Welcome to our blog post ISC Macbeth Workbook Answers : Act 5, 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 5, 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 5, Scene 5. Let’s embark on an adventure where Shakespeare’s words transcend time, captivating minds across generation
Table of Contents
Workbook Summary :
This scene witnesses the tragic death of Lady Macbeth. Macbeth has shut himself in Dunsinane castle, and he hopes that he will starve out his besiegers. He could have gone out and met them face to face but he is apprehensive as he is all alone and the Thanes have joined the side of his enemies. At this moment he hears a loud shriek from the women in the castle. Seyton goes out to find out the cause of the scream and brings the sad report to Macbeth that the queen is dead. Macbeth is devoid of emotions and does not moan the death of his wife who was once a part of his life and rather he sets aside his emotions and utters ‘she should have died hereafter’, then he would have moaned for her. He begins to philosophy that life is meaningless and life is ‘a brief candle’ which soon goes out. It is then that a messenger comes to report that Birnam Wood seems to walking towards Dunsinane. Macbeth is torn with rage and despair and curses the witches for giving him a false sense of security, totally duping him. In his desperation he orders his soldier to lead an attack. He decides to go out and fight even if he has to die as he is ready to do so with his harness on his back.
Workbook MCQs :
1. Why does Macbeth give instructions for their flags to be hung on the ramparts of the castle?
a. To show their patriotism
b. To show their open challenge to the enemies
с. To beautify the castle
d. To show his own strength
Answer :- b. To show their open challenge to the enemies
2. What is Macbeth confident about?
a. That his castle is strong enough to defy the seige
b. That his enemies will be won over to his side
c. That all his soldiers will put up a strong resistance
d. That his countrymen will show their loyalty towards him at the time of crisis
Answer :- a. That his castle is strong enough to defy the seige
3. What problems does Macbeth feel his enemies will face after they besiege his castle?
a. His enemies will be afflicted with disease and starvation which will destroy them
b. His enemies will ask for pardon
c. His enemies will be intimidated by his courage
d. His enemies will flee away
Answer :- a. His enemies will be afflicted with disease and starvation which will destroy them
4. Why can Macbeth not go and meet his enemies face to face?
a. He fears Malcolm
b. The army of his enemies are reinforced by men of Macbeth’s own army
c. The witches have warned him not to do so.
d. He does not want to indulge in anymore bloodshed
Answer :- b. The army of his enemies are reinforced by men of Macbeth’s own army
5. What is heard within the walls of the castle?
a. The cry of bloodshed.
b. A cry of lamentation from women
c. Soulful music
d. A cry for battle
Answer :- b. A cry of lamentation from women
6. How does Macbeth react to the cry?
a. He reacts in an indifferent manner
b. He becomes very worried and concerned
c. A cold shudder runs down his spine
d. His hair stands on end out of fear
Answer :- a. He reacts in an indifferent manner
7. How did Macbeth react to any cry of grief before?
1. Macbeth would have a cold shudder run down his spine
2. The hair on his head would stand erect
3. He would empathise with the aggrieved person
4. He would not be affected
a. 1 and 3
b. 2 and 4
C. 1 and 2
d. 2 and 3
Answer :- C. 1 and 2
8. What was the noise for?
a. The fear of the enemy reaching the castle
b. A big dispute arising in the castle
c. A cry of women as the queen was found dead
d. Lady Macbeth attacking the women in the castle
Answer :- c. A cry of women as the queen was found dead
9. What sad news does Seyton bring Macbeth?
a. That he is leaving the service of Macbeth
b. The queen wants to leave Macbeth
c. The queen is dead
d. Many of Macbeth’s soldiers have been killed by the enemies
Answer :- c. The queen is dead
10. What does Macbeth tell Seyton?
a. She should have slept more soundly
b. She should not have delved the secrets of Macbeth
c. She should have died hereafter
d. She should not be mourned after her death.
Answer :- c. She should have died hereafter
11. What is the significance of the words “Tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow”?
a. What will happen the next day
b. Hope for tomorrow
C. Each new day is followed by another making it monotonous
d. Each new day is a blessing
Answer :- C. Each new day is followed by another making it monotonous
12. Where does each ‘tomorrow’ lead one to?
a. A bright future
b. Closer to one’s death which reduces one to dust
c. To old age
d. To a sad and lonely life
Answer :- b. Closer to one’s death which reduces one to dust
13. What two things does Macbeth compare life to?
1. A brief candle
2. A drama on stage
3. A walking shadow
4. A sad journey
a. 1 and 2
b. 1 and 3
c. 3 and 4
d. 2 and 4
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
14. Why does Macbeth compare life to a poor player?
a. A poor player is a loser
b. A poor player strides pompously upon the stage strutting and fretting
c. A poor player accepts defeat very soon
d. A poor player does not remain on the field for too long
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15. “Life’s but a walking shadow”
What is the literary device used in the above lines?
a. Imagery
b. Personification and Metaphor
c. Simile
d. Hyperbole
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16. Why does Macbeth consider life to be a tale told by an idiot?
a. Life is one with no definite purpose b.
b. It is full of sound and fury signifying nothing
c. It is hollow and insignificant
d. It is insensitive to suffering
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
17. What did the servant report to Macbeth?
a. He saw Malcolm’s army approaching
b. While he looked toward Birnam it seemed as if the wood began to move
c. He saw eagles flying towards the castle
d. He saw the raven the bird of ill omen perched on the ramparts
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
18. What does Macbeth call the servant in anger?
a. Traitor
c. Insolent fool
b. Saucy fellow
d. Liar and slave
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
19. What is the servant armed to face if his report is proved wrong?
a. Chastisement
b. Execution
c. Endure Macbeth’s wrath
d. Flogging
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
20. What according to the servant will Macbeth see?
a. Within three miles a moving grove
b. Within two miles a moving grove
c. Within a mile the approaching army of Malcolm
d. A coven of witches flying towards the castle
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21. What does Macbeth threaten the servant to face if he spoke false?
a. Hanging alive on the next tree till he starves to death
b. Hanged upside down
c. Poisoned to death
d. Execution
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
22. What realization dawns on Macbeth?
a. The witches were truly his well-wishers
b. The ambiguous statements of the fiends who twisted their lies to seem like truth
c. That he will be murdered soon
d. He has received his punishment on earth
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
23. What does Macbeth wish for?
a. Macbeth wishes that he had arms and go out to meet the enemies
b. Macbeth wishes that he had not killed Duncan.
c. Macbeth wishes that he had killed Macduff before the latter had runaway to England
d. God forgives him of all his sins
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
24. How does Macbeth say to show his courage at the end of the scene?
1. At least we’ ll die with harness on our back like true soldiers
2. At least we will get a chance to kill Malcolm
3. He will stop Birnam wood from marching forward
4. He will fight like a true soldier till the very end
a. 1 and 4
b. 2 and 3
c. 3 and 4
d. 1 and 2
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Contextual Questions :
(I) Macbeth instructs the soldiers to hang out the banners on the outward walls because they are indicative of open challenge to the enemies.
(II) Macbeth is confident of defeating the enemies because he hopes to starve out the besiegers.
(III) Macbeth does not react to the cry of the women from within the castle because he has become indifferent to pain (having undergone so much anguish).
(IV) Macbeth has forgotten what it is to fear and grieve because he has undergone so much grief, tension and discontent.
(V) Macbeth coldly says that the queen should have “died hereafter” because then he could have mourned for her.
(VI) According to Macbeth each tomorrow befools man because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(VII) Macbeth compares life to a brief candle, a shadow, a poor player and to the noisy speech of a lunatic because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(VIII) Macbeth calls the Messenger a liar and a slave because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(IX) Macbeth begins to doubt the equivocation of the fiends because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(X) Macbeth has begun to be “aweary of the sun” because Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Question Answers :
(I) With close reference to the scene enumerate the leadership qualities shown by Malcolm. Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words.
Answer :- Imminent battle is the keynote of the scene. Tension is mounting. Malcolm as a good leader has given instructions to his soldiers to hew boughs from the Birnam wood forest. They are ordered to walk with it in order to camouflage their numbers. And he succeeds in it. Reports reach Macbeth that a huge army has surrounded the castle and is ready to attack. Birnam wood has started walking towards Dunsinane. It appears that nature is helping Malcolm. This is the fulfilment of the prophecy made by the witches. This leadership stroke fills Macbeth with doubt regarding the prophecies of witches.
(II) What are the images that Macbeth portrays to express the futility of life. Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 100-150 words.
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
(III) a. With any two supporting details from the scene show in what way does Shakespeare depict the spiritual recovery of the hero in Macbeth. Write your answer in about 200-250 words.
Answer :- Shakespeare depicts Macbeth’s spiritual recovery through his philosophical resignation upon hearing of Lady Macbeth’s death. Though initially seeming indifferent (“She should have died hereafter”), his ensuing soliloquy reveals a deeper awakening:
Confronting Mortality: His famous “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” speech reduces life to a “walking shadow”—a stark acknowledgment of death’s inevitability. This existential clarity contrasts with his earlier bloody ambition, showing he now sees through life’s illusions.
Regret and Self-Awareness: Calling life a “tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”, he admits his crimes were meaningless. This bitter wisdom marks his release from delusion—he no longer blames fate or witches, but accepts his hollow legacy. While not a redemption, this moment is a spiritual reckoning: Macbeth transcends tyranny to face death with weary dignity, stripped of hope but also of self-deception.
b. What effect does the death of Lady Macbeth have on Macbeth’s perceptive of life? Write your answer in about 200-250 words.
Answer :- For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
Essay Question :
Q. “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow” Give the substance of the soliloquy of the Macbeth. What light does it throw on his character?
Answer :- This is a famous soliloquy of Macbeth when he hears that the queen is dead. In this soliloquy Macbeth voices his emotions and in a tone of regret speaks of how each tomorrow comes and befools man exposing his follies of trusting people, and then leading him to death by which he is reduced to dust. He compares life to a brief candle which soon goes out. Life is an unreal thing. It’s as useless as a shadow in a drama in which men play their parts for a few years, and then vanish from the stage. Life is only an idiot’s tale into which a considerable amount of excitement and exaggeration is imported, but it is devoid of any substantial meaning whatsoever. For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View
