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Take the Macbeth Act 1 Quiz - Test Your Shakespeare Skills!

Ready for a Macbeth Act 1 quiz? Answer key questions and prove your Shakespeare trivia skills!

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Alyssa MontalbineUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art scene with three witches dagger and crown for Macbeth Act 1 quiz on teal background

Use this Macbeth Act 1 quiz to review the witches, early power moves, and key lines. See what you remember in minutes, spot gaps before your exam, and keep practicing with another Act I quiz or move on to the Act II quiz .

In Act 1, which title is Macbeth granted after the traitor is executed?
Duke of York
Prince of Cumberland
Thane of Cawdor
Earl of Fife
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What is the opening stage direction of Macbeth Act 1?
Thunder and lightning
Blowing snow
A banquet hall with music
A calm sunrise
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Banquo is told by the witches that he will father kings though he will not be one himself.
False
True
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Duncan orders the execution of the first Thane of Cawdor for treason against Scotland.
True
False
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Which nation does Scotland battle in Act 1, as described by the Captain?
Denmark
Norway
England
France
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Where is Macbeth's castle located in Act 1?
Dunsinane
Forres
Scone
Inverness
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Macbeth describes the day as 'So foul and fair a day I have not seen.'
False
True
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The witches greet Macbeth with three titles. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
Thane of Cawdor
Thane of Glamis
Thane of Fife
King hereafter
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Who reports Macbeth's bravery in battle to King Duncan in Act 1, Scene 2?
Macduff
The bleeding Sergeant (Captain)
Lennox
Donalbain
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Macbeth first learns he is Thane of Cawdor from which characters?
Ross and Angus
Malcolm and Donalbain
Lennox and Macduff
Banquo and Fleance
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Banquo cautions that the 'instruments of darkness' often tell us truths to win us to our harm.
True
False
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Which son does Duncan name Prince of Cumberland in Act 1?
Malcolm
Banquo
Fleance
Donalbain
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How do the witches respond when Banquo asks them to speak to him?
They give him a clear timeline for his rise
They hail him with paradoxes and riddling prophecies
They curse him to immediate death
They ignore him and vanish
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Duncan decides to visit Macbeth at Inverness after naming Malcolm Prince of Cumberland.
False
True
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Which comparison does Banquo use to describe the witches' sudden disappearance?
Like shadows at noon
Like birds taking wing
Like bubbles on the earth
Like sparks dying in a hearth
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Duncan calls the original Thane of Cawdor a 'worthy gentleman' after hearing of his loyalty in battle.
False
True
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What payment does Norway make to secure burial for his men, as reported in Act 1?
A thousand florins at Forres
Five thousand crowns at Berwick
A hundred marks at Scone
Ten thousand dollars at Saint Colme's Inch
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Which image does Lady Macbeth use to prove the firmness of her resolve to Macbeth?
She would blind herself rather than betray a friend
She would starve for a year to keep a secret
She would walk through fire to win a crown
She would dash her baby's brains out rather than break a vow
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Which line best captures the witches' malevolent intent toward a sailor's wife in Act 1?
'Dispute it like a man'
'I bear a charmed life'
'I'll drain him dry as hay'
'None of woman born shall harm Macbeth'
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Whom does Duncan call 'a peerless kinsman' at the end of Act 1, Scene 4?
Macbeth
Banquo
Macduff
Malcolm
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Witches' Prophecies -

    Interpret the witches' predictions in Act 1 and assess how they foreshadow critical events, preparing you to answer Act I Macbeth test questions with confidence.

  2. Analyze Key Dialogue -

    Examine pivotal quotes like "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" to uncover themes of ambition and fate, enhancing your performance on the Macbeth act 1 quiz.

  3. Identify Plot Developments -

    Outline major events from Duncan's arrival to Macbeth's new title, equipping you to tackle act 1 Macbeth summary questions accurately.

  4. Evaluate Character Motivations -

    Distinguish between Macbeth's and Banquo's reactions to the prophecies, applying this insight to Shakespeare Macbeth trivia challenges.

  5. Apply Contextual Understanding -

    Relate the political and social backdrop of Act I to deepen comprehension and boost your score on Act 1 questions Macbeth quizzes.

  6. Strengthen Quote Recall -

    Memorize key lines from Act 1 and match them to their speakers and scenes, improving accuracy in the Macbeth act 1 quiz.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Witches' Prophecies and Dramatic Irony -

    If you're tackling the act 1 questions macbeth, focus on how the Weird Sisters' predictions in Scenes 1 - 3 spark the action and create dramatic irony (Folger Shakespeare Library). While Duncan awards Macbeth the Thane of Cawdor title, the audience already knows the prophecy has come true. Use the mnemonic "Three Sisters Speak Truth" to recall the sequence of their chant.

  2. Macbeth's Ambition: Tragic Flaw in Motion -

    In Act I, Scene 7, Macbeth's internal debate reveals his vaulting ambition, a classic tragic flaw identified in Arden Shakespeare notes. His soliloquy "If it were done when 'tis done" shows he wrestles with conscience versus desire. Remember "IAD" (Intention, Ambition, Death) to track his moral conflict.

  3. Lady Macbeth's Persuasive Rhetoric -

    According to university literature analyses, Lady Macbeth's soliloquy in Scene 5 uses imperatives and rhetorical questions to steel her husband's resolve. Phrases like "unsex me here" and "look like th' innocent flower" highlight her manipulation skills, key for any Macbeth act 1 quiz. Spotting her use of contrast between appearance and intent will boost your Shakespeare Macbeth trivia score.

  4. Appearance vs Reality Theme -

    Act I is rich with the theme of appearance versus reality, as Duncan praises Macbeth's castle while Lady Macbeth plots his murder (MIT Global Shakespeares). This motif prepares you for many act 1 Macbeth summary questions about hidden motives. Keep in mind the phrase "fair is foul, foul is fair" to anchor this central idea.

  5. Banquo's Role and Foreshadowing -

    In Scene 3, Banquo's skepticism about the witches contrasts with Macbeth's gullibility, offering foreshadowing noted in Oxford University research. His measured response - "And oftentimes, to win us to our harm" - sets up the theme of moral integrity. For Act I Macbeth test prep, link Banquo's caution to his future legacy.

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