Macbeth Motifs
Name____________________________________
Essential Question: How does Shakespeare make use of motifs in Macbeth in order to indicate major themes?
Motif: a conspicuous element, such as a type of incident, device, idea, reference, or formula which occurs frequently in a literary work
Shakespeare uses several motifs in Macbeth; as a matter of fact, Shakespeare often uses similar motifs in all his plays. For example, the contrast between light and
dark can be seen in Romeo and Juliet as well as in Macbeth. Other common motifs used by Shakespeare include that of appearance versus reality (things are not
always as they seem) and order versus chaos. Paying attention to how Shakespeare uses each motif can help you understand major themes. Mark as many
references to the following motifs in the play as you can find. Then, write a statement about how Shakespeare tends to use each particular motif.
APPEARANCE VERSUS REALITY
How motif is used:
BLOOD IMAGERY
How motif is used:
ANIMAL IMAGERY
How motif is used:
LIGHT VERSUS DARKNESS
How motif is used:
REFERENCES TO CLOTHING & HANDS
How motif is used:
USE OF THE SUPERNATURAL
How motif is used: