Sometimes I will assign these to you; sometimes they'll just be there to help you check your understanding. Feel free to print them out!
Much Ado About Nothing Reading Questions. These are to help you know what to look for as you read your assignments. Some we’ll do in class or use as discussion questions. If you choose to do these in writing, you will be able to present them for credit on a quiz IF you have them done on the day of the quiz. Please, if you choose to do them in writing, do them on a separate lined sheet OR type them out. Don’t scrawl the answers into the spaces provided.
Also, if you come to me and say you can’t understand the readings, I will ask you to use the questions. Far more people give up too fast rather than being truly incapable of getting the basics of what ol’ William is writing about. So. Save these to your desktop. Live ‘em, love ‘em, use ‘em. :)
NOTE: USE THE NOTES ON THE FACING PAGES TO HELP YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT’S GOING ON! YOU MIGHT ALSO USE THE ‘NO FEAR’ LINK I’VE PROVIDED!
Act I, i, up to p. 11.
1. Why is Don Pedro stopping by Messina?
2. Beatrice asks about Senor Mountanto, which is her nickname for Signor Benedick. What does that nickname indicate about her feeling for him/his attitude?
3. She tells the (very confused) messenger that she promised to eat all the men Benedick killed in the war. What did she mean by that promise?
4. What kind of a person does Beatrice seem to be?
5. Record and explain ONE joke that Beatrice makes about Benedick, or anything else, that you understand.
PAUSE ON Page 11! Feel proud for figuring out what’s up!
Reading Questions for rest of Act I:
1. How do Don Pedro and Leonato feel about each other?
2. How do Benedick and Beatrice act toward each other?
3. What/who is Claudio interested in? How does Benedick respond to his interest?
4. How does Don Pedro (the Prince) respond to Claudio’s interest?
In the Prince’s final speech, he sets out a plan: what is it?
TINY SCENE: I, ii: According to Leonato’s brother Antonio, who wants to marry Hero?
Reading Questions for Act I, iii:
1. What is the Elizabethan theory of HUMORS? Explain how that theory explains Don John’s personality. What is he like?
2. Conrade gives Don John advice in lines 14 - 19: what does he tell Don John about showing his true nature?
3. Borachio appears with news: what gossip has he picked up?
4. Why is Don John interested in this gossip?
5. Find one line that clearly shows Don John’s personality AND THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU.
Remember: Act numbers are given in capital Roman numerals (I, II, III. . . up to V!) and scene numbers are given in lower case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii. . . ) while LINE numbers, which help you locate quotations, are given in arabic numerals (252, 694).
.
II, i: The ParTAY! MAY COUNT AS A QUIZ if we have one and you struggle on it! !!!!!!!!!!
1. Leonato is giving a welcome party for Don Pedro (also known as “the Prince”) and his men. It will be a masquerade party, so no one will be EXACTLY sure who is who. Given that the Prince is going to “woo” Hero either AS Claudio or just FOR Claudio, given that Don Leonato thinks the Prince is going to ask Hero to marry him, given that Don John has sworn to mess things up, given that Benedick is mad at Beatrice and she’s mad at him and they both swear they’re never going to marry. . . . . .deep breath. . . . .
. . . . what are TWO (fairly interesting, plot-forwarding) things you think might reasonably happen at the party? Explain them as much as necessary.
2. Now, start reading. Let’s see if you and Shakespeare agree! According to Beatrice, what would the perfect man be like? Read l. 6 - 15 and give us her “recipe”.
3. Don Leonato thinks that the Prince is going to propose to Hero. What does he want her to say? Read line 65.
•LINE 84 on: Don Pedro and Hero dance off, Margaret (check the list of characters for who she is) and Benedick joke around, and Ursula and Antonio (do the same for them) show up as well. Then. . . .
4. Read Bendick and Beatrice’s long scene together. Remember they are masked.
What is one insulting thing the “masked stranger” tells Beatrice that Benedick has said about her?
5. What is one insulting thing Beatrice tells this “mysterious man” about Benedick?
6. Do you think either character knows to whom s/he is speaking? Why or why not?
7. . Don John and the Boys appear. . . . and read what they say to Claudio. Read Claudio’s response, 170 - 180. Put TWO things he says into your own words and write them below.
8. Benedick comes to get Claudio and Claudio speaks angrily to him, “I pray you, leave me.” Read and explain Benedick’s response in l. 196. It’s a strong visual simile. What does he mean by it?
9. Before the Claudio confusion is cleared up, the Prince and Benedick discuss Beatrice. Read Benedick’s long complaint about her, and find one vivid description Benedick provides about how Beatrice treated him or how horrible she is, etc.
Explain what it means and write it out as well. Give the line number.
10. When Beatrice finds Claudio and brings him to the Prince, find the line where the Prince clears up Claudio’s mistake.
11. EXTRA: Read and explain Claudio’s response in l. 300 -303.
12. What unfolds between the Prince and Beatrice in l. 314 - 322. ???!!!!
13. Perhaps inspired by the above, the Prince. . . . read and explain the gist of l. 353 - 377. What will occupy the group during the week before the wedding? THIS IS SUPER-IMPORTANT!
EXTRA: Beatrice mentions that she knows Benedick from before (“You always end with a jade’s trick/I know you of old,” and “Marry, once before he won [my heart] from me with false dice. . .”). As you did for Don John and his brother, make up your own explanation of what happened earlier between Beatrice and Benedick.
II, ii: How does Don John feel at the start of II, ii, and why?
What ALTERNATE plan does Borachio offer to “cheer him up”?
iii: 1. Why has Claudio changed so much, according to Benedick?
What are two ways Claudio has changed? Use your good brains and the side notes to help!
Why does Benedick hide when he hears his friends enter, and what does he hear that KEEPS him hiding?
According to Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio, how has Beatrice been acting lately? Give an example.
Why do the men think they should NOT tell Benedick about Beatrice’s feelings?
How does this scene affect Benedick?
POTENTIAL QUIZ? II, iii, III i and ii--note to me, but maybe it’ll inspire you to be really ready!
III, i: The Catching Scene for BEATRICE
--Who are the three women (two have major parts) who set Beatrice up for this trick?
--What are some of the nice things they say about BENEDICK?
--What are some of the mean things they say about BEATRICE?
--How does Beatrice respond to what she has heard?
NOTE THE PARALLEL TO THE SCENE WITH BENEDICK!
III, ii: (91 - 99)
--What are Claudio and the Prince discussing at the start of the scene?
--How has Benedick changed? And, as the alert audience, you know why: WHY?
--Why do his friends think his changed attitude is so funny?
--Notice how this happy, silly mood is broken by Don John. What does Don John mean when he says Hero is “Leonato’s Hero, your Hero, every man’s Hero”?
(91 - 99 con’t) --How do Claudio and the Prince respond to Don John’s “news”? What do they plan to do, and why?
a. Claudio will
b. The Prince will
III, iii (99 - 109) The Watch. . . As you should remember from the film version, these guys are pretty funny and dumb. HOWEVER, they are trying HARD to be good watchmen. Read over what they talk about, and find one assignment that Dogberry and Verges give the men and explain how foolish it is. (101, 103 are good choices). Remember, these guys are THE LAW!
--Nevertheless, at the VERY end, who do they manage to arrest? Why is this a good thing?
(111 - 115) During III, iv, what are the women getting ready for?
--What do they tease HERO about? (What is she preparing for?)
--What do Margaret, Hero and Ursula tease BEATRICE about in this scene?
--What is the most common form of FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE used in this scene?
Again, notice the mood: silly, happy, excited. Use your outside knowledge to remember what is going to happen at the wedding that will be a big contrast!!
(117 - 119) III, v: What is LEONATO trying to prepare for when Dogberry and Verges come in?
--Why are they there? What news do they bring? (You should know this without even reading this scene!)
--Why doesn’t Leonato “get” what they are saying? Give one example of Dogberry’s inability to communicate.
--Where does Leonato head off to, and where are Dogberry and Verges headed at the end of the act?
( 123 - 145)Act IV, i THE WEDDING THAT WASN’T: Yeah, it’s long , but it’s full of what the Germans call “sturm and drang” and it’ll read pretty fast. Study the person you have chosen or been assigned, answer the following questions IN WRITING: How does your character respond to the charges against Hero? What are his/her concerns and emotions? Do they change? Why? What does this scene reveal about your character’s personality and attitude toward trusting others?
Don Pedro Claudio Beatrice Hero Benedick
Leonato Friar Don John
IF your person exits early, be sure to read the end of the scene so you know THE PLAN that they come up with. THIS IS A MAJOR SCENE; it is LIKELY there will be a quiz. . . hint, hint. . . .
Reading Questions IV, ii (145 - 151)
How does the testimony go?
If you CAN, comment on the IRONY of the situation: the Watch thinks Conrade and Borachio are bad because they ___________________________________________, when in reality. . . ?????????????????
Finally, finally, finally, and to our great relief, . . . . who breaks in and clears up what the REAL crime is?
.
Reading Quests for 155 - 177 : V, i
1. What is Leonato’s mood at the beginning of V, i? Find a few adjectives to describe it.
2. What is Don Pedro/Prince and Claudio’s attitude toward Leonato? Remember the respect they showed each other at the start. What is going on now? Read especially carefully AFTER Leonato and Antonio leave the scene.
3. DP and Claudio joke with Benedick awhile and then realize BENEDICK is not in a joking mood: what does he say that shows he’s not “on their side” anymore?
4. The Watch enters: how does DP treat them in lines 230 - 233? Read Dogberry’s speech above it, first.
5. How do Don Pedro and Claudio change their attitude after Borachio’s long speech? Summarize what they say that shows their NEW understanding.
6. When Borachio claims that he “alone” killed Hero, Leonato corrects him, saying,
“No, not so, villain, thou beliest thyself.
Here stands a pair of honorable men--
A third is fled--that had a hand in it.”
What is Leonato saying? Why do you think he takes this tone and this approach? Discuss!
7. What is the plan that Claudio and the Prince agree to as the scene ends? A little complicated, but that’s Shakespearean comedy for you!
V, ii, p. 177 - 183
Margaret and Benedick exchange some PUNS, most of which are too raunchy for me to explain (blush, blush). After line 25, what is Benedick trying to write? THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THE LAST SCENE OF THE PLAY!
Then Beatrice comes in: p. 181, and very soon offers to “depart unkissed”: why? What has not been done yet?
Keep an eye open for some good OXYMORONS between Beatrice and Benedick. . . and some stuff I don’t get about widows and crying and stuff, and then : URSULA COMES IN WITH NEWS: WHAT IS IT????
V, iii: p. 183: Claudio does his public apology to Hero’s “spirit” (nudge, nudge). Look at the form of the writing: it’s all in metered verse, and it all RHYMES now. !!!
What is ONE of the things Claudio says in his poem? Be able to explain it!
.
V, iv: p. 187:
1. What’s up with Margaret? Is she in trouble or not?
2. What is the plan, once again? Claudio has agreed to marry __________________________________________ to make up for his ____________________________________________________.
Suddenly, Benedick asks the Friar “to bind me, or undo me, one of them”: what does he MEAN? What is he asking the Friar (a priest, remember) to do?
Benedick is surprised that Leonato, the Prince, and Claudio all tease him a little (p. 189, 190): what do THEY know that he doesn’t think they know?
line 65: Hero unmasks, and what does she want Claudio to know? (This drives me nuts.)
Suddenly Benedick steps forward: he asks Beatrice, “Do not you love me?” Knowing Beatrice, why is that not a good way to start off?
The two mouthy characters ALMOST give up on loving each other: why? And who saves the day, and how? (Remember that poem we saw Benedick writing. . .!).
At the last minute before the two marriages, a messenger arrives with news: what is the news? What “brave punishments” would YOU “devise” if you were the Prince?
What do you think is the “moral of the story”? See if you can find a line which offers it!
THREE CHEERS: YOU HAVE (mostly) READ AND (mostly) UNDERSTOOD SHAKESPEARE!!!!!!!!!!! You should be reviewing TYPES of FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE from the sheet I have given you TWICE. We’ll be working/studying/reviewing it soon, but it’s fair quiz game already!
.
RQ Act II, iii, and III, i and ii
1. What are some of the details that the men share about Beatrice’s supposed love for Benedick? List at least TWO.
2. When the women lay their trap for Beatrice, why do they say they don’t dare tell her about Benedict’s “true feelings”? What do they say she would do?
3. What is Beatrice’s response to the news she “overhears”?
4. What does Don John mean when he says Hero is “Leonato’s Hero, your Hero, every man’s Hero”? You might discuss the pun here as well as the insult!
5. How do Claudio and the Prince respond to Don John’s “news”? What do they plan to do, and why?
a. Claudio will
b. The Prince will
Extra credit: According to literary experts like Aristotle, Northrup Frye, and Ms. Leamon, what is the general motion of a comedy? How do characters start off, and where/how do they tend to end up? How is this motion different from that of a TRAGEDY?
.
Reading Quiz over End of Act IV, Much Ado NAME:
1. What does “Hero’s team” decide to do, generally, now that the wedding is off? Don’t worry about being too specific--get the big idea!
2. After everyone else has left, Beatrice and Benedick are left alone, for the first time since they have been set up by their friends. How do they treat each other?
3. What does Beatrice ask Benedick to do to prove his love for her?
4. How does Benedick respond to her request?
5. What piece of news does the Sexton share with the “hearing” that makes it clear that the foolish Watch has actually stumbled onto a real crime?
EXTRA CREDIT:What is the BIG CRIME that Dogberry really wants the men to be charged with? In other words, what really offends him about Conrade’s words?
.Reading Quiz over End of Act IV, Much Ado NAME:
1. What does “Hero’s team” decide to do, generally, now that the wedding is off? Don’t worry about being too specific--get the big idea!
2. After everyone else has left, Beatrice and Benedick are left alone, for the first time since they have been set up by their friends. How do they treat each other?
3. What does Beatrice ask Benedick to do to prove his love for her?
4. How does Benedick respond to her request?
5. What piece of news does the Sexton share with the “hearing” that makes it clear that the foolish Watch has actually stumbled onto a real crime?
EXTRA CREDIT:What is the BIG CRIME that Dogberry really wants the men to be charged with? In other words, what really offends him about Conrade’s words?