Macbeth (AQA GCSE English Literature)

Exam Questions

8 hours225 questions
11 mark

What role does Banquo serve in the play?

  • a foil to Macbeth

  • a loyal ally to Macbeth

  • the rightful heir to the throne

  • a servant of Lady Macbeth

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21 mark

What supernatural event involves Banquo later in the play?

  • he becomes a witch

  • he returns as a ghost

  • he casts a spell on Macbeth

  • he is resurrected

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31 mark

How does Banquo initially regard Macbeth at the start of the play?

  • he is suspicious of him

  • he is indifferent towards him

  • he sees him as an equal

  • he sees him as a rival

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41 mark

What quality makes Banquo sceptical of the witches’ prophecies?

  • his ambition

  • his Christian faith

  • his fear of the supernatural

  • his loyalty to Macbeth

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51 mark

How does Banquo react to King Duncan’s murder?

  • he applauds Macbeth's actions

  • he publicly declares his loyalty to Duncan

  • he helps Macbeth cover up the crime

  • he remains silent on the matter

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61 mark

What is Banquo’s reaction to the witches’ prophecies about his descendants?

  • he dismisses them entirely

  • he is intrigued but remains cautious

  • he tries to prevent them from coming true

  • he immediately seeks to fulfil the prophecy

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71 mark

Which of the following best describes Banquo’s character traits?

  • ambitious and deceitful

  • greedy and manipulative

  • loyal and suspicious

  • cowardly and naive

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81 mark

Why does Banquo remain loyal to King Duncan, despite knowing Macbeth’s ambition?

  • Banquo is afraid of Macbeth’s power and seeks to protect himself.

  • Banquo does not realise Macbeth’s true intentions.

  • Banquo believes Macbeth’s rise to power is legitimate.

  • Banquo values his honour and loyalty to the kingdom above all.

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91 mark

How does Banquo serve as a foil to Macbeth?

  • Banquo’s Christian values, loyalty and honesty contrast with Macbeth’s ambition and deceit.

  • Banquo is just as ambitious as Macbeth, but he is more successful because his descendants become kings.

  • Banquo is more manipulative than Macbeth, while Macbeth is manipulated by other characters.

  • Banquo is presented as cowardly, while Macbeth is courageous.

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101 mark

How does Banquo’s character reflect typical Jacobean attitudes?

  • He is ambitious and power-hungry, reflecting the ideals of leadership.

  • He is a dutiful subject who fears God and serves his king faithfully.

  • He is sceptical of authority and questions the king’s rule.

  • He is highly independent, pursuing his own goals regardless of others.

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11 mark

What technique does Shakespeare use to highlight Banquo’s moral clarity and integrity?

  • He gives Banquo more rhyming lines than Macbeth, showing that Macbeth needs time to think.

  • Banquo’s soliloquies and asides reveal his honest concerns about Macbeth.

  • Banquo’s language becomes more complex as the play progresses, with increased blank verse.

  • Banquo often contradicts himself in conversations with Macbeth.

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21 mark

What role does Banquo’s straightforward language play in contrast to Macbeth’s use of language?

  • It reveals Banquo’s intellectual superiority over Macbeth, as he can communicate in prose.

  • It illustrates Banquo’s honesty and integrity, unlike Macbeth’s deceitful speech.

  • It makes Banquo appear less noble than Macbeth, as he cannot match Macbeth’s use of blank verse.

  • It shows that Banquo is not as ambitious or intelligent as Macbeth.

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31 mark

What is the significance of Banquo's reaction to the witches compared to Macbeth’s?

  • Banquo’s trust in the witches’ prophecies suggests he is just as ambitious as Macbeth.

  • Banquo’s indifference to the witches shows that he does not believe in supernatural forces.

  • Banquo’s fear and apprehension of the witches reveals his own hidden ambitions and desires.

  • Banquo’s scepticism highlights his moral integrity, contrasting with Macbeth’s willingness to trust in evil.

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41 mark

How might Banquo’s Christian beliefs have influenced his response to Macbeth’s rise to power after Duncan’s murder?

  • He would have publicly criticised Macbeth for his treasonous actions.

  • He would have joined Macbeth in ruling the kingdom to maintain peace.

  • He would have kept silent to protect himself and his family.

  • He would have sought to overthrow Macbeth and restore Duncan’s line to the throne.

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51 mark

How might Banquo’s suspicion of Macbeth’s role in Duncan’s murder affect his relationship with Macbeth?

  • He would openly challenge Macbeth and accuse him of murder.

  • He would pretend to be loyal while secretly plotting against Macbeth from the shadows.

  • He would distance himself from Macbeth while remaining cautious and watchful.

  • He would confront Macbeth and demand that he relinquish the throne.

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61 mark

Based on Banquo’s values and his role as a foil to Macbeth, what lesson does Banquo’s character most suggest about ambition and power?

  • Ambition is necessary to gain power and influence.

  • Power should be pursued at any cost to achieve greatness.

  • Ambition should be avoided, as it leads only to failure and disappointment.

  • Power gained through immoral actions will lead to guilt and destruction.

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11 mark

What is the significance of Macbeth lying to Banquo about his thoughts on the witches’ prophecies?

  • It shows that Macbeth has already dismissed the witches’ prophecies as unimportant.

  • It highlights Macbeth’s growing duplicity and foreshadows his betrayal of Banquo.

  • It suggests that Macbeth and Banquo have different views on the witches’ prophecies.

  • It implies that Macbeth is trying to protect Banquo from the dangerous influence of the witches.

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21 mark

What does Banquo’s initial trust in Macbeth reveal about their relationship at the start of the play?

  • It shows that Banquo is loyal to Macbeth and views him as an equal.

  • It suggests that Banquo is aware of Macbeth’s ambition but chooses to ignore it.

  • It indicates that Banquo is suspicious of Macbeth’s intentions from the start.

  • It highlights Banquo’s political naivety and lack of judgement.

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31 mark

Analyse how Banquo’s scepticism towards the witches’ prophecies contrasts with Macbeth’s reaction.

  • Banquo’s reaction shows his wisdom, while Macbeth’s reaction reveals his fear of the witches.

  • Banquo’s reaction contrasts with Macbeth’s immediate ambition and desire for power.

  • Banquo and Macbeth both dismiss the witches as irrelevant to their lives.

  • Banquo’s cautious approach makes him indecisive, unlike Macbeth, who takes swift action.

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41 mark

How does Shakespeare use Banquo’s ghost to highlight Macbeth’s guilt and paranoia?

  • Banquo’s ghost reminds Macbeth of the prophecies, urging him to kill more enemies.

  • The ghost’s appearance serves as a visual representation of Macbeth’s fear of being overthrown.

  • Banquo’s ghost is a manifestation of Macbeth’s guilt over betraying and killing his friend.

  • The ghost’s silence indicates that Macbeth has fully embraced his power and no longer feels remorse.

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51 mark

Evaluate the significance of Banquo’s role as a foil to Macbeth.

  • Banquo’s role is insignificant, as his death does not impact Macbeth’s actions.

  • Banquo’s role is to tempt Macbeth into making poor decisions, leading to Macbeth’s downfall.

  • Banquo’s death marks the end of Macbeth’s moral conflict and allows him to act without guilt.

  • Banquo serves as a reminder of the honour and loyalty that Macbeth has abandoned.

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61 mark

Assess the importance of Banquo’s scepticism towards the witches in determining his fate.

  • Banquo’s scepticism protects him from falling into the same moral decline as Macbeth.

  • Banquo’s scepticism makes him indecisive, leading to his downfall.

  • Banquo’s refusal to act on the witches’ prophecies ensures that he survives longer than Macbeth.

  • Banquo’s scepticism has no effect on his fate, as his death is caused by external factors.

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