Macbeth Figurative Language
similes
Soliloquies
Shakespeare uses Hyperbole's in his writings
Metaphors
a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
"Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" (Act 2, Scene 2) Ep: He was feeling really guilty and thought nothing could wash the blood from his hands.
Definition
an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play.
Personification
Examples
Act 3 Scene 1 Macbeths' Soliloquies
Macbeths' Soliloquies in Act 1 Scene 7 Lines 1-28
Act 5 Scene 5 Solilquies
Lady Macbeths Soliloquies in Act 1 Scene 5
Examples In the Story
The Dagger Soliloquies Act 2 Scene 1
Act 3 Scene 1 Banquo's Soliloquies
examples
"I’ll drain him dry as hay."
"With Tarquin’s ravishing strides, towards his design
Moves like a ghost."
"Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand." Act 5, Scene 1) Ep: Again with the bloodied hands but this time its Lady Macbeth.
"Thy crown does sear mine eyeballs." (113) Ep: It is painful to watch
Macbeth Act 5 Scene 5 Line 22, "Life is nothing more than an illusion."
Examples
Lightning danced across the sky.
The wind howled in the night.
"The raven himself is hoarse" (38) Comparing a Raven to a messager.
Definition
the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.
Shakespeare uses Hyperbole's in his writings
"All our service,/in every point twice done and then done double"Lady Macbeth (Act 1, scene 6)
relevance to the story
Similes are relevant to Macbeth as ways to compare characters to great or lowly animals depending on the characters actions throughout the play.
Relevance to the story
Examples from the story
Imagery
"Our castle is
strong enough to laugh off their seige."
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Soliloquies allow the readers/listeners to know what's going on. As we cant know if people are talking in their heads. Also this can be used to convey emotions like insanity. Soliloquies are used to give more information to the people.
"They’re so withered-looking and crazily dressed.
They don’t look like they belong on this planet..."(Act 1, Scene 3)
Ep: The witches being described
"I'll drain him dry as hay" (Act 1, Scene 3) Talking about killing someone and giving them so many would them bleed out, which is realistic, but dry as hay is not realistic
Hyperbole: "Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally."
"This is the sergeant who like a good and hardy soldier fought 'Gaisnt my captivity."
Examples from Macbeth:
"Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires" Act 1, Scene 4, Line 52
"The raven himself is hoarse, That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan" Act 1, Scene 5, Line 28
"...his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution..." Act 1, Scene 2, Line 17
Definition:
Relevance To The Story:
A type of figurative language used to describe images through words.
Imagery plays a key role in Macbeth because it helps to paint a picture of the scenes, characters, and events in the story.
Examples
The car was slower than a turtle
Macbeth Act 5 Scene 7 Original Text,
"They have tied me to a stake. I cannot fly,
But, bearlike, I must fight the course."
Her long hair was a flowing golden river.
"Come, thick night, and cover the world in the darkest smoke of hell, so that my sharp knife can’t see the wound it cuts open, and so heaven can’t peep through the darkness and cry,"
Act 1, scene 5, Page 2 Line 40
Act 5, scene 5, Line 2-3
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As I was standing watch on the hill, I looked toward Birnam, and I thought I saw the forest begin to move.
Act 5, scene 5, Page 2, Line 33-35
definition
a simile is a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid
The car complained as the key was roughly turned in its ignition.
Purpose: was to introduce Lady Macbeth, and show her ambitions to get Macbeth to be king, and she would get it done. Knowing Macbeth alone would never be able to do it
Purpose: Macbeth is debating killing King Duncan, but he keeps going back an forth. But eventually falling into the choice of evil, which would lead to his downfall
Purpose: Macbeth sees the floating bloody dagger and knows this is his mind telling him to do what has to be done
Purpose: Remind us on the details of the prophecy from the Witches in Act 1
Purpose: Shows Macbeths fear of Banquo and his child, leading to his decision of having them killed
Purpose: Compares Macbeths emotions from before to now. How he has become more strengthen and less squeamish to violence. Now he is numb to fear, when before he was afraid of a shriek in the night
Troy's branch
Adam's Branch
Emiliano
Joan
Myah's Branch
Brielle