Final answer:
The character who 'quickly laid hold of A soldier asleep' is Grendel from the Old English epic poem Beowulf, where he preys on sleeping warriors. The correct option A. Grendel
Step-by-step explanation:
The character described in the lines "But on earliest occasion he quickly laid hold of A soldier asleep" is Grendel. This passage is an allusion to the character from the Old English epic poem Beowulf, where Grendel is known to prey upon the warriors of Heorot while they sleep.
Unlike Macbeth and his heavy conscience preventing sleep, Beowulf deals with a monster who takes advantage of the soldiers' slumber.
The character described in these lines is Macbeth. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, these lines are spoken by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth after they have committed the murder of King Duncan.
Macbeth is unable to sleep and is haunted by guilt, while Lady Macbeth is anxious about their actions being discovered. The lines highlight the theme of sleep and its loss as a consequence of their actions.
The correct option A. Grendel