Shakespeare's Language Techniques

Question 1

Styles of language

Answer 1

Shakespeare chose different styles of language to signify the importance or rank of characters.
Nobel Characters speak in Iambic Pentameter (Mr Bruff video explains) - 5 stressed and 5 unstressed syllables. These don’t rhyme.
Witches speak in rhyming couplets to give a sinister air to the play, dark and full of evil. They talk in Trochaic Tetrameter, stressed followed by an unstressed “FAIR is FOUL and FOUL is FAIR”.
We sometimes see Macbeth slip into the way of speech associated with the Witches which could be interpreted as Shakespeare’s way of showing the affect the witches and dark spirits are having on him.

Question 2

Language content

Answer 2

The Witches use rude, vulgar and shocking language

Question 3

Irony

Answer 3

In Act 1 Scene 2 Macbeth’s bloodthirsty nature is celebrated but his is ironic as it eventually leads to his downfall.

Question 4

Imagery

Answer 4

In Act 1 Scene 2 the Shakespeare uses brutal and shocking imagery through the sergeant’s description of Macbeth on the battlefield.
“smok’d with bloody execution” - Macbeth’s sword didn’t have chance to cool down as he was relentless with his killings.