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Quizzes > Books & Literature

Macbeth act 3 quiz: test your knowledge of Act Three

Quick, free act 3 Macbeth test with instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Sai BalajiUpdated Aug 28, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for Macbeth Act 3 quiz with key scenes and characters on sky blue background

This Macbeth Act 3 quiz helps you check your grasp of key scenes, from Banquo's suspicions to the banquet ghost. Answer quick multiple-choice questions to review motives, lines, and plot turns, then see what to revisit before class or a test. For more practice, try the Macbeth acts 1-3 quiz, continue with the Macbeth act 4 quiz, or sharpen recall with a Macbeth quotes quiz.

Who ascends to the throne at the beginning of Act 3 of Macbeth?
Banquo
Macbeth
Macduff
Malcolm
At the end of Act 2, Macbeth murders King Duncan and is crowned king, so he is ruling at the start of Act 3. His coronation drives the plot forward as he struggles to secure his power. This marks the beginning of his tyrannical rule in Scotland.
Which character does Macbeth arrange to have murdered in Act 3 because of his suspicions about the witches prophecy?
Donalbain
Duncan
Malcolm
Banquo
Macbeth fears Banquo because the witches prophesied that Banquos descendants would inherit the throne. To thwart this threat, he hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance. This act deepens his descent into tyranny and paranoia.
Which character escapes the murderers sent by Macbeth in Act 3?
Donalbain
Lennox
Fleance
Ross
Although Banquo is killed by the assassins, his son Fleance flees the scene and escapes. His survival is crucial because it preserves the witches prophecy that Banquos line will rule in the future. This escape heightens Macbeths fear and further motivates his ruthless actions.
During the banquet scene in Act 3, Macbeth sees someone who others cannot. Who is it?
Lady Macbeths reflection
The Porter
Banquos ghost
King Duncans ghost
At the royal banquet, Macbeth is horrified to see Banquos ghost sitting in his place. This hallucination reveals his guilt over Banquos murder and undermines his composure as king. The ghost is invisible to everyone else, emphasizing Macbeths isolation and paranoia.
Why does Macbeth decide to visit the witches for a second time in Act 3?
To apologize for his betrayal
To summon Banquos ghost
To ask them to resurrect Duncan
To confirm their prophecies and learn more about his future
Haunted by insecurity, Macbeth returns to the Weird Sisters to obtain further guidance on how to protect his crown. He hopes to learn more about potential threats and the fate of his reign. Their cryptic answers fuel his ambition and paranoia.
At the banquet when Macbeth behaves erratically, who attempts to explain his strange behavior to the guests?
Ross
Lady Macbeth
Lennox
Macduff
Lady Macbeth excuses Macbeths odd conduct by telling the guests that he occasionally suffers from a common, harmless fit. She urges them to be patient and ignore his behavior so as to preserve the atmosphere of the banquet. This moment shows her continued effort to manage Macbeths instability.
What warning does the first apparition give Macbeth in Act 3?
Beware Malcolm
No man born of woman can harm you
Beware Macduff
You shall be crowned at Scone
The first apparition, an armed head, warns Macbeth to Beware Macduff, indicating that Macduff is the next threat to his rule. This prophecy prompts Macbeth to view Macduff with increasing suspicion and soon to take drastic measures. It intensifies the conflict surrounding Scotlands leadership.
Which character informs Macbeth that Macduff has gone to England in Act 3?
Angus
Lennox
Ross
Menteth
In Scene 4, Lennox subtly reveals to Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England to seek help from King Edward. This news alarms Macbeth and leads him to plan further violence against Macduffs family. Lennoxs speech also highlights noble discontent with Macbeths regime.
How does Macbeth interpret the prophecy that none of woman born shall harm Macbeth?
He believes he is invincible against any human opponent
He thinks he must kill a mother to be safe
He understands it as a warning about disease
He assumes it refers to Banquo
Macbeth takes the prophecy literally, believing no man alive can kill him since everyone is born of a woman. This interpretation gives him a false sense of security that feeds his tyranny. His hubris stems from misreading the witches riddling words.
What role does Hecate play in Act 3 of Macbeth?
She helps Macbeth plot Banquos murder
She appears to Macbeth at the feast
She protects Fleance from the assassins
She chastises the witches for dealing with Macbeth without her
Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft, rebukes the three witches for meddling with Macbeth on their own. She plans to lead him into overconfidence by giving him deceptive visions. Her appearance underscores the plays theme of appearance versus reality.
What is the dramatic significance of Fleances escape in Act 3?
It ensures Banquos lineage remains a threat to Macbeths crown
It frees Macbeth from guilt over murdering Banquo
It fulfills the prophecy that Banquo would become king
It proves the witches have deserted Macbeth
Fleances flight preserves the possibility that Banquos descendants will inherit the throne, maintaining the witches prophecy. Dramatically, it heightens Macbeths insecurity and paves the way for further violence. This moment underscores the tension between fate and free will.
What excuse does Lady Macbeth give the guests to explain Macbeths odd behavior at the banquet?
She explains he is overwhelmed by guilt
She says he is under a witchs spell
She claims he is grieving for Duncan
She says he suffers from a recurring, harmless illness
Lady Macbeth attributes Macbeths disturbing visions and outbursts to a fever he has had since youth. By calling it an innocuous malady, she tries to calm the guests and maintain decorum. This moment illustrates her role as the caretaker of their public image.
How does the banquet scene in Act 3 develop the theme of appearance versus reality?
It demonstrates the witches control over nature
It shows Lady Macbeths growing political ambition
It illustrates Banquos hidden loyalty to Macbeth
It reveals Macbeths private guilt contrasted with his public facade
The banquet scene juxtaposes Macbeths composed public persona with his inner turmoil, manifested by the ghosts appearance only to him. It underscores the discrepancy between how Macbeth wants to be seen and the reality of his guilt. This moment deepens the plays exploration of deceptive appearances.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Key Plot Developments -

    Understand the major events and turning points in Macbeth Act 3, including the consequences of Macbeth's decisions and actions.

  2. Interpret Character Motivations -

    Examine why Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and other characters behave as they do, highlighting psychological and thematic drivers.

  3. Identify Significant Quotations -

    Recognize and explain the importance of pivotal lines from Act Three that reveal character intentions and thematic depth.

  4. Evaluate Dramatic Techniques -

    Assess Shakespeare's use of soliloquies, suspense, and staging to heighten tension and advance the narrative.

  5. Connect Themes and Symbols -

    Trace recurring motifs such as ambition, guilt, and fate, and explain how they intensify the play's dramatic impact.

  6. Apply Critical Thinking -

    Use insights from the quiz to form your own interpretations and support them with textual evidence from Act 3.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Banquo's Ghost and Guilt -

    In Act 3, Scene 4, Macbeth's vision of Banquo's ghost reflects his overwhelming guilt and fear of retribution, as noted by the Folger Shakespeare Library. Remember "Ghostly Guilt" to recall how the banquet scene unravels Macbeth's public composure for your macbeth act 3 quiz. Seeing his hallucination after the murders underscores the psychological toll of his crimes.

  2. Macbeth's Rise to Tyranny -

    By Scene 1, Macbeth abandons his initial hesitation and actively plots Banquo's murder, highlighting his moral decline as described in the Oxford University Press edition. Use the mnemonic "Hail to the Tyrant" to link his repeated "To be thus is nothing" soliloquy with his insecurity for macbeth act 3 test questions. His shift from contemplation to action demonstrates how power corrupts.

  3. Lady Macbeth's Changing Role -

    Scholars at Cambridge University Press observe that Lady Macbeth's influence fades in Act 3, shifting from a mastermind to a sidelined partner. The phrase "Loud to Low" helps remember her diminishing control for macbeth act 3 quiz flashcards. Her retreat signals Macbeth's full embrace of tyranny without her counsel.

  4. Fate versus Free Will -

    JSTOR articles note that Act 3 deepens the debate between prophecy and personal choice as Macbeth pursues the witches' forecast with violence. The "Three Paths" mnemonic links the Weird Sisters' predictions, Macbeth's actions, and Banquo's fate for macbeth act three quiz success. This interplay underpins the tragedy's core conflict.

  5. Nature and Darkness Symbolism -

    According to the Folger Shakespeare Library, references to darkness, night, and unnatural omens in Act 3 symbolize the moral chaos under Macbeth's reign. Remember "Dark Design" to connect stormy imagery with his secret deeds when tackling macbeth act 3 test questions. Such symbolism enhances the play's ominous atmosphere.

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