English Literature Macbeth quotes

Question 1

“Pour spirits in thine ear and chastise with the valour of my tongue”

Answer 1

‘Pour’ - relentless, won’t stop.
‘Spirits’ - metaphor Lady Macbeths voice = supernatural = Lady Macbeth needs help = Devil?
‘Chastise’ - trap = Macbeth no choice
‘Valour’ - Metaphor = her words = will say anything
‘My’ - pronouns = dominant
‘Pour’ and ‘chastise’ - imperative verbs - commanding

Question 2

“full o’ the milk of human kindness”

Answer 2

Suggests Macbeth is weak and does not have it in him to kill

Doesn’t believe in Macbeth and only believes in his status.

Question 3

“Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’t”

Answer 3

‘Look’ - commanding, dominant and a imperative verb.
‘Innocent flower’ - simile, kind appearance and imagery.
‘but’ - conjunction, negative
‘serpent’ - animal imagery, snake - evil, metaphor.
‘under’t’ - quiet, sneaky - HIDDEN

Question 4

Mother Any Distance - Armitage

“zero-end”
“centimetres”, “metres”
“kite”, “anchor”
“fly or fall”

Answer 4

REALTINSHIP BETWEEN SON & MOTHER
Strong growing up and moving out and mother is there for him NO MATTER WHAT
Uses measuring words to show distance between them and gives an insight into their relationship.
FREEDOM of the young adult, ‘kite’ represents freedom and ‘anchor’ represents mum being left behind.
COMPARITIVE words ‘fall or fly’ - switches natural order and suggests he is going to fly/succeed

Question 5

Walking Away - Day Lewis

“half-ledged thing at free”
“winged seed loosened from its parent stem”
“selfhood begins with a walking away, and love is proved in the letting go”

Answer 5

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOTHER AND CHILD leaving for school

1. pain and sadness of letting him go - ‘half-ledged’ mum unsure of letting child go the unsureness tearing her apart
2. she doesn’t want him to leave but strong and supportive. “winged” child about to go on big adventure and is free and ready to fly off.
3. final sentence - in order to grow up and become free his mum has to let him be free and allow him to leave

Question 6

Eden Rock

“Beyond Eden Rock”
“Sets out three plates”
“Crossing is not as hard as you might think”

Answer 6

1. Says after death you go to a better place. Oxymoron contrasts Eden and rock - emphasise how idyllic Eden Rock/heaven is. Heaven represents warming atmosphere
2. Represents loving and togetherness. Represents the family UNITED after death.
3. REASSURANCE through the supportive family. his death ‘crossing’ - metaphor to reassure death isn’t bad and you’re reunited with everyone you love.