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William Shakespeare's

Much Ado About Nothing

 

Bea and Ben

 

 

 

Teaching (and studying) Shakespeare's wonderful comedy will be much easier with the help of the notes, task sheets and worksheets in this guide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The photo on the left is of Madeleine Pierard as Beatrice and Michael Pattison as Benedick from my own stage production of the play in Hawkes Bay in 1999.

 

Contents of the guide

 

Teacher's Guide

 

Study Programme

 

Introduction

3

Introduction

2

Suggested Teaching Plan

4

Characteristics of Comedy

3

Plot Summary

5

Background to the Play

4

Scene-by-scene Summary

6

So What's It All About?

5

Questions to Assist Understanding

12

Differing Interpretations

6

Structure

15

Keep a Log

7

Structure 2: Patterns

17

Questions to Assist Understanding

8

Setting Notes

21

Structure Task Sheet

9

Character Notes: Beatrice

23

Structure 2: Patterns Task Sheet

10

   Benedick

24

Setting Task Sheet

11

   Claudio

25

Characterisation Tasks

12

   Hero, Leonato

26

Character Questions

13

   Don Pedro, Don John

27

Significance of Characters' Names

14

   Minor Characters

28

Changes in the English Language

15

Language and Imagery

29

The Language of the Plays

16

Motifs, Symbols, Patterns of Imagery

30

Language and Imagery Task Sheet

17

Themes: an approach

36

Extend Your Understanding

18

Theme Notes

37

Essay Topics

19

Perspectives:

 

Essay Style Sheet

20

   'Men were deceivers ever'

40

Trivia Quiz

21

   'Trust and Mistrust'

42

Revision Quiz

22

   'Humour and Seriousness'

44

 

 

   'Reports and Interpretation of Signs'

45

Worksheets

 

Worksheet and Quiz Answers

46

Study Record

25

Approaching Exam Questions

51

Easy Plot Summary

26

Essay Topics

64

Vocabulary

28

Model Answers

67

Dogberry's Malapropisms

29

Bibliography

70

Quotations to Complete

30

Appendix: Structure of Scenes

71

Exam Questions

31-8

 

Extras include a play text with detailed commentary; OHP Masters for language analysis; Production Design notes; Scene analysis; Extension: discussing love.

 

 

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