Who's who in Messina
This prince of Aragon arrives in Messina after a successful military campaign and is welcomed by Leonato?
Who is Don Pedro?
The play opens with a messenger bringing news of this recent event.
What is the end of the war / Don Pedro’s victory?
Beatrice claims she would rather hear her dog do this than hear a man swear he loves her.
What is bark at a crow?
Hero is the daughter of this important Messina gentleman.
Who is Leonato?
Don Pedro’s friendly plan is to help Claudio win Hero’s hand by speaking to her father.
What is true?
Leonato's quick-witted niece who immediately begins trading insults with Benedick.
Who is Beatrice?
Claudio confides in Benedick that he has fallen in love with this woman.
Who is Hero?
Benedick compares marriage to a savage bull eventually doing this.
What is bearing the yoke?
Benedick and Beatrice are known for this kind of ongoing verbal relationship.
What is a “merry war” / constant witty sparring / skirmish of wits?
The first major misunderstanding of the act comes from Antonio overhearing part of a conversation in this location.
What is an orchard / garden?
The young count who falls in love with Hero almost as soon as he sees her again.
Who is Claudio?
Don Pedro offers to help Claudio by doing this during the masked revels.
What is wooing Hero in Claudio’s name / pretending to be Claudio?
Beatrice says of Benedick that he is a “very valiant trencherman” and has an excellent one of these.
What is a stomach?
Claudio and Benedick are both companions and soldiers under this leader.
Who is Don Pedro?
Don John decides to interfere with Claudio and Hero’s match mainly because of this personal feeling.
What is envy / hatred of his brother / desire to cause trouble?
Don Pedro's illegitimate brother, described as melancholy and discontented.
Who is Don John?
In a private conversation, Don John tells Conrade he intends to do this regarding the planned marriage.
What is cross / thwart / spoil the match between Claudio and Hero?
When told that Benedick is a good soldier, Beatrice replies that he is a good soldier to this.
What is a lady?
Don John is accompanied by these two followers who help him in his schemes.
Who are Conrade and Borachio?
Benedick’s attitude toward marriage and love at this point in the play can best be described as this.
What is scornful / anti-marriage / mocking?
Leonato's brother who reports that he heard Don Pedro planning how to woo Hero for himself.
Who is Antonio?
Antonio tells Leonato he overheard a conversation in an orchard; the report turns out to be this.
What is a misunderstanding / incorrect (Don Pedro is actually helping Claudio)?
Don John declares he would rather be “a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace,” meaning he prefers open discontent to this.
What is false / forced cheerfulness or flattery?
Leonato is hosting the visiting soldiers largely because of this relationship and recent events.
What is friendship with / service under Don Pedro / the recent war?
By the end of Act 1, two different groups are making plans about the same couple (Claudio and Hero): one helpful and one harmful. Name both intentions.
What are Don Pedro helping the match and Don John trying to ruin it?