not with Malcolm because he is making desperate efforts to defend the castle.
(IV) Macbeth is defending Great Dunsinane in valiant fury because the lords are deserting Macbeth and marching towards Birnam Wood.
(V) Every minute there are revolts because it does not fit him well.
(VI) Macbeth compares his title of kingship to a giant’s robe because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(VII) Who can blame Macbeth’s troubled senses if they rise against him because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(VIII) Caithness wants the army to march on because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(IX) According to Caithness the rightful heir will act as a physician to the diseased commonwealth because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(X) Lennox wants that they pour their blood as much as they can because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Question Answers :
(I) Referring closely to the scene in what way does it appear to be a very informative scene? Write your answer in a short paragraph ofabout 100-150 words.
Answer :- The scene is very informative as it tells about the latest developments. It marks the beginning of an attack on Scotland against Macbeth. Malcolm and Macduff, along with old Siward and several Scotch lords who have deserted Macbeth march towards Scotland. Menteith, Cathiness, Angus and Lennox are waiting for the English army led by Malcolm. They intend to join their forces at Birnam Wood. Macbeth, too, does not delay in fortifying Dunsinane. He is suffering inwardly as every hour his army is being deserted and his forces are joining the enemy. Even those who are with him are serving half-heartedly. But Macbeth is not ready to surrender. The scene indicates that Macbeth is not fit to rule the country.
(II) How is Macbeth unable to save himself from retribution of all the deadly murders he has committed? Write your answer in a shot paragraph of about 100-150 words.
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(III) a. The scene brings together four major areas of imagery the play- blood, clothing , disease and natural growth. Describe each imagery with close reference to the scene in the play. Write your answer in about 200-250 words.
Answer :- Shakespeare weaves four powerful imageries throughout Macbeth to underscore its themes of guilt, ambition, and disorder:
Blood: The literal blood of Duncan and Banquo stains Macbeth’s hands, symbolizing his irremovable guilt (“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?”). Later, Lady Macbeth’s imaginary bloodstains (“Out, damned spot!”) reveal how psychological guilt outweighs physical evidence.
Clothing: Macbeth’s ill-fitting robes (“like a giant’s robe upon a dwarfish thief”) mirror his unworthiness as king—he wears power but cannot fill it nobly. The witches’ “borrowed robes” metaphor hints at deceptive appearances, linking to Macbeth’s false kingship.
Disease: Scotland under Macbeth is “sick” (“bleed, bleed, poor country!”), with his tyranny as a plague infecting the land. Lady Macbeth’s “pestered senses” and sleepwalking reflect a mind diseased by guilt.
Natural Growth: The moving Birnam Wood (Malcolm’s army camouflaged with branches) fulfills the prophecy literally yet unexpectedly, showing nature restoring balance. Contrasts with Macbeth’s sterile reign (“no son of mine succeeding”), where his crimes stunt Scotland’s “natural” order. These imageries intertwine to paint a world where moral corruption distorts nature, clothes betray, and blood speaks when characters cannot.
b. How does this scene highlight the determination of the forces opposing Macbeth? Write your answer in about 200-250 words.
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Essay Question :
Q. What effect do the seeret murders committed by Macbeth recoil upon him?
Answer :- Macbeth is a noble and gifted man who degenerates into a villain after the murder of Duncan. He strides from one murder to another which secretly stick on his hands. Macbeth indulges in committing a series of murders which render him into a “dead butcher”. His pangs of conscience give him away. His evil doings come to the forefront and he is greatly condemned to be a blood thirsty tyrant. He loses the support of his subjects who were loyal to him initially. For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
