What techniques has Shakespeare used to make Act 3, Scene 1 of 'Romeo and Juliet' effective?

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Adam Charlton        Page         5/2/2007

Romeo and Juliet Essay

What techniques has Shakespeare used to make Act 3, Scene 1 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ effective?

This essay is on the play “Romeo and Juliet”, written by William Shakespeare in about 1595.

It is a deeply heart-touching tragedy when two “star-cross’d” lovers, who are desperate to be together, are torn apart by a downward spiral of events. From love to hate and from life to death are the themes Shakespeare has based Romeo and Juliet on, as well as the most important one, fate. Fate is used right from the start of the play in chorus. Fate is used a lot in the play, this is because when the play was written people of those times were incredibly superstiotous and believed in curses. “…A pair of star cross’d lovers, take their life:” is the first key example of a premonition being made in the play. A premonition is a forewarning of what is going to happen. Also in the times of the play arranged marriages and young marriages were popular. This complicates Act 3 Scene 1 later on.

Act 3 Scene 1 is a crucial turning point as feelings explode into an array of hatred and love, when character’s personalities shine through and when other’s lives are cut short.

Shakespeare uses fantastic techniques to draw the audience into the play. I will be exploring oxymorons, puns, alliteration and rhyming couplets, which are all used to brilliant effect in Act 3 Scene 1, and which help to develop characters, add humour and define feelings. Shakespeare brings feelings like hate and anger to a new un-explored level.

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Also I will be analysing how Shakespeare uses entrances and exits by characters at certain times to change the mood of the scene.

And finally I will show how Shakespeare develops his characters by using characterisation.

Act 3 Scene 1 is a very important scene for many reasons; many people talk it about as the turning point in the play. This is due to the incidents and outcomes that occur in the scene.

But this is also due to the placing of the scene; it’s structured in the middle of the five-act play allowing the scene to ...

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