Literary Devices In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

In William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, ACT 3, scene 1 is a crucial in creating the circumstances that lead to the tragedy of the play. Shakespeare incorporates tragedy into Romeo and Juliet with the use of plot, language devices and aesthetic features. With these devices Shakespeare integrates poetic dialogue, forbidden love and devastating tragedy into the script of the play.

In ACT 3, scene 1, Tybalt kills Mercutio and is killed by Romeo who is then banished by the prince, these unfortunate events contribute to the tragedy of the play. The scene begins with Benvolio and Mercutio hanging out, mocking each other and insulting the Capulets. Trouble arises when Tybalt, searching for Romeo to get revenge for crashing the Capulet party,

One literary device that is utilised is pun. In ACT 3, scene 1, lines 94 and 95, Mercutio makes a pun out of his death, saying, “Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.” There is a play on the meaning of the word grave, grave meaning serious, but in this case, it can be an allusive term for death and a place where the dead are buried. This technique emphasises the tragedy of the situation. Oxymoron is another literary device expertly employed to accentuate the pending tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. In ACT 3, scene 2, line 000, Juliet uses oxymoron to express her distress upon learning of Romeo killing Tybalt, “Beautiful tyrant! Fiend angelical.” This statement uses two conflicting terms together. Oxymoron is used to express Juliet’s internal conflict on Romeo being her husband but him also having killed her cousin

Foreshadowing is used to stubbly warn the audience of the approaching tragedy. Friar Lawrence alludes to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet that will result from their rushed marriage when he tells Romeo in ACT 2, scene 6, line 9, “These violent delights have violent ends.” With violent delights referring to their fiery passion and violent ends to their deaths. Another feature used is simile, in ACT 1, scene 4, line 26 Romeo uses a simile when talking to Mercutio, “Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.” In this simile Romeo compares love to a thorn.

Ultimately, Romeo and Juliet beautifully written play, that explores the tragedy of forbidden love through plot, literary devices and aesthetic features. In ACT 3, scene 1, Tybalt kills Mercutio and is killed by Romeo who is then banished by the prince, these events propel the play towards the tragic ending. The literary devices, pun and oxymoron, used by Shakespeare enhance emotions of the characters and furthermore adding to the tragedy. With aesthetic features such as foreshadowing and simile Shakespeare integrates a unique beauty into this tragic play of forbidden