Get summary, workbook solutions, questions, answers, notes, pdf, and extras to the drama/play “Macbeth” Act 4 Scene 1 by William Shakespeare, which is a part of Class 12 English syllabus for students studying under ISC.
Summary
In this scene, Macbeth goes to meet the witches again to learn how he can remain the King of Scotland securely. The witches perform an evil ritual, mixing together a foul broth in a cauldron with gross ingredients like toad venom, snake fillets, dog tongues, and even a finger from a strangled baby.
As the witches chant and dance around the boiling cauldron, they summon three apparitions (visions) to appear before Macbeth. The first apparition is an armed head that warns Macbeth to beware of Macduff. The second is a bloody child that tells Macbeth that no man born of woman can harm him. The third apparition, a child wearing a crown and holding a tree branch, says Macbeth will not be defeated until Birnam Wood moves to fight him at Dunsinane Hill.
These prophecies give Macbeth a false sense of overconfidence, making him think he is invincible and his reign as king is secure. However, the witches then show Macbeth a disturbing vision of a line of eight kings, the last carrying a mirror reflecting more kings – all descendants of Banquo, Macbeth’s former friend whom he had murdered.
This vision shakes Macbeth, making him realise that, despite the witches’ assurances, his reign will be short-lived and end violently. In anger, Macbeth demands answers from the witches about Banquo’s descendants becoming kings, but they dismiss him cruelly.
As the witches depart, Macbeth learns that Macduff has fled to England. Immediately, Macbeth resolves to act on the witches’ warning by brutally murdering Macduff’s entire family to eliminate any threat to his power. Consumed by evil ambition from the witches’ deceptions, Macbeth willingly embarks on more violence and bloodshed.
Video tutorial
Workbook answers
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Complete the following: All the witches chant: Double, double ….. and….. fire….. and….. bubble.
Answer: All the witches chant: Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
2. The witches cool the broth with a. the blood of a snake
b. the blood of a baboon c. the blood of a Turk d. the gall of goat
Answer: b. the blood of a baboon
3. The first apparition is
a. a crowned child with a tree in his hand b. an armed head c. a king with a glass on his hand d. a procession of Kings
Answer: b. an armed head
4. The sound heard by Macbeth is
a. the sound of swords clashing b. the galloping of horses c. the singing of the witches d. a trumpet playing
Answer: b. the galloping of horses
5. Lennox brings Macbeth the news that
a. Malcolm has become King b. Macduff has fled to England c. Fleance has returned to take revenge d. Lady Macbeth is dead
Answer: b. Macduff has fled to England
Context questions
1. First witch: Round about the cauldron go;
In the Poison’d entrails throw.
Toad, that under cold stone
Days and nights has thirty one
Swelter’d, venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i’ th’ charmed pot.
a. Describe the atmosphere prevailing all around in this scene.
Answer: The atmosphere prevailing all around in this scene is gloomy, sinister and evil. The witches are preparing a foul and poisonous brew by throwing repulsive ingredients like toad’s venom, fenny snake’s fillet, eye of newt, toe of frog, wool of bat, tongue of dog, adder’s fork, blindworm’s sting, lizard’s leg, howlet’s wing into the boiling cauldron.
b. What are the witches preparing? Name any four ingredients they put on the cauldron.
Answer: The witches are preparing a foul, poisonous brew by putting ingredients like toad’s venom, fillet of fenny snake, eye of newt, toe of frog, wool of bat, tongue of dog, adder’s fork, blindworm’s sting, lizard’s leg and howlet’s wing into the boiling cauldron.
c. What significance does the boiling of the charmed pot have?
Answer: The boiling of the charmed pot has the significance of producing visions and apparitions that will entrap Macbeth and lead him to his doom by giving him a false sense of security about his future as the King of Scotland.
d. What is the main intention of the witches in this scene?
Answer: The main intention of the witches in this scene is to use their foul and sinister tricks to tempt Macbeth further into evil acts by showing him visions that will mislead him into thinking he is invincible, thus luring him to his ruin and damnation.
2. Macbeth: How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags!
What is’t you do?
All: A deed without a name.
a. What is the difference we find in the manner and attitude of Macbeth now when he addresses the witches from that when he first met them?
Answer: When Macbeth first met the witches, he was tentative and apprehensive in his manner of addressing them. However, in this scene, his attitude towards them is more authoritative, commanding and insolent as he calls them “secret, black, and midnight hags” and demands answers from them.
b. What does Macbeth demand from the witches as soon as he meets them?
Answer: As soon as Macbeth meets the witches, he demands that they answer his questions solemnly, regardless of the evil ways they may have to employ like causing storms, destroying castles or any other catastrophe.
c. What terrible consequences are expected to be produced by the evil words of the witches? State any three.
Answer: The terrible consequences expected to be produced by the evil words of the witches are that they could untie the winds and let them fight against churches, cause yeasty waves to confound and swallow navigation, cause bladed corn to be lodged and trees blown down, and cause castles to topple on their warders’ heads.
d. What option do the witches put forward to Macbeth in answering his questions? What option does Macbeth choose?
Answer: The witches put forward the option to Macbeth of hearing their predictions either from their own mouths or from their master spirits. Macbeth chooses to hear the message from their master spirits.
e. What instructions are given by the first witch to the others to throw into the fire?
Answer: The first witch instructs the others to pour in sow’s blood that has eaten her nine farrow, and grease that has sweated from the murderer’s gibbet, into the flame.
f. Describe the first apparition that appears in the scene.
Answer: The first apparition that appears in the scene is an Armed Head which cries out, “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife! Dismiss me. Enough.”
3. First apparition: Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff,
Beware the Thane of Fife.
Dismiss me. Enough.
a. What is the symbolism of the first apparition?
Answer: The first apparition, an Armed Head, represents symbolically Macbeth’s head cut off by Macduff and brought to Malcolm.
b. How does Macbeth react to the warning of the first apparition?
Answer: Macbeth reacts to the warning of the first apparition by thanking it for the good caution and saying that it has “harped my fear aright” or touched the chord of his fear correctly. However, he wants to know one more thing from the apparition.
c. Describe the second apparition.
Answer: The second apparition is a Bloody Child which addresses Macbeth thrice and asks him to be bloody, bold, and resolute, and to not be afraid of any man born of woman as none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.
d. What does the second apparition symbolise?
Answer: The second apparition of the Bloody Child symbolises Macduff who was untimely ripped out from his mother’s womb.
e. What are the three qualities Macbeth must acquire to despise the power of man?
Answer: The three qualities that Macbeth must acquire to despise the power of man, as advised by the second apparition, are to be bloody, bold and resolute.
4. Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be, until
Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane Hill
Shall come against him.
a. Which apparition gives this assurance to Macbeth? How does it instil a sense of false security in Macbeth?
Answer: This assurance is given to Macbeth by the third apparition, which is a Child Crowned, with a tree in his hand. It instils a false sense of security in Macbeth by prophesying that he shall never be vanquished until the impossible happens – until the Great Birnam Wood moves to the high Dunsinane Hill against him. This seems improbable to Macbeth and he takes it as an assurance of his continued reign.
b. What is Macbeth confident about? What is impossible and against the law of Nature to happen, according to Macbeth?
Answer: Macbeth is confident that no man born of woman can harm him. He thinks it is impossible and against the law of Nature for the forest of Birnam to move towards Dunsinane Hill, as trees cannot unfix their earthbound roots.
c. Give the meanings of the following words: i) mettled ii) chafes iii) frets
Answer: i) mettled means high-spirited, courageous ii) chafes means grieves or vexes iii) frets means worries or is anxious
d. Macbeth uses the words ‘Our high-placed Macbeth’. Why does he do so?
Answer: Macbeth uses the words ‘Our high-placed Macbeth’ as he is so elated and overconfident after the assurances given by the apparitions that he starts referring to himself in third person and calling himself ‘high-placed’ or exalted.
e. What pertinent question does Macbeth ask the witches which they all decline to answer? What do they say to Macbeth in unison?
Answer: The pertinent question that Macbeth asks the witches is whether Banquo’s issue (descendants) will ever reign in this kingdom. The witches decline to answer this question directly, and instead say in unison “Seek to know no more.”
5. First witch: Show!
Second witch: Show!
Third witch: Show!
All: Show his eyes and grieve his heart;
Come like shadows; so depart.
a. What is the spectacular show that the witches display in front of Macbeth’s eyes?
Answer: The spectacular show that the witches display in front of Macbeth’s eyes is a vision of eight kings, the last one holding a glass in his hand, followed by the ghost of Banquo.
b. Why does the vision burn Macbeth’s eyes and make them jump out of their sockets?
Answer: The vision of the eight kings followed by Banquo burns Macbeth’s eyes and makes them jump out of their sockets because the eighth king bears a glass which shows many more kings, some carrying two-fold balls and treble sceptres, indicating that they are Banquo’s descendants who will rule the kingdom after Macbeth.
c. How many visions does Macbeth see? Describe each vision.
Answer: Macbeth sees a vision of eight kings. The first king resembles the spirit of Banquo, the second has hair bound with gold like the first, the third is like the former two, and so on until the eighth king who bears a glass showing many more kings who carry two-fold balls and treble sceptres, indicating they are Banquo’s royal descendants.
d. How does the first witch propose to cheer Macbeth’s disturbed spirits?
Answer: The first witch proposes to cheer Macbeth’s disturbed spirits by charming the air to give a sound while she and the other witches perform their antic round or dance, so that this great king (Macbeth) may kindly say that their duties did his welcome pay.
6. Time, thou anticipat’st my dread exploits;
The flighty purpose never is o’ertook,
Unless the deed go with it. From this moment,
The very firstlings of my heart shall be
The firstlings of my hand.
a. What change do we find in the mood of Macbeth in the beginning and at the end of the scene?
Answer: In the beginning of the scene, Macbeth is intrigued by the witches’ prophecies and develops an increased sense of confidence after their assurances of his invincibility. However, by the end of the scene, after witnessing the vision of Banquo’s descendants as future kings, his mood changes to one of anger, disillusionment and a resolve to take immediate action to secure his reign.
b. What news has Macbeth just received and from whom?
Answer: Macbeth has just received the news from Lennox that Macduff has fled to England.
c. What is the meaning and significance of the above extract? Explain in detail.
Answer: In this extract, Macbeth reflects that time (or destiny) is anticipating and hampering his dreadful actions. He realizes that a purpose or intention can never be accomplished unless it is immediately followed by the corresponding deed. From this moment on, Macbeth resolves that the very first thoughts or conceptions of his heart will be put into action without delay by his hands. This extract signifies Macbeth’s decision to take ruthless steps to eliminate any potential threats to his kingship by killing Macduff’s family, as soon as he learns of Macduff’s flight to England. His overriding ambition to remain in power has hardened his heart to commit more violence and bloodshed.
d. What crime does Macbeth plan to execute at the earliest?
Answer: Upon learning that Macduff has fled to England, Macbeth plans to immediately surprise the castle of Macduff, seize Fife, and put Macduff’s wife, children and all those unfortunate souls tracing Macduff’s lineage to the sword.
e. How do we know that Macbeth’s cravings to know more about his future have died down? Quote the line that tells us so.
Answer: We know that Macbeth’s cravings to know more about his future have died down from the line “But no more sights!” This shows that he is no longer interested in witnessing any more visions or apparitions from the witches.
7. Comment on Macbeth’s second meeting with the witches.
Answer: Macbeth’s second meeting with the witches spells his doom and lures him to his ruin through their deceptive prophecies. The witches instil a false sense of security in Macbeth by making ambiguous predictions that seem to assure his continued reign but are actually foreshadowing his downfall. The apparitions warn Macbeth to beware of Macduff but also state that no man born of woman can harm him, and that he will not be overthrown until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill – events that seem impossible to Macbeth. This overconfidence is shaken when the witches show him a vision of Banquo’s descendants as future kings, indicating that his own reign will be short-lived.
While initially intrigued by the witches, Macbeth’s attitude towards them becomes more authoritative and insolent in this meeting. The witches’ evil intentions are evident as they use foul ingredients like toad’s venom, tongue of dog, and finger of a strangled babe to conjure their apparitions. Their ambiguous prophecies lure Macbeth into a false sense of invincibility, hardening his heart to commit more violent acts like the murder of Macduff’s family. Ultimately, the witches’ temptations lead Macbeth further down the path of evil and damnation, while also foreshadowing the tragic consequences that await him.
Extra MCQs
1. What kind of creature is a newt?
A. A snake B. An amphibious creature resembling a lizard C. A bird D. A fish
Answer: B. An amphibious creature resembling a lizard
15. What news does Lennox bring to Macbeth?
A. That Malcolm has become king B. That Macduff has fled to England C. That Fleance has returned for revenge D. That Lady Macbeth is dead
Answer: B. That Macduff has fled to England
Extra Questions and Answers
1. What ingredients do the witches throw into the cauldron?
Answer: The witches throw various loathsome ingredients into the cauldron, including:
- Toad that has sweltered venom for thirty-one days and nights under a cold stone
- Fillet of a fenny snake
- Eye of newt and toe of frog
- Wool of bat and tongue of dog
- Adder’s fork and blindworm’s sting
- Lizard’s leg and howlet’s wing
- Scale of dragon and tooth of wolf
- Witch’s mummy, maw, and gulf of the ravined salt-sea shark
- Root of hemlock digged in the dark
- Liver of blaspheming Jew
- Gall of goat and slips of yew slivered in the moon’s eclipse
- Nose of Turk and Tartar’s lips
- Finger of birth-strangled babe ditch-delivered by a drab
- Tiger’s chaudron
10. How does Lennox’s news about Macduff affect Macbeth’s state of mind?
Answer: Lennox brings Macbeth the news that Macduff has fled to England. This shatters Macbeth’s false sense of security and triggers his resolve to act immediately. He says, “Time, thou anticipat’st my dread exploits; / The flighty purpose never is o’ertook / Unless the deed go with it.” Macbeth realizes that he must act swiftly to eliminate potential threats, leading him to plan to “surprise” Macduff’s castle and kill his family.
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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