Examples Of Similes In Macbeth

Words: 1059
Pages: 5
Open Document
“He was the man who of all modern, and perhaps ancient poets, had the largest and most comprehensive soul” -John Dryden. Shakespeare uses very expressive style in his writing. In his play Macbeth, it tells a story of greed and power. In Macbeth, there are three strange witches who give a prophecy to Macbeth saying he will be king and that Banquo’s children will be kings, this information gets into Macbeth’s head and he wants power. When Macbeth sees an opportunity to become king, he takes it, killing King Duncan. Macbeth becomes king, but not without consequences, Macbeth realizes that he does not want to lose his place as king so he hires two murderers to kill Banquo, and his son Fleance. The murderers succeed in killing Banquo, but Fleance …show more content…
In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare uses similes to help the reader understand more about his creative writing. Shakespeare shows this when he writes this quote by Lady Macbeth “bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue; look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t” (I,v, 55-60) she is trying to say that even though Macbeth is doing these evil things and committing murders, he needs to make it seem as if he is innocent. Shakespeare also uses similes to create imagery, in this quote “A heavy summons lies like lead upon me” (II,i,6) this makes the audience picture that lead is physically on top of him, though it is just a burden. Another example of imagery use is when the witches vanish and Macbeth says “Into the air; and what seemed corporal melted, As breath into the wind.” (I,iii,82-84). This really puts a vivid picture of the witches vanishing into thin air into the readers …show more content…
In the beginning of the play, Shakespeare gives an eerie feeling, by using metaphors, that makes the reader want to keep going. An example of this is when the three witches say “fair is foul, foul is fair” (I,I,10). This quote means that everything beautiful, or fair, will soon become ugly, or foul. This is also foreshadowing events to come in the play. This is not the only time Shakespeare uses metaphors to give the reader a feeling of something bad about to happen though. Another example of this foreshadowing is when Macbeth is talking to himself about the witches prophesies he says “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown and put a barren scepter in my grip, Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding." (III,i,61-64) Macbeth is thinking back to what the witches said, that Banquo’s sons will be kings, This gets into Macbeth’s head, he gets jealous, leading to Macbeth ordering Fleance to be killed. Shakespeare uses metaphors to create the illusion of Macbeth’s sanity rapidly decreasing. This is seen in this quote “Life's but a walking shadow, a poor
Show More

Related Documents: Examples Of Similes In Macbeth

Examples Of Literary Devices In Macbeth

Macbeth Literary Device Essay Macbeth, was written in 1606 by William Shakespeare, in which is one of his most powerful and emotional plays. Macbeth, an honorable man, encounters three witches who predict that he will become Thane of Cawdor and become king. Throughout the play his ambition of power is driven higher and higher as his wife, Lady Macbeth, goads him into killing King Duncan. Once he kills Duncan, Macbeth becomes king of Scotland. Later on, he has the murderers kill Banquo because…

Words 806 - Pages 4

Figurative Language In Macbeth

literally only).” (Arp 70). Similes is “comparing things that are essentially unlike.” (Arp 70) The following demonstrates the use of simile in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. “Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures. ‘Tis the eye of childhood hat fears a painted devil. (Shakespeare II.ii.73-75). After Macbeth returns from kills Duncan, he brings back the evidence with him. “Infirm of purpose!” (Shakespeare II.ii.72) Lady Macbeth calls her husband “Inform…

Words 401 - Pages 2

Act 1 Presentation Info Essay

sun. Explanation The above quote is an example of alliteration because it presents a sentence with a predominant “t” sound. 2. Quote With his surcease, success; that but this blow (1,7,4) Definition Alliteration: The noticeable or effective use in a phrase or sentence of words beginning with or containing the same letter or sound. E.g. After life’s fitful fever; In a summer season when soft was the sun. Explanation The above quote is an example of alliteration because it presents a sentence…

Words 954 - Pages 4

Examples Of Personification In Macbeth

offense to God himself. Macbeth was a real eleventh century Scottish king, who had a valid right to the throne, ruled in Scotland. Lady Macbeth is Macbeth’s wife, a deeply ambitious woman who lusts for power. The Three Witches plot mischief against Macbeth using prophecies to convince him things that are not entirely true. Banquo, like Macbeth, Banquo thinks ambitious thoughts, but it does not bring him into action. William Shakespeare, the author, starts the story out with Macbeth and…

Words 846 - Pages 4

Essay about Analysing Soliloquy 1.7 Macbeth

against the deep damnation of his taking-off”. EXPLANATION: Macbeth prefigures the spirit of Duncan to be associated with heaven, and his own actions (‘taking him off’) representative of the Devil, suggesting the unnaturalness of the action and the evil of Macbeth’s character. ANALYSIS/ IMPLICATIONS: Alliteration reinforces the contrast that emphasises Macbeth’s deviant choice. Duncan’s purity is accentuated through a religious simile: these angels are ‘trumpet-tongued’, the alliteration reflecting…

Words 1242 - Pages 5

Uncivilized Characters In William Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus

William Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus is a play full of gore and violence from its very core. The play continually compares the two nationality groups, the Goths, and the Romans. The title character and his family are considered the protagonists, and the Goths, are mainly the antagonists. Each group has noble attributes but also more dark and sickly attributes. There is the constant question of civilized versus uncivilized characters throughout the play. Shakespeare uses animal imagery and references…

Words 340 - Pages 2

Essay on Media Studies

Ex: In recent seasons, ANTM have integrated a social media score that allows viewers to vote and give opinions on the models performances. Use Of Music: In ANTM, the chosen music pieces seamlessly reflect the actions occurring in the scene. For example, when the models are waiting in suspense for results, the music will portray the mood and be some sort of suspenseful track. It is found that the music used in the show are not well known songs but simple backing music that reflects the mood of the…

Words 3245 - Pages 13

Poetry Terms Essay

another person, Figurative language: Any use of language where the intended meaning differs from the actual literal meaning of the words themselves. There are many techniques which can rightly be called figurative language, including metaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, onomatopoeia, verbal irony, and oxymoron. (Related: figure of speech) Hyperbole: A description which exaggerates. The author uses hyperbole to describe Mr. Smith, calling him “the greatest human being ever to walk the…

Words 1151 - Pages 5

TO WHAT EXTENT DOES SHAKESPEARE PRESENT MACBETH AS A VILLAIN? Essay

EXTENT DOES SHAKESPEARE PRESENT MACBETH AS A VILLAIN? Shakespeare presents Macbeth more extensively as a villain using methods which would be more understood in the era the play was composed, which was the Jacobean period, but influenced by the reign of Elizabeth. During the Elizabethan period people were preoccupied with the supernatural, which is one of the main topics in Shakespeare’s play. In my opinion Shakespeare structures the play to make the audience see Macbeth transforming from a hero into…

Words 3940 - Pages 16

Essay about Macbeth: Drama and Macbeth Literary Term

English 9 Literary Terms The Tragedy of Macbeth Literary Term | Definition | Example from play | 1. soliloquy | an utterance or discourse by a person who is talking to himself or herself | Is this a dagger I see in front of me, (2.1.33) | 2. monologue | a form of dramatic entertainment, comedic solo, or the like by a single speaker: | | 3. aside | a part of an actor's lines supposedly not heard by others on the stage and intended only for the audience. | | 4. foil characters |…

Words 694 - Pages 3