Lexical field
A group of words related by shared semantic features or meaning, such as colour words, emotion words, or terms for family relationships. Lexical fields show how concepts are organised and prioritised in a language.
Real World
In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the dominant lexical field of blood and darkness ('gore', 'stain', 'night', 'shadow') pervades the play, creating a sustained atmosphere of guilt that A-level English Literature essays frequently analyse.
Exam Focus
Identify the lexical field, quote three or more examples from across the text, then explain the cumulative effect on meaning.
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