ACT IV

1. What are the Witches doing at the beginning of Act IV?

2. What are the three statements made by the Apparitions?

3. What is the significance of the Witches having the Apparitions give the information to Macbeth?

4. What does Macbeth decide to do with the information the Witches have given him?

5. What does Lady Macduff say is the reason for her husband leaving?

6. What does Lady Macduff tell her son about his father? How does he respond to her?

7. What happens to Lady Macduff and her son?

8. Why does Malcolm question Macduff?

9. What is Malcolm’s reaction to the news? What is Macduff’s?

10. What do Malcolm and Macduff plan to do?

11. What is the symbolic purpose of each prophecy the Apparitions state in the play? What interpretation can be drawn from the way each are dressed. Do you feel there is a hidden meaning? Cite examples from Act IV.

WRITE NOW:

One of the effects of Macbeth’s crime (the murder of Duncan) is the way it alters the natural order. Discuss the changes, making particular reference to:

(a) the attitude towards kingship in Shakespeare's time

(b) the unnatural events which took place