Much Ado About Nothing
Year 10
Coursework Essay
• The title of your coursework essay will be:
– “In what ways do you think Benedick and Beatrice
have changed by the end of the play?”
The work that you do over the next half term will
help you to write your essay!
We have already thought about how Beatrice
feels about Benedick at the start of the play.
How does this change by the end?
Focus On Benedick
• Today we are going to look at views on
women and marriage!
• What are Benedick’s views on marriage?
• What are Beatrice’s views on marriage?
• How are they similar?
• How is this different from Claudio and
Hero’s views on marriage?
Themes
• mistrust of women’s sexuality
• Pride and fear of cuckoldry
• What are some of the views on women
expressed by characters throughout the
play?
True or False?
• Men and women should marry people of similar social and
economic status as themselves.
• People should choose who they fall in love with.
• Love at first sight is a myth.
• Our parents or guardians know us so well they are in a position
to make a good decision about whom we marry.
• Compromise is only necessary for couples who are not well
suited to each other.
• Jealousy within a relationship is a sign that the relationship is
not working out.
• In a marriage one person will always be dominant
What She Says to the Messenger!
Look at line 62.
What is she saying to the Messenger
about Claudio?
What does this tell us about how she
feels about him?
What Do They Say To Each Other?
• When they meet, what do Benedick and
Beatrice say to each other in the
argument?
• Pick out 2 phrases and explain what they
mean.
• You can choose ones by Benedick or
Beatrice!
• Why do you think Benedick and Beatrice
argue?
Shakespeare Paper
Looking At Language
• You should now have something to put in your
coursework essay when we begin!
• Well done!
– Remember the question is all about how they
change by the end of the play.
– You will need to show not only how but also
why they change, finding quotes to support
your arguments.
What is the Context?
• Context means thinking about what has
happened before
• What is the context of this extract.
• Where does it take place?
• What has just happened between Beatrice
and Benedick?
• What did she say to him?
• Who did she think he was and why?
Planning Your Answer
What has the question asked you to do? What do you
need to include?
1) Introduction: Show some understanding of the
context of the scene.(RTQ)
2) Show some understanding of the characters
relationship so far and at the time of that
scene. (RTQ)
3) Give as many examples of words/phrases that
support your answer using PQC. (RTQ)
4) Conclusion: 2 sentences minimum that talks
about how the play will go on and mentions
some of the themes of the play. (RTQ)
Remember PQC
• You need to use Point, Quote, Comment in
your answer.
• At all times you need to have what the
question wants you to do in your own
mind!
• How can we refer back to the question?