Intro
What kind of play is MAAN?
Comedy
Why does Pedro go to Messina?
To see his friend Leonato
What is the setting for Act 2.1?
Masquerade ball/masked dance
Who does Beatrice "overhear" talking about how Benedick loves Beatrice?
Hero and Ursula
Who is Leonato?
Governor of Messina, father to Hero, uncle to Beatrice, friend to Don Pedro
Who was Shakespeare's wife?
Anne Hathaway
What does Pedro promise he'll do for Claudio?
Woo Hero in his name
What does Pedro want to do before Claudio and Hero get married?
Set up Benedick and Beatrice
What does Benedick change about himself to show that he's in love with Beatrice?
Shaves his beard
Who is Margaret, and what role does she play in the play?
She is a waiting gentlewoman to Hero and helps Hero out with odd tasks here and there. Her most important part is when she, unwittingly(?), takes on the persona of Hero to convince Claudio that Hero is unfaithful
Explain what a blocking character is.
Character in a comedy who seeks to disrupt the joy/plan of the protagonist
Describe the first interaction between Beatrice and Benedick
Acrimonious - sharp, verbal barbs are being shot by one to the other and Benedick has the last, parting shot
How does Benedick respond after overhearing the conversation between Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato?
He decides he will requite the love of Beatrice
How does Beatrice show that she's in love?
Complains about a cold/fever
Describe Dogberry, providing evidence from the text
Can't speak clearly/properly (with his many malapropisms), a bumbling, inept fool who falls into success with great luck - tells the watch to not touch or catch thieves and approves of falling asleep on the job. They only catch Borachio because he's too drunk and distracted to notice the watch behind him
What are 5 kinds of verbal wit?
Burlesque, sarcasm, understatement, overstatement, mock heroic, dramatic irony, verbal irony, epigram, malapropism, pun, euphemism, parody
How does Claudio describe Hero?
As a jewel, modest, sweet
How will Don John bring about an end to the proposed marriage of Claudio and Hero?
Make it seem like Hero is unfaithful - he'll have Borachio woo Margaret in Hero's room and have Claudio see this and think it's Hero sleeping with another man the night before his wedding
How do Hero and Ursula describe Beatrice?
Proud, contemptuous, too witty to be corrected, disdainful and scornful, cannot love, self-centered
Describe the character of Don Pedro, using specific examples from the text
Don Pedro is an honorable prince who wants the best for his friends. He is described as honorable in many places and acts in an honorable manner. He helps woo Hero for Claudio, stands by Claudio when they "learn" that Hero is unfaithful, and even seeks to help Benedick and Beatrice learn to love one another
What were the dates of Shakespeare's marriage?
1582-1616
Why doesn't Benedick want to be married?
Sees it as a yoke to bear, lose all your free time, and is a difficult burden to bear
How do Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio "prove" that Beatrice is in love with Benedick?
They have "insider information" from Hero that Beatrice has written letters to Benedick that she has subsequently ripped up. She is in anguish over her passion for him, knowing that she loves him but cannot do anything about it
Why doesn't Leonato immediately hear the confession of Borachio?
He brushes off Dogberry as he is busy with preparations for the wedding
Describe Benedick and his transformation, being sure to reference the text
Benedick is an honorable man, distinguishing himself in battle. He is also very witty and clever. He also swears off marriage at the beginning of the play. Yet, it seems that he does have strong feelings for Beatrice, considering how quickly he turned his "hatred" into love after "overhearing" the conversation between Leonato, Pedro, and Claudio. After that conversion, it seems that he finds a purpose and a cause to get behind, bearing scorn and teasing from his friends for his quick turn from bachelor to swooning for Beatrice. Nothing will dissuade him once he sets his mind on this course.