Question 1: Identify and explain one metaphor used in this extract.

Answer: The 'brief candle' metaphor represents life's fleeting nature.

Question 2: What does Macbeth compare life to in this soliloquy?

Answer: He compares life to a 'tale told by an idiot' and a 'poor player' on stage.

Question 3: Analyse how Shakespeare uses imagery to reflect Macbeth's state of mind.

Answer: Shakespeare employs imagery of darkness, decay, and insignificance to depict Macbeth's despair and disillusionment. The references to a 'walking shadow' and 'dusty death' illustrate Macbeth's sense of life's futility.

Question 4: What is the tone of Macbeth in this extract? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Answer: The tone is nihilistic and despairing, as shown by phrases like 'life's but a walking shadow' and 'tale told by an idiot'.

Question 5: Explain the effect of the repetition of 'tomorrow' in this passage.

Answer: The repetition emphasises the monotonous, endless passage of time, highlighting Macbeth's sense of life's futility.

Question 6: Identify a dramatic technique used in this extract and describe its effect.

Answer: The use of caesura (pause) in lines like 'Creeps in this petty pace' emphasizes the slow, oppressive feeling of life's endless repetition.

Question 7: Discuss how this extract reveals Macbeth’s inner turmoil regarding his ambitions.

Answer: The extract reveals Macbeth's despair and disillusionment with life, suggesting that his ambitions have led to his spiritual and emotional decay. His nihilism indicates a loss of hope and a recognition of the destructive nature of unchecked ambition.

Question 8: In modern fiction, how might a character’s internal conflict mirror Macbeth’s views on ambition expressed here?

Answer: A modern character might express feelings of futility and regret over their relentless pursuit of success, mirroring Macbeth’s nihilism and internal despair.