1. Much Ado About Nothing Act 2
Aim: What is the importance of each character’s name?
Do Now: Meaning of Characters’ Names
Lesson: Review the Act 2 Analysis Questions
Those of you who printed out the questions please take them out
If you haven’t yet printed the questions, please do so tonight
Activity: Watching Act 2
H.W.: Answer the Act 2 analysis questions. Remember to include evidence from the text & line # to back up each answer.

2. What’s In a Name? Beatrice = Blessed/Blessing
Benedick = Bene (Good) = Good Man, also means blessed
Claudio = Claudus = Latin word for “lame” or “crippled”
Hero = the love of Leander, each night he swam across Hellespont to meet her, when he accidentally drown, she threw herself into the water and drown too
Don John = King John of England was thought of as “bad,” he had a reputation for treachery because he usurped the thrown, (in Robin Hood stories he is the king who is cruel and villainous
Don Pedro = Rock
Leonato = Lion
Borachio = Drunk
Conrade = Con = Trick
Dogberry = a ridiculous name for a silly fool

3. Act 2 Analysis Questions
What do they say about Don John (Count John) at the start of the scene?
Pg : What does Beatrice say about marriage?
Pg. 45: How does Beatrice insult the masked Benedick?
Look back at the insults they exchanged in Act 1, is are these insults or this battle of wits similar? Is it different in anyway? Explain.
Pg : What does Don John tell Claudio about the wooing of Hero? How does Claudio react to Don John’s lie at the party?
Although the misunderstanding at the party is worked out quickly, what is the significance of Claudio’s behavior? What does it reveal about his character?
What is decided will be done by Don Pedro and the others as they wait for the wedding day of Hero and Claudio to arrive?

4. Act 2 Analysis Questions
Why is Don John so angry?
Explain the plan that Borrachio comes up with?
What is Don John’s purpose with this? Why is he doing this?
What will this plan do? (see line pg.61)
Alone, what does Benedick criticize?
What kind of woman does he say he would consider marrying? (see pg. 65)
How do they trick Benedick? Why is it so easy to trick him?
Pg. 77: How does Benedick respond to what he heard? What are some funny lines he says on pg. 77?
How did his earlier speech turn out to be ironic?

5. Much Ado About Nothing Act 2
Aim: During the rising action, what happens to further the plot, intensify the conflict and reveal more about our characters?
Do Now: Act 2 Discussion Groups (10 min)
Lesson: The Party, The Evil Plot, The Set-Up
The Party: Tons of Flirting vs. Undertones of Jealousy
The Evil Plot: Appearance are Deceiving
The Set-Up: Playing Cupid = Tues to set up Act3
H.W.: The notes from Act 1 & 2 and the answer key to the test have been posted online, please make sure you notes are up to date and review the questions you got wrong on the test

6. Flirtation & A Battle of Wits
How does Shakespeare establish an atmosphere and patter of flirting?
Hero & the Prince, Margaret & Benedick, Margaret & Balthasar, Ursula & Antonio
What couple follows the flirting couples? What is Shakespeare trying to say about them?
Beatrice & Benedick: Their battle of wits is really their way of flirting (lines suggests they may have a romantic past)
Pg. 45: How does Beatrice insult Benedick?
Knows it’s him, Calls him the Prince’s Jester, dull fool, only gift is devising slanders ( )
It seems he might be hurt…did she touch a never?
She speaks poinards, every word stabs, if her breath were as terrible as her terminations, there would be none living near her. ( )
Send me on any errand, send me to the ends of the earth so I don’t have to deal with this harpy ( )

7. Much Ado About Nothing Act 2
Aim: During the rising action, what happens to further the plot, intensify the conflict and reveal more about our characters?
Do Now: How is Beatrice’s character becoming more complex as the play continues?
Lesson: Continuing Our Act 2 Discussion & Notes
The Party: Tons of Flirting vs. Undertones of Jealousy
The Evil Plot: Appearance are Deceiving
The Set-Up: Playing Cupid
H.W.: Read Act 3 Scene 1 & 2 and answer the scene analysis questions

8. Developing Beatrice’s Character
Pg : What does Beatrice say about marriage? What does this further reveal about Beatrice’s character?
I thank God every day that I have no husband (26-27)
I can’t love a man with a beard or without one
Tries exclude all men – There’s no man that meets my standards (34-40)
Keep this in mind when we get to Benedick’s description of the perfect woman
Says when she dies she wants to sit where the bachelors(48)
Says, “Adam’s sons are her brethren and truly I hold it a sin to match in my kindred.”(63-64)
Notice also that she speaks several times for Hero: Lines &
Notice also how the other characters describe her
Merry heart, pleasant-spirited lady, little of melancholy in her, if she dreams of unhappiness, she wake laughing

9. Darker Undertones of Jealousy
Pg : What does Don John tell Claudio about the wooing of Hero?
Pretends he thinks Claudio is Benedick (obviously these costumes aren’t very good if everyone knows who everyone is)
Says the Prince is “enamored” with Hero & plans to marry her that night
Tell him not to marry her because she is not good enough
How does Claudio react to Don John’s lie at the party?
“Tis certain….Friendship is constant in all other things save in the office and affairs of love.”( )
Benedick tells him “The Prince has got your Hero” which he misinterprets = the problem of speaking in figurative language ( )
Beatrice says he has the complexion of a civil orange that has a jealous complexion ( )
Although the misunderstanding is cleared up what does it reveal about Claudio’s character?
What is decided will be done by Don Pedro and the others as they wait for the wedding day of Hero and Claudio to arrive?

10. The Evil Plot Why is Don John so angry?
Hates Caludio is much it makes him sick & Hates it even more that he is happy = Is he jealous of Claudio?
Explain the plan that Borrachio comes up with?(p.61)
Will make Margaret look like Hero and Hero look like a “contaminated stale”(14-25)
Will make Hero seem “disloyal” which will call forth “jealousy”(48)
Tell the prince you are trying to defend his honor & reputation = important to aristocrats/nobles
Goal = “Misuse the Prince,” “Vex Claudio,” “Undo Hero,” “Kill Leonato”
What is Don John’s purpose with this? Why is he doing this?
“Only to despite them I will endeavor anything.”(31)
Why is this so wrong?

11. Still A Sworn Bachelor Alone, what does Benedick criticize?
How could Claudio fall in love when we used to laugh at these follies in other men?!
He was such a good soldier, but now he’s a fancy boy
Dresses fancy, speaks in fancy romantic language
Sarcastically calls him Monsieur Love
What kind of woman does he say he would consider marrying? (see pg. 65)
Rich, virtuous, wise, fair, noble, mild, of good discourse, an excellent musician
Until a woman has all this graces, I will not marry
Thinks no woman like this exists…the joke is on him…doesn’t realize that he is describing Beatrice

12. Playing Cupid How do they trick Benedick
Playing Cupid How do they trick Benedick? Why is it so easy to trick him?
She loves him beyond measure(109)
Thinks it’s a trick (“Gull”), but the gray bearded fellow says it (126)
Echo Ben’s disbelief = Question if it’s possible? And pretend they don’t believe it (105 & )
Swears she never will reveal her feelings, that’s her torment (132)
Writes letters professing her love & tears it into 1000 pieces (148)
Falls on her knees, weeps, cries out for Benedick ( )
Hero is afraid she will do herself harm (160)
She’ll die if he finds out, she’ll die if he doesn’t ( )
Point out that Beatrice is the perfect woman ( )
Poke at Benedick’s pride, make him seem like the bad guy
He would make sport of it and torment her worse ( )
He has a contemptable spirit (186)
Prince wishes he could “modestly examine his himself to see how much he is unworthy so good a lady.” ( )

13. Cupid’s Arrow Hits
Pg. 77: How does Benedick respond to what he heard? What are some funny lines he says on pg. 77?
This can’t be a trick if Hero says it (225)
I must not seem to proud. Happy are they that hear their detractions and can put them not mending ( )
SELF REFLECTION!!!
It’s true that Beatrice is my perfect woman: fair, virtuous, wise and witty = “I am horribly in love with her!” ( )
Sure, some people may make fun of me since I’ve “railed” so long against marriage ( )
BUT….when I said I would die a bachelor, I didn’t think I would live until I was married. ( )
When Beatrice enters, obviously annoyed, he hears what he wants to hear….”There’s a double meaning in that.”
= BLINDED BY LOVE