Act 1, Scene 2 Flashcards
What happens in Act 1, Scene2?
At King Duncan’s camp, a wounded captain tells the king that ‘brave Macbeth’ fought well against the rebel forces led by Macdonald. He also reports that there was ‘a fresh assault’ from Norwegian troops after they had defeated Macdonald, but Macbeth and Banquo ‘doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe’ and pushed them back as well. Duncan thanks the Captain for the ‘honour’ of his words and his wounds and sends him to be treated by a surgeon. Ross arrives from Fife with further news of victory. The Norwegian king is pleading for a peace treaty and has paid a ransom, while the rebellious Thane of Cawdor has been captured. Duncan sentences Cawdor to ‘present death’ and tells Ross to ‘greet Macbeth’ with his ‘former title’.
What is analysis of ‘As two spent swimmers’?
Simile, sibilance could reinforce the fact that both the armies were exhausted.
What was the semantic field explored in act 1, scene 2?
- Brutality.
- Bravery.
How is the semantic field of brutality explored?
- ‘Valours minion’.
- ‘Bloody execution’.
- ‘Smoked’
- ‘Brave Macbeth’
- ‘Carved out a passage’
[Connotations carved like a butcher] - ‘Fixed his head upon our battlements’
[Symbol of victory - it is unnecessary to behead someone - something else could have been done.
How is the semantic field of bravery explored?
- ‘Eagle and lion’.
- Like ‘Bellona’
[Comparing him to a goddess]
What is an important moment in this scene?
The fact that Macbeth was given the title that at traitor usually had could foreshadow that Macbeth could turn evil in the future.
What is Macbeth an example of?
A tragic hero.
What is a tragic hero?
It is a literary character that makes a judgement error that inevitable leads to his/her own destruction.
What is a hamartia?
They possess a fatal flaw.
