Question

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Use the passage to answer the question.

How does the analogy in this excerpt from Shakespeare’s Macbeth help to develop meaning?

It gives a clue as to how the characters wanted to live their lives.
It suggests that life is more valuable when a person has friends.
It hints that some lives are better lived than others.
It highlights the fact that life is fleeting.

Answer 1

"It highlights the fact that life is fleeting."

Shakespeare’s imagery — a "walking shadow" and a "poor player" who has "his hour upon the stage" — stresses life’s brief, insubstantial nature and ultimate disappearance, reinforced by the "tale...signifying nothing."