Answer:
Figurative language is a literary device that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation. In the play "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare, there are several examples of figurative language that contribute to the play's themes:
"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage / And then is heard no more." (Act V, Scene V)
This metaphor compares life to a "walking shadow" and a "poor player" who performs on a stage for a brief time before disappearing. It highlights the play's theme of the fleeting nature of life and the idea that human existence is ultimately insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
"Out, out, brief candle! / Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage / And then is heard no more." (Act V, Scene V)
This metaphor compares life to a "brief candle" that is quickly extinguished. It emphasizes the theme of the transience of life and the idea that even the most powerful and successful individuals are ultimately mortal and subject to death.
"Double, double toil and trouble; / Fire burn and cauldron bubble." (Act IV, Scene I)
This repetition of the phrase "double, double" and the rhyming of "toil and trouble" and "fire burn and cauldron bubble" creates a rhythmic and memorable incantation. It contributes to the play's theme of the supernatural and the idea that the witches have mystical powers that are beyond the realm of normal human experience.
Overall, these examples of figurative language in "Macbeth" contribute to the play's larger themes of the fleeting nature of life, the inevitability of death, and the supernatural. They help to create a rich and evocative atmosphere that draws the reader or audience into the world of the play and invites them to reflect on its deeper meanings.
Step-by-step explanation: