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making meaning

THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH,

ACT II

analyze Craft and Structure

Author’s Choices: Structure Shakespeare is a master of structure,

beginning with his use of meter, or the rhythmic organization of his lines. He

uses three types of feet, or metrical units.

•   An iambic foot consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed

syllable. “Our will” is an example of an iambic foot.

•   A trochaic foot consists of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed

syllable. “List’ning” is an example of a trochaic foot.

•   An anapestic foot consists of two unstressed syllables followed by a

stressed syllable. “If a man” is an example of an anapestic foot.

Shakespeare frequently uses five iambic feet per line, a structure called

iambic pentameter, to reflect natural speech, as in this line:

“Gŏod   sír,    |   why ̆   dó  |   yŏu stárt,  |   ănd séem    |   tŏ  féar” (I.iii.52)

Notice that the stressed syllables often fall on the most important words.

Several lines of unrhymed iambic pentameter are called blank verse. In

general, Shakespeare’s high-born characters speak in blank verse.

Sometimes Shakespeare interrupts his blank verse with prose, or unmetered

dialogue. In his tragedies, lower-ranking characters often speak in prose. In

many cases, these characters also provide comic relief, a humorous break

from the tension of the tragedy. At other times, Shakespeare uses simple

prose to communicate urgency.

making meaning

CITE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE

Practice to support your answers.

Notebook Respond to these questions.

1. Read lines 33–39 of Scene i aloud, taking note of stressed words. (a) For the most
   part, what type of foot appears in this passage? (b) Consider the words stressed by the
   meter. What mood do these stressed words help create?


2. Read aloud lines 1–2 of Scene ii. (a) What two types of feet are prominent in these
   lines? (b) What contrast does the structure of the lines emphasize? (c) What insight do
   these lines offer into Lady Macbeth’s character?


3. Analyze the structure of the lines given in the chart. Note the primary foot each line
   uses. Then, explain how the metrical stresses emphasize meaning or mood.

I have done the deed (Act II,

Scene ii, line 14)

Had I but died an hour before this

chance (Act II, Scene iii, line 91)

Even like the deed that’s done

(Act II, Scene iv, line 11)

LINE PRIMARY TYPE

OF FOOT

EFFECT ON MEANING OR MOOD

 STANDARDS

Reading Literature

Analyze how an author’s choices

concerning how to structure specific

parts of a text contribute to its

overall structure and meaning as well

as its aesthetic impact.

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TEACHING

PERSONALIZE FOR LEARNING

Strategic Support

Identify Feet Provide students with examples of

the different types of feet, for example:

iambic: afraid, abroad, exist, predict

trochaic: chorus, clever, market, shatter

anapestic: disembark, discontent, comprehend,

understand

Then ask students to skim the text for examples

of each. As students skim, ask them to identify

the primary type of foot in each of the examples

they find.

FormatIve aSSeSSment

analyze Craft and Structure

If students are unable to identify the foot of

each line, then have them mark the stressed and

unstressed syllables and say the line aloud. For

Reteach and Practice, see analyze Craft and

Structure: Structure (rP).

Analyze Craft and Structure

author’s Choices: Structure Remind students

that meter is the rhythmical pattern of a poem

or dramatic literature. The pattern is determined

by the number and types of stresses, or beats in

each line. For more support, see analyze Craft

and Structure: Structure.

MAKE IT INTERACTIVE

Project a passage from Act II and model how to

mark stressed and unstressed syllables.

Practice

Possible responses:

1. (a) Iambic foot (b) The structure helps to create a
   mood of foreboding and danger.


2. (a) Line 1 has one trochaic foot followed by four
   iambic feet. Line 2 begins with a series of three
   anapestic feet and ends with two heavily stressed
   one-syllable words. (b) The contrasting word pairs
   drunk/bold and quenched/fire are stressed, as is
   the word Peace, which contrasts with the murder
   in which Lady Macbeth has just had a hand. (c)
   Lady Macbeth’s character is one that is defined by
   opposing ideas and forces.


3. See possible responses in chart on student page.

anapestic foot The word done is stressed, emphasizing the

completion of the murder.

iambic foot The word died is stressed, emphasizing the

extremity of Macbeth’s feigned reaction.

trochaic foot The words deed and done are stressed, further

emphasizing the murder’s irreversibility.

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