Question 11 • English 2 Sem 2 (10013400) BCPS 2025-26
Read the excerpt from act 2, scene 2 of The Tragedy of Macbeth.Macbeth. Methought I heard a voice cry, "Sleep no more!Macbeth does murder sleep,” the innocent sleep,Sleep that knits up the ravell’d sleave of care,The death of each day’s life, sore labour’s bath,Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course,Chief nourisher in life’s feast,— Lady Macbeth. What do you mean? Macbeth. Still it cried, "Sleep no more!” to all the house;"Glamis hath murder’d sleep, and therefore CawdorShall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more.” Lady Macbeth. Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane,You do unbend your noble strength, to thinkSo brainsickly of things. Go get some water,And wash this filthy witness from your hand.Why did you bring these daggers from the place?They must lie there: go carry them, and smearThe sleepy grooms with blood.
Answer
A
to downplay the severity of the situation and redirect Macbeth’s focus
B
to urge Macbeth to regain composure and complete the deed
C
to boost Macbeth’s morale and spur him into action
D
to distract Macbeth and help alleviate his guilt
Explanation
Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that he is thinking irrationally and urges him to regain his composure. She then gives him a specific task: return the daggers and smear the sleeping guards with blood, completing their plan to frame them. This supports choice B, “to urge Macbeth to regain composure and complete the deed.”
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