Thematic Imagery in "Macbeth" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Macbeth

Duncan appointed Malcolm as the Prince of Cumberland and his heir apparent. Macbeth was furious, this was a stumbling block to his ambition. He hoped his innermost thoughts, which included murder, were not visible on his face.

Answer: Blanket

Lady Macbeth plans to kill Duncan herself. She begs for darkness to harden her resolve and smother all her soft maternal feelings. How ironic that later she should insist on having a candle by her, sighing 'hell is murky'.

Answer: Banquo

It appears that neither the moon nor the stars were visible on the night of Duncan's murder. Banquo was troubled and could not sleep. Perhaps it was a premonition of what was about to take place or his own ambition which made him utter 'Merciful heavens restrain in me the thoughts which nature gives way to in repose.'

Answer: Sleep

After assassinating Duncan, Macbeth heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more Macbeth doth murder sleep'. His conscience, action replay time, kept reminding him of his crime. No wonder he envied Duncan who 'after life's fitful fever sleeps peacefully'.
In Lady Macbeth disturbed sleep she reveals details of all their crimes. Sleep is another thematic image.

Answer: Macduff

Macduff fled to England to seek help from the exiled Malcolm. He left his wife and family behind in Fife. Macbeth attacked the castle, butchering all inside. Each time Macduff slept, or tried to sleep , his the ghosts of his wife and childrens haunt him until he slays Macbeth.

Macbeth spoke of a murderer, i.e. himself, moving like a ghost towards his victim.

Banquo's ghost turned up at Macbeth's coronation feast and so terrified Macbeth that he almost gave himself away.

Answer: Milk

These are the among the most horrid images in the play. Lady Macbeth rejects life giving breast milk in favour of gall. She admits to all the tenderness associated with motherhood then, claims she could 'while it was smiling in my face have plucked my nipple from its boneless gums and dashed its brains out'.
How ironic the Macbeths have no children and so Macbeth has to accept the absolute futility of his crime, committed for another man's son.

Answer: Tailor

This is part of the clothes imagery. The tailor stole a French hose, just like Macbeth stole the kingship. They both came to a similar end.
Macbeth is frequently described wearing something too big for him,
'giant robes upon a dwarfish thief.'

Answer: Blood

Macbeth was transfixed by the sight of his bloody hands. He could not move, while Lady Macbeth washed her hands casually muttering 'a little water clears us of the deed'. How ironic when later in her madness she desperately tried to clean away the damned spots.

Answer: Tree

Macbeth allowed himself to believe the prophecies literally, no one could bid the trees move so he would be safe. When the equivocation was revealed Macbeth threatened to hang the unfortunate messenger.
The idea of a family tree might also be seen here: Duncan's son avenged his fathers death; Fleance would ultimately rule in Scotland. Macbeth was a dead branch.

Answer: Yes

Macbeth battled against Scotland's enemies. He battled his conscience about killing Duncan. He battled his wife when he had decided not to proceed with the murder. He battled onwards trying to control his future. Eventually, he lost the battle and his life . The witches won in what they laughingly called the 'hurlyburly'.