Transcript Language in Macbeth

BY EMILY STONE
 There was limited theatrical material
 Macbeth is mainly set at night but the production
would take place during the day
 To capture the audience’s attention he had to use
words
 They created the atmosphere and mood
 Simile: a figure of speech that makes a comparison.
 As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion
 It means that Macbeth and Banquo were as troubled
as an eagle would be if they were attacked by a
sparrow and a lion by a hare.
 As cannons overcharged with double cracks
 Like cannons they are filled with double the
explosives.
 Iambic Pentameter: It’s a line of 5 strong beats; has
10 syllables, every second one is stressed.
 It was used the ‘move’ his verse.
 It was common in Shakespeare’s time.
 An example is when Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to
wash his hands after murdering Duncan.
 “and WASH this FILthy WITness FROM your HAND.”
 Imagery: using figurative language to represent
objects, actions and ideas.
 There is imagery to describe… blood,
disguise/concealment, clothing and
nature/weather/animals
 It’s used so that people get an idea of what is
happening and can picture it.
 An example of blood imagery…
“Here lay Duncan, his silver skin laced with his golden blood” (Macbeth
explaining the murder of Duncan)
 Metaphor: a word or phrase for one thing that is
used to refer to another thing to show that they are
similar.
 In Macbeth there are a lot of metaphors used to show
how Macbeth sees his life at a point in time.
 Example of how dawn (seen as good) will soon break
and displace the night (evil).
 “The night is long that never finds the day”
 Allusion: where the author refers to a subject matter
such as a place, event or literary work; impacts
meaning.
 “And mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man”
 Explanation: after killing Duncan Macbeth states
that he deserves to give his soul to the devil (the
common enemy of man).
 Paradox: concepts or ideas that are contradictory to
one another yet when placed together hold
significant value.
 There are paradoxes used to enhance the themes in
Macbeth.
 “fair is foul, and foul is fair”
 Meaning not everything is as it seems to be.
 Aside: part of an actors lines which is not meant to be
heard by the other characters only the audience.
 Its used so that the audience can get a better
understanding.
 Allows us to see into the characters thoughts.
 An example is when Macbeth is speaking to himself
about how the best is still to come.
 Glamis, and thane of Cawdor!
The greatest is behind. (to ROSS and ANGUS)Thanks for your pains.
(aside to BANQUO) Do you not hope your children shall be kings,
When those that gave the thane of Cawdor to me
Promised no less to them?
 Hyperbole: exaggerated statements or claims not
meant to be taken literally.
 It has been used to emphasis what the characters are
saying.
 An example is when Malcolm is describing that he
will be a worse tyrant than Macbeth to Macduff.
 “Black Macbeth will seem as pure as snow; and the poor state esteem him as a
lamb, being compared with my confineless harms”.
 You can write how the techniques have been used in
Macbeth
 It helps to break down the meaning of verses as you
know what language Shakespeare is using
 It can be spoke about in essays
 If the questions was something like… How does Shakespeare use
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language in Macbeth
One paragraph for each main device used.
Could be metaphors, imagery and allusions.
The metaphors have been used by Shakespeare to help the audience
understand Macbeth and the internal struggles he has to overcome.
(then go on to talk about how this is done)
In Macbeth Shakespeare has used imagery to help the audience create a
picture of what is happening. This has been done because he cant
express all the emotions by actions so he has to use words. (then
expand on how its been done)
Shakespeare uses allusion in the play Macbeth to draw meaning to
other matters in his time period. Shakespeare constructs Macbeth to
use allusions so that the meaning becomes much deeper. (use the
quotes the explain)
 http://resources.mhs.vic.edu.au/macbeth/theplay/language.html
 http://www.shmoop.com/macbeth/writing-style.html
 http://neboliterature.mrkdevelopment.com.au/drama/macbeth/m
acbeth-language-macbeth
 http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/examine-ways-which-
shaksphere-uses-language-276456
 http://leavingcertenglish.net/2013/04/shakespeares-imagery-2/
 Macbeth the book