SD - Reading the Shakespearean Drama: Much Ado About Nothing Lesson

Reading the Shakespearean Drama: Much Ado About Nothing

The Shakespearean Comedy

Now that you have learned about drama elements and drama analysis, you are ready to begin reading a Shakespearean comedy.   For this module, students will read Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. Remember that Shakespearean comedies have the following characteristics:

Shakespeare wrote Much Ado About Nothing in 1598, and he based many of his later plots and characters off of Much Ado About Nothing.  When reading the play, try to recognize the various Shakespearean elements of comedy.

Much Ado About Nothing (1598) by Williams Shakespeare

In Shakespeare's comedy, Much Ado About Nothing, a vile and filthy rotten scoundrel, named Don John, disgraces a family when he plays a horrific prank on a young girl and her lover. The setting is in Italy at the home of Leonato as he prepares for some friends returning home from war. Living with him in his home is his daughter, Hero, and his niece, Beatrice, along with her father, his brother, Antonio. Soon the group of friends arrive, including Prince Don Pedro, soldiers Claudio and Benedick, as well as the prince's illegitimate brother Don John.

Soon the two soldiers, Claudio and Benedick, fall in love with Hero and Beatrice respectively. However, Don John, wanting to spoil the love, devises a plan to break up the jubilation. He has his servant, Borachio, make love to another serving woman, Margaret, while having Claudio and Benedict watch. He makes Claudio believe that the woman is actually Hero, his love and soon-to-be bride. On the day of their wedding, Claudio abandons her at the altar and accuses her of lechery. After this, Hero's family hides her away until she can be proven innocent. Soon after, two night watchmen overhear Don John confessing to what he did. When this happens her father convinces Claudio that Hero died of grief, and as his punishment for abandoning her, he should go around the town professing her innocence to save her name.

The family then tells Claudio that he will be married to Leonato's niece who looks very much like his daughter. On the wedding day, Claudio is ecstatic to learn that it was an elaborate hoax and the woman he is marrying is Hero. While the wedding ceremony is taking place, Beatrice and Benedict confess their love for one another and a dual marriage takes place.

Remember when we studied irony? Keep a lookout for examples of situation and verbal irony while reading the play

Download a detailed summary of Much Ado About Nothing.  Links to an external site.

Characters of Much Ado About Nothing

Reading Assignment

It is now time to read the play, Much Ado About Nothing Links to an external site.. If you'd prefer to listen while you read, Links to an external site.access the audio file of the play. Links to an external site.

As you read Much Ado About Nothing, make note of the various dramatic elements and details that work together to create the theme.