SENIOR ENGLISH 243:
WEBSITE:
Shakespeare
http://www.alanreinstein.com
Name:
email: alan_reinstein@newton.k12.ma.us
NEWTON SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL IS A COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS, FAMILIES, FACULTY AND STAFF WHO BELIEVE
THAT ALL STUDENTS CAN REACH HIGH LEVELS OF SUCCESS WHEN THEY (1) KNOW THEY ARE SAFE, VALUED, AND RESPECTED BY TEACHERS AND PEERS; (2) ARE GIVEN EQUITABLE ACCESS TO
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STRONG WORK ETHIC, A SPIRIT OF INQUIRY, AND A PASSION FOR LEARNING; (7) MAINTAIN A BALANCED, HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.
Much Ado About Nothing READING RESPONSES
DIRECTIONS:
For each of the readings, look over the reading guide questions without writing answers down—no
need.
While you are reading, however, note any passage of interest that you want to comment on in the
space provided.
Of particular interest are passages that relate to gender issues--love, friendship, sterotypes.
Is the play trapped in an Elizabethan mindset OR is Shakespeare tapping into universal truths that
resonate even today? Either way, there is much to say through such a gender-focused lens.
If there is a passage unrelated to gender that you want to write about, by all means, select that one.
[Questions are taken from Saint Xavier University (in Chicago) English Professor Norman Boyer’s Shakespeare
course (Eng. 304).]
Act 1
1.1
1. What happens during the first meeting of Beatrice and Benedick (1.1.76-118)? What was their relationship
in the past?
2. What does Don Pedro agree to do for Claudio (1.1.238-276)? Note 1.1.242-243, and be sure you know
what Don Pedro has agreed to do in 1.1.268-276.
1.2
3. What has Antonio's man overheard? How accurately has the man heard (noted) what was said, given what
we know from the end of 1.1?
1.3
4. What has Borachio overheard? How accurately has he heard (noted) what was said, given what we know
from the end of 1.1?
Act 1
Passages of Interest
Choose ONE line or passage from the reading that interests you for ANY reason and that you want to discuss with a
classmate, the teacher, or the entire class. Maybe it’s a passage that you don’t understand. Write it down, along with the
page number and the explanation for your choosing it. FILL THE GIVEN LINES BELOW.
PASSAGE:
RESPONSE:
Act 2
2.1
1. What is Beatrice's attitude toward marriage? From what we've seen so far, how likely is she to remain in
that position for the duration of the play?
2. Hero is on stage from the beginning of the scene. How much does she have to say? How would you
describe her at this point?
3. What happens between Beatrice and Benedick at the dance (2.1.106-133)? Does Beatrice know she is
speaking with Benedick (who is wearing a mask)? Does Benedick think she knows who she is speaking
with?
4. What does Beatrice tell us about her relationship with Benedick (2.1.240-249)?
5. What news does Don Pedro have for Claudio (2.1.249-265)? How do Claudio and Hero respond (2.1.266277)? How much does Hero have to say in lines 240-277)?
6. What does Don Pedro get Leonato, Claudio, and Hero to agree to do to pass the time until the wedding
(2.1.299-356)? Is Don Pedro right in line 306? How much does Hero have to say in this part of the scene?
2.2
7. What is Borachio's plan to stop the wedding of Hero and Claudio? Does it sound like it will work?
8. How does Benedick respond to what he has heard (2.3.196-216) and to the arrival of Beatrice (2.3.217232)? Is the plot working?
Act 2
Passages of Interest
Choose ONE line or passage from the reading that interests you for ANY reason and that you want to discuss with a
classmate, the teacher, or the entire class. Maybe it’s a passage that you don’t understand. Write it down, along with the
page number and the explanation for your choosing it. FILL THE GIVEN LINES BELOW.
PASSAGE:
RESPONSE:
Act 3
3.1
1. Hero talks! What sort of person is she when she is with the other women (3.1.1-33 and through the rest of
the scene)? What does this scene do for her as a character in the play?
2. How effective are Hero and Ursula in getting Beatrice to think that Benedick is in love with her (3.1.34107)?
3.2
3. What happens when Benedick encounters Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio (3.2.1-62)? What has Benedick
done since we last saw him (3.2.36-41)?
4. What does Don John tell Don Pedro and Claudio (3.2.66-114)? What does he arrange for them to do? How
willing are they to believe him?
3.3
5. What do the watchmen learn from Borachio and Conrad (3.3.84-159)? What action do the watchmen take?
Are they able to capture Deformed? Will what they have done save the wedding and the comedy?
3.4
6. What is happening in 3.4? Do we still get to see the "new" Hero (3.4.6-11)? How does Hero feel (3.4.2122)? How does Beatrice feel (33-79)? Does she get sympathy from Hero and Margaret?
3.5
7. How effective are Dogberry and Verges in getting Leonato to understand what they have learned? Can we
expect another scene with Dogberry?
Act 3
Passages of Interest
Choose ONE line or passage from the reading that interests you for ANY reason and that you want to discuss with a
classmate, the teacher, or the entire class. Maybe it’s a passage that you don’t understand. Write it down, along with the
page number and the explanation for your choosing it. FILL THE GIVEN LINES BELOW.
PASSAGE:
RESPONSE:
Act 4
4.1
1. What happens at the wedding (4.1.1-110)? How would you rate the behavior of Claudio and Don Pedro?
How does Hero respond? How does Leonato respond? What happens to Hero (line 108)?
2. What happens when Beatrice and Benedick are left alone (4.1.255-329)? Notice what Beatrice says in line
265. Is she saying that Benedick isn't a man? (Probably not; rather, it's not his fight because he's not part
of the family. Compare Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet, who is part of the Capulet family.) Howe does Benedick
respond to line 265?
3. What is Beatrice saying to Benedick in lines 313-321? How does Benedick respond to her request (4.1.322323)? What is unusual about his question? (We may miss the full impact of it in our culture, but how many
times do you suppose Beatrice has actually been listened to by any male on a serious issue?) What is
Beatrice's response to this question, and how does Benedick respond (4.1.324-329)?
4.2
4. What most bothers Dogberry in the examination of the prisoners? Does he get it quite right in what he
says? How does his last speech (4.2.67-78) affect our understanding of Dogberry? Will we hear about this
again?
Act 4
Passages of Interest
Choose ONE line or passage from the reading that interests you for ANY reason and that you want to discuss with a
classmate, the teacher, or the entire class. Maybe it’s a passage that you don’t understand. Write it down, along with the
page number and the explanation for your choosing it. FILL THE GIVEN LINES BELOW.
PASSAGE:
RESPONSE:
Act 5
5.1
5. What does Leonato try do do when Don Pedro and Claudio enter? How do they treat him? What word to
Leonato and Antonio call Claudio (5.1.79-100)? How does Don Pedro respond to them (5.1.104-108)?
5.2
6. How different are Beatrice and Benedick now that they are in love (5.2.36-79)?
7. What do Don Pedro and Claudio learn in 5.1.191-242? What is Claudio's reaction (5.1.235-236)? Note
Dogberry's first reprise at 5.1.239-240. Will it get a laugh this time?
5.3
8. How good is the memorial service (5.3.1-23)? Is there a pun on preyed/prayed in line 25?
5.4
9. Why is the "niece" veiled? What is implied by line 38? What might be the problem with a young lady in the
family that no one has heard of before? Why must Claudio promise to marry her before he sees her face
(5.4.52-59)? What happens when Claudio does make that promise (5.4.60-71)?
10. How willing to Beatrice and Benedick seem to be about marrying each other (5.4.72-83)? How do the
others force them to admit their love (5.4.84-90)? How serious are Beatrice and Benedick here, and how
much of this is playing with the others?
11. What is Benedick's advice to Don Pedro and Claudio (5.4.98-107)? What does he mean by "man is a giddy
thing" (line 104)? How serious are Benedick and Claudio in lines 105-111?
12. What will happen to Don John (5.4.119-122)? What is the effect of mentioning Don John at the end of the
play? Do we need to know this information? Do we need to learn it now? (Why not, say, have his capture,
rather than his flight, reported at 5.2.82-83?) What would be different about the ending if Don John were
not mentioned there? (It seems as though Shakespeare has him escape earlier only so that he can be
reported as captured here.)
Act 5
Passages of Interest
Choose ONE line or passage from the reading that interests you for ANY reason and that you want to discuss with a
classmate, the teacher, or the entire class. Maybe it’s a passage that you don’t understand. Write it down, along with the
page number and the explanation for your choosing it. FILL THE GIVEN LINES BELOW.
PASSAGE:
RESPONSE: