A stichomythia is a form of dramatic dialogue that dates to the verse drama of ancient Greece. Alternating lines of dialogue are used to heighten intensity or provide a spirited exchange between characters. Each character's lines are typically brief and might consist of only two or three words.

How does Shakespeare use Stichomythia?

Through the influence of Seneca, stichomythia was adapted to the drama of Elizabethan England, most notably by William Shakespeare in comedies such as Love's Labour's Lost and in the memorable exchange between Richard and Queen Elizabeth in Richard III (IV, iv). ...

How is Stichomythia used in Macbeth?

Stichomythia: This happens when Macbeth and Lady Macbeth exchange dialogue rapidly to show the increasing tension and guilt. Macbeth feels immediate guilt after what he has done. His paranoia starts to surface when he expresses his concern about voices he heard.