1.
"Out, damned spot! out, I say!"
Correct Answer
C. Macbeth
Explanation
Lady Macbeth utters "Out, damned spot! out, I say!" during a famous scene where she is sleepwalking and trying to wash imaginary bloodstains from her hands. This line reflects her psychological turmoil and guilt over the murders she and Macbeth have committed. Her repeated attempts to cleanse her hands symbolize her inability to escape the consequences of their actions, highlighting the theme of guilt and moral corruption that pervades the play.
2.
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair."
Correct Answer
B. Macbeth
Explanation
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair" is chanted by the three witches in the opening scene of "Macbeth." This line sets the tone for the entire play, encapsulating the idea that appearances can be deceiving. Throughout the play, Macbeth's ascent to power involves treachery and deceit, illustrating the witches' prophetic words. The line serves as a thematic statement about the inversion of moral order and the blurring of the lines between good and evil.
3.
"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble."
Correct Answer
A. Macbeth
Explanation
"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble" is part of the spell cast by the witches as they prepare a potion that will later influence Macbeth. This quote epitomizes the dark and supernatural elements of the play, as well as the chaos and moral confusion caused by the witches' manipulations. The chant emphasizes the themes of witchcraft and fate, while also foreshadowing the turmoil that will ensue from their prophecies.
4.
"When shall we three meet again In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"
Correct Answer
B. Macbeth
Explanation
"When shall we three meet again In thunder, lightning, or in rain?" is the opening line of "Macbeth," spoken by the first witch. It immediately introduces the theme of witchcraft and sets a foreboding tone for the play. The mention of thunder, lightning, and rain not only establishes the ominous atmosphere but also symbolizes the tumultuous events that will follow. This line marks the beginning of the witches' influence over Macbeth's actions, which ultimately leads to his tragic downfall.
5.
"Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand?"
Correct Answer
B. Macbeth
Explanation
Macbeth speaks the line "Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand?" during a soliloquy in which he hallucinates a dagger pointing him towards Duncan's chamber. This quote symbolizes Macbeth's internal conflict about committing the murder of King Duncan. The imagined dagger represents his murderous ambitions being made manifest, illustrating his psychological descent as he contemplates the act that will lead to his rise and fall.
6.
"Something wicked this way comes."
Correct Answer
A. Macbeth
Explanation
"Something wicked this way comes" is said by the second witch as Macbeth approaches them to hear more prophecies. This line foreshadows Macbeth's own transformation into something wicked due to his actions and ambition. It underscores the idea that Macbeth, once a noble warrior, is now aligned with the forces of darkness and is himself a source of evil and disruption.
7.
"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes."
Correct Answer
A. Macbeth
Explanation
The line "By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes" is spoken by the second witch and serves as a premonition of Macbeth's arrival. It highlights the supernatural awareness and sinister nature of the witches, who can sense the approach of evil. The pricking of the thumbs suggests a physical reaction to the impending malevolence, further emphasizing the connection between the physical and supernatural realms in the play.
8.
"Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires."
Correct Answer
A. Macbeth
Explanation
Macbeth declares "Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires" as he wishes for darkness to conceal his burgeoning ambition to murder King Duncan. This line reveals Macbeth’s awareness of the moral darkness of his desires and his need for secrecy. It reflects the theme of appearance versus reality, as Macbeth seeks to hide his true intentions from both himself and others.
9.
"What's done is done."
Correct Answer
C. Macbeth
Explanation
"What's done is done" is spoken by Lady Macbeth as she tries to calm Macbeth’s nerves after Duncan’s murder. This line is her attempt to dismiss the guilt and finality of their actions, urging Macbeth to move past his paranoia and accept the reality of what they have done. It reflects her pragmatic yet increasingly unstable mindset, highlighting the psychological consequences of their deeds.
10.
"I bear a charmed life, which must not yield To one of woman born."
Correct Answer
A. Macbeth
Explanation
"I bear a charmed life, which must not yield To one of woman born" is proclaimed by Macbeth, revealing his misplaced confidence in the witches' prophecy that no man born of a woman will kill him. This line underscores his descent into hubris and his misunderstanding of the witches' equivocal language, which ultimately leads to his downfall when he faces Macduff, who was “from his mother's womb untimely ripped.”