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Quizzes > Books & Literature

Macbeth Act 2 Quiz: Test Your Understanding

Quick, free quiz with Macbeth Act 2 test questions. Instant feedback.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Dwayne BlackwellUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art scene with dagger crown and scroll on coral background quiz banner for free Macbeth Act 2 study guide

This Macbeth Act 2 quiz helps you check key events and quotes from the dagger scene, Duncan's murder, and the fallout. For a warm‑up, try our Macbeth act 1 quiz, or build skills with a quick literary devices quiz. Studying other plays too? Test yourself with The Crucible act 2 quiz.

Who gives Macbeth the signal that it is time to kill King Duncan?
Banquo knocking on the door
The Porter calling out
Lady Macbeth ringing a bell
Fleance whistling twice
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In Act 2, Scene 1, the dagger Macbeth sees is best described as which of the following?
A ceremonial weapon given by Banquo
A family heirloom in a display case
A hallucination leading him toward Duncan's chamber
A real dagger dropped by a guard
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Who is with Banquo when he encounters Macbeth late at night in Act 2, Scene 1?
Lennox
Ross
Macduff
Fleance
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What does Lady Macbeth use to drug Duncan's grooms?
A potion poured into their wine after the feast
Possets (drugged drinks)
Herbs mixed in their food
A sleeping incense in the room
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Who discovers King Duncan's body in Act 2?
Banquo
Macduff
Ross
Lennox
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Before trying to sleep in Act 2, Scene 1, what does Banquo pray for?
To dream of future honor and wealth
To be restrained from cursed thoughts about the witches
For Duncan's swift recovery from illness
For a safe journey back to Fife
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After the murder, Macbeth claims to hear a voice cry which of the following?
"Beware Macduff!"
"Ring the alarum-bell!"
"Out, out, brief candle!"
"Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep!"
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What crucial task does Macbeth forget to complete after killing Duncan?
Burn the bloody clothes
Wash the blood from the floor
Leave the daggers with the grooms
Hide Duncan's crown
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In his ramble, the Porter jokes about admitting which kind of sinner closely linked to the play's themes?
A poisoner
An equivocator
A usurer
A sailor
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Which ominous event does Lennox report from the night of the murder?
A solar eclipse darkened the day
The river flooded the town
Chimneys were blown down
A comet was seen over Inverness
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What does Lady Macbeth do with the daggers when Macbeth refuses to go back?
She throws them into the fire
She gives them to Banquo
She returns them and smears the grooms with blood
She hides them in the garden
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According to Macbeth and Banquo's exchange, at what hour does the moon go down?
One
Twelve
Dawn
Two
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Who arrives at Macbeth's castle with Macduff on the morning of the murder?
Lennox
Angus
Banquo
Ross
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Which bird's cry does Lady Macbeth call a fatal omen during the murder?
The raven
The nightingale
The crow
The owl
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What word does Macbeth find himself unable to say after the murder?
Godspeed
Amen
Mercy
Peace
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When Macbeth raises the topic of the witches, what condition does Banquo place on any discussion or action?
His "bosom" must be franchised and his "allegiance clear"
He wants sworn oaths from all present
He will only speak in daylight
He must first consult King Duncan
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How does Lady Macbeth rebuke Macbeth when he refuses to return the daggers?
She urges him to flee to England
She threatens to confess herself
She calls him "infirm of purpose"
She warns him of Banquo's suspicion
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Who opens the gate to the knocking in Act 2, Scene 3?
The Porter
Lady Macbeth
A servant
Macbeth
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By what epithet does Lady Macbeth refer to the owl on the night of the murder?
The castle watch
The fatal bellman
The midnight herald
The mourning singer
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What reason does Macbeth give to explain killing the grooms on the spot?
Fear they would escape justice
They attacked him when accused
Loyal fury at witnessing the murdered king
Lady Macbeth ordered it
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand pivotal plot developments -

    Summarize key events in Act II, including the murder of King Duncan, to build a solid foundation for tackling study guide questions macbeth act 2.

  2. Analyze character motivations -

    Examine Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's psychological transformations within the macbeth act ii study guide to gain insight into their driving forces.

  3. Interpret thematic elements -

    Explore recurring themes such as ambition, guilt, and fate to enhance your ability to answer study questions macbeth with depth.

  4. Evaluate imagery and symbolism -

    Identify and assess Shakespeare's use of blood, darkness, and hallucinations to strengthen your macbeth reading guide answers.

  5. Apply close reading techniques -

    Use textual evidence to construct clear, evidence-based responses to each quiz question, ensuring mastery of the play's language and structure.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Banquo's Skepticism and the Witches' Prophecies -

    Folger Shakespeare Library highlights how Banquo's restrained response to the Weird Sisters in Act II shows a guarded rationality, especially when he says "I dreamt last night of the three Weird Sisters." Use the mnemonic "BBBS" (Balanced Banquo Brains Suspicion) to recall his critical stance. This contrast to Macbeth's blind ambition is a frequent focus in study guide questions macbeth act 2.

  2. Macbeth's Dagger Soliloquy and Unraveling Ambition -

    Cambridge University Press notes that the famous vision "Is this a dagger which I see before me?" crystallizes Macbeth's inner conflict between desire and morality. Try the rhyme "Dagger Linger Triggers Guilt" to remember how imagery foreshadows his psychological unraveling. A key macbeth act ii study guide prompt examines how this speech intensifies dramatic tension.

  3. Lady Macbeth's Ruthless Orchestration -

    Royal Shakespeare Company commentary emphasizes how Lady Macbeth's practical control - drugging the guards and framing them for regicide - demonstrates her steely resolve. Recall "LM M2" (Lady Macbeth's Machinations & Manipulations) to capture her dominating presence. This tactic often appears in macbeth reading guide answers exploring character dynamics.

  4. Porter's Scene and the Theme of Equivocation -

    Cambridge guides outline how the Porter's darkly comic speech introduces the motif of equivocation, calling alcohol "the equivocator." The mnemonic "Porter's Puns, Plot's Pause" helps you link this scene to the play's moral inversions. This moment is a staple in study questions macbeth act 2 that probe dramatic irony and tone shifts.

  5. Disruption of Natural Order and Omens -

    According to the Folger digital text, the unnatural events - like Duncan's horses feasting on each other - symbolize nature's revolt against a broken hierarchy. Use "DND" (Dark Nights Destroy order) to recall these eerie omens. Identifying these images is crucial for mastering macbeth act ii study guide analyses.

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