Shakespeare's dramatic structure is a five-act technique with each act serving a particular function in developing the story. The first act is dedicated to outlining the time and setting of the play. It also introduces the main conflict in the drama and details the dynamics between character relationships. The second act includes the rising action that peeks audience interest and intensifies the conflict, pushing it towards the climax. The third act is the turning point in play where the most serious conflict has been addressed, but the tragic hero begins to fall to their inevitable end. The fourth act is used to climax the action of the play and begin the falling action as the forces advance on the tragic hero to claim his life. The fifth act includes the catastrophe that destroys the tragic hero and details the consequences of his previous actions.
Shakespeare frequently employs irony as a dramatic technique to build tension and suspense. Typically, Shakespeare used three types of irony - verbal, situational and dramatic irony. Verbal irony is very similar to sarcasm. It's defined as the discrepancy between the words spoken by a character and what they mean generally for the purpose of insulting another character. Situational irony refers to an instance when the action or event in the play plays out in the completely opposite or different way than was expected by the audience and characters. Dramatic irony happens when one character reveals their intentions to only the audience, giving the audience an insider's edge while the rest of the characters remain ignorant.
Shakespeare used a plethora of dramatic techniques to develop character. Tragic hero, the round or flat character and the soliloquy are amongst the most frequently used techniques. Tragic hero refers to a dramatic technique that develops the protagonist of a tragedy towards an inevitable fall, often due to self-pride. The tragic hero realizes too late the consequences of his actions at which point reparations are impossible to make. Tragic heroes are a good example of round characters with complex qualities that change due to the influence of other characters and events beyond their control. Flat characters have only one or two traits that don't change throughout the play; these characters aren't major proponents of the drama. The soliloquy is a technique employed by Shakespeare to develop the complexity of a drama's round characters. It involves a moment on the stage where a character, left alone without the possibility of being overheard, pours out his deepest thoughts and ideas directly to the audience.
Shakespeare uses dramatic techniques such as foreshadowing, character foils and juxtaposition to build suspense and tension within the audience and between characters. Foreshadow is subtle technique that reveals a glimpse or hint of upcoming events. This knowledge builds tension in the audience as they await for the glimpse or hint to come to fruition. Character foil happens when two characters are sharply contrasted against one another. Similarly, juxtaposition occurs when two things, ideas or images are placed directly side by side for contrast. The point of these two dramatic techniques is to challenge the audience to see the contrasting difference which reveals a deeper meaning.