Summaries for Much Ado About Nothing

Act I

 In this Act which consists of three scenes, opens with scene 1 where a messenger has arrived in Messina with a letter to a man by the name of Leonato. It continues and it is found out that the prince of Arragon Don Pedro would arrive by night in Messina after a successful victory at war.Furthermore Beatrice niece of Leonato asks of a Signior Benedick but calls him by the name Signior Mountanto to make fun of him. It is seen that between Beatrice and Benedick there is a 'merry war' where they both like each other but taunt each other mercilessly. The scene continue where Don Pedro arrives and is invited to stay in the house of Leonato it is then seen of that his brother Don John is very tentative  after Leonato extends the invitation to him as well. Claudio a young lord of Florence which is in  the company of Don Pedro reveals to Benedick that he is in love with Hero the daughter of Leonato. Benedick tries to persuade him that falling in love and getting married are bad ideas and tries to make Don Pedro convince Claudio that Hero is not worth his love. In Turn Don Pedro encourages Claudio to fall in love and that he would woo Hero as in the pretence of Claudio himself and then ask Leonato's permission for Hero and Claudio to be married. In scene 2 Leonato and his brother Antonio discuss plans for the dance they are having later in the night. in the process of discussing Antonio tells Leonato of the plans Claudio and Don Pedro were planning on which was to tell Hero that evening of Claudio's love, from a guy who overheard them ( Claudio and Don Pedro) speaking in the gardens. Leonato in turn assures his brother that he will put Hero on her guard that night so she would not be fooled into believing Don Pedro was after her love but Claudio.Scene 3 opens with Don John discussing his displeasure with his brother Don Pedro with his friend Conrade.Another Character by the name of Borachio enters and informs Don John that Don Pedro plans to woo Hero for himself and then hand her to Claudio for marriage and Don John see this as a way to get revenge on his brother.

Act II  

This act consists of three scenes also.Act II scene 1 begins at the dance that was planned by Leonato and Antonio. The group of characters which consist of Beatrice, Leonato,Antonio,Hero Margret and Ursula gentlewomen of Hero all discusssing Don John not being at supper, it continues with the entrance of Don Pedro and others in masks due to it being a masquerade dance. At the dance Don Pedro talks with Hero and as the scene continues Benedick and Beatrice are speaking and Beatrice calls Benedick a jester for the prince while Benedick acts as if he is not himself and finds out how Beatrice thinks of him. Don John decides to confuse his brother's intentions of helping Claudio into Claudio hating the prince due to Claudio pretending to be Benedick hears from Don John that Don Pedro swore his affections to Hero and would marry her the same time. The seeds of doubt planted in his head Claudio refuses to go to Don Pedro after Benedick goes to him for Claudio to take Hero's hand. after a while Beatrice arrives with Claudio and everyone is merry again except for Benedick who pleads with Don Pedro to send him on any mission away from Beatrice because her tongue is very hurtful towards him. After both Beatrice and Benedick leaves the Don Pedro plans to get Beatrice and Benedick together by Making each one believe the other is in love with them and make them actually fall in love even though they both do not believe in love. Act II scene 2 there is a discussion between Don John and Borachio into how they would carry out the revenge on Don Pedro. they decided upon ruining Hero's reputation through the use of her maid Margret and before the date of the wedding have Don Pedro and Claudio see that Hero is unfaithful by seeing Margret in Hero's clothing having sex with Borachio. Act II scene 3 begins with Benedick talking to himself in the garden when upon hearing the prince, Claudio and Leonato coming hides himself. after a song is played for them they proceed to set Don Pedro's plan in motion by talking about Beatrice proclaiming of her love for Benedick. Stating of how Benedick should carry himself better because Beatrice is such a good lady. After all of these praises were given of Beatrice Benedick starts to believe he is in love with Beatrice. Don Pedro insist that the same be done of Beatrice in order for both Benedick and herself to fall in love with each other. It is then decided that Beatrice call Benedick in for dinner, after she tells him to come in for dinner he treats her better than usual. 

Act III



This act comprises of five scenes. In Act III scene 1  Hero and her maids set into motion Don Pedro's plan to make Beatrice in love with Benedick. Hero and Ursula speak of Benedick saying of his love for Beatrice; Beatrice in the mean time is hidden listening to the conversation hears of all the wonderful things they say of Benedick and his love for her and in turn begins to fall in love with Benedick.  Act III scene 2 Don Pedro , Benedick, Claudio and Leonato speak of Don Pedro going back to Arragon until the time of wedding but Claudio objects and asks that he stay until the wedding day, as the continue speaking they notice how Benedick's demeanour is changed and they instantly sense he is in love.Don John comes before them and asks to speak to them privately and then reveals to them that Hero is unfaithful and arranges for  them to see the truth at midnight from her bedroom chamber.Act III scene 3 has Dogberry a constable and his partner Verges talking and as they are walking they find out about the treacherous deed done by Don John via overhearing Conrade speaking. Act III scene4  Hero is getting ready for her wedding and Beatrice believes she is sick. Hero jumps to the occasion and tells Beatrice she is in love.Act III scene 5 the Constable speaks to Leonato and try to get him to give them money put instead he tells them he is in a hurry because Claudio and Don Pedro were waiting on him to come to give away Hero  and they could help themselves with some wine in the house

Quetions for Much Ado About Nothing

1. What does Don John vow to do?

Don John vows to use Claudio's love for Hero against his brother Don Pedro.

2. Who is Claudio in love with?

Claudio is in love with Hero who is the daughter of Leonato

3. What is the perspective of love between Beatrice and Benedick?

The perspective of love between Beatrice and Benedick is one of playful hatred in the fact that they believe they hate each other and think of love as something to be dispised. Additionally in comparison to Hero and Claudio's love which is seen as true love, Beatrice and Benedick's love can be seen as mutual love- hate.

4. What is the plan excecuted by Don Pedro?

The plan of Don Pedro was to pretend to be Claudio in order to woo Hero. Furthermore Don Pedro was to speak to Leonato and get close with him and  then give Hero to Claudio. 

Shakespeare & The Elizabethan Theatre: Group 2

                                   William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born on April, 23rd 1564 in Stratford-in-Avon, northwest of London. This date is based on record of his baptism on April 26th.

Shakespeare's father John was a successful glove marker and a businessman who held a number of positions in the town government. His mother whose maiden name was Mary Arden, was the daughter of his father's landlord.

There is no written evidence of Shakespeare's boyhood, not even a name on a school attendance list. However, given his father's statue, it is highly probable that he attended the Stratford Grammar School, where he acquired knowledge of Latin.

In November, the year 1582 William Shakespeare received a license to marry. At this time Anne would have been 26 and William 18. A considerable age difference to William Shakespeare, whom at the time was still under the age of consent (21). It is apparent that Anne Hathaway became pregnant prior to marriage which would have no doubt caused a scandal for both of the families. Some writers have made much of the fact that Shakespeare left his wife and children behind and he went into London not long after his twins were born. However, he visited his family in Stratford regularly during his years as a playwright, and they may have lived with him for a long time in London.

Shakespeare became connected with the theatre in the late 1580's and earlyn1590's. By 1594, however, he had become a part owner and the principal playwright of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, one of the most successful theatre companies in London.

In 1599, the company built the famous Globe theatre on the South bank of the Thame River, in Southwark. This is where most of Shakespeare plays were performed.

William Shakespeare did not think to himself that he was a man of letters. He wrote his plays to be performed and did not bring out editions of them for the reading public. The first published edition of his work, called The First Folio, was issued in 1623 by two members of his theatre company, John Heminges and Henery Condell, and contained thirty-six of the thirty-seven plays now attributed to him.

In about 1610, William Shakespeare retired to Standfort, though he continued to write plays. April 23rd 1616 he died and was buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford because it was a common practice to move bodies after burial to make room for others.

Timeline of Praise

No other English writer has won such universal and enthusiastic praise from critic and fellow praise from critics and fellow writers. Here are sample of that praise, shown on a timeline from Shakespeare's day to our won:

·         Ben Jonson (1572-1667) “He was not of an age, but for all time!"

·         A.C.Bradley (1851-1935) "Where his power or art is fully exerted, it really does resemble that of nature."

·         T.S.Eliot (1888-1965) "About any one so great as Shakespeare it is probable that we can never be right............."

                Elizabethan Theatre

Prior to the reign of Elizabeth I, theatre companies made a living by travelling around the country looking for large audiences to perform. When Queen Elizabeth came to power and throughout her reign, she fostered the rise and formalization of English drama. It was during her era that drama began to be recognized as a complex art form to be appreciated, loved and critiqued by the masses. Queen Elizabeth’s own interest in drama led to this increasing interest.

           

When Shakespeare was twelve years old, an actor named James Burbage built London’s first theatre, called simply ‘The Theatre’, just beyond the city walls in Shoreditch. Actors- even prominent and well-to-do actors like Burbage- occupied a strange place in London society; they were frowned upon by the city fathers but were wildly popular with the common people.

            In 1597, the city fathers closed down ‘The Theatre’. In late 1598, Richard Burbage (James’s son) and his men dismantled it and hauled it in pieces across the Thames to Southwark. It took them six months to rebuild it, and when they did they renamed it the ‘Globe’.

            Critics dispute the exact shape and structure of this building however many believe it was round and octagonal. Shakespeare makes reference to the building in Henry V calling it “this wooden O”. It is believed that the design and structure of this building was derived from the beat-baiting and bull-baiting rings built in Southwark.

            The building could seat in excess of 2500; but actors had to project their voices to be heard.          Back then, there was no technology which is utilized in the theatre today.  Sound effects, special lighting, scenery and all the modern amenities now used to enhance productions were entirely absent. The actors were forced to use their own abilities to compensate for the lack of technology.

            In 1613 a cannon was fired as a part of a performance of Henry VIII set the theatre’s thatched roof on fire and destroyed it. The patrons escaped unharmed, but the Globe was completely destroyed.

           

Building a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe was American actor Sam Wanamaker’s dream. After long years of fund-raising construction, the theatre opened its doors full season on June 8, 1997.

            Like the earlier Globe, this one was also made of wood, with a thatched rood and lime plaster covering the walls.

            During the late 16^th century, Elizabethan drama became fully- developed. Playwrights turned away from basing their plays on the religious aspects of society and began writing more sophisticated plays. Drawing on models from ancient Greece and Rome, writers introduced tragedies- plays in which disaster befalls the hero/heroine. Dramatists also began writing their plays in carefully construed of unrhymed verse, using fanciful language and making the words play a vivid image in the viewers minds.

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was an English play wright and poet who was baptised on the 26th April 1564. His birth date is unknown, but it is assumed that he was born, since he was baptised in April in the year of 1564 and it is observed on April 23rd.He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon which is in Warwickshire, England. William was the third child of eight and the eldest surviving son of John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. According to wikipedia, the free encyclopedia it is believed  ' Shakespeare probably was educated at the King's New School in Stratford.' There were no records that survived during the Elizabethan Era in which he was born to show the attendance of anyone during that era at the school.  The Elizabethan Era was an era named after Queen Elizabeth I during her riegn and during this time alot of creative ideas for Literature and Science were formulated.' At the age of 18 Shakespeare married 26 year old Anne Hathaway,' ( Wikipedia the free encyclopedia). They got married in December 1582, after they got a marriage license on November 27,1582. Six months after they had thier first child a baby girl by the name of Susanna; she was baptised on May 6th 1583,and two years later they had twins Hamnet and Judith who were baptised on February 22,1585. His son Hamnet died at the age of 11 for an unknown cause and was buried on the 11th of August 1596. It is not quite clear when Shakespeare started to write but he wrote many plays such as Taming of the Shrew, Love's Labour Lost, Richard III and comedy of  Errors which were written in 1593 but because during that year a severe outbreak of plague broke out theatres were closed. During the years 1594-1597 alot of his famous plays such as Romeo and Juliet, Mercnaht of Venice, and A Midsummer Night's Dream were written.William Shakespeare was apart of a theatre group formed  after the plague ceased and had shares in Lord Chamberlain's company who played in a theatre in Shoreditch which is the Elizabethan theatre. This theatre was erected in 1576 by James Burbage. Moreover, the Elizabethan players were all men and boys, no women were allowed to act. Further, the stage was jutted out towards the audience which gave the audience a better appreciation of the actors' gestures and facial expressions. Over the stage a roof was set up and doors were placed on either side of the set where characters entered and disappeared; a gallery or upper stage was at the back of it and were used for scences that needed a upper setting. For instance, in Romeo and Juliet where he climbs to Juliet's room. Under this upper stage there was a space called the tiring house which was hidden from the audience but was revealed as an inner stage for scences like in Macbeth the witches' cave. There was no particular scenery and if a location was to be specified, then Shakespeare used his actors by simply dressing them in clothes suited for the location or used props for example a stool would indiacte that it was an indoor scene.the simplicity of the setting caused no distraction to the spectator and thus the spectator concentrated more on the play and thus enabled Shakespeare to have as many sceneces as he wished. In 1597 the company left the Elizabethan Theatre and acted at another theatre by the name of The Curtain. In 1598 the company players after a dispute demolished and re-erected a new theatre by the name of Globe. After the death of Queen Elizabeth I  on March 24, 1603 and since the company often performed for her, her successor King James took over the company and the name was changed to King's Men. William Shakespeare also wrote many poems suh as Venus and Adonis in 1593 and The Rape of Lucrece to name a few. William Shakespeare was seen as the greatest writer of all time because he wrote 38 plays,154 sonnets and two extensive poems along with other poems. He retired in 1613 and died three years after on April 23rd 1616. In his life time his work was seen as one of the finest in English Language.

Brother Man

Brother Man Homework Assignment

1.  Some conflict in the book Brother Man are Minette's belief thet she has to assert herself to Brother Man and Papacita and Girlie's relatioship. The character Minette sees the character Brother Man as a male figure influence in her life. Due to Brother Man taking her off the streets at the age of seventeen, Minette is of the firm opinion she must repay Brother Man and wants to become sexual with him. Every time Minette makes advances on Brother Man, she gets the feeling of remorse because her conscience is telling her Brother Man sholud only be seen as a father figure and it would be wrong to be in a sexual relationship with him. This conflict is called Internal Conflict.
    The relationship between the characters Papacita and Girlie is not a healthy one. This relationship is not based on love but on violence. Many instances in the book, they are fighting each other. Papacita abuses Girlie to the point she passes out in one of their fights. THe conflict in relation to the relationship between the characters is known as External Conflict.

2   Internal conlict is a character having an internal struggle with their consciencs,for example emotional challenges with desires the character believes is not appropiate. External Conflict is struggle between a character and an outside force, for example a person attacking the character.

3   Three types of Irony are:

Verbal Irony- A character speaking and means often times differently from what they say and the opposite of what they are saying is true.

Irony of situation-  The cotrast of the expected results and tha actually results that take place.

Cosmic Irony- The implication of and unknown force that causea dire and dreadful events.

4.    In the book Brother Man, Irony is played out in parts such as when the character Cordilia getting involved in Obeah and this gives the reader the feeling that serious consequences would be involved as she dealt with dark magic and in the end you see the consequence is death. Irony on a hold gives the book a sense of mystery to it keeping the reader in suspense and urging and yearning to read on to the end of the novel.

Letter to the Editor

Sugar Apple Drive

St.John's

Antigua

W.I

3rd november,2010



Ms Delina West

Editor

Daily Observer

P.O. Box 1318

St.John's

Antigua

W.I

Dear Ms.West,

                        On the 20th of August, 2010, I witnessed an attack on a Rastafarian by a group of persons in a particular community. The rational behind the beating of this man is not clear to me as this man is seen as a peaceful, generous, helpful and spiritual man. After the act of attacking this man was over upon questioning the reason for attacking this man was simply because he was a Rastafarian. Furthrmore it is stated that an incident occured in which an unknown assailant which is said to be a Rastafarian attacked a couple and thus the community branded every Rastafarian in the community as a suspect. Personally in my opinion Rastafarians are peacefully and a very religious set of individuals.The assailant was just trying to bring down the Rastafarian movement. In this day one has to becareful when we state that a person is a Rasta. This is said because Dread Locks a mormal symbolic hairstyle to show how different a Rastafarian is from others with their sense of style, is being used as a fashion statement. So there is a distinct difference in a person being Rastafarian and having dreads as a style.

                           I believe the the attackers of this man should be brought to justice because this man is innocent of any crime. One should not be presecuted for their religion or sense of stlye. one should be persecuted based on one's character not for another man's crime. They made this man seem almost as Jesus being crucified for the sins of the world because of his religion. I dare to ask them would they love to be in his shoes to get the same treatment they gave out? I am sure their answer is no and as a country we need to stand up for what is right and not stay to the way side and let wrongs be done but we must stand up against violence. If we do not now stand up for what is right what will our country turn into?

  

Yours Truely,

Jane Cathy