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.
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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.
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.
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.
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger who manages Online Free Notes. An avid reader of Victorian literature, his favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. He dreams of travelling the world. You can connect with him on social media. He does personal writing on ronism.
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