Macbeth Act 1, Macbeth Vocabulary: Act 1, Macbeth Literary Devices

regicide the action of killing a king
treason the crime of betraying one’s country, esp. by attempting to overthrow the government
ambition a particular goal or aim; something that a person hopes to do or achieve
soliloquy A soliloquy is an extended speech in which a character alone on stage expresses his thoughts. At this time, the main character may reveal the private emotions of the speaker or may give information and display character.
What is the purpose of a soliloquy? The purpose of a soliloquy is to help the audience understand the main character. Soliloquies often emphasize the main character’s emotions.
repentance regret for any past action
thane (n) a feudal lord in Scotland
surmise (n) a guess(v) suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it
harbinger (n) something that foretells or foreshadows; a person or thing that announces
impede (vt) to hinder, to obstruct the progress of
surcease (vt & vi) to bring to an end, to stop; (n) an end
faculty (n) inherent power or ability to act
adage (n) a saying that sets forth a general truth; saying
mettle (n) courage, spirit; inherent quality of character
dire (adj) warning of terrible consequences; urgent
Look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under it. (I, v) simile
your face, my Thane, is as a book where menMay read strange matters. (I, v) simile
I have begun to plant thee, and will laborTo make thee full of growing metaphor
Why do you dress meIn borrowed robes? (I, iii) metaphor
If chance will have me King, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir (I, iii) personification
Was the hope drunkWherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since? personification
But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in To saucy doubts and fears. (III, iv) alliteration
A little water clears us of this deed. (II, ii). symbol
Hover through the fog and filthy air. (I, i) symbol
“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player/That struts and frets his hour upon the stage.” personification
Fair is foul and fouls is fair. (I.i) paradox
Sleep no more!Macbeth does murder sleep’, the innocent sleep,Sleep that knits up the ravell’d sleeve of care repetition
Is this a dagger which I see before me,The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.Art thou not, fatal vision, sensibleTo feeling as to sight? or art thou butA dagger of the mind, a false creation,Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain? soliloquy
It is an extended speech in which a character alone on stage expresses his thoughts. At this time, the main character may reveal the private emotions of the speaker or may give information and display character. soliloquy
O full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife. metaphor
Fair is foul and foul is fair. foreshadowing
irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play dramatic irony