Imagery
Imagery is language that stirs up one or all five of the senses: seeing, hearing, tasting,
smelling, touching. When the servant reports to Duncan, he uses words that paint many
pictures to give the king (and the audience) a better understanding of the fight. This activity
helps you understand how the battle transpired as well as how imagery enhances writing.
Directions: Reread the servant's speeches in Act I, Scene II. Take note of any images he
uses. (Hint: Look for metaphors and similes.) Then complete the charts below.
List three images below:
Example: As two spent swimmers, that do cling together / And choke their art
1.
2.
3.
Explain each of the images:
Example: Two people who are exhausted and holding onto each other for support, and thus are not
seeming to perform well.
1.
2.
3.
What does each image add to the servant's tale?
can't
Example: It shows the soldiers' weariness, helps you visualize their weakness, and shows that you
determine the outcome of their match.
1.
2.
3.