Hi Everyone!! This article will share Three Witches and Their Prophecy Questions & Answers.
In my previous posts, I have shared the questions and answers of From Storytelling to Filmmaking, The Human Seasons and Journey To The Sundarbans so, you can check these posts as well.
Three Witches and Their Prophecy Questions & Answers
Question 1: Who speaks these lines in the play? Write down what you understand by each line.
1. What are these
So wither’d, and so wild in their attire,
That look not like the inhabitants of the earth,
And yet are on’t?
Answer: Banquo speaks these lines in the play.
The Witches are hideous hags that look other worldly which is why they look ‘wither’d’ and ‘wild in their attire’. They do not look like creatures that have been discovered on earth and then basically means that they did not understand their existence.
2. If you can look into the seeds of time,
And say which grain will grow, and which will not,
Speak then to me.
Answer: Banquo speaks these lines in the play.
Banquo is referring to the prophecy the witches have just given Macbeth. The witches have just prophesied that Macbeth will be king in future time. If this is to be so, then the witches know which grain will grow and which grain will die.
3. The king hath happily receiv’d, Macbeth,
The news of thy success….
Answer: Ross speaks these lines in the play.
The king has happily received Macbeth when he returned after successfully curbing a rebellion. The king has already got the news of Macbeth’s success and his personal venture in the rebels’ fight.
4. The Thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me
In borrowed robes?
Answer: Macbeth speaks these lines in the play.
In this quote, Macbeth is asking a man Angus why he is being promoted to Thane of Cawdor, meaning why should he be placed in a position already taken by another.
Question 2: What three predictions do the witches make about Macbeth?
Answer: The three prophecy that the witches predict are that
(a) Macbeth will become King of Scotland
(b) that he will also be named Thane of Cawdor, and
(c) that Banquo’s heirs will be kings.
Question 3: How does Macbeth react on hearing the predictions?
Answer: When Macbeth first hears the witches’ prophecy, he is somewhat startled and taken aback. He has been greeted by the Weird Sisters with talk of honors and a future so glorious that he’s genuinely at a loss for words.
Question 4: What is the witches’ prophecy for Banquo?
Answer: The witches’ prophecy for Banquo was that Banquo’s children will become kings.
Question 5: How does the king reward Macbeth for his bravery?
Answer: King Duncan names Macbeth, Thane of Cawdor, as a reward for his bravery.
Question 6: What does Macbeth mean by ‘The greatest is behind’?
Answer: Macbeth says to himself in an aside that he is now Thane of Glamis and Cawdor. He adds, “The greatest is behind.” Macbeth means that the latter is greater of the two titles; being Thane of Cawdor is better than being Thane of Glamis.
Question 7: Quote the lines in which Banquo warns Macbeth.
Answer: Banquo cautions Macbeth that the Witches can win us with honest trifles, to betray’s / In deepest consequence.
Question 8: Is it correct to say that Banquo is more cautious by temperament while Macbeth gets easily excited? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: Yes, it is correct to say that Banquo is more cautious by temperament while Macbeth gets easily excited. They both heard the prophecy of the witches, which said Macbeth would be king, but Banquo’s descendants would be kings. Macbeth chose to act on this. Banquo chooses not to act on the prophecy at all.
Question 9: Do you think the prophecies of the witches will play a crucial role later in the play? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer: In my opinion, the prophecies of the witches will play a crucial role later in the play. It may lead to the fall of Macbeth and result in his ultimate death. The murder of Banquo and the attempted murder on his son Fleance is because of the prophecy made by the witches to Banquo that he will never be King but shall beget kings thereafter. Thus, the prophecies of the witches play a crucial role later in the play and control its course of action.
So, these were Three Witches and Their Prophecy Questions & Answers.