Question

macbeth
study guide questions (dok levels 1 & 2)

1. (act iii, scene i) what does banquo suspect at the beginning of scene 1?
2. (act iii, scene i) where was banquo missing from earlier in the day?
3. (act iii, scene i) according to macbeth what have malcolm and donalbain been up to?
4. (act iii, scene i) why does macbeth fear banquo?
5. (act iii, scene i) what does “for banquo’s issue have i filed my mind; for them the gracious duncan have i murder’d” mean?
6. (act iii, scene i) what did macbeth tell the murderers to convince them to want to kill banquo?
7. (act iii, scene i) who are the assassins sent to kill?
8. (act iii, scene i) why does macbeth need assassins? he is a king after all.
9. (act iii, scene i) what is macbeth’s instruction to the murderers at the end of scene 1?
10. (act iii, scene ii) what does “using those thoughts which should indeed have died with them think on” mean? and who is l.m. talking about?
11. (act iii, scene ii) what does macbeth remind his wife of? what does “we have scotch’d the snake, not kill’d it” mean?
12. (act iii, scene iii) what happened to banquo?
13. (act iii, scene iii) what happened to fleance?
14. (act iii, scene iv) in scene 4 what does macbeth see that does not belong?
15. (act iii, scene iv) what is l.m.’s cover story for macbeth?

Answer:

To answer these study guide questions about Macbeth (Act III), we analyze each question based on the text:

Question 1: (Act III, Scene i) What does Banquo suspect at the beginning of scene 1?

Banquo suspects that Macbeth may have murdered King Duncan to fulfill the witches’ prophecy and seize the throne. He reflects on the prophecies and Macbeth’s rise, hinting at his doubt about Macbeth’s role in Duncan’s death.

Question 2: (Act III, Scene i) Where was Banquo missing from earlier in the day?

Banquo was missing from the royal banquet (or court gathering) earlier in the day. He had been out riding (with Fleance) and was not present at the event.

Question 3: (Act III, Scene i) According to Macbeth, what have Malcolm and Donalbain been up to?

Macbeth claims Malcolm and Donalbain fled to England and Ireland (respectively) because they are “guilty” of Duncan’s murder (though they are innocent—Macbeth spreads this lie to discredit them and secure his own rule).

Question 4: (Act III, Scene i) Why does Macbeth fear Banquo?

Macbeth fears Banquo because the witches’ prophecy stated that Banquo’s descendants would be kings. Banquo is also a noble, loyal, and brave man—Macbeth sees him as a threat to his throne (since Banquo’s “issue” [children] will inherit the crown, not Macbeth’s).

Question 5: (Act III, Scene i) What does “For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murder’d” mean?

Macbeth admits he murdered Duncan not for his own sake, but for Banquo’s children (Banquo’s “issue”)—because the prophecy said Banquo’s line would be kings. He killed Duncan to clear the way for Banquo’s descendants, and now he is obsessed with eliminating Banquo to prevent this.

Question 6: (Act III, Scene i) What did Macbeth tell the murderers to convince them to want to kill Banquo?

Macbeth tells the murderers that Banquo is their enemy (and his) and has oppressed them. He lies, claiming Banquo has denied them rewards or opportunities, stoking their anger to persuade them to kill Banquo.

Question 7: (Act III, Scene i) Who are the assassins sent to kill?

The assassins are sent to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. Macbeth wants to eliminate both to prevent the prophecy that Banquo’s descendants will be kings.

Question 8: (Act III, Scene i) Why does Macbeth need assassins? He is a king after all.

Macbeth needs assassins because he cannot openly kill Banquo (a respected noble) without arousing suspicion. Using hired murderers allows him to distance himself from the crime and maintain a facade of innocence.

Question 9: (Act III, Scene i) What is Macbeth’s instruction to the murderers at the end of scene 1?

Macbeth instructs the murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance. He emphasizes that Fleance must also die (“Leave no rubs nor botches in the work”—ensure the job is clean, with no loose ends).

Question 10: (Act III, Scene ii) What does “using those thoughts which should indeed have died with them think on” mean? And who is L.M. talking about?

Lady Macbeth (L.M.) is speaking to Macbeth. The line means he should stop dwelling on the “thoughts” (guilt, paranoia) related to Duncan’s murder—those thoughts should have “died” with Duncan (i.e., been left in the past). She urges him to move on from his guilt.

Question 11: (Act III, Scene ii) What does Macbeth remind his wife of? What does “we have scotch’d the snake, not kill’d it” mean?

Macbeth reminds his wife that they killed Duncan (the “snake”) but did not eliminate the threat entirely (Banquo and Fleance are still alive, so the “snake” is only “scotch’d” [wounded], not dead). He fears their enemies (like Banquo) will still threaten his throne.

Question 12: (Act III, Scene iii) What happened to Banquo?

Banquo is killed by the assassins Macbeth hired. The murderers ambush him (while he is out riding with Fleance).

Question 13: (Act III, Scene iii) What happened to Fleance?

Fleance escapes the assassins. While Banquo is killed, Fleance manages to flee, so the prophecy that Banquo’s descendants will be kings remains a threat to Macbeth.

Question 14: (Act III, Scene iv) In scene 4, what does Macbeth see that does not belong?

Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost sitting in his place at the banquet table. This is a hallucination, triggered by his guilt and paranoia over Banquo’s murder.

Question 15: (Act III, Scene iv) What is L.M.’s cover story for Macbeth?

Lady Macbeth (L.M.) tells the guests that Macbeth’s “fit” (his panic at seeing the ghost) is a lifelong illness (a “strange infirmity”). She urges them to ignore his outbursts and continue the banquet, masking his madness as a harmless, chronic condition.

These answers align with the plot, themes, and character motivations in Macbeth Act III.