How can I write P.E.E. paragraphs about Shakespeare's use of language in Macbeth?

Let's take a look at how to write a good P.E.E. paragraph, and then apply the P.E.E. format to an example of a use of language in Macbeth.

P.E.E. stands for POINT, EXAMPLE/EVIDENCE, EXPLAIN. First you have to state a main point. Second, you have to provide evidence, which could possibly be in the form of quoting, summarizing, or paraphrasing from the work you are studying, to prove your point. Then you...

Let's take a look at how to write a good P.E.E. paragraph, and then apply the P.E.E. format to an example of a use of language in Macbeth.

P.E.E. stands for POINT, EXAMPLE/EVIDENCE, EXPLAIN. First you have to state a main point. Second, you have to provide evidence, which could possibly be in the form of quoting, summarizing, or paraphrasing from the work you are studying, to prove your point. Then you have to explain how the evidence proves your point. In a P.E.E. paragraph you can give more than one example, but you need to explain each example that you give. Some students make the mistake of simply listing examples. The second E, which stands for EXPLAIN, is just as important as the first one. If you're not sure what to write to explain how your example proves your point, sometimes it helps to explain the EFFECT on the reader/audience.

In literature, "use of language" usually refers to figurative language, or literary devices. Of course Shakespeare made use of a lot of different types of figurative language in all his plays. Shakespeare's use of language is part of what makes his plays so enjoyable that they are still popular today. I would advise you to look at a list of literary techniques and find some that are used in Macbeth. You can find an extensive list of literary devices . 

Now I'll give you an example of how to plan and then write a P.E.E. paragraph for a specific literary device used in Macbeth. In plays, the playwright often uses a lot of aural devices. These are literary devices that affect the way the words sound to the audience. This means that the author selects words for the way they sound as well as for their meaning and connotations. I'm going to look at one particular aural device called alliteration for my P.E.E. paragraph on Macbeth. Alliteration means having repeated beginning sounds (consonants) in close succession, like "six silly seagulls." (The 's' sound is repeated.) The effect of alliteration can be to make listening to the text more fun, to imitate the sound of something in the text, or to add to the atmosphere or tone. Here's an outline for alliteration in Macbeth following the P.E.E. structure:

• POINT: the use of alliteration helps create atmosphere.


• EXAMPLE: Act I scene i, lines 11-12 -- "Fair is foul, and foul is fair. / Hover through the fog and filthy air."


• EXPLANATION: The repeated 'f' sound makes the witches' voices sound eerie, and adds to the atmosphere created by storm imagery earlier in the scene, because it sounds like the sound of the wind blowing through the trees and grass: 'fff.'
  

Now here's a P.E.E. paragraph for the outline above:

• In Shakespeare's Macbeth, alliteration adds to the atmosphere in many scenes. For example, in Act I scene i, the witches say, "Fair is foul, and foul is fair. / Hover through the fog and filthy air." (lines 11-12.) The repetition of the beginning 'f' sound gives the witches' voices an eerie quality. In addition, the repetition of 'f' creates a sound like the wind hissing through the trees and grasses on the heath, and adds to the atmosphere of a brewing storm which the witches discussed earlier in this scene.

You could add more examples and explanations to this paragraph on alliteration, because it is used a lot in Macbeth. You should be able to find several more literary devices in Macbeth and write P.E.E. paragraphs for each of them. You can read the entire text of Macbeth , with modern English translation and annotations, by clicking .