| Major theme | Reputation |
| Setting | Messina, Italy |
| Shakespeare wrote Much Ado in | 1598 |
| It has ___ acts | 5 |
| Came out in theaters in | 1993 |
| Leonato | Hero’s father |
| Antonio | Leonato’s brother |
| Hero | Leonato’s daughter |
| Beatrice | Hero’s cousin |
| Actress of Hero | Kate Beckindale |
| Actress of Beatrice | Emma Thompson |
| Margaret and Ursula | Gentlewomen attending Hero and Beatrice |
| Friar Francis | priest |
| Dogberry | Master Constable |
| Actor of Dogberry | Michael Keaton |
| Verges | Assistant of Dogberry |
| Watchmen | Officers of Dogberry |
| Don Pedro | Prince of Aragon |
| Actor of Don Pedro | Denzel Washington |
| Claudio | a young lord |
| Actor of Claudio | Robert Sean Leonard |
| Benedick | Young lord |
| Actor of Benedick | Kenneth Branagh |
| Don John | half brother of Don Pedro |
| Actor of Don John | Keanu Reeves |
| Directed by | Kenneth Branagh |
| Borachio and Conrade | side-kicks of Don John |
| blithe | carefree, happy |
| bonny | pretty |
| aversion | extreme dislike |
| deride | ridicule |
| berate | to put down, criticize |
| disdain | contempt, scorn, to look down on |
| thwart | to interfere with |
| repudiate | to denounce |
| arbor | garden |
| ardor | passion |
| infidelity | unfaithfulness |
| rustic | typical of country life, simple, unsophisticated |
| malapropism | misuse of a similar sounding word |
| rendezvous | a prearranged meeting |
| exonerate | to free from blame |
| ineptitude | lack of sense, foolish |
| pompous | arrogant |
| maid | a virgin |
| stale | a promiscuous woman |
| drab | prostitute |
| cuckold | someone whose love is unfaithful to him |
| much ado about nothing | making a big deal about nothing |
| noting/nothing | much ado about eavesdropping |
| noting was slang for | sex |
| The play opens with Leonato receiving a letter telling him that Don Pedro and his men are coming to Messina for a visit. We find out during Act 1 that the war was actually between whom, and what was the result? | Don John tried to overthrow his half-brother, Don Pedro. Don Pedro forgave him and brought him along on vacation. |
| How do Beatrice and Benedick treat each other, and why? | “Merry War”, always fighting. They still have fillings for each other |
| Who is Claudio interested in and what question does Claudio ask Don Pedro about her? | Hero. If she was the only child |
| How does Benedick feel about Hero? | He is not attracted to Hero |
| What does Don John plan on happening before Benedick dies? | For Benedick to fall in love/ get married |
| What offer does Don Pedro make to Claudio? | To act as Claudio and ask Hero to marry him |
| In Scene 3, while Don John is speaking to Conrade, what information obtained by eavesdropping does Borachio bring to Don John? | That Don Pedro is going to help Claudio ask Hero to marry Claudio |
| What resolution does Don John make? | Going attempt to ruin it |
| The beginning of Act 2 begins at the costume party that night. After seeing Don John, Beatrice says he gives her heartburn because he is so melancholy. She then says the perfect man would be between what 2 men? | Don John and Benedick |
| What advice does Beatrice give Hero before they go into the party? | Pick her own husband and that he is good looking |
| Who pairs off at the party? | Don Pedro (who’s pretending to be Claudio) and Hero, Borachio and Margaret, Ursula and Antonio, Beatrice and Benedick |
| Beatrice pretends to Benedick that she doesn’t recognize him and insults him. What is his reaction? | His feelings are hurt |
| What lie does Don John tell Claudio and how does he react? | That Don Pedro wants Hero for himself and Claudio believes him and drops Hero |
| Beatrice leads Claudio over to Don Pedro. What does Don Pedro say to him? | That Hero said yes and her father agreed to the marriage |
| Don Pedro speaks to Beatrice for a while. What does he askher and how does she answer him? | He asked her to marry him. She said no, that he was too good for her |
| Don Pedro comes up with a plan to get what couple together? Whose help does he enlist? | Beatrice and Benedick. Hero, Claudio, Leonato |
| What kind of woman appeals to Benedick? | Pretty, good musician, virtuous, wise, mild |
| What does BEnedick overhear as he is eavesdropping on Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato? What does he resolve to do after listening in on their conversation? | That Beatrice is in love with him. Requite love to her |
| On what errand does Don Pedro send Beatrice? | To call benedick for dinner |
| How does Benedick react to Beatrice’s news that dinner is ready? | He sees a double meaning in her words. |
| What does, “You have no stomach?” mean? | Are you not hungry |
| What does Beatrice overhear from Hero and Ursula? What does Beatrice decide to do? | Benedick is in love with Beatrice. Requite his love |
| Don Pedro and Claudio tease Benedick about his primping, and in the actual play, Benedick even shaves off his beard. What conclusion do Don Pedro and Claudio draw from Benedick’s appearance? | He is doing it for Beatrice |
| What does Don John tell Don Pedro and Claudio in order to show his “love” for them? | Hero is being disloyal to Claudio |
| Because of Don John’s information, what decision do Claudio and Don Pedro make? | Claudio will shame Hero publicly |
| We meet the Watch. What stereotype are Dogberry and Verges? | They are dumb cops |
| What is the Watch’s job that night? | To watch over Leonato’s house |
| We see 2 vices in Borachio that night | Having sex and drinking |
| What does Borachio tell Conrade that he’s done that night? | wooed Margaret by the name of Hero |
| What happens when he finishes his story | He gets arrested |
| why have Dogberry and Verges come to see Leonato? | To interrigate the prisioners |
| What does Leonato do, and how does this decision affect the action? | He didn’t do it. He could’ve known his daughter was set up |
| What does Claudio do at his wedding? | He repudiated Hero |
| At first, what does Leonato assume has happened when Claudio asserts that Hero is not a virgin? | That they were intimate. Claudio denies it |
| Who sides with Claudio? | Don Pedro, Don John, Leonato |
| how does Hero try to defend herself? What happens next? | She had no idea what’s going on, she faints |
| Who consistently believes in Hero’s innocence? | Beatrice |
| Who does Leonato believe? | Claudio |
| who is willing to give Hero the benefit of the doubt and sees Don John as the probable cause of the problem? | Benedick |
| What plan does Friar Francis concoct? | To say Hero died, Claudio feel bad and to figure it out |
| When Benedict tells Beatrice that he will do anything for her, what request does she make and how does he react? | To kill Claudio, he refused, then agreed |
| What does the sexton discover during his interrogation of Conrade and Borachio? | Don John paid Borachio to set Hero up |
| Where has Don John gone | Fled Massina |
| How does Conrade upset Dogberry? | Call him an ass |
| How does Dogberry defend himself? | He owns his own home and he has 2 sets of clothes |
| Antonio tells his brother Leonato that he needs to calm down. Leo nato refuses to listen because he’s so upset for Hero. Antonio advises him to get revenge. What does Leonato want Claudio to do, and how does Claudio respond? | He challenged Claudio, he makes fun of Leonato |
| How does Don Pedro react to Leonato’s challenge to Claudio? | He told Leonato to get over it, that they saw it |
| When he arrives, who realizes that Benedick is not in a joking mood, and what does Benedick want from Claudio? | Don Pedro, a challenge/duel |
| how does Benedick plan to alter his relationship with Don John? | sever ties |
| what news from Benedick surprises Don Pedro? | That Don John fled Massina |
| What is ironic about Dogberry’s findings concerning Borachio and Conrade? | Dogberry figured it out/ hes dumb |
| How does Claudio feel when he hears Borachio’s confession? | He feels regret and sadness |
| What offer does Claudio make to Leonato | For Leonato to choose the punishment |
| What penance does Leonato give Don Pedro and Claudio? | Sing an epitaph, marry Leonato’s niece |
| how does Borachio demonstrate that he is not all bad? | He defends Margaret |
| What further accusation does Dogbery make against Borachio and Conrade? | Wants them to punish them for calling him an ass |
| What problem does Benedick have with writing poetry? | He can’t find a rhyme |
| Why wont Beatrice give Benedick a kiss? | He didn’t challenge Claudio right away |
| What favor does Benedick want from Friar Francis? | To marry him and Beatrice |
| What advice does Benedick give to Don Pedro? | To get him a wife |
| What job will benedick perform for Don Pedro? | Punishing Don John |
| How does the movie differ from the play in reference to Don John? | Don John didn’t come back in the play |
| Year written | 1598 |
| Movie debut | 1993 |
| Shakespeare’s source of Much Ado | folk tales about someone being tricked into think that his/her love is unfaithful |
| 2 plot devices | eavesdropping and disguise |
| Much Ado is a comedy of | Character |
| cad | a man who doesn’t act like a gentleman |
Much Ado About Nothing
July 10, 2019