Question 1: Identify one metaphor used by Lady Macbeth in this extract.

Answer: The 'rabble's curse' as a metaphor for public shame or ridicule.

Question 2: What does Lady Macbeth's statement about 'no man of woman born' suggest about her attitude towards the witches' prophecies?

Answer: She is dismissive, implying she believes the prophecy is impossible to defeat.

Question 3: Analyse the use of the phrase 'I will try the last'. What does it reveal about her character?

Answer: It shows her determination and resolve to pursue her ambitions, regardless of the consequences.

Question 4: Find and annotate a line that indicates Lady Macbeth's defiance against societal expectations.

Answer: "I will not yield, to kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet" – she refuses subservience and adulation.

Question 5: Which Shakespearean technique is evident in the phrase 'The greatest is behind'?

Answer: b) Irony

Question 6: Describe how the tone of Lady Macbeth's speech changes throughout this extract.

Answer: It shifts from ambitious and resolute to defiant and determined.

Question 7: What is the significance of the references to the witches' prophecies in Lady Macbeth's speech?

Answer: They reveal her manipulative confidence and her belief in the prophecy's power to influence her actions.

Question 8: Explain how Lady Macbeth's language in this extract contributes to her characterization as ambitious and ruthless.

Answer: Her use of commanding language, defiant statements, and references to supernatural influence highlight her ruthless ambition and willingness to override moral constraints.