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Macbeth: Nagaland Board (NBSE) Class 10 English answers
Get here the summary and solutions of chapter Macbeth of NBSE Class 10 English. However, the given notes/solutions should only be used for references and should be modified/changed according to needs.
If you notice any errors in the notes, please mention them in the comments
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Why was Macbeth honoured by all?
A. He was a valiant lord.
B. The king loved him.
C. He was the king’s close relative.
D. He had won a war.
Answer: D. He had won a war.
2. Who killed Banquo?
A. Lady Macbeth
B. Macduff
C. A group of murderers hired by Macbeth
D. Macbeth
Answer: C. A group of murderers hired by Macbeth
3. What/Who initially led to Macbeth’s greed to ascend the throne?
A. His wife Lady Macbeth
B. The witches’ prophecy
C. Banquo’s encouragement
D. King Duncan’s inefficiency
Answer: B. The witches’ prophecy
4. At the end of the play which nation’s army attacks Scotland?
A. Finland
B. Norway
C. England
D. France
Answer: C. England
5. Who is the antagonist in the play ‘Macbeth’?
A. Lord Macbeth
B. Lady Macbeth
C. Lord Banquo
D. Lord Macduff
Answer: A. Lord Macbeth
Reference to Context
1. She called him the Thane of Glamis. The second gave him the title of Thane of Cawdor; and the third said to him, ‘All hail! that you shall be king hereafter!’
a) Who are the three women?
b) Whom does ‘him’ refer to?
c) How is the greeting of each of the women significant?
d) Who is a Thane?
Answer: a) The three women were three witches.
b) Here, ‘him’ refers to the Scottish General Macbeth.
c) The greetings of the three women were significant as what they said were prophesies. The first woman prophesied that he would be the Thane of Glamis; the second woman prophesied that he would be the Thane of Cawdor; and the third prophesied that he would be the king.
d) A Thane was a title given to a man, often the chief of a clan, who held land from a Scottish king. Here, Thane refers to Macbeth.
2. She would not have done so but she knew that her husband was an ambitious man but too kind to murder.
a) Who is ‘she’? What would she have not done?
b) Who was to be murdered?
c) What prompted her to do it?
d) ‘too kind to murder’. What is implied in this statement?
Answer: a) Here, she is referred to Lady Macbeth. She would not have tried to murder King Duncan.
b) King Duncan was to be murdered.
c) Her husband Macbeth’s “too kind to murder” nature prompted her to do it.
d) By “too kind to murder”, it is implied that though Macbeth was an ambitious man and wanted to be the king, he was also grateful to the king for all the things he had done for him. Macbeth wasn’t an absolute cold-hearted man and loved the king.
3. He was struck numb with fear, however, when he learnt that the English army was advancing on Dunsinane shielded with boughs cut from Birnam Wood.
a) Why was he struck dumb by fear?
b) What is the association of his fear with the soldiers marching with boughs cut from Birnam Wood?
c) Explain the phrase ‘struck dumb with fear’. Use it in a meaningful sentence of your own.
Answer: a) He was struck dumb by fear because the witches had prophesied that he would be safe until Birnam Wood came to Dunsinane Castle and he thought it wasn’t possible for trees to move so the Birnam Wood would never come to Dunsinane Castle. But now, the English army was advancing on Dunsinane shielded with boughs cut from Birnam Wood.
b) He thought the Birnam Wood would never reach the Dunsinane Castle and thus he could not be killed, according to the prophecies of the witches. But when he learned that the soldiers were marching with boughs cut from Birnam Wood, he knew the Birnam Wood was coming to the castle and he could be killed.
c) The phrase ‘struck dumb with fear’ means getting such terrified that someone is unable even to speak.
The poacher was struck dumb with fear as he saw the lion running at him.
Read and Write
1. How did the words of the three women affect Macbeth?
Answer: The words of the three women occupied the heart and mind of Macbeth completely and he was filled with the lust for power without thinking much about right and wrong. He wanted to have all the supposed prophecies fulfilled at once.
2. What did the women tell Banquo? How did he react? What was his advice to Macbeth?
Answer: The women told Banquo that he would never reign, but his sons would be the kings in Scotland.
He didn’t allow the words of the women to get into his head and be obsessed with them. He was very careful.
He advised Macbeth that though the words of the witches might raise hope in him, but often these supernatural creatures deceive people and lead them to do wrong.
3. Macbeth was reluctant to kill Duncan. What reasons does he give?
Answer: Macbeth was reluctant to murder Duncan. He gave reasons that he was a close relative of the king and as his host, it was his duty that day to protect him. Moreover, Duncan was a just and merciful king who was loved by his subjects. Thus the subjects were bound to revenge his death. Besides, because Macbeth was loved by the king, all honoured him. A murder would tarnish his reputation.
4. How does Lady Macbeth convince Macbeth to kill Duncan?
Answer: Lady Macbeth poisoned her husband’s ears and said that it was a very easy deed. Once done he would rule the country. She even accused Macbeth of fickleness and cowardice. These made Macbeth gather courage, and take the dagger in his hand.
5. Banquo and Macbeth both get exciting prophecies from the witches, but they react in very different ways. How do their reactions reflect their different personalities and ambitions? How do they act toward each other after the prophecies?
Answer: Though Banquo and Macbeth both received exciting prophecies, they both reacted differently. These different reactions reflect that Banquo and Macbeth had very different personalities. Banquo was not an ambitious man, would not make hasty decisions and would not be convinced easily. Macbeth, on the other hand, was dangerously ambitious. He would make decisions on impulse and was a gullible person who could be convinced easily.
After the prophecies, on one hand, Banquo did not let the words of the witches take root in his head, on the other hand, Macbeth was obsessed with the prophecies. Banquo advised Macbeth that these supernatural beings often lead others to do wrongs. Macbeth but was not impressed by the advice of Banquo. Later after murdering King Duncan, Macbeth murdered Banquo too in an attempt to kill him and his son to secure his throne. Banquo’s son Fleance, however, could not be killed.
6. Macbeth visited the witches a second time after the death of Duncan. What did they tell him? How did he feel after he heard their prophecies?
Answer: When Macbeth visited the witches for the second time after the death of King Duncan, the witches presented him with further prophecies. They told him that he must beware of Macduff, a Scottish nobleman who opposed Macbeth’s accession to the throne. They also told that he was incapable of being harmed by any man born of woman, and he would be safe until Birnam Wood came to Dunsinane Castle.
After hearing the prophecies he felt relieved. He felt secure because he knew that all men are born of women and that forests cannot move.
7. How did Macbeth meet his end?
Answer: Prince Malcolm, Duncan’s son, had succeeded in raising an army in England, and Macduff joined him to fight against Macbeth’s forces. He was struck numb with fear, however, when he learnt that the English army was advancing on Dunsinane shielded with boughs cut from Birnam Wood as this fulfilled half of the witches’ prophecy.
In the battle, Macbeth fought bravely, but the English forces gradually overwhelmed his army and castle. On the battlefield, Macbeth encountered the vengeful Macduff, who declared that he was not “of woman born” but was instead “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb. Though he realized that he was doomed, Macbeth continued to fight until Macduff killed and beheaded him.
8. Why does Macduff support Malcolm as the next king?
Answer: Macduff supported Malcolm as the next king because Malcolm was the true heir to the throne. Further, Macbeth had killed Lady Macduff and her children and seized Macduff’s castle. These all made Macduff a vengeful man and ultimately he killed Macbeth on the battlefield.
Think and answer
1. The murder of Duncan is breaking news for the media. The editors of your newspaper have assigned you to report on the tragic event.
You need to do the following:
- Come up with a headline that catches the attention of the reader.
- Have a picture of the crime scene.
- Write a minimum one paragraph article that reports on the event. What happened? Who are the suspects? What evidence is there? You should also include interviews.
Answer: Royal Bloodshed: King Duncan Murdered in Cold Blood
In a shocking turn of events that has rocked the foundation of Scotland, King Duncan was found dead under mysterious circumstances at Macbeth’s castle, where he was a guest. The murder, described as gruesome and cold-blooded, has left the nation in mourning and searching for answers. Initial suspicions have quickly turned towards Lord Macbeth, despite his recent heroics on the battlefield, due to his sudden rise to power following Duncan’s demise. Eyewitnesses report an eerie tension in the castle prior to the discovery, and insiders suggest that Macbeth’s ambition may have driven him to this heinous act. The king’s loyal subjects are calling for justice, demanding a thorough investigation into the murder. Authorities are combing through evidence, and interviews with castle staff are underway to piece together the events of that fateful night.
2. What do you think it takes to be a good man?
Answer: To be a good man involves a complex blend of virtues, including integrity, empathy, responsibility, and courage. It requires one to be honest and truthful, not only with others but also with oneself. A good man shows compassion and understanding towards others, offers support to those in need, and respects the dignity and rights of all individuals. He accepts responsibility for his actions, seeks to rectify his mistakes, and strives to make positive contributions to his community and society at large. Furthermore, a good man possesses the courage to stand up for his beliefs, to challenge injustices, and to strive for excellence in all aspects of his life while maintaining humility and a willingness to learn and grow.
3. Does Macbeth see the evil side of his actions? Use examples from the text to explain.
Answer: Macbeth is acutely aware of the evil nature of his actions, evidenced by his numerous soliloquies and asides that reveal his inner turmoil and moral conflict. After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is plagued by guilt and fear, illustrating his recognition of the evil he has committed. He says, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?” reflecting his realization that the gravity of his crime cannot be undone or washed away. Additionally, his visions, such as the ghost of Banquo and the imaginary dagger, further underscore his troubled conscience and the recognition of his moral downfall. Despite this awareness, Macbeth continues down his path of destruction, driven by ambition and the manipulation of external forces, such as the witches’ prophecies and Lady Macbeth’s influence, indicating a complex understanding of his own villainy yet an inability to escape it.
