Macbeth

• Witches , Act 1 Scene 1 : 'Fair is foul and foul is fair'

  • Alliteration of f sound creates sinister tone
  • Repetition of fair and foul creates interchangeable idea, reinforced by definite 'is'
  • Foul is more dominant- evil overpowers good
  • James I wrote a book stating all magic is evil- this sounds like a spell, audience would fear it
• Sergeant , Act 1 Scene 2 : 'As canons over-charged with double cracks'

  • Vocabulary such as canon and charged gives audience sense of Macbeths violent power- as if he was a weapon
  • Highly capable of killing
  • Alliteration of strong c sound mimics Macbeths dynamic movements through the battlefield- experienced
  • Use of over and double highlights Macbeths value as a soldier- stands out