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LITERARY DEVICES
VOCABULARY
THE BASICS
MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE
WHO'S THE LIAR?
100
" I am in blood Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er." GIVE TWO FOR THIS ONE
METAPHOR: comparing the evil deeds to a river FORESHADOWING: hinting that he will commit more murders
100
Macbeth calls his crown this because he has no sons.
What is FRUITLESS
100
To what two creatures does Macbeth compare Banquo and Fleance in scene 4?
Banquo is compared to a serpent and Fleance to a worm.
100
" And I another, So weary with disasters, tugged with fortune, That I would set my life on any chance, To mend it or be rid on't."
MURDERER to MACBETH MEANING: His life is so miserable that he will take any chance to make it better or end it altogether. SIGNIFICANCE: This shows that Macbeth is a bad ruler. He is the reason these men are suffering and he uses their misfortune to manipulate them into committing a horrible crime.
100
"Sit, worthy friends. My lord is often thus, And hath been from his youth. Pray you keep seat. The fit is mometary."
LADY MACBTH lies to those in attendance at the banquet. She explains Macbeth's odd behavior at the sight of Banquo's ghost as a lingering illness from his childhood, which he occasionally still suffers .
200
" There is none but he Whose being I do fear; and under him My genius is rebuked, as it is said Mark Antony's was by Caesar." GIVE TWO FOR THIS ONE!
SIMILE: comparing himself to Mark Antony and Banquo to Caesar ALLUSION: to ancient Roman rulers
200
Macbeth can't believe his wife can keep the ruby in her cheeks when his are this?
What is BLANCHED with fear?
200
Why does Lady Macbeth make all of the lords leave the banquet in scene 4?
One of the lords asks Macbeth what sights he is seeing, and she is afraid he will reveal too much so she tells them to leave immediately.
200
"Why, by the verities on thee made good, May they not be my oracles as well And set me up in hope?"
BANQUO to BANQUO MEANING: If Macbeth's prophecies came true, maybe his will as well. SIGNIFICANCE: This hope prevents Banquo from acting on his suspicion that Macbeth may have murdered Duncan, and this gives Macbeth the opportunity to murder him next.
200
"Things without all remedy Should be without regard. What's done is done."
LADY MACBETH lies to her husband. She had just been stating her regret, going as far as to say that they would be better off dead; however, as soon as Macbeth shows any remorse, she chides him thusly.
300
"This is the air-drawn dagger which you said Led you to Duncan."
METAPHOR: comparing the ghost of Banquo to the dagger Macbeth imagined. Both are just hallucinations and are harmless.
300
Banquo says his ties to Macbeth are unbreakable or this.
What is INDISSOLUBLE?
300
Why is Hecate angry with the three witches in Act III?
They acted independently without consulting her first.
300
"Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed."
MACBETH to LADY MACBETH MEANING: Don't worry about what I am planning, sugar pie. SIGNIFICANCE: This shows a drastic shift in power. Lady Macbeth had been pulling Macbeth's strings up until this point. Now he acts alone and won't even make his wife aware of the plans.
300
" Know That it was he, in the times past, which held you So under fortune, which you thought had been Our innocent self."
MACBETH IS LYING TO THE MURDERERS. He tells them that their sorry state in life is the fault of Banquo not himself.
400
" Ere the bat hath flown His cloistered flight, ere to black Hecate's summons The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done A deed of dreadful note." GIVE TWO FOR THIS ONE!
ALLUSION: to Hecate. The audience is expected to know she is the goddess of witchcraft. FORESHADOWING: Macbeth hints of the murders his is planning.
400
Macbeth tries to assuage his fears about Banquo and Fleance by saying they can be destroyed. They are this.
What is ASSAILABLE?
400
Explain the metaphor in the following line: "O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!"
The evil thoughts and horrible nightmares are compared to poisonous scorpions in Macbeth's mind.
400
" The gracious Duncan Was pitied of Macbeth. Marry, he was dead! And the right valiant Banquo walked too late; Whom, you may say (if't please you) Fleance killed, For Fleance fled."
LENNOX to LORD MEANING: Macbeth wants everyone to believe that Fleance killed Banquo. SIGNIFICANCE: Lennox is being sarcastic. He intimates that Macbeth is guilty of both the murder of Duncan and the murder of Banquo. Lennox feels insulted that Macbeth thinks they are so stupid as to believe his ridiculous lies.
400
"Who may I rather challenge for unkindness Than pity for mischance."
MACBETH IS LYING TO THE LORDS AT THE BANQUET. He says he hopes Banquo is absent due to rudeness rather than some unfortunate accident.
500
"Only for them, and mine eternal jewel Given to the common enemy of man To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!" GIVE THREE FOR THIS ONE!
METAPHOR: comparing the soul to an eternal jewel METAPHOR: comparing Banquo's children to seeds FORESHADOWING: that Banquo's sons will become kings ALLUSION: the common enemy of man is Satan
500
Macbeth tells his wife she must appear cheerful at the banquet. She must look this.
What is JOCUND?
500
What does Macbeth mean when he tells Lady Macbeth, "Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill"?
He says that in order to cover up the evil deeds they've already committed more evil deeds must be done. He hints at his next plan to kill Banquo and Fleance.
500
"He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear; And you all know security Is mortal's chiefest enemy."
HECATE to THE WEIRD SISTERS MEANING: Macbeth will feel so confident that he cannot be conquered that he will become cocky and fearless. SIGNIFICANCE: Foreshadows the plan to bring Macbeth's downfall.
500
" Did he not straight, In pious rage, the two delinquents tear, That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep? Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too! For 'twould have angered any heart alive To hear the men deny't."
LENNOX IS LYING Lennox sarcastically calls Macbeth pious and defends his murder of the two guards who supposedly killed Duncan.