Question

What is the purpose of puns in romeo and juliet act 1

A. To lighten the mood and provide comic relief
B. To showcase Mercutio's wit and cleverness
C. To emphasize the themes of love and passion
D. To create a contrast between comedy and tragedy

Answer 1

Puns in Romeo and Juliet Act 1 serve to lighten the mood and provide comic relief. They showcase Mercutio's wit and cleverness.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of puns in Romeo and Juliet Act 1 is to lighten the mood and provide comic relief. Puns are wordplay that creates humor by exploiting multiple meanings of a word or phrase. They are used to add a comedic element to the play and provide a break from the intense drama. Shakespeare uses puns primarily to showcase Mercutio's wit and cleverness as he engages in banter with other characters. One example is when Mercutio makes a pun on the word 'grave' in his dialogue with Romeo.