Much Ado About Nothing
Vocab Act One
1. Ado:fuss, especially about something that is unimportant
2. The word "nothing" in the play's title has always been the subject of
speculation. No one knows if
Shakespeare chose the word "nothing" with the intention of being ambiguous.
In Elizabethan common dialect,
perceiving makes a lot of sense in the play.
Note how many key events in the play
reflect the meaning above — overhearing or observing.
3. The story takes place in Messina, Italy on the wealthy estate of Leonato. The date is indeterminate but likely in the 16th Century.
4. SKIP
Vocab
5. Hath: has
Ere: before
Don: a Spanish title prefixed to a male forename; a gentleman/nobleman
6. Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon(et al., Benedick and Claudio) comes; his arrival is a huge event in Messina. 7. Claudio, young lord of Florence, has
been bestowed with honor in the recent battle---he fought well!
8. She says that she “promised to eat all his killing,” an obvious overstatement. Her statement implies that she didn’t think Benedick would do well in the battle. The fact that she asks about Benedick may indicate that she is
interested in his safe return from the wars, but she doesn’t want to ask
9. He’s fickle and inconstant, always
changing friends (“He has every month a new sworn brother.”); he will
degrade anyone who becomes his
friend (“Is there no young squarer now that will make a voyage with him to make the devil?”). Being friends with Benedick is like catching a disease---even the plague! Ouch! Beatrice does not hold back in her criticisms of
Benedick.
10. Beatrice has known Benedick in the past, and he never fights fair.
11. SKIP
Vocab
*Note the personification when Benedick says, “My dear Lady Disdain”; an abstract word like
“disdain” is not a “lady”/person. This reduces Beatrice to a scornful person, Benedick’s way of insulting with her. *Note: The name Beatrice alludes to Italian writer Dante’s love interest of the same name.
Exuent: exit
13. “Why my Lady Disdain! Are you yet living?”/ “Is it possible Disdain should die while she hath such meet (suitable) food to feed it as Signior Benedick?” 14. Benedick says that all the ladies love
him except her (l. 106). Betarice
99). Beatrice says that Benedick is so ugly that scratching his face would not even make him look any worse (l. 116). Benedick says that Beatrice never
stops talking, assumingly saying nothing of importance (l. 120). Vocab
15. Cuckold: the husband of an adulteress and who is mocked because of his
Bosom: close or intimate (friend) 16. Claudio: “Can the world buy such a
jewel?”/ Benedick: “Yea, and the case to put it into.”
17. “I’ll do myself the right to trust none.” 18. Hero is short. Hero is not as good
looking as Beatrice.
19. He says she is “worthy.”
20. Claudio could be thinking about a
possible heir. No, she is an only child, so she will inherit all of Leonato’s
money.
21. Claudio looked on Hero with a
“soldier’s eye” meaning he didn’t have time to focus on love prior to war, but now he can.
persuade Hero to marry Claudio.
Claudio has already been identified as the Prince’s favorite soldier.
23. Borachio, one of Don John’s associates overhears the conversation. He takes this information to Don John, the
bastard brother of Don Pedro. 24. a. Leonato
b. Benedick c. Betarice d. Don John e. Claudio
*For each quote, say what it means and why it’s important (character, plot, or theme).
Act One, Scene Three
1. woo: romantically pursue (attempting to marry a woman)
2. Don John seems to be jealous of the close bond between Claudio and Don Pedro. He may also be still bitter
about the wars recently fought.
3. Don Jon plans to ruin the marriage of Claudio and Hero, thereby hurting his brother.
4. a. Don John (he is a plain dealing villain)
b. Don John (he has no interest in being liked by his brother)
Act Two Scene 1
Vocab
2. An ideal man can’t be too young or too old.
3. Leonato tells Hero that if the prince proposes: “You know your answer.” Hero is to follow her father’s
instructions. Her own feelings don’t seem to matter. Beatrice tells Hero jokingly that Hero shouldn’t marry a man she finds unattractive.
4. Beatrice changes the words you/me to show that women should not be
subservient to men: “Father as it please you” becomes “Father as it please me.”
5. Identify Quotation
Leonato says this statement. He is pointing out that Beatrice will
stop her harsh comments (“shrewish tongue”).
Vocab/Allusions
6. Mirth: happiness
Harpy From mythology: a rapacious
monster described as having a woman's head and body and a bird's wings and claws or depicted as a bird of prey with a woman's face.
Wherefore: why
7. Benedick claims that someone told him that she is disdainful and gets her jokes from a book (not original).
Beatrice claims that she overheard that Benedick is the “Prince’s jester” (“a very dull fool”). Yes, they seem to recognize one another and enjoy
8. Don John tells Claudio (who is
pretending to be Benedick) that Hero is not as worthy as he thinks (“She is no equal of his birth”).
9. She’s happy for her cousin. She seems to feel somewhat left out (“I’ll sit in a corner and cry heigh-ho for a
husband”)
10. He feels insulted—“She misused me…” (calling him the “prince’s jester”); he can no longer stand to be in Beatrice’s presence.
13. They will take on the role of Cupid---matchmakers---hoping to get Beatrice and Benedick to fall in love.
14. He asks her to marry him, which she declines arguing that he is too good for her.
15. Quotations a.
b. c.
16. Skip
Act 2.3
I’m amazed that a man, after watching romance turn another man into a fool and laughing at that man, can turn right around and become the thing he’s
scorned. That’s the kind of man Claudio is. I knew him when he listened to
nothing but the military drum and fife; now he would rather hear the sweet and refined music of the tabor and pipe. I
knew him when he would’ve walked ten miles to see a well-crafted suit of armor; now he spends ten nights awake in his room designing himself a fancy new jacket. He used to speak plainly and to the point, like an honorable man and
2. Vocab: Hither—move to or toward Dote—be uncritically fond of Abhor---hate
3. How do the men entrap Benedick? 4. SKIP
5. SKIP
6. List an example of dramatic irony. 7. Choose one quote to identify.
*SKIP, if you are a reader in the play. Act 3.1
1. Trothed: loyalty
2. For this section, choose any two
questions and answer those questions only. Remember to number your
Act 3.2-Act 3.3
1. Give three examples of malapropism (misuse of words)spoken by Dogberry. Pages 47-49. Write the word misused word and intended word
Example: comprehended… apprehended
2. SKIP
SKIP to Act 4 Act 4.1
1. SKIP
2. Allusion--Claudio compares Hero to Venus (or Aphrodite) to point out her lustiness/infidelity
7. Identify speaker. SKIP, if you are a reader.
8. Slander (verb): to make false and
damaging statements about (someone).
9. Answer
10.Answer
11. SKIP
12. List at least three examples:
Loyal Disloyal
Antonio/Leonato Don John/Don
Pedro
Act V
1. SKIP
2.SKIP
3. SKIP
4. Answer
5. Answer
6. Answer
7. Identify speaker
8. SKIP
9. Answer
10. Answer
11. SKIP
12. Identify speaker
Act 5.4
1. SKIP
2. Answer
3. Answer
4. Answer
Summary Questions
Choose any five questions to answer. Write a paragraph response. Your response should be yours, and not copied.
