Get notes, workbook solutions, summary, questions and answers, and pdf of the drama/play Macbeth (Act 5 Scene 7) by William Shakespeare, which is part of ISC Class 12 English. However, the notes should only be treated as references, and changes should be made according to the needs of the students.
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Summary
This scene showcases Macbeth’s unwavering courage and determination, even in the face of imminent defeat. Surrounded by enemies and abandoned by most of his supporters, he compares himself to a trapped bear, ready to fight to the death. He draws strength from the witches’ prophecy, believing that no man born of woman can harm him.
Young Siward confronts Macbeth, boldly calling him a tyrant. Macbeth swiftly kills him, further reinforcing his belief in his own invincibility. However, this victory is short-lived as Macduff enters the scene, seeking vengeance for the murder of his family.
Macduff refuses to engage with the hired soldiers fighting for Macbeth, focusing solely on confronting the tyrant himself. He vows to either kill Macbeth or sheathe his sword forever, highlighting his unwavering resolve and the personal nature of their conflict.
Meanwhile, the tide of the battle turns decisively against Macbeth. Dunsinane has fallen to Malcolm’s forces, and many Scottish thanes have switched sides, joining the fight against the tyrant. Macbeth’s isolation and desperation grow with each passing moment.
Despite the overwhelming odds, Macbeth refuses to surrender. His pride and the lingering hope offered by the witches’ prophecy fuel his determination to fight until the very end. The scene concludes with Macbeth and Macduff finally facing each other, ready for a duel that will determine their fates and the future of Scotland.
Workbook answers
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Macbeth compares himself to a
A. bear tied to a stake
B. tiger who is used as a bait
C. deer who is wounded waiting for the footsteps of the hunter
D. cat who wants the fish but does not want to wet her paws
Answer: A. bear tied to a stake
2. Young Siward calls Macbeth an
A. abhorred tyrant
B. coward
C. traitor
D. murderer
Answer: A. abhorred tyrant
3. If Macduff is unsuccessful in killing Macbeth, he will
A. break his sword
B. sheathe his sword and never fight again
C. break into a frenzy and kill anyone who comes his way
D. flee back to England
Answer: B. sheathe his sword and never fight again
4. Macduff begs ‘Fortune’ to help him to
A. find Macbeth and kill him
B. run away to Ireland to his brother
C. to become the next King of Scotland
D. to put an end to all this evil strife in Scotland
Answer: A. find Macbeth and kill him
Context questions
1. Macbeth: They have tied me to a stake: I cannot fly,
But, bear like, I must fight the course- What’s he,
That was not born of a woman? Such a one
Am I to fear, or none.
a. Who does Macbeth compare himself to? Explain the imagery in the extract.
Answer: Macbeth compares himself to a bear that is tied to a stake. This imagery is derived from bear-baiting, a popular sport in the Elizabethan era, where a bear is tethered to a post and attacked by dogs. It symbolizes Macbeth’s situation, bound and forced to fight insurmountable odds.
b. What does the word ‘course’ mean? Why does Macbeth associate himself to ‘the course’?
Answer: The word ‘course’ here refers to the forced path or arena of conflict, similar to a racing track or a fighting ring. Macbeth associates himself with ‘the course’ because, like a bear bound to a stake, he has no choice but to confront his attackers in the limited space he is given, symbolizing his entrapment and inevitable confrontation.
c. Who enters the scene after this extract? How does the person challenge Macbeth?
Answer: Young Siward enters the scene after this extract. He challenges Macbeth by directly asking for his name and expressing his readiness to hear it, despite its fearful reputation, indicating his courage and readiness to confront Macbeth.
d. How does the killing of young Siward boost Macbeth’s self confidence to a greater degree?
Answer: The killing of Young Siward boosts Macbeth’s confidence because it reinforces the prophecy that no man born of a woman can kill him. This success infuses him with a false sense of invincibility, as Young Siward, being born of a woman, could not defeat him.
e. Give the meanings of: i. abhorred ii. brandish’d
Answer: i. Abhorred: Despised, hated intensely.
ii. Brandish’d: Waved or flourished (typically a weapon), often in a threatening or vigorous manner.
2. Macduff: That way the noise is. – Tyrant, show thy face:
My wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still
I cannot strike at wretched Kernes, whose arms
Are hir’d to bear the staves: either thou, Macbeth
Or else my sword, with an unbatter’d edge,
I sheathe again undeeded.
a. Why is Macduff desperate to find Macbeth? Why is he concerned about his wife and children haunting him? What had happened to them?
Answer: Macduff is desperate to find Macbeth because he wants to avenge the murder of his wife and children by Macbeth himself. He is concerned about his wife and children’s ghosts haunting him if he fails to take revenge.
b. Why does Macduff not want to strike at the Kernes? Why does he call them wretched”?
Answer: Macduff does not want to strike at the Kernes because they are just hired soldiers, not the true enemy he seeks to confront. He calls them “wretched” indicating his pity and disdain for their lowly status and the desperation that drives them to fight for money rather than justice or personal vendetta.
c. What directs Macduff to Macbeth? Which lines in the extract show Macduff’s desperation to kill Macbeth? Quote the lines.
Answer: The direction of the fighting noises guides Macduff to Macbeth. His desperation is shown in the lines: “That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face!”
d. Who enter the scene after the extract? What information is brought by them about the progress of the battle?
Answer: Malcolm and Siward enter the scene after the extract. They bring information that the castle has been surrendered almost without resistance and that Macbeth’s forces are dwindling, with many shifting their allegiance.
e. Explain the lines: i. We have met with foes ii. That strike beside us
Answer: i. We have met with foes: This indicates that Malcolm and his allies have encountered enemies, but it also suggests a mingling among forces, potentially including traitors or defectors.
ii. That strike beside us: This implies that some of the enemies are deliberately missing their targets, possibly because they are conflicted in their loyalties or unwilling to fight against Malcolm and his forces, hinting at internal dissent within Macbeth’s ranks.
Essay question
Question: How does Macbeth convince himself that he cannot be defeated in this scene?
Answer: Even though Macbeth is surrounded by enemies and his situation is dire, he clings to a prophecy from the witches that declared he could only be harmed by someone not “of woman born.” This gives him a false sense of security and invincibility. He believes this means no man alive can hurt him.
When Macbeth kills young Siward, who confidently states he was born of a woman, Macbeth’s belief in his own invincibility is strengthened. He disregards the deeper meaning of the witches’ prophecy, taking it literally and assuming it makes him untouchable.
Despite being abandoned by his supporters and facing defeat, Macbeth continues to fight, convinced he cannot be killed by any man. He sees Macduff, his final challenger, as just another man born of a woman who he expects to defeat easily. His unwavering belief in his own invincibility, fueled by a misinterpretation of the prophecy, drives him forward even when all hope seems lost.
Extra/additional MCQs
1. At the beginning of Act V, Scene 7, Macbeth compares himself to which animal?
A. Bear tied to a stake B. Tiger used as bait C. Wounded deer D. Cat near water
Answer: A. Bear tied to a stake
14. What does Macbeth dismiss as incapable of killing him?
A. Swords wielded by men born of women B. Fire and brimstone C. Magic spells D. Arrows and spears
Answer: A. Swords wielded by men born of women
Extra/additional questions and answers
1. How does Macbeth compare himself to?
Answer: Macbeth compares himself to a bear tied to a stake, as he feels he is surrounded by his enemies and cannot escape.
10. How does the scene highlight the irony of Macbeth’s false sense of invincibility based on the witches’ prophecy?
Answer: The scene highlights the irony of Macbeth’s false sense of invincibility based on the witches’ prophecy that no man “born of woman” can kill him. Macbeth’s overconfidence and literal interpretation of the prophecy lead him to believe he is invincible, even as he faces the reality of his enemies closing in on him and the eventual arrival of Macduff, who is the one not “born of woman” and who will ultimately be the one to deliver Macbeth’s downfall, exposing the flaws in Macbeth’s understanding of the prophecy.
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