ISC Class 11 English Drama Macbeth Act 1 Scene 5 Important Question Answers
Macbeth Act 1 Scene 5 Question Answer: Looking for ISC Class 11 English Drama Macbeth Act 1 Scene 5 question answers? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising ISC Class 11 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Our solutions provide a clear idea of how to write the answers effectively. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Macbeth Act 1 Scene 5 now. The questions listed below are based on the latest ICSE exam pattern.
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ISC Class 11 English Drama Macbeth Act 1 Scene 5 Textbook Questions
ASSIGNMENT
Question 1
Choose the correct options for the following questions:
1. Who is referred to as They’ in the first line of this scene?
(a) The three rebels
(b) The three nobles
(c) The three witches
(d) The three generals
Ans. (c) The three witches
2. Whose “day of success” is referred to in this scene?
(a) Duncan’s
(b) Macbeth’s
(c) Banquo’s
(d) Malcolm’s
Ans. (b) Macbeth’s
3. What “success’ is referred to by the speaker?
(a) Macbeth’s victory in the battle
(b) Macdonwald’s victory in the battle
(c) Macbeth being announced as the future king
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (a) Macbeth’s victory in the battle
4. Which prophecy of the three witches proved correct before this scene?
(a) Macbeth would become the King of Scotland
(b) Macbeth would be conferred with the title of Thane of Cawdor.
(c) Macbeth would become the King of Norway
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (b) Macbeth would be conferred with the title of Thane of Cawdor.
5. According to Lady Macbeth which trait of Macbeth would prevent him from achieving his goal?
(a) Valour
(b) Loyalty
(c) Honesty
(d) Kindness
Ans. (d) Kindness
6. According to Lady Macbeth, Macbeth can achieve his goal by which of the following traits?
(a) Wickedness
(b) Honesty
(c) Loyalty
(d) Deceit
Ans. (a) Wickedness
7. Lady Macbeth says that the crown is promised to her husband by both’. Why are the ‘both”?
(a) Bravery
(b) Fate
(c) Supernatural prophecy
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Ans. (d) Both (b) and (c)
8. Lady Macbeth begs evil powers to take away from her which of the following
(a) Weakness of a woman
(b) Her love for Macbeth
(c) Her passivity
(d) None of the above
Ans. (a) Weakness of a woman
9. Which of the following is NOT asked by Lady Macbeth for altering her character?
(a) Defeminise her
(b) Dehumanise her
(c) Deform her
(d) Harden her
Ans. (c) Deform her
10. Who are referred to by Lady Macbeth as ‘murdering ministers’?
(a) Evil spirits
(b) Those who were disloyal to Duncan
(c) Macbeth and Banquo
(d) None of the above
Ans. (a) Evil spirits
11. In this scene what is the purpose of Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy?
(a) To ponder on her husband’s valour
(b) To endorse the inverted values of the witches
(c) To goad her husband to murder Duncan
(d) All of the above.
Ans. (d) All of the above.
12. This scene depicts Lady Macbeth as a
(a) Strong willed woman
(b) Determined woman
(c) Unscrupulous woman
(d) All of the above
Ans. (d) All of the above
Question 2
Complete the following sentences by providing a reason for each:
1. Lady Macbeth believes that Macbeth would not be able to carry out the cruel deed of murdering King Duncan because _____________
Ans. Lady Macbeth believes that Macbeth would not be able to carry out the cruel deed of murdering King Duncan because she thinks he is ‘too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness’ i.e. too kind and naturally good to take the fastest route to the throne.
2. Lady Macbeth asks her husband to hide his looks because _______________________
Ans. Lady Macbeth asks her husband to hide his looks because his face is like a ‘book where men may read strange matters’, meaning his worry or ambition would give away their murderous plan.
3. Macbeth wavers but Lady Macbeth’s resolution appears to be absolute because _____________________
Ans. Macbeth wavers but Lady Macbeth’s resolution appears to be absolute because she is completely focused on the goal of making him king and has no moral doubts about committing the murder.
4. Lady Macbeth invokes the spirits of evil to defeminise and dehumanise her because ____________________
Ans. Lady Macbeth invokes the spirits of evil to defeminise and dehumanise her because she believes her womanly nature like softness and compassion will prevent her from having the necessary cruelty and ruthlessness to plan and execute the murder.
5. Lady Macbeth describes the messenger who bring the news of Duncan’s arrival at her castle as a raven because ______________
Ans. Lady Macbeth describes the messenger who brings the news of Duncan’s arrival at her castle as a raven because the raven is a bird traditionally associated with bad luck, death, and ill omen, signaling that a dark deed i.e. the murder is about to happen.
6. Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth to act according to the occasion because _______________________
Ans. Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth to act according to the occasion because she wants him to appear welcoming and innocent to King Duncan and their guests, hiding the ‘false heart’ that intends to kill the King.
ISC Class 11 English Drama Macbeth Act 1 Scene 5 Extra Question and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. What literary device does Lady Macbeth primarily use when she says Macbeth’s face is ‘a book where men may read strange matters’?
A. Metaphor
B. Hyperbole
C. Simile
D. Personification
Ans. A. Metaphor
Q2. Why did Lady Macbeth asks the spirits to ‘unsex’ her?
A. She wishes to look like a man to disguise herself.
B. She fears her feminine nature will prevent her from having the cruelty to commit murder
C. She wants to be stronger than Macbeth
D. She wishes to escape her duties as a wife
Ans. B. She fears her feminine nature will prevent her from having the cruelty to commit murder.
Q3. What did Lady Macbeth suggested when she says, ‘The raven himself is hoarse / That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan / Under my battlements’?
A. The messenger is speaking too softly
B. The news of Duncan’s arrival is a sign of death
C. Raves are common birds around her castle.
D. She is looking forward to entertaining the King.
Ans. B. The news of Duncan’s arrival is a sign of death.
Q4. What does Lady Macbeth mean by ‘the milk of human kindness’?
A. Macbeth’s desire to care for children
B. Macbeth’s weakness for dairy products
C. Macbeth’s tendency to be too compassionate and soft-hearted
D. Macbeth’s kind treatment of his servants
Ans. C. Macbeth’s tendency to be too compassionate and soft-hearted
Q5. What is the ‘greatest honour’ that Macbeth refers to in his letter to Lady Macbeth?
A. Being promised the title of King by the witches
B. Being victorious in the battle against the rebels
C. Being made Thane of Cawdor
D. Being praised by King Duncan
Ans. C. Being made Thane of Cawdor.
Q6. What is Lady Macbeth’s primary advice to Macbeth upon his arrival in this scene?
A. He must ride out immediately to meet King Duncan
B. He must appear innocent and welcoming, but hide his true, murderous intent
C. He must start gathering their most loyal guards for the deed
D. He must write a reply to the witches immediately
Ans. B. He must appear innocent and welcoming, but hide his true, murderous intent
Q7. Lady Macbeth tells her husband to ‘Leave all the rest to me’. What is she taking charge of?
A. The planning and execution of King Duncan’s murder
B. Hosting the banquet for King Duncan
C. Distributing gifts to the servants
D. Preparing the castle for war
Ans. A. The planning and execution of King Duncan’s murder
Q8. Who are the ‘murdering ministers’ that Lady Macbeth invokes?
A. The three witches
B. Macbeth’s loyal soldiers
C. The evil spirits she calls upon
D. The servants of the castle
Ans. C. The evil spirits she calls upon
Q9. Why is the news of King Duncan’s unexpected arrival so significant to Lady Macbeth in this scene?
A. It gives them the perfect, immediate opportunity to commit the murder
B. It means they will have less time to prepare for the banquet
C. It allows Macbeth to speak with the King sooner
D. It suggests the King is highly suspicious of them
Ans. A. It gives them the perfect, immediate opportunity to commit the murder
Q10. Which key theme is most prominent in Lady Macbeth’s first soliloquy?
A. Guilt and redemption
B. Ambition and ruthlessness
C. Loyalty and duty
D. Natural versus unnatural weather
Ans. B. Ambition and ruthlessness
Fill Up Sentences
Complete the following sentences by providing a reason for each:
1. Lady Macbeth worries about Macbeth’s nature because
Ans. Lady Macbeth worries about Macbeth’s nature because she believes he is too good or ‘too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness’ to pursue the crown by wicked means.
2. Lady Macbeth decides she must act as the primary planner because
Ans. Lady Macbeth decides she must act as the primary planner because she fears Macbeth lacks the necessary ruthlessness and ambition to seize the moment.
3. Lady Macbeth invokes the spirits of evil to ‘unsex’ and fill her with ‘direst cruelty’ because
Ans. Lady Macbeth invokes the spirits of evil to ‘unsex’ and fill her with ‘direst cruelty’ because she needs to suppress her natural feminine compassion to plot murder.
4. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to look like the ‘innocent flower’ because
Ans. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to look like the ‘innocent flower’ because he must hide the ‘serpent’ his wicked intention that is underneath it from their guests, especially Duncan.
5. Lady Macbeth is ecstatic upon receiving the messenger’s news because
Ans. Lady Macbeth is ecstatic upon receiving the messenger’s news because it confirms that King Duncan will be spending the night at their castle, giving them an immediate opportunity for the crime.
6. Macbeth is hesitant to discuss the murder because
Ans. Macbeth is hesitant to discuss the murder because he is still struggling with the moral implications and the loyalty he owes to King Duncan.
7. Lady Macbeth sees Macbeth’s face as a ‘book’ where ‘men may read strange matters’ because
Ans. Lady Macbeth sees Macbeth’s face as a ‘book’ where ‘men may read strange matters’ because his expressions easily betray his thoughts and intentions, which could reveal their plot.
8. Lady Macbeth dismisses Macbeth’s worry about when Duncan will leave because
Ans. Lady Macbeth dismisses Macbeth’s worry about when Duncan will leave because she has already decided that the King will never see the morning light.
9. Lady Macbeth believes that the crown is promised to her husband because
Ans. Lady Macbeth believes that the crown is promised to her husband because Fate and supernatural prophecy have both pointed towards him becoming king.
10. Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth that he must leave the planning of ‘this night’s great business’ to her because
Ans. Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth that he must leave the planning of ‘this night’s great business’ to her because she is the stronger, more determined, and more focused on the murderous outcome.
Extra Questions
SHORT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q1. What is Lady Macbeth doing at the very start of the scene, and what news does she learn?
Ans. Lady Macbeth begins the scene by reading a letter that was sent to her by her husband, Macbeth. The news in the letter is twofold: first, Macbeth details his encounter with the three witches on the heath. Second, and most importantly, he tells her about the witches’ prophecies: that he would become Thane of Cawdor and eventually King of Scotland. Lady Macbeth is thrilled by the news, especially the prophecy of the crown. She immediately understands that the first part of the prophecy i.e. becoming Thane of Cawdor, has already come true, which makes the second prophecy seem certain. This realization instantly sparks her ambitious and ruthless plot to seize the throne by any means necessary, which she reveals in her following soliloquy.
Q2. What is the major flaw Lady Macbeth sees in her husband, Macbeth?
Ans. Lady Macbeth believes that her husband’s biggest flaw is that he is ‘too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness’. This phrase means she thinks he is too naturally good, compassionate, and kind-hearted to commit the terrible crime needed to become king quickly. She knows he desperately wants the crown, but she worries that he lacks the necessary ruthlessness, or ‘illness’, to take the shortest and most direct path to the throne, which is murdering King Duncan. She fears that his moral scruples, honesty, and loyalty will prevent him from taking action, so she resolves to use her own strong will and sharp words to persuade him to go through with the wicked deed.
Q3. What does Lady Macbeth ask the supernatural spirits to do to her in her famous ‘unsex me here’ soliloquy?
Ans. In her powerful soliloquy, Lady Macbeth asks the evil, supernatural spirits to ‘unsex’ her. This means she is begging them to remove her feminine qualities, which she views as weaknesses, such as compassion, softness, and natural maternal instincts. She wants to be filled with ‘direst cruelty’ so that she can be cold, hard, and ruthless enough to plan and watch the murder of King Duncan without her conscience interfering. She essentially asks to be dehumanized and stripped of all natural feeling so that she can actively participate in the wicked plan and provide the necessary resolution and courage that she feels her husband lacks.
Q4. What important news does the messenger bring to Lady Macbeth, and how does she react to it?
Ans. The messenger brings the crucial news that King Duncan will be arriving at Macbeth’s castle, Inverness, that very night, and that Macbeth himself is already on his way home. Lady Macbeth reacts with shock and immediate excitement, calling the messenger a ‘fatal raven’, a bird associated with death and ill omen, because his news signals that the moment of destiny has arrived. She realizes that the King’s visit gives them the perfect, unexpected opportunity to carry out the murder while he is asleep and unprepared. This news solidifies her plans, and she immediately begins calling upon the evil spirits and preparing her mind to manipulate Macbeth.
Q5. What advice does Lady Macbeth give to Macbeth when he finally arrives at the castle?
Ans. When Macbeth arrives, Lady Macbeth takes charge and gives him firm, direct advice. Her main instruction is to hide his intentions completely by masking his true feelings with a look of innocence and welcome. She warns him that his face is like a ‘book where men may read strange matters’, meaning his worry or ambition is too easily readable and would instantly give away their secret plan. She tells him to look like the ‘innocent flower, / But be the serpent under ‘t’. She then asserts that she will take care of all the plans for the murder, telling him to ‘Leave all the rest to me’, ensuring that he cannot back out of the deed.
LONG QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q1. Discuss how Lady Macbeth’s immediate reaction to the letter reveals her character and ambition in this scene.
Ans. Lady Macbeth’s immediate reaction to Macbeth’s letter profoundly reveals her ambitious, determined, and ruthless character. She is not simply pleased by the good fortune; she instantly sees the prophecy as a clear, necessary path to supreme power and resolves to act on it immediately. She is thrilled that Macbeth is Thane of Cawdor, but she sees the crown as the ultimate prize. She does not stop to question the morality or source of the witches’ prediction. Her mind leaps directly from ‘king’ to ‘murder’. This is evident when she immediately worries that Macbeth’s nature, his inherent ‘milk of human kindness’, will stop him from taking the ‘nearest way,’ which she clearly defines as a cruel, wicked act. This reveals her as the more aggressive, dominant partner in the marriage, ready to discard morality for power. Lady Macbeth understands that the fastest path requires committing a horrible crime, and rather than shrinking from it, she embraces it, showing a terrifying clarity of purpose and a complete lack of moral conscience regarding regicide. She is determined to pour her spirits into Macbeth’s ear, using her persuasive power to overcome his ethical reservations and propel him toward the throne.
Q2. Analyze the significance of Lady Macbeth’s line, ‘Come, thick night, / And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,’ within the context of the scene and the play’s themes.
Ans. Lady Macbeth’s commanding invocation, ‘Come, thick night, / And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell’, is tremendously significant, functioning as both a dramatic device and a powerful statement of the play’s core themes. The line introduces the central themes of darkness, evil, and deception that will dominate the unfolding tragedy. By demanding ‘thick night’, she is requesting a literal darkness to serve as a physical curtain, hoping to conceal the ‘knife’ that will commit the ‘horrible deed’, ensuring that no one, not even Heaven, can witness the murder of King Duncan. This expresses her immediate understanding that their plan is an act of deep evil that requires secrecy. More profoundly, she is invoking a moral darkness, aligning herself with the forces of hell and the supernatural. The word ‘pall’ is key here, as it means to cover with a cloth, often a shroud for the dead, directly foreshadowing Duncan’s demise. The reference to the ‘dunnest smoke of hell’ connects her actions and her soul directly to ultimate wickedness and damnation. This shows that Lady Macbeth fully recognizes the moral weight of the crime she is planning; she is not delusional about the evil she intends but rather accepts and embraces the spiritual cost of regicide to gain the crown. Furthermore, this line reinforces the play’s overarching theme of ‘fair is foul, and foul is fair’, initially introduced by the witches. Lady Macbeth is attempting to reverse nature and morality within herself, transforming her ‘womanly’ compassion into ‘direst cruelty’. Her desperate plea for concealment and moral corruption makes her a formidable and terrifying agent of evil in the narrative, cementing her role as the merciless architect who pushes Macbeth toward the bloody path of tyranny.
Q3. Explain the contrast between Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s attitudes toward the murder plot when they meet, and how Lady Macbeth uses manipulation in this scene.
Ans. When Macbeth and Lady Macbeth finally meet, there is a stark contrast in their attitudes toward the murder plot. Macbeth is still primarily focused on the wonder of the prophecy and the simple fact that the King is visiting. While he has considered the ambition, he is hesitant and has not fully committed to the murder, mentioning only that Duncan leaves ‘to-morrow’. Lady Macbeth, however, is resolute and determined; her plan is already fixed. She immediately brings up the necessity of killing Duncan, demonstrating that she is the driving force behind the wicked scheme. She uses powerful manipulation to control Macbeth, first by flattering him, calling him ‘Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor’, but quickly turning to emotional pressure. Her most significant piece of manipulation is her direct instruction to him: she tells him that his face is a ‘book’ that shows his fear and ambition too plainly, urging him to look like the ‘innocent flower, / But be the serpent under ‘t’. This instruction is a deliberate attempt to shame him out of his moral hesitation and force him to wear a disguise of false hospitality, ensuring that he accepts the role of the deceptive murderer under her direction.
Q4. How does the imagery of clothes and disguise function in the conversation between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 1, Scene 5?
Ans. The imagery of disguise and false appearance is absolutely central to the conversation between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 1, Scene 5, serving to highlight the necessary theme of deception required for their murderous plot. Lady Macbeth first establishes this theme by issuing a crucial warning to her hesitant husband: ‘Your face, my Thane, is as a book where men / May read strange matters.’ This striking simile suggests that Macbeth’s inner turmoil, worry, and ambition are too easily readable by observers, like an open book revealing secrets. He must instantly change this giveaway expression. She then provides the key instruction for their entire strategy: he must look like the ‘innocent flower,’ appearing harmless, welcoming, and loyal to King Duncan, but internally he must be the ‘serpent under ‘t’, ready to strike with deadly, venomous intent. This potent metaphor of the hidden serpent perfectly encapsulates the profound hypocrisy they must maintain to deceive Duncan and their guests. The disguise is essential to ensure their true, murderous intent remains concealed beneath a veneer of perfect hospitality and loyalty. The use of this imagery emphasizes that their entire plan’s success hinges not just on strength, but on their ability to convincingly act out a lie and manipulate perception, thereby turning their castle from a home into a lethal trap.
Q5. Discuss the function of the Messenger in this scene and how his arrival affects Lady Macbeth’s plan and emotional state.
Ans. The Messenger in Act 1, Scene 5 serves a crucial dramatic function; he is the catalyst whose news instantly transforms Lady Macbeth’s abstract ambition from a mere fantasy into an immediate, actionable plot. The Messenger simply announces the unexpected and imminent arrival of King Duncan, stating that Macbeth is already on his way home from the battlefield. This brief, logistical news causes an intense and significant emotional shift in Lady Macbeth, moving her from planning the murder in the abstract to seizing the opportunity in the present. Her immediate reaction is to equate the bearer of the news with a bird of ill omen, calling the messenger a ‘fatal raven’. The raven, traditionally a symbol of death and bad luck, signifies that the King’s visit is not one of honor, but an entrance leading directly to his death. Her thought, ‘The raven himself is hoarse / That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan / Under my battlements,’ confirms that she views her own castle i.e. her ‘battlements’, not as a welcoming home, but as a destined killing ground. This unplanned visit provides the perfect opportunity she needs to strike quickly, before Macbeth has time to cool down or allow his moral compass to sway his decision. The Messenger’s news solidifies the timing and location for the crime, instantly driving Lady Macbeth into her powerful invocations to evil spirits and fueling her determined, immediate manipulation of her husband.