ISC Class 12 English Drama Macbeth Act 3 Scene 6 Important Question Answers
Macbeth Act 3 Scene 6 Question Answers: Looking for ISC Class 12 English Drama Macbeth Act 3 Scene 6 question answers? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising ISC Class 12 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 3 Scene 6 now. The questions listed below are based on the latest ISC exam pattern.
Related:
ISC Class 12 English Drama Macbeth Act 3 Scene 6 Textbook Questions
ASSIGNMENT
Question 1
Choose the correct options for the following questions:
1. Who is referred to as My in the first line of this scene
(a) Macduff
(bj Malcolm
(c) Lennox
(d) Siward
Ans. (c) Lennox
2. According to Lennox, why was Macduff living in disgrace?
(a) He spoke plain truth
(b) He did not attend Macbeth’s banquet
(c) He supported Banquo
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Ans. (d) Both (a) and (b)
3. From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth’. Identify ‘whom’ and ‘tyrant’.
(a) Malcolm, Macbeth
(b) Malcolm, Duncan
(c) Malcolm, Banquo
(d) Fleance, Banquo
Ans. (a) Malcolm, Macbeth
4. From whom has Macduff asked for help against Macbeth?
(a) King Edward
(b) Malcolm
(c) Donalbain
(d) Siward
Ans. (a) King Edward
5. ‘Hath so exasperate the king…’ who is referred to as the king in this line?
(a) Duncan
(b) Macbeth
(c) King Edward
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (b) Macbeth
6. The Lord, in this chorus scene, longs for
(a) meat on his table
(b) sleep to his night
(d) None of the above
(c) both (a) and (b)
Ans. (c) both (a) and (b)
7. This scene describes Macbeth’s tyranny in terms of two basic symbols of the play. Identify them.
(i) Shelter
(ii) Food
(iii) Clothing
(iv) Nature
(a) (i) and (ii)
(b) (ii) and (iii)
(c) (iii) and (iv)
(d) (i) and (iv)
Ans. (a) (i) and (ii)
Question 2
Complete the following sentences by providing a reason for each:
1. The Lord prays for help from England because ___________.
Ans. The Lord prays for help from England because Scotland is suffering under Macbeth’s ‘accursed’ and tyrannical rule, and the people desperately need military support from King Edward and the English lords to restore peace, safety, and the rightful King to the throne.
2. The King is angry because ___________.
Ans. The King is angry because he has received reports that Macduff has fled to the English court to join Malcolm and is successfully gathering a powerful army including Northumberland and Siward to lead a rebellion against him.
ISC Class 11 English Drama Macbeth Act 3 Scene 6 Extra Question and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. Where is the conversation in this scene taking place?
A. Macbeth’s castle
B. A palace in Scotland
C. The English court
D. A witch’s cavern
Ans. B. A palace in Scotland
Q2. When Lennox discusses Macbeth’s actions, what tone does he primarily use?
A. Terrified
B. Sarcastic/Ironic
C. Loyal and supportive
D. Confused
Ans. B. Sarcastic/Ironic
Q3. Who has Fleance been officially accused of killing?
A. King Duncan
B. Macduff
C. Banquo
D. Lennox
Ans. C. Banquo
Q4. According to Lennox, why were Malcolm and Donalbain originally blamed for Duncan’s death?
A. Because they confessed
B. Because they stayed to fight
C. Because they ran away
D. Because they had the murder weapon
Ans. C. Because they ran away
Q5. Where has Malcolm gone to seek safety and help?
A. Ireland
B. Norway
C. France
D. England
Ans. D. England
Q6. Who is the ‘pious Edward’ mentioned by the Lord?
A. The King of England
B. A Scottish priest
C. Macbeth’s son
D. A rebel soldier
Ans. A. The King of England
Q7. What name does the Lord use to describe Macbeth in this scene?
A. Our noble leader
B. The Tyrant
C. The Great King
D. The Brave Warrior
Ans. B. The Tyrant
Q8. Why did Macduff travel to England?
A. To escape his wife
B. To find his own crown
C. To ask for military help to overthrow Macbeth
D. To go on a holiday
Ans. C. To ask for military help to overthrow Macbeth
Q9. How did Macbeth react when Macduff refused to return to Scotland?
A. He laughed it off
B. He prepared for war
C. He sent him a gift
D. He apologized
Ans. B. He prepared for war
Q10. What does the Lord say the people of Scotland are longing for?
A. More gold and riches
B. Peace, sleep, and food without fear
C. A new castle for the King
D. A war with England
Ans. B. Peace, sleep, and food without fear
Fill Up Sentences
Complete the following sentences by providing a reason for each:
1. Lennox uses heavy sarcasm when speaking about Macbeth because __________.
Ans. Lennox uses heavy sarcasm when speaking about Macbeth because he knows it is dangerous to openly call the King a murderer.
2. Many people in Scotland have begun to suspect Fleance did not kill his father because __________
Ans. Many people in Scotland have begun to suspect Fleance did not kill his father because it seems illogical for a son to kill the parent he loved.
3. The Lord refers to Macbeth as a ‘tyrant’ because __________
Ans. The Lord refers to Macbeth as a ‘tyrant’ because the King’s rule has brought violence and fear to the country instead of peace.
4. Macduff has fallen into disgrace in the eyes of the King because __________.
Ans. Macduff has fallen into disgrace in the eyes of the King because he refused to attend the royal banquet.
5. Malcolm is currently living in the English court because __________.
Ans. Malcolm is currently living in the English court because he had to flee Scotland to save his life after his father’s assassination.
6. The Scottish nobles are pining for a new leadership because __________.
Ans. The Scottish nobles are pining for a new leadership because they can no longer sleep or eat without the threat of bloody knives.
7. Macbeth is preparing for a formal war because __________
Ans. Macbeth is preparing for a formal war because he heard reports that Macduff is raising an army in the north.
8. The messenger who spoke to Macduff returned to Macbeth feeling cloudy or sullen because __________.
Ans. The messenger who spoke to Macduff returned to Macbeth feeling cloudy or sullen because Macduff gave him a blunt and defiant refusal.
9. Lennox prays for a swift blessing from a holy angel because __________
Ans. Lennox prays for a swift blessing from a holy angel because Scotland is currently suffering under a ‘hand accursed’.
10. The audience realizes that Macbeth’s secret crimes are no longer secrets because __________
Ans. The audience realizes that Macbeth’s secret crimes are no longer secrets because the noblemen are now openly sharing their suspicions with one another.
Extra Questions
SHORT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q1. How does Lennox use irony to express his true feelings about Macbeth?
Ans. In this scene, Lennox employs verbal irony by stating the opposite of what he truly believes to avoid being charged with treason. On the surface, he praises Macbeth for his ‘pious rage’ in killing the guards and for being grieved by the deaths of Duncan and Banquo. However, his exaggerated tone reveals his deep suspicion. By pointing out how convenient it was that everyone Macbeth disliked ended up dead, Lennox highlights the absurdity of the official stories. He notes that if Malcolm, Donalbain, and Fleance were under Macbeth’s control, they would surely learn the harsh cost of being accused of parricide. Through this sarcasm, Lennox communicates to the other Lord and the audience that the Scottish nobility no longer trusts the King and recognizes him as a murderous usurper.
Q2. What does the Lord’s description of Scotland reveal about the state of the kingdom?
Ans. The Lord provides a bleak portrait of Scotland under Macbeth’s ‘accursed hand’, showing that the physical and social order of the country has collapsed. He explains that the citizens crave for basic necessities that have been lost: the ability to eat at their tables without fear, sleep peacefully at night, and attend banquets without the threat of ‘bloody knives’. This description confirms that Macbeth’s reign has brought a state of perpetual anxiety and violence. Furthermore, the Lord mentions that free honors and faithful homage are gone, suggesting that the political atmosphere is now built on forced obedience and terror rather than genuine loyalty. The kingdom is portrayed as a sick body that can only be cured by removing the tyrant and restoring the rightful, divinely appointed heir to the throne.
Q3. Why is the mention of King Edward the Confessor of England significant in this scene?
Ans. The mention of the English King, Edward the Confessor, serves as a powerful moral contrast to Macbeth. While Macbeth is labeled a ‘tyrant’ who brings death and chaos, Edward is described as ‘most pious’ and ‘holy’. This contrast reinforces the Divine Right of Kings theme; Edward is portrayed as a ruler who has God’s blessing, whereas Macbeth has stolen the throne through wicked means. By seeking aid from the English court, Macduff and Malcolm are aligning themselves with a source of spiritual and military purity. This connection suggests that the upcoming war is not just a political struggle, but a holy crusade to restore the natural and divine order to Scotland. Edward’s willingness to help provides the rebels with the legitimacy and the resources necessary to challenge Macbeth’s illegitimate rule.
Q4. What role does Macduff play in the shift of the play’s plot during this scene?
Ans. Although Macduff does not appear, this scene establishes him as the primary antagonist to Macbeth’s tyranny. We learn that Macduff has openly defied the King by refusing to attend the royal banquet and by ignoring the ‘cloudy messenger’ sent to summon him. His flight to England is a pivotal plot point because it shifts the conflict from internal Scottish suspicion to an international military alliance. The Lord describes Macduff’s mission as a desperate plea for help to ‘wake Northumberland and warlike Siward’, indicating that Macduff is the organizer of the resistance. His actions force Macbeth to transition from a manipulative murderer into an angry war leader. Macduff’s commitment to the holy king sets the stage for the final confrontation, marking the moment the tide officially turns against Macbeth.
Q5. How does this scene function as a turning point for the Scottish nobility?
Ans. Act 3, Scene 6 represents the moment the Scottish nobility moves from silent observation to active, albeit secret, rebellion. Earlier in the play, the Thanes seemed unsure of how to react to the suspicious deaths surrounding Macbeth. In this scene, the dialogue between Lennox and the Lord confirms that the truth is now common knowledge among the upper class. They have stopped referring to Macbeth by his title and have begun using the word ‘tyrant’ instead. This shift in language signals that Macbeth has lost his political soft power and must now rely entirely on fear and force to maintain his position. The scene acts as a bridge, closing the chapter on Macbeth’s rise to power and opening the final movement of the play, which focuses on his inevitable downfall and the restoration of the rightful monarchy.
LONG QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q1. How does the motif of ‘sleep’ and ‘feasting’ evolve in this scene to reflect Scotland’s decay?
Ans. Throughout the play, sleep and feasting represent the natural order, social harmony, and peace of mind. In this scene, the Lord laments that Scotland has lost these fundamental human comforts, praying that they may again ‘give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights’. This reflects the spiritual and physical exhaustion of a nation under a usurper. Because Macbeth has murdered sleep in Act 2, his entire kingdom is now suffering from a collective insomnia. The ‘bloody knives’ at feasts mentioned by the Lord serve as a direct callback to the disastrous banquet in the previous scene where Banquo’s ghost appeared. These images suggest that the social contract has been severed; a meal is no longer a place of fellowship but a site of potential slaughter. Under Macbeth, the most basic acts of survival i.e. eating and resting have become symbols of vulnerability. The Lord’s desire to ‘free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives’ emphasizes that the country is starving for the stability that only a legitimate, virtuous king can provide. By linking Macbeth’s psychological torment to the literal physical suffering of the Scottish people, Shakespeare shows that a tyrant’s internal chaos inevitably manifests as a national crisis, turning every home into a place of fear rather than a place of refuge.
Q2. The minor characters in the play act as commentators to the events that unfold in Scotland. Discuss the statement in 200-250 words with reference to the Act studied. (PYQ 2025)
Ans. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the minor characters serve as a vital moral compass, providing an objective perspective on the tyranny consuming Scotland. This is most evident in Act 3, Scene 6, which functions as a structural bridge between Macbeth’s descent into madness at the banquet and the brewing rebellion. Through the conversation between Lennox and an unnamed Lord, the play shifts from the internal psychological state of the protagonist to the external political reality of the suffering kingdom. Lennox’s dialogue is a masterpiece of verbal irony. Outwardly, he appears to praise Macbeth’s grief over the deaths of Duncan and Banquo, but his tone is biting and sarcastic. By remarking how conveniently Macbeth killed the only witnesses i.e. the chamberlains, he voices the suspicions that the Scottish nobility now harbor. He refers to Macbeth as a ‘tyrant’, a significant linguistic shift from the ‘valiant cousin’ and ‘worthy gentleman’ of earlier acts. This commentary confirms that Macbeth’s facade of innocence has completely crumbled in the eyes of his peers. The unnamed Lord further expands this commentary by reporting on the state of the nation. He describes Scotland as a land where people pine for meat, sleep, and peace, the basic human necessities stolen by Macbeth’s bloody reign. He provides the crucial update that Macduff has fled to the English court to join Malcolm. This scene transforms the minor characters into messengers of hope, signaling that the pious Edward, the King of England and the rightful Scottish heirs are mobilizing to restore divine order. Through these characters, Shakespeare reinforces the theme that a king’s private sins inevitably lead to public ruin, setting the stage for Macbeth’s ultimate downfall.
Q3. How does the description of Malcolm’s reception in England reinforce the theme of The Gracious King?
Ans. In this scene, the Lord describes Malcolm’s life in the English court as being characterized by high respect and grace, despite his ‘malevolence of fortune’. This is a crucial thematic element because it contrasts Malcolm’s legitimate, though currently disinherited, status with Macbeth’s illegitimate, though currently powerful, status. Even though Malcolm has no crown, he is treated with the dignity of a king because of his due of birth. This reinforces the Shakespearean idea that true kingship is an inherent quality granted by God, not just a title seized by force. The Lord notes that Malcolm is received by King Edward with such grace that his poverty or lack of power takes nothing from his high respect. This stands in stark contrast to Macbeth, who holds the crown but receives no genuine faithful respect. Instead, Macbeth must demand attendance through messengers and threats. The grace surrounding Malcolm in England suggests that the spiritual power of the monarchy is relocating to wherever the rightful heir resides. By aligning Malcolm with the most pious Edward, the scene suggests that the restoration of Scotland is not just about a change in government, but a return to a state of grace. It prepares the audience to view Malcolm not as a fugitive, but as a king-in-waiting who embodies the virtues Macbeth has discarded.
Q4. Analyze the significance of the ‘cloudy messenger’ and what it reveals about Macbeth’s failing authority.
Ans. The Lord’s short interesting story about the ‘cloudy messenger’ is a small but potent detail that illustrates the crumbling of Macbeth’s political control. When Macduff gives a blunt ‘Sir, not I’ to Macbeth’s summons, the messenger turns his back with a ‘hums’ and a warning that Macduff will bitterly regret it. The term ‘cloudy’ suggests a messenger who is sullen, fearful, or burdened by the unpleasantness of his task. This interaction highlights that Macbeth’s power now relies entirely on coercion and the threat of future punishment. It shows that the fear Macbeth feels is now mirrored by those who serve him; his messengers are not proud representatives of a great king, but ominous harbingers of a tyrant’s wrath. Furthermore, Macduff’s open defiance marks the first time a nobleman has successfully refused to Macbeth and escaped his immediate reach. The messenger’s reaction reveals that everyone in the kingdom, even the low-level servants, recognizes that the tension has reached a breaking point. Macbeth can no longer command through respect or traditional loyalty; he must hunt down his subjects to keep them in line. This breakdown in communication is a classic sign of a failing state, where the ruler and the ruled are no longer in a dialogue of service, but in a standoff of mutual resentment and impending violence.
Q5. How does the language of holiness and heaven in this scene serve to demonize Macbeth?
Ans. In this scene, the language used by Lennox and the Lord creates a sharp binary between the holy resistance and the ‘accursed’ Macbeth. They use words like ‘pious’, ‘holy angel’, ‘blessing’, and ‘Him above’ to describe the forces aligning against the King. By contrast, Macbeth is described as a ‘tyrant’ with a ‘hand accursed’. This religious imagery serves to frame the political rebellion as a spiritual necessity. When Lennox prays for a swift blessing to return to ‘this our suffering country’, he is essentially asking for a divine exorcism. By framing the conflict in these terms, Shakespeare moves the play beyond a simple fight over a throne and into a battle between good and evil. The Lord’s mention of ‘Him above’ ratifying the work of the rebellion suggests that God has officially withdrawn his support from Macbeth. This is a devastating blow to Macbeth’s legitimacy, as the ‘Divine Right of Kings’ held that a monarch was God’s representative on earth. If the holy forces are against him, Macbeth is no longer a king in the eyes of the church or the law; he is a demonic force that must be purged. This religious justification allows the characters to support an invasion of Scotland by an English army, as it is seen as a mission to restore God’s natural order to a defiled land.