Much Ado About Nothing Essay Assignment Information
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Name:
U4A6: Much Ado About Nothing Essay
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Instructions
60 points
Conflict is the essence of all drama and Shakespeare was a master at mining the various kinds of conflict for dramatic action and int
comedies, most often the source of conflict is love: 'The course of true love never did run smooth.' (A Midsummer Night's Dream b
Shakespeare)
In Much Ado about Nothing, the kinds of love and conflicts are varied. Read the examples* below:
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Impulsive young love defines the relationship between Claudio and Hero. Their love is superficial at times and when tested, quickly
at least on the part of Claudio. He is rash to judge and rash to lash out when things don't appear to be going his way.
The parental love between Leonato and his daughter Hero is obvious throughout the play. When he wrongly believes his daughter h
him, the expressions of his anguish resonant with any parent who cares deeply for his/her child.
The love between and among family members also runs throughout the play. As Leonato loves his daughter so he also cares for his
Beatrice. Don Pedro forgives his half-brother Don John. This production heightens this familial love and conflict through the use of
business - 'mafia style'.
Spurned-love between Beatrice and Benedick is alluded to Act 2 Scene 1. Don Pedro tells Beatrice she has 'lost the heart of Signor B
She replies: 'Indeed my lord he lent it me a while, and I gave him use for it, a double heart for his single one: marry once before he w
me, with false dice, therefore your grace may well say I have lost it.'
Choose a question below from Much Ado About Nothing and answer the question in a one to two page paper with a Works Cited pa
to include at least two quotations from the play, using appropriate parenthetical citations. (The following questions were taken from
Penguin Study Guides.)
1. Who would you rather be-Beatrice or Hero; Claudio or Benedick? Compare and contrast the two female or male characters. Why
think Shakespeare created the pairs of characters?
2. Choose a passage in the play, which best represents one of the themes (deception, love, honor, noting). Explain what the passage
what it reveals about the theme. *Any of the themes associated with love in the bulleted items above could be used here.
Assignment:
Choose a question from the selection above, or submit one for approval, to write an informative/explanatory paper.
Review the Basic Writing Handout AND Sample MLA paper ( do it like this and you will be on the right track)
Formatting Criteria
o 1-2 pages
o MLA header
o MLA heading
o 4 MLA parenthetical citations (at least 2 quotes)
o 1 MLA Works Cited source
8. Writing Criteria
o click on the rubric above at the top of the lesson.
o ***This is a very comprehensive rubric based on the lesson material. It is your guide to writing this paper!***
9. Complete paper according to instructions above and in the Much Ado Writing Rubric link above at the top of the assignment.
10. Save the paper to your computer and attach it below as an .rtf, .pdf, .doc, or .docx file.
11.
Click on Submit.
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Due Date
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Points Possible
5.
60
Assignment Files
Much Ado Writing Rubric.doc (Much Ado Writing Rubric.doc)
Much Ado Writing Rubric.pdf (Much Ado Writing Rubric.pdf)