Act 2 scene 3

• Who stumbles through the hall at the beginning of Act 2 Scene 3 of Macbeth?

  The Porter
• What is the Porter's condition when he answers the knocking?

  He is hungover
• Who enters through the gate after the Porter?

  Macduff and Lennox
• What does Macduff complain about regarding the Porter?

  His lethargy
• What is Macbeth wearing when he arrives?

  A dressing-gown
• What does Macbeth tell Macduff and Lennox about the king?

  The king is not yet awake
• Why does Macduff go to get the king?

  The king asked to be woken early
• What does Lennox describe while they wait for the king?

  The unruly storm that passed through the previous night
• What does Macduff shout when he rushes back?

  The king has been murdered
• What does Macduff do after shouting about the king's murder?

  He goes to rouse the rest of the castle
• Who hurries to Duncan's room with Macbeth?

  Lennox
• What does Lady Macbeth do when she comes to see what is going on?

  She is told it is too gruesome for a woman to hear
• Who arrives just after Lady Macbeth?

  Banquo
• What does Macduff tell Banquo when he arrives?

  That the king has been murdered
• Who returns with Macbeth and Lennox just ahead of Malcolm and Donalbain?

  Ross
• What does Lennox tell Malcolm and Donalbain?

  That their father has been murdered
• Who does Lennox suspect to be the murderers of Duncan?

  The Chamberlains
• What does Macbeth claim he did to the guards?

  He killed them in a fit of fury
• How does Macduff react to Macbeth's explanation for killing the guards?

  He is suspicious
• Why does Macbeth say he killed the guards?

  Out of love for Duncan
• What does Lady Macbeth do at this moment?

  She appears to faint
• What do the others do when Lady Macbeth faints?


  They rush to her aid
• What do Malcolm and Donalbain decide after Lady Macbeth faints?

  They conclude they may be the next targets
• Where do Malcolm and Donalbain decide to go?

  Malcolm will travel to England and Donalbain to Ireland
• What does the Porter describe about his night's drinking?

  It includes jokes about how drink affects sexual performance
• How does the Porter's description serve the play?

  It provides a comic mirror image to Lady Macbeth's questioning of her husband's manhood
• How does Lennox's small talk relate to Banquo and Fleance's earlier conversation?

  It mirrors their observations of the night's strange mood
• How is Macbeth's killing of the guards received?

  It is well received and commended
• Who is the only character that does not commend Macbeth for killing the guards?

  Macduff
• What does Macduff know about the dead guards?

  They can provide no information
• What is the first suspicion raised in the scene?

  Macduff's suspicion of Macbeth
• How does Lady Macbeth's character show in this scene?

  She rejects the traditional feminine role but plays it to suit her ends
• What is an example of dramatic irony in this scene?

  Macduff's comment that murder talk is not suitable for Lady Macbeth, who planned the murder
• Why does Lady Macbeth faint?

  As a ruse to distract from Macduff's question
• What do Malcolm and Donalbain decide regarding their safety?

  They decide not to meet the thanes
• What does Malcolm suspect about Macbeth?

  He seems to suspect Macbeth
• What do Malcolm and Donalbain conclude about any treacherous man?

  He can easily show emotions he doesn't feel