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Macbeth HW#2

Act V, Scene 3 (pp. 169-173)

1. How is Macbeth feeling at the start of Scene 3? (lines 1-11)

At the start of scene 3 Macbeth is feeling fearless yet emotionally tense. He does feel brave and
confident because of the prophecies of the witches. He assures himself that he is secured until
Birnam Wood moves to his castle. And that he doesn't need to fear Malcolm because he is too
born from a woman. Although he makes himself feel secure by remembering the witches'
prophecies, it seems like he is scared and emotionally tense from inside and that’s why he is
making himself remember all these things again.

2. What unfortunate news does the servant bring? (lines 14, 16, 21)

The unfortunate news that the servant brings is that about ten thousand English soldiers are
approaching from Birnam Woods.

3. What does Macbeth want the Doctor to do for Lady Macbeth? (lines 49-55)
Macbeth wants the Doctor to cure Lady Macbeth. He wants the doctor to use some drug to ease
the troubling thoughts from Lady Macbeth’s brain and ease her heart.

4. When Shakespeare ends a scene with two rhyming lines, it is called a “rhyming couplet.”
What does the Doctor mean in his rhyming couplet? (lines 75-76)

In his rhyming couplet the doctor means that he would like to be away from Dunsinane and
would never return back. He says that no amount of money would ever draw him back to
Dunsinane. The doctor wants to escape from Dunsinane.

Act V, Scene 4 (pp. 173-175)

1. Where are Malcolm, Macduff, Siward, and the others in this scene? (lines 4-5)

In this scene Malcolm, Macduff, Siward, and the others are in Birnam Woods (the forest).

2. What is Malcolm’s command to the soldiers? (lines 6-7)

Malcolm’s command to the soldiers was to cut a branch from a tree and hold it as they march.

Why? (lines 7-9)

Malcolm commands so because he wants to conceal the number of his troops (how
many people are from their side). Malcolm does this so that Macbeth’s spies will give
him inaccurate reports.

3. Where is Macbeth? (lines 11-13)

Macbeth is in his castle, Dunsinane.
 4. According to Malcolm, what have the Scottish nobles and commoners been doing? (lines
16-18)
According to Malcolm Scottish nobles and commoners have revolted against Macbeth’s rule. He
says that whenever his soldiers have an opportunity to leave him, they do, whatever rank they
are. No one fights with him except men who are forced to, and even their hearts aren’t in it.