With particular reference to Act 1 Scene 5, Act 3 Scene 1 and Act 3 Scene 5, consider how Shakespeare builds tension and brings out the drama of these scenes for an audience?

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With particular reference to Act 1 Scene 5, Act 3 Scene 1 and Act 3 Scene 5, consider how Shakespeare builds tension and brings out the drama of these scenes for an audience?

        During the famous Shakespeare play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Shakespeare uses many devices to build up tension between characters. During this essay I will be outlining the ways he does this focussing mainly on act 1 scene 5, act 3 scene 1 and act 3 scene 5, and the effects this has on the audience.

        Even though the question I was set doesn’t include the prologue I think it is important to explain its significance. The prologue is written as a sonnet and it gives a brief account of the main events in the play. But by doing this it doesn’t reveal the finer details and leaves the audience thirsty to find them out. I also believe the prologue gives a certain air of ‘Impending doom’

        Act 1 scene 5 focuses on the ball; the Capulet ball.  At this point the family’s feud is at an all time high and the audience are aware of this. In Elizabethan times (when the play is set) it was custom for balls to be themed. The ball featured in the play was a masked ball. This made it easy for Romeo to enter without any suspicions. Unlike the modern day all balls were by invitation only. The fact that in effect Romeo is ‘gate crashing’ the ball builds tension even more and leaves the audience waiting in anticipation to find out what happens.

As his friends dance, Romeo watches, and we watch for the moment when he and Juliet will meet. Meanwhile, Capulet gives some orders to the servants and talks with Second Capulet, a cousin of his, saying,

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The "unlook'd-for sport" is the arrival of Romeo and his companions.

I believe that act three, scene one was written to shock the audience. During the previous scene Romeo and Juliet were married by the friar. This makes the atmosphere calm and relaxed. In addition the prologue quotes “pair of star crossed lovers take their life”, meaning that the audience are aware of the fact that Romeo and Juliet are going to die. Compiling all the evidence, the quote, the previous scene, the content atmosphere i believe that act 3, scene one is there to shock the ...

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