English GCSE Macbeth Exam Questions
With Correct Answers
Theme of Ambition Quote 1 - answer✔✔Quote: 'Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself,
And falls on th'other'
Explanation: ACT 1
Macbeth acknowledges his 'vaulting ambition' when contemplating the murder of Duncan.
Shows an intense desire for power, which vaults even beyond its intrinsic limits and beyond
reason
Techniques: Horse metaphor
Audience: Audience knows Macbeth is unreasonable-here's no good reason to kill Duncan,
because Duncan is perfectly good at this whole king-business
Theme of Ambition Quote 2 - answer✔✔Quote: 'So Foul And Fair A Day I Have Not Seen'
Explanation: ACT 1
The day is foul due to the witches raising a storm, and fair because of Macbeth's victories on the
battlefield.
The witches had not mentioned murder. The fact that his first thought is about killing the king is
mighty suspicious—almost as though they've just awoken a murderous ambition that's been there
all along.
Audience: sees immediately the calamitous inseparability of Macbeth and the forces of darkness.
Alternative interpretation: foreshadows Macbeth's future. "Fair" presages his own rise to the
throne, as well as the promise of Banquo's own sons also gaining the ascendency.
"Foul" will refer to the tragedy that is to come. Duncan dies, as well as Macbeth and his wife.
Theme of The supernatural Quote 1 - answer✔✔Quote: 'Would they have stayed'
Explanation: ACT 1
The witches tell Macbeth something that lingers on his mind, and he is hooked on them from the
start.
He wanted to know where the witches got their information and why they have told it to him and
Banquo and so Macbeth is filled with regret
Context: People belived in witches- they were people who had made a pact with the devil in
exchange for supernatural powers. 1604 witchcraft became a capital offense.
Theme of The supernatural Quote 2 - answer✔✔Quote: 'Fair is foul, and foul is fair'
Explanation: ACT 1
Said by the witches and Macbeth.
The witches cause the 'foul' atmosphere.
Techniques: paradox
Audience: Audience knows they are bad, as well as influential and confusing characters.
Context: 1604 witchcraft became a capital offence.
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