What is an Alarum in Macbeth?

What is an Alarum in Macbeth?

The term alarum occurs 89 times in Shakespeare’s first folio. The Oxford English Dictionary states that an alarum is “used as a call to arms or warning of imminent danger, esp. of being attacked.”

What does it mean to alarm someone?

alarm. verb. English Language Learners Definition of alarm (Entry 2 of 2) : to cause (someone) to feel a sense of danger : to worry or frighten (someone)

What does Macbeth’s start mean?

“Start” means flinch or recoil. Macbeth is startled. He is startled probably because he takes the predictions seriously, as Banquo does not, and probably because he is extremely ambitious and has considered this possibility before.

What does Monody mean?

1 : an ode sung by one voice (as in a Greek tragedy) 2 : an elegy or dirge performed by one person. 3a : a monophonic vocal piece. b : the monophonic style of 17th century opera.

What does the word Alarum mean in Shakespeare?

The Oxford English Dictionary states that an alarum is “used as a call to arms or warning of imminent danger, esp. of being attacked.” Christopher R. Wilson and Michela Calore’s (2014) invaluable Music in Shakespeare: A Dictionary offers this: This term literally means ‘to arms’ (from the Italian all’armi).

What is the modern equivalent of An Alarum?

An alarum is often used as a more functional device than as a musical element of military spectacle. The modern equivalents of the alarum are things like the military siren or the security alarm; automatic instruments which make hearers aware of danger and the need to prepare arms.

What was the purpose of the alarum drum?

Though no longer the tolling of the bell, the sounding of the trumpet, or the striking of the drum, these modern alarums serve the same function of rousing hearers through the same means of a loud, grating, rhythmic sound.

What does the tolling of An Alarum bell mean?

This would most likely be accompanied by the tolling of an alarum bell rather than a figured piece of music. The bell would be struck as a kind of rude awakening to desperately rouse troops from their sleep and alert them to immediate danger. Even the call of the sentinel itself is a form of alarum in this context.

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