How Shakespeare Create a Sense of Tension

How Shakespeare Create a Sense of Tension

English Essay 2nd February 2009

How Does Shakespeare create a sense of tension throughout this scene?

Firstly I believe that he does this by showing the extreme rivalry and hatred between the few people shown in this scene, and shows how everything may erupt at any second. In the way that Mercutio always twists the words of benvolio, to make it seem like he wants to fight, also Romeo Tries to cease the fight however this fails and they continue as if he was not there in the first place.
Short sentences
how the emotion is put across
look at the scene sentence by sentence- think about irony
think about temper

The very short sharp replies to some sentences give off the effect of hatred between the two rivals of each family and shows how much they do not care for excuses, reasoning, or postponement In Act III Scene I, Shakespeare begins with Benvolio:
"I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire. The day is hot, the Capulet abroad, And, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl, for now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring."
What Benvolio means is:
"Please Mercutio, let's go. It's hot, the Capulets are around, and if we meet them, there'll be a fight. This hot weather makes tempers flare!"
Right there, when Benvolio mentions a fight, you know something horrible is to happen in this act. Mercutio doesn't care, even when Tybalt appears. Mercutio actually challenges Tybalt to start a dual, or fight, with him. Mercutio doesn't care if the Prince catches them fighting because if a member of the Capulet or Montague family is caught fighting, they'll be put to death. It works, and Tybalt, unfortunately, kills Mercutio.

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