Literary Terms,
Themes and Motifs
Alliteration
The repetition of one or more beginning sounds,
usually consonants, in a group of words.
Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air. (Ii) (Witches)
So withered and so wild in their attire (Iiii) (Macbeth)
Tonight we hold a solemn supper, Sir, And I’ll request your presence.
(IIIi) (Macbeth) “s”, very serpent-like, he’s inviting Banquo.
Irony
Dramatic irony: the opposite outcome of what a character expects, or
when the audience knows more than the characters onstage.
Duncan: “This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air nimbly and sweetly
recommends itself unto our senses.” Ivi Duncan will soon die (and
lose his “seat”) in this castle.
Macbeth: “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown… For (Banquo’s
sons) the gracious Duncan have I murdered; To make them kings…”
Macbeth recognizes the irony that he paved the way to make the
3rd prophecy come true about Banquo’s lineage becoming kings.
Metaphor
A comparison of unlike objects without using like or as.
From Macbeth:
Macbeth:“Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?” (Iiii) Compared
to being given a title that someone still has.
Lady Macbeth: “That I may pour my spirits into thine ear” Compared to
wanting to use the right words to convince Macbeth to be strong.
Macbeth: “Life’s but a walking shadow…” Vv
Personification
When objects are given human characteristics.
Ross: “That darkness does the face of earth entomb…” Iiiv
Macbeth: “The bell invites me.” IIi
Macduff: “Make all our trumpets speak.” Vvi
Paradox
Contradictory statement that is eventually explained
to be revealed as truth and/or logical.
The witches:“When the battle’s lost and won…
Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (Ii)
“Lesser than Macbeth, and greater…
Not so happy, yet much happier” (Iiii)
The prophecy about Birnam Woods meeting with Dunsinane Castle (Ivi)
Banquo: “…the instruments of Darkness tell us truths; win us with honest
trifles, to betray ‘s.” (Iiii)
THEME: Illusion vs. Reality
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.
Banquo: “‘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.” Iiii
Lady Macbeth: “Look like th’ innocent flower, / But be the serpent under’t” Iv
Macbeth: “And make our faces vizards to our hearts, / Disquising what they are.” IIIii
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s hallucinations (the bloody dagger, sleeping guards’ 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, backfires:
“All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter” comes true but doesn’t say for how long;
“non of woman born shall harm Macbeth” but Macduff was born by caesarian section;
“Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come
against him.” is made possible due to Malcolm’s war tactic to use trees as camouflage.
MOTIF: Blood and Evil
A motif can be any reoccurring pattern (symbol, imagery, metaphor, etc)
Duncan: “What bloody man is that?” (soldier from Iii)
Lady Macbeth: “Go, carry them, and smear The sleepy grooms with blood.” Iiii
Macbeth: “And, with thy (Night’s) bloody and invisible hand, Cancel, and tear
to pieces that great bond (with Banquo) / Which keeps me pale!” IIIii
Bloody baby apparition: “Be bloody, bold and resolute.” Ivi
Lady Macbeth: “Out damned spot! Out, I say!” Vi
Motif: Sleeplessness and
Natural Order
Not being able to sleep symbolizes guilt and being in an unnatural state.
Macbeth: “Methought, I heard a voice cry, ‘Sleep no more! Macbeth doth murder sleep.’”
Iiii
Macbeth: “and sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams That shake us nightly.” IIIii
Act 5 Scene 1: Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and ranting due to her guilt.
Lady Macbeth: “Wash your hands, put on your nightgown. Look not so pale.” Vi
Act 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).
Doctor: “Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural troubles.”Vi
Important Quotes
Macbeth: “The Prince of Cumberland! / That is a step on which I must fall
down, / Or else o’erleap for in my way it lies.” Iiv
Scottish noble: “Now does he feel his secret murders sticking on his 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 robe upon a dwarfish thief.”
Vii
Macbeth: “Life’s but a walking shadow; a poor player / That struts and
frets his hour upon the stage, / And then is heard no more.” Vv