Find personification, similes, or metaphors in Act II and explain how Shakespeare’s use of figurative language influences your understanding of the play.

1.

Act II opens immediately with personification. Banquo refers to the moon as "she." He then notices that "There's husbandry in heaven. Their candles are all out." Also, in scene 3, Lennox employs personification by commenting that the Earth shook and was "feverous."

In Scene 2, Macbeth laments about his restlessness and uses a metaphor by comparing his sleep to "great nature’s second course." Lady Macbeth then calls her husband a coward and uses a simile to compare dead bodies to harmless pictures, saying, "The sleeping and the dead are but as pictures."

In Act II, Scene 4, when the old man speaks to Ross about the recent occurrences, he speaks in a metaphor saying: “Threescore and ten I can remember well, within the volume of which time I have seen hours dreadful and things strange(2.4.1-3). Here, time is compared to a "volume," a book in which recordings have been made.  Ross's response also contains metaphors: “Darkness does the face of earth entomb.” (2,4,10). Here, Ross implies that evil will cover the land, the "face" of the earth.  

2.

Shakespeare’s mastery of figurative devices conveyed the play as more than literary art but an adventure through the play. His utilization of sound devices such as alliteration and assonance brought the play an appeal to the senses.

Several similes and metaphors were employed but the personifications had the most influence personally. It made plots very relatable. You could almost feel the earth shake in its fever.

His use of hyperbole in;  

‘"Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red" (2.3.60-64).’ describes Macbeth’s perception of the gore of his guilt. That was artfully described such that one understands the depths of Macbeth’s depravity.

true

explanation:

- the mistakes that have been done in the past will repeat themselves

- you will trust all the wrong people