1. Much Ado About Nothing Session 3

2. Learning Goals To explore how Shakespeare establishes character and setting in Act One Scene One To identify how Shakespeare creates comedy in Act One Scene One

3. Agree or Disagree? Love at first sight is possible Love is for fools Women should be submissive in relationships If is worse for a women to be unfaithful than a man Arranged marriages are best

4. The World of Messina

5. “The Merry War”

6. Beatrice and Benedick http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/video/beatr ice-and-benedick-in-much-ado-about-nothinghttp://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/video/beatr ice-and-benedick-in-much-ado-about-nothing

7. Lines 23-69 What are your first impressions of Beatrice? She offers a biting critique of Benedick’s character. What aspects of his personality does she critique? How does her language contrast with that of the messenger? How does her use of word play create humour (consider the reaction of the messenger)?

8. Wordplay

12. David Tennant and Catherine Tate https://www.digitaltheatre.com/account/librar yhttps://www.digitaltheatre.com/account/librar y

13. The Merry War Read lines 86-107 How would you perform this scene? How does Shakespeare create comedy through word play here? Is there a more sinister undertone to the language? How would you describe the relationship?

14. Claudio v Benedick Read lines 119-150 How do Claudio and Benedick’s attitudes towards love contrast? Which character do you have most sympathy for and why?

15. Home Learning How does Shakespeare create comedy in Act One Scene One? Consider: The exchange between Beatrice and the messenger Beatrice and Benedick’s repartee Claudio and Benedick’s contrasting views of love Dramatic irony (structure of play- we know they will fall in love!)