Much Ado About Nothing – Plot Guide
ACT 1
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Where does the action of the play take place?
Where have Don Pedro, Claudio, and Benedick been?
Claudio is said to “hath borne himself beyond the promise of his years.” What does this mean?
Whom does Beatrice ask about, and what nickname or epithets does she give him?
Who lost the war? How does Prince Don Pedro treat the loser and why?
How do Beatrice and Benedick treat each other? What conclusions can you draw about their
relationship?
How do Benedick and Beatrice feel about marriage?
What is a cuckold?
In whom is Claudio interested and why? How does Benedick feel about her?
What does Don Pedro plan on happening before he dies?
When Claudio talks to Don Pedro about Hero, he shows he is interested in Hero for more than her
looks and personality. What else motivates him?
What offer does Prince Don Pedro make to Claudio?
Eavesdropping or noting scenes are crucial to the plot. What does Antonio learn from his
eavesdropping servant?
In the Renaissance, illegitimate sons were stereotyped as wicked and conniving. Don John, the
comedy’s villain, is no exception. How is he villainous?
What information obtained by eavesdropping does Borachio bring Don John?
What resolution does Don John make?
ACT 2
In Medieval and Renaissance times, a balance of fluids in the body or humours determined one’s health. To
much or too little of any fluid created problems.
1. What happens to Beatrice whenever she sees Don John and why?
2. What kind of man does Beatrice consider ideal?
3. What advice does Beatrice offer Hero?
4. What does Leonato instruct Hero to do ?
5. What kind of party is it? How does the kind of party it is, change or modify the characters’
behaviors?
6. Who pairs off at the party?
7. At the party, Beatrice recognizes Benedick in spite of his mask. How does she use this knowledge to
her advantage and why?
8. What lie does Don John tell Claudio?
9. In turn, what lie did Claudio tell?
10. How does Claudio react to Don John’s lie? What does this reveal about Claudio’s character
11. What does Benedick suggest Claudio do?
12. How does Benedick react to Beatrice’s insults, esp. when he sees her coming his way again?
13. When Beatrice takes Claudio to Prince Don Pedro and tells the Prince that Claudio is jealous, what
does Prince Don Pedro do?
14. What color is associated with jealousy in Shakespeare’s time?
15. How soon does Claudio want to marry, and what does that now reveal about his character?
16. How long does Leonato say he needs for preparation?
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What does Prince Don Pedro ask Beatrice and what is her answer?
What plan does Prince Don Pedro concoct and whose help does he enlist?
What are Benedick’s good points?
How are the plans of Prince Don Pedro and Don John complete opposites?
How much will Borachio receive for his part in Don John’s plan?
What kind of woman appeals to Benedick?
Prince Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato arrange for Benedick to eavesdrop on them as a singer
performs. The song’s lyrics suggest that men routinely practice deception. Who has done this so
far?
What does Benedick overhear and where is he when he overhears it?
Why does Benedick believe them?
What resolve does Benedick make based on his eavesdropping?
On what errand does Prince Don Pedro send Beatrice?
How does Benedick react to Beatrice’s news that dinner is ready?
ACT 3
NOTE: a malaprop is a similar wrong word substituted for the correct one, usually with humorous effect
1. On what errand does Hero send Margaret?
2. What metaphor does Ursula use to describe what she and Hero plan to do to Beatrice?
3. Where does she hide and what does Beatrice overhear? How is this similar to what the men did to
Benedick?
4. What is ironic about Hero saying she will slander Beatrice to Benedick, so he won’t love her
anymore?
5. What does Beatrice resolve?
6. What does Prince Don Pedro claim he will do after the wedding, and who offers his assistance?
7. What physical ailment does Benedick say troubles him?
8. How has Benedick changed his appearance and why?
9. What conclusion do Prince Don Pedro and Claudio draw from Benedick’s new appearance?
10. How does Don John try to gain the trust of Don Pedro and Claudio?
11. What does Don John tell Don Pedro and Claudio?
12. What decision do Claudio and Don Pedro make and why?
13. What jobs do Dogberry and Verges hold?
14. What stereotype are Dogberry and Verges?
15. What is the watch’s job that night? What would they rather do?
16. In Italian, Borachio is similar to the word that means a chronic drinker; what is funny about
Borachio’s line about spilling his secrets to Conrade?
17. What does Borachio tell Conrade? What happens when he finishes his story?
18. As the women prepare for the wedding, what do they discuss?
19. What is wrong with Beatrice, and what does Margaret say is wrong with the diagnosis?
20. What does Margaret claim will cure Beatrice? What pun is made and to what effect?
21. Why have Dogberry and Verges come to see Leonato?
22. What does Leonato do? How does his decision affect the action?
ACT 4
1. What does Claudio do at his wedding?
2. At first, what does Leonato assume has happened when Claudio asserts that Hero is not a virgin?
3. Who sides with Claudio?
4. How does Hero try to defend herself?
5. Interpret Claudio’s lines: “For thee I’ll lock up all the gates of love / And on my eyelids shall
conjecture hang, / To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm, / And never shall it more be gracious.”
6. What happens to Hero next?
7. Who consistently believes in Hero’s innocence and why?
8. Who does Leonato believe and why?
9. What does Leonato wish?
10. Who is willing to give Hero the benefit of the doubt?
11. Who sees Don John as the probable cause of this problem? What does it show about him?
12. What plan does Friar Francis concoct? What purpose does it serve?
13. How are Beatrice and Benedick different in this scene?
14. When Benedick tells Beatrice that he will do anything for her, what request does she make and how
does he react? What does this show about Benedick’s feelings?
15. What does Beatrice wish?
16. What does the sexton discover during his interrogation of Conrade and Borachio?
17. What has Don John done?
18. How does Conrade upset Dogberry?
19. How does Dogberry defend himself?
ACT 5
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Which characters know the truth about Hero’s not being dead?
What advice does Antonio give to Leonato?
How does Leonato react to this advice?
When Leonato won’t calm down, Antonio gives new advice. What is it?
What does Leonato want Claudio to do? Does he?
What does Antonia offer to do?
How does Prince Don Pedro react to the challenge?
When Benedick enters, what does Claudio ask from him?
What metaphor does Benedick use for his cleverness?
Who realizes that Benedick is in a serious mood?
What does Benedick want from Claudio?
How does Prince Don Pedro attempt to distract Benedick?
How does Benedick plan to alter his relationship with Prince Don Pedro?
What news from Benedick surprises Prince Don Pedro?
Of what does Dogberry accuse Borachio and Conrade?
What is ironic about Dogberry’s response to Borachio and Conrade?
How does Claudio feel when he hears Borachio’s confession?
What is Leonato’s tone when he addresses Prince Don Pedro and Claudio?
What offer does Claudio make to Leonato?
What penance does Leonato give Prince Don Pedro and Claudio?
How does Borachio demonstrate that he is not all bad?
What further accusation does Dogberry make against Borachio and Conrade?
What does Benedick thank Margaret?
What does Margaret want in return for this favor?
What is ironic about Benedick singing a song about Cupid?
What problem does Benedick have with writing poetry?
What does Benedick want from Beatrice? Why won’t she comply?
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Why does Beatrice say she is in love with Benedick?
Why does Benedick say he loves Beatrice?
To what conclusion do they come?
Who brings the couple news of Hero’s exoneration?
Why must Prince Don Pedro and Claudio change clothes in Act 5, scene 3?
What does Claudio say at the tomb?
When the Prince Don Pedro says “look, the gentle day / Before the wheels of Phoebus, round about
/ Dapples the drowsy east with spots of gray” he is alluding to whom?
What favor does Benedick want from Friar Francis?
How does Leonato hint at his part in the romance of Beatrice and Benedick?
In the concluding scene, Benedick claims “man is a giddy thing.” What does he mean? How is this
opposite from stereotypes we have about the genders today?
In Act 5, scene 4, Hero removes her physical mask and reveals that she is still alive. What other
“masks” have been removed by this scene?
What advice does Benedick give Prince Don Pedro?
What job will Benedick perform for Prince Don Pedro?
How does Margaret play a greater role than Ursula in the play?
How do traditional comedies end?