Read the excerpt from act 1, scene 2 of The Tragedy of Macbeth . The sergeant is relaying events from the battlefront to King Duncan. Duncan: Dismay’d not this Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo? Sergeant: Yes; As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion. If I say sooth, I must report they were As cannons overcharg’d with double cracks; So they Doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe How do the similes in the sergeant’s lines add to the courageous mood in this part of the text?
Answer
A
By comparing Macbeth and Banquo to eagles and lions, the similes show how boldly they fought the enemy.
B
By comparing Macbeth and Banquo to sparrows and hares, the similes show how they overcame great odds.
C
By comparing Macbeth and Banquo’s onslaughts to strokes, the similes imply they were as swift as rowers in a boat.
D
By comparing Macbeth and Banquo’s attacks to overcharged cannons, the similes imply they fought until they were tired.
Explanation
The sergeant says Macbeth and Banquo faced the enemy as “sparrows” face eagles and “the hare” faces the lion—small, vulnerable creatures confronting powerful predators. The comparison highlights the great odds they overcame and makes their courage stand out. Choice A reverses the comparison: Macbeth and Banquo are not being compared to the eagles and lions.
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