Much Ado About Nothing

Cast of Major Characters

• Leonato (govenor of Messina)
• Hero (his daughter)
• Beatrice (his niece)

Major Characters (cont.)

• Don Pedro (Prince of Aragon, in modern Spain)
• Don John (his brother, jealous of crown)
• Count Claudio (commander in Don Pedro/Prince's army and his friend)
• Benedick (soldier in Don Pedro's army)

Setting: Messina, Italy
Some time in the early 1600's

Background:
Don Pedro (Prince) has just finished a battle/war with his younger brother, Don John, over something (who knows).

Don Pedro (Prince) won, and is gloating in the first act. His brother, Don John, lost and is very bitter about it.

Character foil:
Review the definition of a character foil.

Important Character Pairs/Foils

• Hero --- Claudio
• Beatrice --- Benedick
• Don Pedro --- Don John

Act I, Scene i
What happens in the first onstage conversation between Benedick and Beatrice?

Next, what happens in the first "conversation" between Hero and Claudio?

What does the prince vow to do at the end of Act I, scene i?

Act I, scene ii:
What does Lenato hear about The Prince, Don Pedro? Why is this confusing?

Act I, scene iii:
What does Don John vow to do when he hears that Claudio loves hero?

Day 2, Act II:
We need to do some character analysis of the character pairs:
Hero -- Claudio
Beatrice -- Benedick

In your groups, read each of the following passages and summarize them. Then, explain what it tells the audience about that character.

How to do citations in Shakespeare (act.scene.lines)
Example: The first lines of the play, "I learn in this letter that Don Pedro..." (1.1.1-2).

Beatrice:
"By my troth, niece..."
(2.1.17-49).
What do we know about Beatrice?

Benedick:
"Troth, my lord..."
(2.1.210-270).
What does this tell us about Benedick?

Claudio:
"My liege, your Highness may now do me good..."
(1.1.284-323). What does this tell us about Claudio?

Hero:
"Daughter, remember what I told you..." (2.1.65-95). What is Beatrice saying to Hero? What does this tell us about her?

Day 3, Act III

Group 1: Revisit the Ruse, summarize Act II, scene iii, especially lines 95 - 220.

Group 2: Summarize Act III, scene i
How do Hero and Ursula characterize Beatrice?
(Find quote to prove.)

Group 3: Summarize Act III, scene ii
How has Benedick changed? (Find lines to prove this.)

Group 4: Summarize Act III, scene iii
What exactly is Borachio's plan?
(lines 130 to the end)

Group 5: Summarize Act III, scene iv
How does Hero mock Beatrice?
(line 40 to the end)

Group 6: theme of marriage
How is marriage different for Hero than is it is for Beatrice?

Group 7: theme of lies and deceit
Is it right to trick Benedick in this play? What reasons do they give for doing so?

Group 8: theme of gender
Does Beatrice act too manly in this play? Find an example of when she acts in a masculine way.

Group 9: theme of courtship
Why are Hero and Claudio getting married without ever having really spoken? Can they really be in love?

Day 4
Act IV