Works Cited "Macbeth By William Shakespeare Character Analysis Macbeth." Macbeth: Macbeth. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Jan. 2015. <http: />. SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 02 June 2015. <http: />. "What Literary Devices (conventions) Are Used in Shakespeare's Macbeth?Literary Devices: Conventions Soliloquy... - Homework Help - ENotes.com." Enotes.com. Enotes.com, n.d. Web. 02 Jan. 2015. <http: />.

1. Literary Terms,Literary Terms,
Themes and MotifsThemes and Motifs

2. AlliterationAlliteration
The repetition of one or more beginning sounds,The repetition of one or more beginning sounds,
usually consonants, in a group of words.usually consonants, in a group of words.
Fair is foul, and foul is fair:Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air.Hover through the fog and filthy air. (Ii) (Witches)(Ii) (Witches)
So withered and so wild in their attireSo withered and so wild in their attire (Iiii) (Macbeth)(Iiii) (Macbeth)
Tonight we hold a solemn supper, Sir, And ITonight we hold a solemn supper, Sir, And I’’ll request your presence.ll request your presence.
(IIIi) (Macbeth)(IIIi) (Macbeth) ““ss””, very serpent-like, he, very serpent-like, he’’s inviting Banquo.s inviting Banquo.

3. IronyIrony
Dramatic irony: the opposite outcome of what a character expects, orDramatic irony: the opposite outcome of what a character expects, or
when the audience knows more than the characters onstage.when the audience knows more than the characters onstage.
Duncan:Duncan: ““This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air nimbly and sweetlyThis castle hath a pleasant seat. The air nimbly and sweetly
recommends itself unto our senses.recommends itself unto our senses.”” Ivi Duncan will soon die (andIvi Duncan will soon die (and
lose hislose his ““seatseat””) in this castle.) in this castle.
Macbeth:Macbeth: ““Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown… ForUpon my head they placed a fruitless crown… For
(Banquo(Banquo’’s sons) the gracious Duncan have I murdered; To makes sons) the gracious Duncan have I murdered; To make
them kings…them kings…”” Macbeth recognizes the irony that he paved the wayMacbeth recognizes the irony that he paved the way
to make the 3rd prophecy come true about Banquoto make the 3rd prophecy come true about Banquo’’s lineages lineage
becoming kings.becoming kings.

4. AllusionAllusion
Shakespeare can refer toShakespeare can refer to
Golgotha the Greek god or theGolgotha the Greek god or the
place Golgotha where Jesus wasplace Golgotha where Jesus was
crucified.crucified.
The Golgotha is referred to asThe Golgotha is referred to as
“skull” in Greek.“skull” in Greek.
This is called allusion as heThis is called allusion as he
compares his with shake spear.compares his with shake spear.

5. MetaphorMetaphor
A comparison of unlike objects without usingA comparison of unlike objects without using likelike oror as.as.
From Macbeth:From Macbeth:
Macbeth:Macbeth:““Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?”” (Iiii) Compared to(Iiii) Compared to
being given a title that someone still has.being given a title that someone still has.
Lady Macbeth:Lady Macbeth: ““That I may pour my spirits into thine earThat I may pour my spirits into thine ear”” Compared toCompared to
wanting to use the right words to convince Macbeth to be strong.wanting to use the right words to convince Macbeth to be strong.
Macbeth:Macbeth: ““LifeLife’’s but a walking shadow…s but a walking shadow…”” VvVv

6. PersonificationPersonification
When objects are given human characteristics.When objects are given human characteristics.
Ross:Ross: ““That darkness does theThat darkness does the face of earthface of earth entomb…entomb…”” IiivIiiv
Macbeth:Macbeth: ““TheThe bell invitesbell invites me.me.”” IIiIIi
Macduff:Macduff: ““Make all ourMake all our trumpets speaktrumpets speak..”” VviVvi

7. ParadoxParadox
Contradictory statement that is eventually explainedContradictory statement that is eventually explained
to be revealed as truth and/or logical.to be revealed as truth and/or logical.
The witches:The witches:““When the battleWhen the battle’’s lost and won…s lost and won…
Fair is foul, and foul is fairFair is foul, and foul is fair”” (Ii)(Ii)
““Lesser than Macbeth, and greater…Lesser than Macbeth, and greater…
Not so happy, yet much happierNot so happy, yet much happier”” (Iiii)(Iiii)
The prophecy about Birnam Woods meeting with Dunsinane Castle (Ivi)The prophecy about Birnam Woods meeting with Dunsinane Castle (Ivi)
Banquo:Banquo: ““……the instruments of Darkness tell us truths; win us with honest trifles,the instruments of Darkness tell us truths; win us with honest trifles,
to betrayto betray ‘‘s.s.”” (Iiii)(Iiii)

8. THEME: Illusion vs. RealityTHEME: Illusion vs. Reality
Paradoxical language at the beginning of the play is used to create logical confusion. What may seemParadoxical language at the beginning of the play is used to create logical confusion. What may seem
““fairfair”” can turn out to becan turn out to be ““foulfoul”” and visa versa.and visa versa.
Banquo:Banquo: ““‘‘Tis strange: and oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of / Darkness tell usTis strange: and oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of / Darkness tell us
truths; win us with honest trifles, to betraytruths; win us with honest trifles, to betray ’’s.s.”” IiiiIiii
Lady Macbeth:Lady Macbeth: ““Look like thLook like th’’ innocent flower, / But be the serpent underinnocent flower, / But be the serpent under’’tt”” IvIv
Macbeth:Macbeth: ““And make our faces vizards to our hearts, / Disquising what they are.And make our faces vizards to our hearts, / Disquising what they are.”” IIIiiIIIii
Macbeth and Lady MacbethMacbeth and Lady Macbeth’’s hallucinations (the bloody dagger, sleeping guardss hallucinations (the bloody dagger, sleeping guards’’ whispers, Banquowhispers, Banquo’’ss
ghosts, blood on hands that wonghosts, blood on hands that won’’t wash off)t wash off)
The witches prophecies are never what they seem to be. What seems as good news, backfires:The witches prophecies are never what they seem to be. What seems as good news, backfires:
““All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafterAll hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter”” comes true but doesncomes true but doesn’’t say for how long;t say for how long;
““non of woman born shall harm Macbethnon of woman born shall harm Macbeth”” but Macduff was born by caesarian section;but Macduff was born by caesarian section;
““Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall comeMacbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come
against him.against him.”” is made possible due to Malcolmis made possible due to Malcolm’’s war tactic to use trees as camouflage.s war tactic to use trees as camouflage.

9. MOTIF: Blood and EvilMOTIF: Blood and Evil
A motif can be any reoccurring pattern (symbol, imagery, metaphor, etc)A motif can be any reoccurring pattern (symbol, imagery, metaphor, etc)
Duncan:Duncan: ““What bloody man is that?What bloody man is that?”” (soldier from Iii)(soldier from Iii)
Lady Macbeth:Lady Macbeth: ““Go, carry them, and smear The sleepy grooms with bloodGo, carry them, and smear The sleepy grooms with blood..”” IiiiIiii
Macbeth:Macbeth: ““And, with thyAnd, with thy (Night(Night’’s)s) bloody and invisible hand, Cancel, and tear tobloody and invisible hand, Cancel, and tear to
pieces that great bondpieces that great bond (with Banquo) /(with Banquo) / Which keeps me paleWhich keeps me pale!!”” IIIiiIIIii
Bloody baby apparition:Bloody baby apparition: ““Be bloody, bold and resolute.Be bloody, bold and resolute.”” IviIvi
Lady Macbeth:Lady Macbeth: ““Out damned spot! Out, I say!Out damned spot! Out, I say!”” ViVi

10. Motif: Sleeplessness andMotif: Sleeplessness and
Natural OrderNatural Order
Not being able to sleep symbolizes guilt and being in an unnatural state.Not being able to sleep symbolizes guilt and being in an unnatural state.
Macbeth:Macbeth: ““Methought, I heard a voice cry,Methought, I heard a voice cry, ‘‘Sleep no more! Macbeth doth murder sleep.Sleep no more! Macbeth doth murder sleep.’”’”
IiiiIiii
Macbeth:Macbeth: ““and sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams That shake us nightly.and sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams That shake us nightly.”” IIIiiIIIii
Act 5 Scene 1: Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and ranting due to her guilt.Act 5 Scene 1: Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and ranting due to her guilt.
Lady Macbeth:Lady Macbeth: ““Wash your hands, put on your nightgown. Look not so pale.Wash your hands, put on your nightgown. Look not so pale.”” ViVi
Act 2 Scene 4: The descriptions of the strange occurances in the land are examples ofAct 2 Scene 4: The descriptions of the strange occurances in the land are examples of
imagery to reflect the unnatural occurances in politics (immoral activity).imagery to reflect the unnatural occurances in politics (immoral activity).
Doctor:Doctor: ““Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural troubles.Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural troubles.””ViVi

11. Important QuotesImportant Quotes
Macbeth:Macbeth: ““The Prince of Cumberland! / That is a step on which I must fall down,The Prince of Cumberland! / That is a step on which I must fall down,
/ Or else o/ Or else o’’erleap for in my way it lies.erleap for in my way it lies.”” IivIiv
Scottish noble:Scottish noble: ““Now does he feel his secret murders sticking on his hands.Now does he feel his secret murders sticking on his hands.
/Those he commands move only in command, nothing in love; now does he/Those he commands move only in command, nothing in love; now does he
feel his title hang loose about him, like a giantfeel his title hang loose about him, like a giant’’s robe upon a dwarfish thief.s robe upon a dwarfish thief.””
ViiVii
Macbeth:Macbeth: ““LifeLife’’s but a walking shadow; a poor player / That struts ands but a walking shadow; a poor player / That struts and
frets his hour upon the stage, / And then is heard no more.frets his hour upon the stage, / And then is heard no more.”” VvVv