1. Much Ado About Nothing Humor through language Malapropism Bawdy humor

2. Common Shakespeare Motif: Appearance vs. Reality Leads to themes about seeking/finding truth Dogberry tries to appear educated Benedick and Beatrice appear to hate each other Don Pedro appears to woo Hero Hero appears to be cheating Claudio is quick to believe appearances (could be tragic flaw)

3. Malapropism Humorous misuse of word

4. Dogberry “interrogates” Borachio and Conrade pinioned (shackled) opinion’d coxcomb really means fool respect suspect impious piety (irreverent) (religious devotion) (Read page 355)

5. Dogberry (5. 1. 321-326) knave really means villain ask your leave give your leave permit prohibit (Read page 359; Dogberry’s final exit)

6. Bawdy: Obscene Humor Ribaldry: course or indecent language (dirty jokes) Why? Appeals to commoners, but smart enough to appeal to courtiers

7. How? Male bawdy imagery Phallus: symbolic representation Phallic imagery: sword, pikes (spikes) in a shield To “die”: release/satisfaction after orgasm

8. How? Male bawdy imagery Read page 346; men tease Benedick for loving Beatrice Read page 349; women tease Beatrice for loving Benedick. (Beatrice is “stuffy” with a cold.)

9. How? Female bawdy imagery Sexual imagery: shield, vice (screw) “bawd” means prostitute scene with Benedick & Margaret (5.2.1-24) (page 359)

10. 1. Why do B & B criticize love? Humor can protect people from intimacy. We criticize that which we fear.

11. 2. Why is each too proud to admit loving the other? Perhaps they don’t want to show any weakness.

12. 3. Why do B & B say they do not want love? They claim that they will be unlucky and unhappy. The truth is that they are afraid to take a risk.

13. 4. Is their affection lessened because they are tricked? Their affection appears deeper because both were intent on hiding their feelings. Although deception prompts their thinking, B & B talk themselves into admitting love.

14. 5. In what ways do they respect each other? Strongest connections are based on respect—even a respect for the other’s sarcasm

15. 6. Write a theme statement about love in Much Ado About Nothing The strongest love is based on a connection of wit rather than an attraction to beauty.