Macbeth Group
Question:
pito156
Student
High School - 12th Grade
What literary devices are used in the following passage from "Macbeth"?
LADY MACBETH: Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One- two -why then 'tis
time to do't. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and
afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our
power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have
had so much blood in him?
DOCTOR: Do you mark that?
LADY MACBETH: The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now? What,
will these hands neer be clean? No more o' that, my lord, no more
o' that. You mar all with this starting.
DOCTOR: Go to, go to; you have known what you should not.
GENTLEWOMAN: She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of that.
Heaven knows what she has known.
LADY MACBETH: Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes
of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, oh, oh!
Answers:
-
linda-allen Teacher
High School - 10th GradePosted by linda-allen on Sunday May 18, 2008 at 2:35 PMIn listing literary devices used in this excerpt from Macbeth, you first have to look for what Shakespeare is known for: iambic pentameter. here are a few more:
internal rhyme: the Thane of Fife had a wife
personification: Heaven knows what she has known
hyperbole: All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand
alliteration: She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of that.
imagery: dirty hands, smell of blood
symbolism: smell of blood symbolizes Duncan's murder
Hope this helps!
-
amy-lepore Teacher
High School - 12th GradePosted by amy-lepore on Sunday May 18, 2008 at 3:00 PMThe use of the referral to Arabia is an allusion. Everyone would know that wonderful perfumes and spices come from this area of the world and that further helps the audience to understand just how horrible her hands smelled to Lady Macbeth.
Dramatic Irony--the two are watching Lady Macbeth and gaining knowledge without her knowing they are there. It is rather like in Romeo and Juliet when they are in the balcony scene and we know Romeo is listening in, but Juliet is quite unaware of his presence.