Literary Terms, Literary Terms,

Themes and MotifsThemes and Motifs

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 attire So withered and so wild in their attire (Iiii) (Macbeth)(Iiii) (Macbeth)

Tonight we hold a solemn supper, Sir, And I’ll request your Tonight we hold a solemn supper, Sir, And I’ll request your presence.presence. (IIIi) (Macbeth) “s”, very serpent-like, he’s (IIIi) (Macbeth) “s”, very serpent-like, he’s inviting Banquo.inviting Banquo.

IronyIrony

Dramatic irony: the opposite outcome of what a character Dramatic irony: the opposite outcome of what a character expects, or when the audience knows more than the expects, or when the audience knows more than the characters onstage.characters onstage.

Duncan: “Duncan: “This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air nimbly and This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself unto our senses.”sweetly recommends itself unto our senses.” Ivi Duncan Ivi Duncan will soon die (and lose his “seat”) in this castle.will soon die (and lose his “seat”) in this castle.

Macbeth: “Macbeth: “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown… For Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown… For (Banquo’s sons) the gracious Duncan have I murdered; To (Banquo’s sons) the gracious Duncan have I murdered; To make them kings…” make them kings…” Macbeth recognizes the irony that he Macbeth recognizes the irony that he paved the way to make the 3rd prophecy come true about paved the way to make the 3rd prophecy come true about Banquo’s lineage becoming kings.Banquo’s lineage becoming kings.

MetaphorMetaphor

A comparison of unlike objects without using A comparison of unlike objects without using like like or or 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) (Iiii) Compared to being given a title that someone still has.Compared to 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 to wanting to use the right words to convince Compared to wanting to use the right words to convince Macbeth to be strong. Macbeth to be strong.

Macbeth: “Macbeth: “Life’s but a walking shadow…”Life’s but a walking shadow…” Vv Vv

PersonificationPersonification

When objects are given human characteristics.When objects are given human characteristics.

Ross: “Ross: “That darkness does the That darkness does the face of earthface of earth entomb…” entomb…” Iiiv Iiiv

Macbeth: “Macbeth: “The The bell invitesbell invites me.” me.” IIi IIi

Macduff: “Macduff: “Make all our Make all our trumpets speaktrumpets speak.” Vvi.” Vvi

ParadoxParadoxContradictory statement that is eventually explained Contradictory 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 battle’s lost and won…“When the battle’s lost and won…

Fair is foul, and foul is fair” Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (Ii)(Ii)

““Lesser than Macbeth, and greater…Lesser than Macbeth, and greater…

Not so happy, yet much happier” Not so happy, yet much happier” (Iiii)(Iiii)

The prophecy about Birnam Woods meeting with Dunsinane Castle The prophecy about Birnam Woods meeting with Dunsinane Castle (Ivi)(Ivi)

Banquo: Banquo: “…“…the instruments of Darkness tell us truths; win us with the instruments of Darkness tell us truths; win us with honest trifles, to betray ‘s.”honest trifles, to betray ‘s.” (Iiii) (Iiii)

THEME: Illusion vs. RealityTHEME: Illusion vs. Reality

Paradoxical language at the beginning of the play is used to create logical confusion. Paradoxical language at the beginning of the play is used to create logical confusion. What may seem “fair” can turn out to be “foul” and visa versa. What may seem “fair” can turn out to be “foul” and visa versa.

Banquo: “Banquo: “‘Tis strange: and oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of / ‘Tis strange: and oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of / Darkness tell us truths; win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s.” IiiiDarkness tell us truths; win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s.” Iiii

Lady Macbeth: “Lady Macbeth: “Look like th’ innocent flower, / But be the serpent under’tLook like th’ innocent flower, / But be the serpent under’t” Iv ” Iv

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.” IIIii IIIii

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s hallucinations (the bloody dagger, sleeping guards’ Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s hallucinations (the bloody dagger, sleeping guards’ whispers, Banquo’s ghosts, blood on hands that won’t wash off)whispers, Banquo’s ghosts, blood on hands that won’t wash off)

The witches prophecies are never what they seem to be. What seems as good news, The witches prophecies are never what they seem to be. What seems as good news, backfires: backfires:

““All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafterAll hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter” comes true but doesn’t say for how long; ” comes true but doesn’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 Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him.”come against him.” is made possible due to Malcolm’s war tactic to use trees as is made possible due to Malcolm’s war tactic to use trees as camouflage. camouflage.

MOTIF: Blood and EvilMOTIF: Blood and Evil

A motif can be any reoccurring pattern (symbol, imagery, metaphor, A motif can be any reoccurring pattern (symbol, imagery, metaphor, etc)etc)

Duncan: “What bloody man is that?” (soldier from Iii)Duncan: “What bloody man is that?” (soldier from Iii)

Lady Macbeth: “Lady Macbeth: “Go, carry them, and smear The sleepy grooms with Go, carry them, and smear The sleepy grooms with bloodblood.” Iiii.” Iiii

Macbeth: “Macbeth: “And, with thyAnd, with thy (Night’s) (Night’s) bloody and invisible hand, Cancel, bloody and invisible hand, Cancel, and tear to pieces that great bondand tear to pieces that great bond (with Banquo) / (with Banquo) / Which keeps Which keeps me paleme pale!” IIIii !” IIIii

Bloody baby apparition: “Bloody baby apparition: “Be bloody, bold and resolute.”Be bloody, bold and resolute.” Ivi Ivi

Lady Macbeth: “Lady Macbeth: “Out damned spot! Out, I say!”Out damned spot! Out, I say!” Vi Vi

Motif: Sleeplessness and Motif: 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, ‘Sleep no more! Macbeth doth Methought, I heard a voice cry, ‘Sleep no more! Macbeth doth murder sleep.murder sleep.’” Iiii’” Iiii

Macbeth: “Macbeth: “and sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams That shake us and sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams That shake us nightly.” 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.” Vi Vi

Act 2 Scene 4: The descriptions of the strange occurances in the land are Act 2 Scene 4: The descriptions of the strange occurances in the land are examples of imagery to reflect the unnatural occurances in politics examples of imagery to reflect the unnatural occurances in politics (immoral activity).(immoral activity).

Doctor: “Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural Doctor: “Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural troubles.”Vitroubles.”Vi

Important QuotesImportant Quotes

Macbeth: Macbeth: “The Prince of Cumberland! / That is a step on which I must “The Prince of Cumberland! / That is a step on which I must fall down, / Or else o’erleap for in my way it lies.” Iivfall down, / Or else o’erleap for in my way it lies.” Iiv

Scottish noble: Scottish noble: “Now does he feel his secret murders sticking on his “Now does he feel his secret murders sticking on his hands. /Those he commands move only in command, nothing in hands. /Those he commands move only in command, nothing in love; now does he feel his title hang loose about him, like a giant’s love; now does he feel his title hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe upon a dwarfish thief.” robe upon a dwarfish thief.” ViiVii

Macbeth: “Macbeth: “Life’s but a walking shadow; a poor player / That Life’s but a walking shadow; a poor player / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, / And then is heard struts and frets his hour upon the stage, / And then is heard no more.”no more.” Vv Vv