Macbeth Act III.

Rob Smith

4/8/03

English 4*

Glossary

Macbeth Act III

Personification: A figure of speech in which inanimate objects or abstractions are endowed with human qualities or are represented as possessing human form
Example: What man dare, I dare. Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear.” – Macbeth, Act III, Scene Four, Line 100)
Function: The comparison between a Russian Bear and Macbeth himself represents boldness. After having he audacity to question Macbeth’s existence as a man, Lady Macbeth and her husband have a lengthy quarrelsome encounter. She reminds him that his visions, such as the air-born dagger, have been his wild imagination and she attempts to convince him that this is similar.

Alliteration: The repetition at close intervals on the initial consonant sound of accented syllables of important words
Example: “Shall raise such artificial sprites as by the strength of their illusion shall draw him on to his confusion he shall spurn …” (Hecate, Act III, Scene 5, Line 30)
Function: The S alliteration emphasizes fear to Macbeth. In continuing verse, Hecate instructs the witches to meet her tomorrow morning at the pit of Acheron; also known as the gates of hell where Macbeth will join them to learn his future. She instructs them to bring their cauldrons and ...

Alliteration: The repetition at close intervals on the initial consonant sound of accented syllables of important words
Example: “Shall raise such artificial sprites as by the strength of their illusion shall draw him on to his confusion he shall spurn …” (Hecate, Act III, Scene 5, Line 30)
Function: The S alliteration emphasizes fear to Macbeth. In continuing verse, Hecate instructs the witches to meet her tomorrow morning at the pit of Acheron; also known as the gates of hell where Macbeth will join them to learn his future. She instructs them to bring their cauldrons and be ready to conjure up their magic spells. Hecate suggests that Macbeth will continue to "spurn fate, scorn death." Things do not look good for the King of Scotland!

Simile- Comparison of two unlike things using like or as
Example: “Can such things be, and overcome us like a summer’s cloud, without any special wonder?” (Macbeth, Act III, Scene 4, Line 110)
Function: Here Macbeth is comparing a summer’s cloud to his wife’s cheerfulness. While Lady Macbeth keeps the natural ruby of her cheeks, Macbeth claims his cheeks are blanched with fear.

Imagery: Pictures formed in the mind
Example: “I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er. Strange things I have in head that will to hand, which must be acted ere they must be scanned.” (Macbeth, Act III, Scene 4, Line 140)
Function: Macbeth said he would do whatever it takes to protect himself, for he is already in so deep there is no alternative. He foreshadows further bloodshed when he says, “We are yet but young indeed.” In order to find out his fate, Macbeth plans to consult again with the three witches, the personification of evil that he now trusts.

Conceit- An extended metaphor
“Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men’ as hounds and greyhound, mongrels, spaniels, curs, shoughs, water rugs, and demi-wolves, are clept and by the name of dog…” (Macbeth, Act III, Scene 1, Line 95)
In this statement Macbeth gives a wide range of descriptions of how humans can act. By comparing humans to dogs, Shakespeare emphasizes the extremes of human social classes.