Describe a section of a text you have studied that created a strong sense of mood, suspense or atmosphere AND
analyse how this mood, suspense or atmosphere was created.
Act 5 scene 5 in Macbeth by William Shakespeare is a particularly moody/suspense filled/ atmospheric section of the play. The
playwright achieves this by utilising techniques such as imagery, repetition and symbolism. The setting is significant and the
storyline also plays a role.
The setting and plot of Act 5 scene 5 are important in creating a tense atmosphere. Stage directions tell us that the action happens
in ‘Macbeth’s castle’, this is a stone building, probably cold because it is in Scotland, candle lit. This sets the mood for the
sombre events to come. During this section, we hear that Lady Macbeth is dead, the stage directions inform us of a ‘cry within of
women’ and after a suspense-filled gap of eight lines, we hear the bad news. This creates a heavy oppressive atmosphere and sets
the tone for Macbeth’s reflective speech on the meaning of life.
Imagery plays a central role in setting the mood and atmosphere. Macbeth uses personification involving verbs such as to ‘eat’
and ‘taste’ and ‘supp’d’ as if he is hungry or conversely to suggest that he is full and has eaten all he can. His thoughts are
‘slaughterous’, a powerful piece of imagery with dark connotations. Later in the section, Macbeth refers to death as being ‘dusty’
and he has heavy thoughts of life comparing it to a tale being told by an ‘idiot’ and a ‘poor player’. All these comparisons create
a sombre mood and a heavy atmosphere.
Dramatic irony fills the scene as the audience is left in suspense concerning the Witches’ prophecies. In the previous scene,
Malcolm has told the audience how the advancing army are going to use branches to disguise their numbers. The dramatic irony
is that we know the facts, but Macbeth does not and suspense is created: the prophecies are coming true.
Repetition and alliteration are used to create the philosophical mood of the final segment. Repetition of ‘Tomorrow and
tomorrow and tomorrow’ highlights how wearisome life has become. Repeating these three words suggest that life is repetitive
and boring for him. The imagery is abstract considering the immediacy of his wife’s death and the closeness of battle. Perhaps
this philosophical mood is commonplace for warriors facing potential death, never the less it a great contrast to the tension
building for the finale of the play.
Repetition and punctuation are used in the final section to create a mood of shock and finally despair as Macbeth decides to
abandon the safety of his castle. Upon hearing the news that Birnham wood ‘comes to Dunsinane’ Macbeth is overwrought with
anger at the witches and fear. Repetition of ‘arm’ creates a shock and the exclamation mark enforces it. Macbeth orders his
remaining men to ‘Arm! Arm! and out!’ of the castle. This is shocking due to the rashness of such a move; within the castle, he is
safe and secure, whilst outside he is vulnerable. His decision contributes to his down fall, he decides to make the prophesies
come true. It is this fact that makes the audience despair as the play rushes towards its, seemingly inevitable, tragic conclusion.
Shakespeare uses several excellent techniques to create the interesting and unexpected mood and atmosphere before the
denouement of the story. Imagery, stage directions and repetition create a heavy atmosphere. The setting and story line create
tension which contrasts with Macbeth’s abstract philosophy of life.
Analyse how the author’s presentation of ONE important section / part changed your opinion about a character /
individual OR issue.
Shakespeare’s presentation of Act 5 Scene 5 is significant in the presentation of Macbeth’s character because we see several
developing aspects to his personality. He shows a sense of confidence that contrasts with his earlier weakness. He has a hardened
indifferent attitude, caused by his murderous actions throughout the play and, finally, a philosophical aspect to his character
previously not shown. These character traits are presented through various dramatic techniques.
Act 5 scene 5 can be viewed in three segments which represent different aspects of his character. The first section concerns
Macbeth’s state of confidence. He is bolstered by the Witches’ prophesies which assure him that he won’t be beaten. He
confidently claims that his ‘castle's strength Will laugh a siege to scorn’ and that under a siege his enemies will die because
‘famine and the ague eat them up’. This use of personification vividly conveys how strong Macbeth is feeling in contrast to the
start of the play where he questions himself and his courage.
In the second segment Macbeth shows how much he has changed from earlier in the play be telling us that he is no longer scared
by a, ‘Dismal treatise’ (scary stories). Shakespeare again uses personification to describe how earlier in the play his hair would,
‘rouse and stir’ at the sound of a ‘night-shriek’.
The third segment of the section shows us a new side to Macbeth’s character concerning his attitude to life. In contrast to how
Macduff reacted to news about his family tragedy Macbeth, barely cares when he hears that his wife is dead saying that, ‘She
should have died hereafter’. He once doted on her, now he reacts without much emotion. Macbeth shows us a philosophical side
to his character. Repetition and alliteration of, ‘Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow’ highlights how wearisome life has
become. Repeating these three words suggests that life is repetitive and boring for him. Macbeth contemplates the point of life
and its trails and tribulations by using an extended metaphor comparing it to an actor who, ‘struts and frets his hour upon the
stage’ but then is easily forgotten. Macbeth’s character up until now has been dynamic and full of life, now his is listless and
depressed, considering life’s big questions as if he knows his time is running out.
Macbeth makes a poor tactical decision that changed my opinion. Due to Macbeth’s awesome impact in the battle at the start of
the play, the audience should have respect for Macbeth’s tactical decision making during war. In his anger and despair, he orders
his remaining men to ‘Arm! Arm! and out!’ of the castle. This is shocking due to the rashness of such a move; within the castle,
he is safe and secure, whilst outside he is vulnerable. Repetition of ‘arm’ creates a shock and the exclamation mark create
emphasis that changes the audience’s view; now the play rushes towards its, seemingly inevitable, tragic conclusion.
Throughout act 5 scene 5 we notice several developments in Macbeth’s character; he has become philosophical and tired with
life, and admits that the terrible things he has done have made him hard and insensitive. Finally, he makes an uncharacteristically
poor tactical decision.
Adjust the content and topic statements depending on the precise requirements of the question.
The core of the essay concerns imagery, three segments, alliteration and repetition.
Analyse how techniques were used to strongly affect your emotions in ONE or TWO key sections.
Shakespeare uses various dramatic techniques to affect the audience’s emotions in the play Macbeth. He uses imagery, sounds,
stage directions and symbolism to conjure a sense of wonder and pity through out the section.
In Act 5 scene 5 Shakespeare uses several types of imagery to affect our emotions. In the start of the scene Macbeth
confidently claims that his ‘castle's strength Will laugh a siege to scorn’ and that under a siege his enemies will die because
‘famine and the ague eat them up’. This clever imagery is ironic because Shakespeare uses an image of ‘eating’, which is
normally a positive thing, to describe how people may die through lack of eating due to famine and disease. The reader feels a
mixture of excitement and pity here because in the previous scene Malcolm has told the audience how the advancing army are
going to use branches to disguise there numbers. The dramatic irony is that we know this but Macbeth does not.
There is impressive use of alliteration and emotive vocabulary. Macbeth wants to ride out and meet his enemies,
‘beard to beard and beat them backward home. The alliterated ‘b’ consonant creates a strong beat and sounds confident.
The stage directions have a role in creating tension and suspense. We are told of a ‘cry within of women’ then have to wait eight
lines to discover that Lady Macbeth is dead. In contrast to how Macduff reacted to news about his family tragedy, Macbeth,
barely cares when he hears that his wife is dead saying that, ‘She should have died hereafter’. Macbeth also refers to his wife’s
life as being like a ‘brief candle’, her abrupt suicide symbolised by the flame being snuffed, ‘out, out’.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of act 5 scene 5 is Macbeths sombre reflection on life. Several uses of imagery are
used to describe how tired Macbeth has become and how pointless he sees life’s struggles. Macbeth contemplates the point of life
and its trails and tribulations by using an extended metaphor comparing it to an actor who, ‘struts and frets his hour upon the
stage’ but then is easily forgotten. Repetition and alliteration of, ‘Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow’ highlights how
wearisome life has become. Repeating these three words suggests that life is repetitive and boring for him. He see’s life as a tale
‘Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing’. Such extended metaphors help the view understand Macbeth’s
state of mind.
Repetition and punctuation are used in the final section to affect the emotions of the audience. We despair as Macbeth decides to
abandon the safety of his castle. Upon hearing the news that Birnham wood ‘comes to Dunsinane’ Macbeth is overwrought with
anger at the witches and fear. Repetition of ‘arm’ creates a shock and the exclamation mark highlights it. Macbeth orders his
remaining men to ‘Arm! Arm! and out!’ of the castle. This is shocking due to the rashness of such a move; within the castle, he is
safe and secure, whilst outside he is vulnerable. His decision contributes to his down fall, he decides to make the prophesies
come true. It is this fact that makes the audience despair as the play rushes towards its, seemingly inevitable, tragic conclusion.
Now memorise these examples and use them depending on the question. Remember to modify the topic statement for each one.