Macbeth (AQA GCSE English Literature): Exam Questions

Banquo is cautious and suspicious, while Macbeth is captivated by their prophecies.

Banquo ignores the witches entirely, while Macbeth seems sceptical of them.

Banquo seeks to use the witches' power, while Macbeth doubts their influence.

Banquo becomes immediately obsessed with power, while Macbeth is indifferent.

He suspects Macbeth immediately and wishes to avenge Duncan.

He wants to uphold loyalty and justice, aligning with his moral character.

He is motivated by his desire to become king.

He wishes to join forces with Macbeth to maintain power.

It illustrates Banquo’s growing suspicion that Macbeth seized the crown through evil means.

It shows Banquo’s admiration for Macbeth’s rise to power.

It indicates Banquo’s secret desire to take the crown himself.

It reflects Banquo’s relief that Macbeth has become king.

He begins to confide in Banquo, seeking reassurance from his friend.

He orders Banquo’s murder to eliminate any perceived threat to his power.

He promotes Banquo to a higher rank to win his loyalty.

He ignores Banquo, seeing him as irrelevant to his rule.

It indicates his contempt for royal ceremonies, rather than revealing his loyalties.

It signals his disloyal intention to secretly join forces with Macbeth later.

It shows his refusal to acknowledge Macbeth as a legitimate ruler and his loyalty to the crown.

It reveals his fear of Macbeth’s power instead.

They create an immediate alliance between Banquo and Macbeth.

They lead to Macbeth viewing Banquo as a threat, placing a strain on their relationship.

They convince Banquo to seek power through evil means.

They bring Banquo and Macbeth closer together, united by ambition.

By allying with Banquo, Macduff prevents Macbeth from remaining in power.

Macduff weakens Macbeth’s power and legitimacy by spreading rumours of his crimes.

By convincing Macbeth to repent, Macduff ends the conflict peacefully.

By killing Macbeth and placing Malcolm on the throne, Macduff reinstates the rightful king, restoring the natural order.

Banquo is suspicious of the witches, while Macbeth is immediately spellbound by their predictions.

Banquo is equally tempted by their words, but acts on their prophecies in secret, just like Macbeth.

Both Banquo and Macbeth dismiss the witches’ prophecies.

Banquo’s ambition drives him to manipulate the prophecies for his own gain, echoing Macbeth’s actions.

Banquo willingly steps aside, realising that Macbeth is the rightful king.

Banquo’s loyalty to Macbeth causes him to distance himself from political intrigue.

Banquo’s role diminishes because Macbeth views him as a threat due to the witches’ prophecy about Banquo’s descendants.

Banquo loses relevance in the play because he rejects the witches’ prophecies.

Macduff’s actions are driven by personal revenge rather than a desire to restore order.

Macduff acts as an agent of justice, driven by both loyalty to Scotland and a personal sense of moral duty.

Macduff’s loyalty to Malcolm overshadows his personal grief, diminishing his effectiveness as an avenger.

Macduff’s revenge is primarily motivated by his ambition to seize power after Macbeth’s death.

Malcolm’s return to the throne is a symbol of the restoration of the divine order and the defeat of chaos.

Malcolm’s role is secondary to Macduff’s, and his return to the throne has little impact on the restoration of order.

Malcolm’s role in the play is symbolic but lacks any real influence over the events that unfold.

Malcolm’s role is unimportant because the witches’ prophecies sealed Macbeth’s fate.

The witches are entirely responsible for Macbeth’s downfall as they manipulate him into committing murder.

The witches are responsible for Macbeth’s downfall because their prophecies leave him with no choice but to fulfil them.

The witches have little influence on Macbeth’s downfall, as his ambition alone leads to his demise.

The witches merely reveal Macbeth’s potential for evil and ambition, leaving him to make his own choices.

Banquo’s refusal to act on the witches’ prophecies is portrayed as weakness, not moral superiority.

Banquo’s role as a moral contrast is diminished because he, too, is influenced by the witches’ prophecies.

Banquo’s scepticism of the morality of the supernatural forces in the play ultimately leads to his downfall.

Banquo serves as a moral contrast by resisting the witches’ temptations, highlighting the consequences of Macbeth’s choices.