Question

read the excerpt from act 4, scene 3 of the tragedy of macbeth. malcolm suggests that they find a shady place to be sad. macduff disagrees and suggests that they should grab their swords and protect their country. the word dolour means great sadness. malcolm. let us seek out some desolate shade, and there weep our sad bosoms empty. macduff. let us rather hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men bestride our down-fall’n birthdom; each new morn new widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows strike heaven on the face, that it resounds as if it felt with scotland and yell’d out like syllable of dolour. what does macduff mean by the personification
ew sorrows / strike heaven on the face, that it resounds / as if it felt with scotland and yell’d out / like syllable of dolour\?
○ he hopes that heaven will cry out in grief when he seeks revenge for his father’s murder just like a human would in response to death.
○ he believes that heaven will sing out in praise just like the citizens will do when macbeth is removed from power.
○ he feels that he and other citizens will be howling to heaven when they unite to take back their country the way animals howl in the wild.
○ he thinks that mentioning scotland will convince the heavens to send assistance and help his companions put an end to macbeth.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the personification: "New sorrows strike heaven on the face... yell'd out like syllable of dolour" (dolour = great sadness). Macduff is saying the new sorrows (from Macbeth's tyranny) make heaven react as if it shares Scotland's grief.
2. Evaluate options:

• Option 1: Talks about revenge for his father's murder, but the excerpt focuses on Scotland's sorrows (new widows, orphans), not personal revenge. Eliminate.
• Option 2: Says heaven "sings out in praise" – but "dolour" is sadness, so praise is wrong. Eliminate.
• Option 3: He and citizens (new widows, orphans) have sorrows; heaven resounds as if feeling Scotland's pain (howling/yelling in grief, like a syllable of dolour). This matches the personification of heaven sharing Scotland's sadness.
• Option 4: Mentions "convince heavens to send assistance" – the quote is about heaven reacting to sorrows, not seeking help. Eliminate.

Answer:

The correct option is: He feels that he and other citizens will be howling to heaven when they unite to take back their country the way animals howl in the wild. (Note: More accurately, the sorrows of Scotland (new widows, orphans, etc.) make heaven react as if it shares their grief, so the citizens' sorrows (howling to heaven in a sense) make heaven resound with sadness, matching this option's idea of their collective sorrow moving heaven.)