Macbeth_Language, Form And Structure

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  • Created by: Hemdev
  • Created on: 09-11-17 16:50
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Language, Form And Structure
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Structure
The play has a twofold structure following Macbeth’s rise to power and then his fall.
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Tragedy
The play is Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy with all action focused on Macbeth’s rise to power and his fall. His ambition is his fatal flaw as tragic hero.
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Blank verse
Most characters speak in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter – where there are ten syllables in each line, and each unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed one). When this pattern changes, it is often because of high emotion.
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Rhyming couplets
The witches speak in rhyming couplets to show how spells are chanted. This rhythm adds an almost light hearted rhythm to their sinister prophecies.
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Motifs_1
The motifs of sleep and blood run throughout Macbeth and both are used to signify the menace and destruction that ensues from the witches’ prophecies.
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Motifs_2
Duncan and his son represent the Divine Right of Kings. When order is restored at the end of the play the word 'grace' is repeated making this clear.
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Dramatic irony
Macbeth’s linear structure means that when Duncan arrives at Inverness Castle, the audience is aware of the plot to kill him while he remains unaware.
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Hamartia
Macbeth's tragic flaw or hamartia is his ambition and greed for power. These cause his downfall.
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Symbolism
Sickness symbolises the disorder in nature caused by Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's actions. Mental illness and Scotland's 'sickly weal' (V.2.27) are the outcomes of their evil.
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Imagery
In "Macbeth", the Witches symbolise evil, and references to darkness and blood help to convey this; conversely the imagery of light represents purity and salvation.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

The play has a twofold structure following Macbeth’s rise to power and then his fall.

Back

Structure

Card 3

Front

The play is Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy with all action focused on Macbeth’s rise to power and his fall. His ambition is his fatal flaw as tragic hero.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Most characters speak in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter – where there are ten syllables in each line, and each unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed one). When this pattern changes, it is often because of high emotion.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

The witches speak in rhyming couplets to show how spells are chanted. This rhythm adds an almost light hearted rhythm to their sinister prophecies.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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