Methods to increase tension.

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Faduma Ali Ossoble 8:4                                                                                      English: Miss Brambeld

What technique does Shakespeare use to create tension in Act 3, Scene 1?       Friday 19th October                                     2007 

        Shakespeare has cleverly used a variety of techniques in which the tension builds or drops at different times. In the scene before Romeo and Juliet have just gotten married oblivious to there friends and family, the audience and Friar Lawrence only know. Also Benvolio, Mercutio and Romeo have another brawl with Tybalt.

        An example of an technique Shakespeare uses is dramatic irony, the first we see of dramatic irony in this scene is when Benvolio and Mercutio are in a public place and Benvolio gives a subtle hint that there will be fight, this is when he says “I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire. The day is hot, the Capels are broad; And if we meet, we shall not escape a brawl, for now, these hot days is the mad blood stirring.” This quote is like a warning to the audience that there’s going be fight or at least a confrontation. I think this a good technique as it leaves the mind to question if it’s going to happen and anticipate what will happen next if there was to be a fight, which there is.

        Another example of dramatic irony is…

        Another technique Shakespeare uses is character entering at this point in the scene Benvolio and Mercutio are talking and the atmosphere is light-hearted then Tybalt enters the tension rises noticeably. I know this because consequently Benvolio says “By my head, here comes the Capulets.” And Mercutio responses” By my heel, I care not.” He says this to make light of the situation.

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         As Shakespeare doesn’t use stage directions or any descriptions these quotes show that Benvolio is worried about what’s going to happen and the tension rises but Mercutio couldn’t care less and tries to make light of the awkward situation as expected. Overall this is the effect of just a character entering which I think is good technique because it shows sudden rise of tension which I think is as good as stage direction and maybe more effective then stage directions which tell you were to move or go, were as this through speech kind of tells you there reaction.  

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