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What are five examples of anaphora in Macbeth?
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Five examples of anaphora in Macbeth include: the Weird Sisters' repetition of "when" in Act 1, Scene 1, and "thrice" in Act 4, Scene 1; Macduff's repetition of "new" in Act 4, Scene 3; and Malcolm's repetition of "your" in the same scene. These uses of anaphora emphasize key ideas and enhance the characters' speech rhythms.
The Weird Sisters also use anaphora, the repetition of words at the beginning of lines, in their speeches. In fact, they begin the play with an example of anaphora:
First Witch: When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
Second Witch: When the hurly-burly's done,
When the battle's lost and won.
The anaphora created by the repetition of the word "when" on lines 1, 3, and 4, of act 1, scene 1, helps to establish the rhythm of the sisters' speech. Unlike Macbeth , who speaks in an iambic meter (where each metrical foot begins with an unaccented syllable and ends with an accented syllable), the Weird Sisters speak in trochaic meter (where each metrical foot begins with an accented syllable and ends with an unaccented syllable—essentially the opposite of iambic). Because trochaic meters begin on an accented syllable, they often seem more aggressive, more...
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menacing and even otherworldly; all of these associations are appropriate for the sisters. The "when" is always accented in the above, helping to establish the rhythm of their speech and beginning to give clues as to their character.
Act 4, scene 1, also begins with the Weird Sisters and an example of anaphora:
First Witch: Thrice the brinded cat hath mewed.
Second Witch: Thrice, and once the hedge-pig whined.
The use of anaphora here accomplishes much the same as it did in the previous example. There is a big difference between this and the way Macbeth and Lady Macbeth speak. This new act opens with the Weird Sisters' characteristically menacing and creepy speech patterns, which is especially appropriate considering that they are now conjuring at their cauldron.
Anaphora is a rhetorical device that involves the repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of sentences or clauses. Anaphora is used to stress or emphasize an idea.
Shakespeare uses anaphora in Macbethduring the conversation between Malcolm and Macduff in Act IV, scene iii. Macduff is pleading with Malcolm to return to Scotland to overthrow Macbeth and claim the throne. Macduff tries to explain the extent of the suffering the people of Scotland are enduring. He is hoping to elicit some sympathy from Malcolm. Notice the repition used when Macduff states, "...each new morn new widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows strike heaven on the face." By repeating the word "new," Macduff is emphasizing that each new days brings about new suffering to make Malcolm see that the abuse from Macbeth is ongoing and must be stopped.
Malcolm, trying to discern if Macduff is sincere, likewise uses anaphora when explaining why he is no better a candidate for king than is Macbeth. When he tells Macduff later in the scene that "your wives, your daughters, your matrons and your maids" will not be safe from his lust, he is trying to get an emotional response from Macduff to see if he can trust him.