Literary elements can make literature more interesting, easier to understand even allude to other works. Like many writers, William Shakespeare uses many literary elements. Foreshadowing is used to keep the reader hooked; allusions help further explain what is meant. In any one of Shakespeare's plays, countless devices can be found. From foreshadowing to irony, Shakespeare uses them all. In Mac Beth irony, supernatural aspects, and imagery or symbolism are a few of the more prevalent devices.
             There are three basic types of irony: dramatic, verbal, and situational. Verbal irony is, "a difference in what is said and what is meant."1 Sarcasm is one type of verbal irony, however, there are several. One example from Mac Beth is during his final visit to the Weird Sisters. Upon leaving the sisters, the first witch sarcastically comments on Mac Beth's forgetting to thank them. The first witch comments, "That this great king may kindly say our duties did his welcome pay. (4.1.131-132). Dramatic irony is, "the difference between what the audience knows and what a character knows to be true"1. In Mac Beth, an example is Lennox asking Mac Beth if the king is planning to leave Mac Beth's castle for home. Lennox asks, "Goes the king hence today?" To which Mac Beth responds, "He does: he did appoint so." (2.3.54-54). Another example, of dramatic irony is when Lady Mac Beth is notified of the death of Duncan in their house she responds with complete shock, " Woe, alas! What in our house?" (2.3.92). Both dialogues are ironic because the audience is completely aware of both Mac Beth's plot to murder the king and of Lady Mac Beth's knowledge of this plot. Situational irony is defined as, "a difference between what happens, and what is expected to happen"1. An optimum example of situational irony is the way the Weird Sister's prophecies unfold...