Much Ado About Nothing

1. Much Ado About Nothing Starter – What happened in Act 2? Bullet points the events and then think about: What has the atmosphere been like in the play so far? Happy/sad/rejoicing? Has it changed at all? Why/why not? Learning Objective - to explore the events in Act 3.

2. We know that Benedick has been fooled into thinking Beatrice loves him … what might come next? Let’s read Act 3, Scene 1 … Beatrice’s soliloquy … what we can we learn about her?

4. Let’s read Act 3, Scene 2 Claudio and Don Pedro joke about all the outward signs of a man who has fallen in love … Can you find any examples?

5. How has the atmosphere changed in this scene? What information does Don John bring? What is Claudio’s reaction? What does this tell us about his character?

6. Let’s read Act 3, Scene 3 where we meet some new characters … What sort of men are Dogberry and Verges? What feelings are an audience likely to have for them? Amusement? Contempt? Why?

7. In lines 24 – 70, Dogberry tells the watch how to deal with four different kings of wrongdoer. Using a table, explain why each type would get away with their ‘crime’ if his advice is followed:

8. What is the point in having this section in the play? Do these characters add any comedy to the play? How and Why? Dogberry and Verges

9. Vs Dogberry and Verges get half their words wrong, providing humour with their ignorance. Yet like Benedick and Beatrice they are in their own way good-hearted and sincere and the humour of both duos, sophisticated and unsophisticated hinges on punning and verbal display.