Macbeth
Who caused this madness?
Literary devices in Macbeth
1. Foreshadowing. The witches tell Macbeth he will be Thane of Cawdor. After he is told by the witches Ross and Angus come and confirm that Macbeth is now Thane of Cawdor. The witches also tell Macbeth he will be king, and if they said he would be Thane and it came true he will eventually become king. "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!" "...He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor..." (scene 3 page 17, 19, & 21)
2. Paradox. The witches say to Macbeth,"Fair is foul, and foul is fair." (scene 1 page 7) This statement is a literary paradox. The line means the opposite of itself. A person may seem foul or bad but can be fair or good. A person can also seem fair or good but seem foul or bad.
3. Situational Irony. When the witches tell Macbeth he will be Thane of Cawdor, no one thought he would. After the witches disappear, Ross and Angus say that he is now Thane of Cawdor. As it goes through the book more of the stuff the witches said come true. The witches also said Macbeth would become King so it leads onto he will become king instead of the witches just saying he would. "All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!" (scene 3 page 19)