Literature Assignment Year 2

1. Have you ever been betrayed? Give an example of when you where betrayed, How did you feel? What did you do?

To be betrayed is one of the most hurtful things in this world. To have faith in someone you believed you could trust is something very special. I was betrayed by a former school friend of mine who was working on a school project with me. The betrayal took place in the form of plagiarism. Upon working on a project we agreed upon fair sharing of the work load. It turned out that I was doing majority of the work while this friend limed and wasted time. The week before this project was due this friend decided to take the project and just put the name of the teacher on the front page and takes it to the teacher with a complaint of me not doing 99% of the work. The 1% that I put in was to put the teacher's name on the front page and that was because I was forced and threatened that they would say something. Furthermore they had to do something about it before I took the credit when presenting to the class, and they were of the opinion they would be embarrassed, and their grades would sink lower than what it is already, so they were giving the teacher a heads up so they knew I did no research at all. The teacher knowing I was a hard working student called me to her office to find out about this complaint. When I heard the story my friend told I was horrified and explained the truth of me staying up late at night doing this project to gain the standard of grades I was accustomed to and above which was A’s and B’s. The teacher stated she noted the style of writing and knew the other child was lying to save herself from embarrassment of not doing work. The girl was punished and I received the grade for my work. After all of this the only thing I did to the girl was simply not speak to her again because as a saying goes “You are known by the company you keep.”

2. Have you ever felt you were betrayed and misunderstood the situation?

In entrusting a secret with a friend I misunderstood the situation that followed after. The secret was passed to my friend through a note. I took my eyes off her for one moment then I saw her pass what seemed to be my note to another girl, who in turn looked up at me and smiled as if she just discovered something about me. I felt as if my whole world would fall apart if anyone knew of my most feared secret. After class I approached the girl asking her what was in the note my friend gave to her? In reply to my question with an attitude she said “It is none of your business about what I know about you,” and with that she walked off. I decided to then confront my friend about the note. My friend looked at me hurt and said “I can’t believe you would believe I would do such a thing.” She then proceeded to show me that my note was still in her pocket and the other note she gave out was to say she was throwing a surprise birthday party for me. I felt guilty about not trusting my friend when I found out about her good intentions.

3. Look at the various Shakespeare plays over the years you have studied, why do the characters always result to violence trickery or evilness?

William Shakespeare has written many plays and poems within his lifetime. Of the many plays that have been studied such as Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, Taming of the Shrew, Julius Ceasar, Macbeth and Othello; three plays will be used to show why  characters result to trickery, violence and evilness.

Plays such as Romeo and Juliet are one of William Shakespeare’s plays that display trickery. William Shakespeare created this master piece to show that love will be obtained at all cost no matter the consequences. In this play both of the main characters are from feuding families, the Capulet and the Montegue. The main character Juliet is being offered though only thirteen to Count Paris to be married. However when a ball is given for him to meet her she meets Romeo and falls in love with him. With the help of Friar Francis they get married secretly in hope the families would stop feuding. The trickery is displayed when Juliet drinks a potion in order for her to be pronounced dead so that she could be reunited with her love Romeo. This form of trickery did however cost both lovers their life as this plan had a turn for the worst. The message of Juliet’s false death was not delivered in time for Romeo to understand that he was to meet her and then be reunited when she awoke. Due to this Romeo is informed through a servant and brokenheartedly buys a poison and kills himself beside his wife. Juliet in turn wakes to find a dead Romeo and distraught, takes his dagger and kills herself.  In the end both families unite over loss of their children. The trickery of deception by death shows that William Shakespeare was using the true saying as said in marriage vows “till death do us part.”

Trickery violence and evilness are portrayed in the Merchant of Venice. Trickery is displayed in the way Shylock contracts Antonio for a pound of flesh if he does not pay his debt. This at first is taken as a joke but Antonio comes to the realization of the trick when he has to go to court to defend his debt. Trickery is also used positively in this play because Bassanio’s wife Portia dresses as a male lawyer which in that era is a major breaking of the law for a woman. However despites all odds, she is able to defend Antonio from Shylocks evilness to extract violent revenge on Antonio. This type of revenge was stemmed from the evil Antonio did towards Shylock by stereotyping Shylock just because he was a Jew. The combination of the three concepts of violence, trickery and evilness in this play shows that no matter the wrong one has done to you; you cannot take the law in your own hands because the fact is that the law can turn right back on you.

Finally in Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare uses trickery both a positive and negative way. Trickery was used positively to join the characters of Benedick and Beatrice. They are fooled into falling in love with one another. Through the help of all characters in the play each one overhears in conversations about one loving the other. This in the end produces a happy effect. The evilness of Don John is triggered by his jealousy of his brother Don Pedro. Shakespeare in turn uses this to formulate the ultimate evil in which Don John with some help stains the name of the main character Hero’s name by accusing her of committing cuckoldry against Claudio with Barachio.  Violence in this play is displayed as a way to bring honor to a young man’s name especially when he went to battle. In conclusion it is seen that in these plays trickery, evilness and violence plays a role in one way or the other. William Shakespeare uses these themes to convey what is the custom during that era. Furthermore he uses the themes to portray different scenarios that occurred or could possible occur and the major consequences top these different deeds.

4. Look at the background of the text Winter’s Tale. What is going on historically in the era that the book is written in?

The Winter’s Tale is written according to the enotes.com between late 1610 and early 1611.it is also said it was published with the First Folio in 1623. During the 16th century in England was a time of Reformation and the Literary Arts were promoted such as theatre.  This time was historically significant due to the fact it during the reign of King James I. Furthermore during his reign it was called the Jacobean Era, in this era there was a uniting of Scotland and England under his rulage. Due to the fact that during the Elizabethan Era Catholicism was no longer seen as the main religion but The Church Of England, many rebellions broke out during this time. One event in particular occurred on the 5^th November 1605. According to Wikipedia.com “on that date, a group of English Catholics attempted to blow up the King and Parliament in the Palace of Westminster. However, the Gunpowder Plot was exposed and prevented, and the convicted plotters were hanged, drawn, and quartered.” Furthermore during this time in 1613 King James daughter Princess Elizabeth was getting married to Frederick V, Elector Palatine. They later became King and Queen of Bohemia which coincidently is the country used by Shakespeare in The Winter’s Tale. Their reign marked the beginning of the thirty years war.

5. What is the Elizabethan theater? Historical back ground? Picture of the global theater

The Elizabethan theatre sometimes known as The English Renaissance Theatre is one of the theatres built to during the Elizabethan era that was called by many names and had many locations. ‘The Theatre’ was the original name it was opened by an actor called James Burbage it was London’s first theatre during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Prior to this theatre being built theatre companies had no strategic place to perform in, they travelled all over England looking for large audiences to perform to. Furthermore during her reign Queen Elizabeth I, formulated rise in English Drama making very popular.

‘The Theatre’ as it was known as was built just beyond the walls of Shoreditch in 1576. The many actors who graced this stage were frowned upon by the city fathers; however they were popular with the common people. In 1597, the city fathers closed ‘The Theatre’. The son of James Burbage, Richard Burbage who in the late 1598 with his men dismantled the theatre hauled it in pieces across the Thames to Southwark. They took six months to rebuild the theatre and they renamed it ‘The Globe’. Many acting companies performed in this theatre such as Lord Chamberlain’s Men which the famous playwright William Shakespeare acted in and also performed his plays with. The theatre only had male actors. Women in this era were not allowed to act men took the male parts while boys played the role of women.

Many critics try to dispute the true shape and structure of this building. It was however believed to be round and octagonal due to the reference Shakespeare makes to the building in Henry V by calling it “this wooden”. The structure was believed that design also because of the beat-baiting and bull baiting rings built in Southwark. The building was said to in excess of 2500 persons. However actors had to learn to project their voices for their audience to hear. This was because the technology of our time such as sound systems was not around for them to use. All sound effects, lighting effects and the like had to be created by the actors through whatever resources they had to compensate their lack of technology. Sadly in 1613 during a performance of Henry VIII a cannon was fired and set the thatched roof of the theatre on fire and destroying it. All the spectators escaped unharmed but the Globe was destroyed completely.

Images of the global theatre

6. What is the theatre of the absurd? Videos, pictures

A theatre in which naturalist convention of plot and characterization are ignored or distracted in order to convey the irrationality of existence ant the essential isolation and importance of humanity.

7. Synopsis of Williams Shakespeare? Life, work, plays he has written, tragedies, history, comedies and the time period that they were written in.

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 their 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, Merchant of Venice, and A Midsummer Night's Dream were written. William Shakespeare was a part 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 scenes 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 scenes 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 indicate 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 scenes 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 such 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.

 Here are the different plays he wrote according to their categories:

Comedies

All's Well That Ends Well (1606-7)

As You Like It (1599)

The Comedy of Errors (1594)

Love's Labour's Lost (1594-5)

Measure for Measure(1600-3)

The Merchant of Venice (1596)

The Merry Wives of Windsor (1597)

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595)

Much Ado About Nothing (1598)

Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1608-9)

The Taming of the Shrew (1590-4)

The Tempest (1610-11)

Twelfth Night (1601)

The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1590-1)

The Two Noble Kinsmen (1613)

The Winter's Tale (1594-1611)

Tragedies:

Romeo and Juliet (1593-5)

Coriolanus (1608)

Titus Andronicus(1591-2)

Timon of Athens (1605-6)

Julius Caesar (1599)

Macbeth (1603-6)

Hamlet (1599-1601)

Troilus and Cressida (1601)

King Lear (1603-6)

Othello (1602-3)

Antony and Cleopatra (1606)

Cymbeline (1610-11)

Histories

King John (1595-6)

Richard II (1595)

Henry IV, Part 1 (1596)

Henry IV, Part 2 (1596-7)

Henry V (1599)

Henry VI, Part 1 (1591)

Henry VI, Part 2 (1590-1)

Henry VI, Part 3 (1590-1)

Richard III (1592)

Henry VIII (1613)

Poems

Shakespeare's sonnets

Venus and Adonis

The Rape of Lucrece

The Passionate Pilgrim

The Phoenix and the Turtle

A Lover's Complaint

Drama

Elements of Drama

Act – A short performance by one or more entertainers or to represent (fictitious or historical character) with one’s person.

Scene- A division of a play, film novel, etc representing a single episode

Exposition- A  large scale public exhibition or show.

Conflict – To be contradictory, at variance or in opposition.

Complication- A complex combination of elements or thing.

Climax- A decisive moment that is of maximum intensity or a turning point in a plot or  the highest peak/point within the storyline.

Denouement- The final resolution or the unravelling of a plot as of a drama or novel.

Peripetia – A sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal in literary work.

Characterization- The creation of fictitious characters as in literary work.

Protagonist – The leading character of a drama or literary work

Antagonist- The opponent of the hero or protagonist.

Main Plot – The main idea of the story.

Sub plot – The main idea being portrayed with different themes.

Forms of Drama

Comedy- A play, movie etc of light and humorous character with a cheerful ending.

History- A drama presenting historical events.

Tragedy- A literary composition as a novel dealing with a sombre theme carried to a tragic conclusion.

Romance- A medieval Narrative

Tragic Comedy – A dramatic or other literary composition combing elements of both tragedy and comedy.

Theatre of the Absurd- A theatre in which naturalist convention of plot and characterization are ignored or distracted in order to convey the irrationality of existence and the essential isolation and importance of humanity.

Satire- A literary composition or genre in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision or ridicule.

Modern Drama- A western development of drama at the beginning of the late 19^th century.

Melodrama-A dramatic form that exaggerates emotion and emphasises plot or action at the expense of characterization.

Features of Drama

Monologue – A dramatic or comic piece spoken entirely by a single performer.

Dialogue – The conversation between characters in a novel , drama etc.

Soliloquy- A speech in a drama in which a character, alone or as if alone discloses innermost thoughts.

Aside- Something spoken by an actor to or for the audience and supposedly not heard by others on stage.

Set – To arrange the scenery, properties, lights etc on (stage) for an act or scene.

Stage Direction- The words written to show how things are to be arranged in the play or placement of things in the Act.

Stage Convention- The deal with engineering, products tied to the story and how it affects the audience response.

Chorus-An Actor or group of actors functioning like the ancient Greek chorus as in Elizabethan drama

 Dramatic Unities- The unities of time, place, and actions  that are observed in classical drama.

Literary Devices

Imagery – A word or sequence of words that refers to any sensory experience.

Motif- Some aspect of literature resource which reoccurs frequently.

Symbolism-The representation of a person of things through different ways in the novel or play.

Dramatic Irony- A speech or action in a story which has great significance to the audience than to the character who speaks or performs because the audience pocess knowledge of upcoming events whiles the character does not.

 Tragic Irony- The use of dramatic irony to allow the audience to be aware of the character, speech or actions will bring tragedy while the character is ignorant of the fact

Juxtaposition- the use of two themes, characters, phrases words or situations for comparison or contrast.

Theme: Difficult marriages

           In Pride and Prejudice when one thinks of marriage one thinks of  the women within the book always being in search of a man for economic security of their inheritance. The theme of Marriage is seen as of utmost importance to every woman within the novel.

            In the case of the Bennets, Mr and Mrs Bennet have a marriage that is not based on love. Mr Bennet is said to be a man that was ‘so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserved and caprice,’ in comparison to his wife of twenty three years where she was ‘ of mean understanding of little information and uncertain temper’ this was a recipe for disaster of marriage. Elizabeth Bennet looks upon this marriage and sees her father just tolerating her mother. And he even confesses regret in marrying her from this we can see their marriage was not as loving as it should be but actually broken.

            This broken marriage affects the children in the novel, this is observed when reading their behavioural patterns through out the novel. Children tend to take sides of either parent and in some cases such for love outside of the home. This is seen in the character Lydia running away with Mr. Wickham even though she is the youngest. In other cases it makes some children stronger such as in the case of Elizabeth and she views marriage as something she can do without; because she sees it as being a tolerable matter only.

            In today’s society staying in an unhappy marriage only brings distress to the children. It is better to be separated or divorced than staying in a house causing the children to have resentment for one parent over another.  However, if the parent remains in the marriage for the children’s sake the parent is further stressed and depressed as if trapped from their true emotions. Though there are many cases for which persons stay in unhappy marriage these include lack of finances, or they may have no where else to go. The parent should learn to become independent again and not dependent on anyone for the sake of their children.

Pride and Prejudice Character Sketches

Pride and Prejudice Character Sketches
done by
Daveniel Matthery
Siobhan A. Leandro
Sharifa George
Shakeema Edwards

Ms Jane Bennet

Jane is condemned by her sister Elizabeth as being “a great deal to apt… to like people”. While Jane’s endeavours to see the best in people contribute to her king and caring nature, it also blinds her from the malicious devices of persons such as Caroline Bingley who only pretend to have her best interest at heart. Jane is also described as being prone to “conceal” her affection; she divulges to Elizabeth alone her admiration for Mr Bingley, but is “cautious” when discussing him with everyone else. This secret reserve of Jane ultimately causes her to lose Bingley’s love.

Elizabeth Bennet

Elizabeth, second daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, is the thorn among roses; she is the intellectual gems among her sisters. It is reflected in her witty speech and opinionate composure. Elizabeth wows strangers with her unique nature, notwithstanding the fact that she is a woman.... She emulates the "Prejudice" in 'Pride and Prejudice'. Throughtout the novel, we learn of the prejudices Elizabeth hold strongly towards Mr, Darcy. This course relationship fostered by Mr. Darcy and prolonged by Elizabeth is outstanding because, as opposed to the average woman, Elizabeth has her views and opinions and makes them known.

 Mr and Mrs. Bennet

 Mr. and Mrs. Bennet; an interesting and contrasting duet. Mr. Bennet is termed in the book as "so odd a mixture of quick parts" A colourful blend of personality characteristics such as humour, sarcasm and interlligence, thus he is of a sound mind. His wife, Mrs. Bennet, on the other hand, is more of a simpleton. She busies herself with the fine, however idle things in life, such as clothes and gossip. Mrs. Bennet represents the average women of the novel; subject to poor education, matters of the home and family and lastly, a vivid example to the place of women being subordinate to men.

Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy

Mr Darcy is described as “the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world”. However, Darcy’s reserved nature stems, as much from his shyness and inability to be comfortable around persons he does not know as it does from his pride. His love for Elizabeth despite her family’s obvious shortcomings prove that there is more to Mr Darcy beneath his proud demeanor.

Mr Charles Bingley

“Good looking and gentleman like… [with] a pleasant countenance and easy, unaffected manners”, it is no surprise that the young bachelor is a favourite among all of the inhabitants of Hertfordshire; especially the young ladies. Bingley’s overall appeal is slighted only by his relation to such prideful people as his sisters Caroline and Louisa.

Mr. William Collin

The character Mr Collins is the nephew of Mr.Bennet and also is a clergyman. He is 25 years of age and is the heir to the property that Mr. Bennet owns due the fact Mr. Bennet has five Daughters. His character can be said of a bit boastful via his manner on speaking of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The author states Mr. Collins as  ‘not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education or society.” From this it is seen that Mr. Collins is a character that goes based on his instinct and not his common sense. The characters around him see him as prideful but he is seen as a person in good standing with Mrs. Bennet when he shows interest in marrying her daughter Elizabeth .

 

Essay

Question: Betrayal is a theme introduced at the very beginning of the play how does the constant stream of betrayal affect the outcome of the plot and which character is most affected

The theme Betrayal is seen at the very beginning of the play ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ and continues to be displayed throughout the play in many ways. Further, the betrayal affects many persons/ characters in the play but only one character is affected the most by this betrayal. The outcome of the play ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ is affected in a way because of this betrayal and an unexpected happy ending is read.

According to the Oxford Pocket School Dictionary Betrayal is to ‘be disloyal to a person or country.’ The betrayal in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ begins between the characters Don Pedro and Don John. It is believed that the war that Don Pedro was fighting and had victory over was on the account of Don John trying to get revenge on Don Pedro his brother to dethrone him. It continues in varying degrees to the rising action where the character Hero was being used as the ultimate sacrifice for revenge. Don John due to his disloyalty to his brother Don Pedro executes a plan of revenge by abusing Claudio’s trust in Hero and turning that trust into hate. With the assistance of his accomplice Barachio and one of Hero’s maids Margaret, he convinces Claudio and Don Pedro that Hero has betrayed Claudio by committing cuckoldry. Cuckoldry according to the Random House Webster’s College Dictionary is ‘the act of making someone’s husband a cuckold.’(Cuckold – the husband of an unfaithful wife) due to this betrayal of trust and love Hero is seen as not being the innocent, sweet and pure girl that she is acclaimed to be and her love for Claudio was seen as false. Also, she is affected because on her wedding day Claudio disgraces her and falsely accuses her of not being a virgin. Hence, her reputation is spoiled and in the Elizabethan Era a woman with this reputation was better off dead than alive. This is exactly what Hero had to do in order to redeem her ruined reputation.

 Moreover, the outcome of the play is affected in a way because it is seen that the character Hero who is dead is actually alive. As well, the happy ending of the play in which Don John’s treachery of betraying Claudio’s trust in Hero is resolved, by allowing her to ‘die” in order for her name to be cleared as innocent. As a result, during the course of the play after Hero was pronounced as dead was seen as no sense of hope for redemption of her name; until Hero is reintroduced as Leonato’s niece to marry Claudio.

In conclusion the theme betrayal is seen as a major theme in which the character Don John uses the other characters in the play to get revenge on his brother Don Pedro. The affect the betrayal had on the outcome of the play gives a sense of relief and joy that over all love prevails even though there is much ado over nothing.

Much Ado About Nothing Essay

In the play Much Ado about Nothing humour does indeed play a vital role. In the sense of its characters in pertinence to Dogberry and his constable though playing minor roles provide humour to the comedy showing in fact as the plays name there is really a lot of much ado about a false accusation. Through their stupidity they bring forward the evil conspiracy in the form of good humour.

The character Dogberry with the use of his constable uncovers the plot quite by mistake. Though not very intelligent, Dogberry sets about to hire watchmen and chooses one base on him being able to read and write. As he states in Act 3 scene 3 that it is vanity that the watchman knows how to read and write. The unintelligence but humour is shown in his choice of words ‘ you are thought here to be the most senseless and fit man for the Constable of the watch’ (Act 3 scene 3), the word senseless should be in fact sensible stating the man to be the best man for the job. Dogberry is used as the character to create that set stage for humour in the play Much Ado about Nothing.

Humour is a very important part of the play, it is used to show that even in a conspiracy there is humour in it. The character Dogberry uses many ways to humour his audience creating for the reader a pleasant experience. The character Dogberry uses the word ‘vigitant’ which he is actually saying to the watches to be vigilant in their watching of Leonato’s gate because a wedding would be there and there would be a ‘great coil tonight’. From this it could be seen that it was a foreshadow of Claudio going to shame Hero at the wedding the next day. The use of humour set the stage to show that in Much Ado about Nothing, the crime that was committed was really nothing that fools could solve it better then a person of intelligence. 

The use of humour plays a vital role in Much Ado about Nothing. It shows significance in the fact that it is used to show the main idea of the play which was a lot of fuss over absolutely nothing and it was also used as a foreshadow to the events that were coming in the book.

Literature Study Answers done by Siobhan Leandro and Daveniel Matthery

Literature Study Answers

Introduction 

1. The play was written prior to the summer of 1600 and then is estimated to be written in 1598. At this time Shakespeare was busy at work with an array of several plays including ‘As you like’, ‘Henry V’, Ben Johnson’s ‘Every Man in his humour’ and ‘Much Ado About Nothing.’ The other three romantic comedies associated with this play are ‘The Faerie Queene Book II,’ ‘Cantio iv’ and ‘Matteo Bandello.’
2. The three basic plot lines of the play are Claudio and Hero where they have a problem of scandal causing their relationship to go haywire but by the end of the play the scandal is solved and the love between them grows back and they get back together, the second plot is Beatrice and Benedick’s love battles in which these lovers even though at first they are both against love at the end of the play the perception of love changes as they are tricked into loving each other and the third plot is Dogberry being a ‘amateur police man’ with his friends and watchmen through their simplicity solve the scandal in the play allowing it to have a happy ending.
3. An example of  “battling lovers” from our popular culture is Hannah Howell’s book Highland Knight in which the characters Avery and Cameron continuously flung insults at each other and denying love when in fact they truly loved one another.
4. The relationship between Beatrice and Benedick differs from Claudio and Hero’s relationship because Benedick and Beatrice had to be tricked in order for them to notice they were in love where as hero and Claudio fell in love with no argument or any tricks being done in order for them to fall in love.
5. The unusual form of language used in this romantic comedy is prose, the reason it is written like this because when character like Beatrice and Bendick try to speak like lovers they are very uncomfortable and they not wanting to conform to societal norms speak in the form of prose.
6. The unusualness of Dogberry and his amateur police force accomplishments are they do not understand what they are doing in the fact that they solve crimes out of convince and stupidity not based on common sense.
7. The importance of a tight knit society in the play is to make it possible for persons like Don John to take full advantage of the good nature and reputation of persons like Don Pedro and Claudio. In the case of Beatrice and Bendick due to the closeness in society they believe they know each other well enough so one cannot hide the truth from each other.
8. According to David Stevenson (in the ‘introduction’ of the signet edition on page 1xviii the roles Beatrice and Benedick play in their small society are ‘Beatrice as shrew’ and ‘Benedick as misogynist’ which means a woman hater.
9. The men in the play are obsessed with cuckoldry which is men being betrayed by their lovers who are women; according to folklore it revealed itself when a man ‘grows horns on his forehead, horns which were invisible to him but which everyone else in the community could see.’ Men of the upper class were especially vulnerable because their wives usually were expected to cheat with younger unmarried men. The title relates to this obsession because the scandal was perceived to be of Hero committing cuckoldry against Claudio when in fact she was framed.
   Act I Scene 1:
10. The military situation at the beginning of the play was that of an ended war and thus the characters were no longer on their guard. In the reports of causalities of the war the social class which was focused on was the upper class as stated by the messenger when asked by Leonatio “how many gentlemen have you lost in the action?” to which he replied “but few of any sort and none of name” this shows that only the noble class was seen as a major loss to society. The connection between Don John and the war was the group of rebels that sought to dethrone his brother Don Pedro and put him as king failed.
11. Three ways Beatrice insults Benedick although he is not present are “…he is no less than a stuffed man, but for the stuffing well we are all mortal”. By this statement she is saying he has no intelligence and cannot understand since he is not mortal. She also insults his courage when she states that “… will eat his killing” it is said to explain he wouldn’t kill anyone   even if he tried. Further, Beatrice insults Benedick’s character by stating his friendship is like a disease especially in her statement “O Lord! He will hang on him like a disease he is sooner caught than the pestilence and the taker runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio! If he had caught the Benedick it will cost him a thousand pound ere he be cured.”
12. Two perspective ways Don Pedro shows closeness or royal favour for Leonatio are his greetings, and acknowledging his daughter Hero.
13. Benedick’s first remarks of asking Leonatio if was in doubt of Hero being his daughter is inappropriate because he is basically charging Hero’s mother with cheating on Leonatio. Leonatio’s answer to Benedick makes him look like the kind of gentlemen to have affairs with married women causing then to be pregnant.
14. Benedick insults Beatrice by calling her “Lady Disdain” however to his disappointed she embraces the fact she has such qualities towards him.
15. The only thing Beatrice and Bendick agree upon in the opening scene is that love is not for them and this is contradicting their society in which love is seen as a symbol of great value while it holds no value to them.

16. The “jade’s trick” stated by Beatrice in line 40 was in accordance to Benedick’s speech where he states “I would my horse but had the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer, but keep your way a’ God’s name, I have done”. In the speech he dismisses the heated argument by simply saying ‘I have done’ and moving off topic. Beatrice saying “you always end with a jade’s trick, I know you of old” is actually implying that he knew of him before and that he has used this method of getting out of an argument without ‘losing face’ prior to this occasion.

17. I believe Claudio was younger than the other men because when he mentioned love he seemed to seek advice from the others as though he was not as experienced in that field or that he felt he wasn’t as wise or learned as Benedick or Don Pedro. Also, he seemed very trusting, naive and gullible in some instances because he was so quick to believe Don John when he accused Hero of infidelity and impurity. 
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18.  The most important reason for Benedick’s decision not to marry is because of his views. It is evident in this extract of Benedick’s discourse with Claudio from (I:I:28) “...In faith hath not the world one man but he will wear his cap with suspicion...”. In this dialogue, his true perception comes out; he is basically saying, in Standard English, that a man has to always be suspicious of a woman for she is only going to cheat on him. He believes that marriage makes no sense for it only brings to light the person’s negatives.

19.  In a Shakespearean play a character’s declaration significant when he says he will “never” do something because back in those times a man was always true to his word, it showed a sense of credibility and reliability on his part. It was always perceived that an honest man is always the man with the highest honour and position in the Elizabethan Era. However, in Shakespeare’s plays irony usually plays a huge role in the play development.Therefore, from the beginning foreshadowing took place. The reader was thus, able to determine that Benedick was going to fall in love prior to it actually happening because of the history of the other plays by Shakespeare

20.  When Benedick leaves the language and overall mood changes from that of anger to that of romance. When Benedick leaves Claudio and Don Pedro talk of love with love iambic pentameters as if what they are saying is poetry as opposed to the arguments against love and the one line sort of detracted verse of love when Benedick is around. The language seems more romantic and free. This is because of Benedick’s obvious views of the hatred of marriage, love and anything of romantic origin.
21.  The question Claudio asks Don Pedro about Hero and Leonatio was “hath Leonatio any son my Lord?” and upon Don Pedro answering no and Hero the heir to Leonatio’s riches shows that during the Elizabethan era men marrying women with status and money gave their noble family higher privileges due to both families wealth being combined.

22. Don Pedro offers to win Hero’s love for Claudio because Don Pedro is like a father-figure to Claudio, as it appears. It seems that because of the significant age difference between then that Don Pedro has taken Claudio under his wing and seeks to hep him out through his trials and tribulations like a father would do. Don Pedro seems like a democratic and father-like figure in terms of his position and authority as a Prince. However, Claudio is portrayed as dependent upon the guidance of Don Pedro and seems a little weak to stand on his own.

Act I, Scene 2:

23. Leonato gets the wrong impression of Don Pedro’s intentions towards Hero because he himself received the message through hear-say. His messenger was eavesdropping or ‘over-heard’ Don Pedro and Claudio’s conversation and misinterpreted the fact that Claudio was the one who had his sights set on Hero and not Don Pedro.

   

Act I, Scene 3:

24. ‘Melancholia’, according to Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopaedia is a mood disorder of non-specific depression, characterized by low levels of both enthusiasm and eagerness for activity. Don John is said to be melancholic because he is very quiet and seems to be introverted and to himself at all times. Furthermore, he never seems to smile or show any expressions of joy on his face.

25. Don John shows hostility within the confines of his own room within the palace which seems like the cellar, also in the background of the ball only seeming to show his face once to execute his villainous plan of implementing ill-will into the mind of Claudio. He is usually in the background or hidden because he wants to keep his villainous-intent and ill-will secretive so he makes his presence as hidden as it could be so as not to disclose any type of treasonous behaviour to the main characters of the play.

26.  According to Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopaedia, Borachio is similar to the Spanish word "Borracho," which means "drunk." Borachio is a type of beer bottle. He misheard Pedro’s intentions for Hero because he was eavesdropping and heard Claudio declaring his love for Hero and probably thought it was Don Pedro or with reference to his name and the significance of it thereof, he was drunk and mistook the happenings because of the condition he was in at the time.

Act II, Scene I

27.       According to the lecture, Beatrice is living with her uncle because her parents have passed. Leonato kindly takes her in as his own, in accordance to this.

She ‘proves’ that she will never love a man when she states ‘Not till God make men of some other metal than earth’.

Beatrice seems to oppose marriage simply because they sin which was implied by her statement ‘No, uncle, I’ll none. Adam’s sons are my brethren, and truly I hold it a sin to match in my kindred.’ And she seems to be of the belief that marriage makes one die faster because of the constant stress of it. Whereas, Benedick opposes marriage simply because he finds there is no match for him, no woman that is perfect in his eyes.

28. “‘lead’ in Elizabethan English means to have sexual intercourse. The proverb means that women who take no part in the sexual activity of society for whatever reason will be punished by being served by apes in hell. This is not a punishment for chastity (a faithful spouse is chaste) but for failing to spread joy in the world by healthy activity” according to ephemera-society.org.uk.

29.  ‘Conceit’ in Shakespeare’s work is, according to Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopaedia, an elaborate comparison between two very different things. In this particular case, Beatrice uses a ‘conceit’ to describe the process of wooing - ‘wooing, wedding, and repenting is as a Scotch jig, a measure, and a cinquepace.’

30.  Leonato and Antonio want Hero to accept the Prince’s proposal to wed her if he were to do so the night of the dance. However, Beatrice, on the other hand, wants Hero to only accept if she personally wants to marry him.

31.  The gentlemen wore masks at the dance because they wanted to be able to flirt freely without people judging their behaviour based on their status or societal role which would ‘ruin their reputation’.

32. Don Pedro tries to impress Hero when they dance by flirtatiously replying to Hero’s prior statement that ‘My visor is Philemon’s roof; within the house is Jove’. However, Hero replies unaffected by his seductive words ‘Well, then, since Philemon’s roof was thatched with straw, your mask should have a beard.’

33.  Ursula realizes her partner is Antonio by the way he ‘waggles’ his head. She tries to make him feel better by saying ‘Come, come, do you think I do not know you by your excellent wit? Can virtue hide itself? Go to, mum, you are he. Graces will appear, and there’s an end.’

34. The interchange between Benedick and Beatrice seems to differ from that of the other couples because they are both vile and vicious in their language although unknowing of who they are talking to and seem to insult each other unlike the other couples whom compliment one another.

            Benedick insults her first, by saying that she was ‘disdainful’ and that she had her good wit out of ‘The Hundred Merry Tales’. To call a lady ‘disdainful’ was not only insulting but demeaning their value and personal standard. Furthermore, Beatrice felt herself to be very witty and smart, so when Benedick compared her wit to that out of ‘The Hundred Merry Tales’ it hurt her privately.

            Beatrice insults him by saying ‘Why, he is the Prince’s jester, a very dull fool, only his gift is in devising impossible slanders. None but libertines delight in him, and the commendation is not in his wit but in his villainy, for he both pleases men and angers them, and then they laugh at him and beat him. I am sure he is in the fleet. I would he had boarded me.’ She continues ‘Do, do. He’ll but break a comparison or two on me, which, peradventure not marked or not laughed at, strikes him into melancholy, and then there’s a partridge wing saved, for the fool will eat no supper that night.’

            It seems that Beatrice’s insult comparing Benedick to a jester is the one that hurt Benedick the most because Benedick always saw his insults as intellectual responses to hers and when she compared it to that of a jester, it was mocking his wit.

35. At the party Claudio pretends to be Benedick when approached by Don John because  Borachio caught on to Claudio’s disguise when he says ‘And that is Claudio. I know him by his bearing.’ And Claudio in an attempt not to be found out said that he was Benedick instead.  It was not a necessary deception however, Claudio wanted to find out what was being said about him. Claudio believes that Don Pedro is trying to seduce Hero for himself instead of carrying out the prior arrangement. Benedick thinks that Hero had fallen in love with Don Pedro. The significance of the willow in Benedick’s discourse with Claudio is that it symbolizes unrequited love.

36. A hyperbole, according to Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopaedia, are exaggerations to create emphasis or effect.  Benedick uses it to strengthen his argument that the Prince has wronged Claudio by stealing the heart and affection of Hero. Two of Benedick’s best ones are ‘Why, that’s spoken like an honest drover; so they sell’ and ‘Ho, now you strike like the blind man. 'Twas the boy that stole your meat, and you’ll beat the post. bullocks.’

37.  Benedick’s reference to ‘turn spit’ and chop his club is that she would humiliate him by making him do housework and force him to chop his club to make firewood.

38. Benedick offers to go on a journey. He says ‘I will go on the slightest errand now to the Antipodes that you can devise to send me on. I will fetch you a toothpicker now from the furthest inch of Asia, bring you the length of Prester John’s foot, fetch you a hair off the great Cham’s beard, do you any embassage to the Pygmies.’ They seek to make Benedick have to neither converse with Beatrice nor make him have to see her face after she so wrongfully humiliated him with her insults.

39.  Beatrice reveals that she had once loved Benedick but she seemed to be more interested in the relationship than him. The reference by Don Pedro to being ‘put down’ is that she had humiliated him, but the reference by Beatrice of such is a sexual reference to be put to bed aand she continues with the insult saying if she were to have children with him, she would give birth to fools.

40. Don Pedro appears to propose to Beatrice because of his words ‘Will you have me?’ seemingly very direct and to-the-point. It may be serious because he had seemed to take a liking to Beatrice prior to saying that. It may be in jest, on the other hand, because of his directness although knowing Beatrice’s vies on love and marriage. She treats the proposal as a jest. The connection between Pedro’s proposal and his planned deception of Beatrice and Benedick was to see her criteria for a husband.

Act II, Scene 2:

41. We know that Don John and Borachio are aware of the consequences of their planned deception because firstly, the setting in which they talk of their treachery is always closed off from the outside world. Furthermore, they only involve themselves in the act because they know if they were to include an outsider he/she would probably tell others or act suspiciously. Also, when telling Don Pedro and Claudio they make sure no one else is around.

Act II, Scene 3:

42.  Benedick believes love has changed Claudio’s behaviour by saying 1.  I have known when there was no music with him but the drum and the fife, and now had he rather hear the tabor and the pipe. 2.  I have known when he would have walked ten mile afoot to see good armour, and now will he lie ten nights awake carving the fashion of a new doublet. 3. He was wont to speak plain and to the purpose, like an honest man and a soldier, and now is he turned orthography; his words are a very fantastical banquet, just so many strange dishes. 

43. The eight ‘graces’ which Benedick believes a hypothetical woman should have before he would consider marrying her are 1.Fair, 2.Wise, 3.Virtuous, 4.Rich, 5.Mild, 6.Noble, 7.Of good discourse and 8.excellect musician. He is flexible on the lady’s hair colour.

44.  Benedick hides when Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato come in to talk because he wants to prove the extent to which Claudio has fallen in love and forgotten about his own behaviour prior to falling in love with Hero.

45.  The element of the ‘gulling scene’ which convinces Benedick that this is no trick is the very presence of Leonato. He believes that Leonato would have no reason to lie about it because he has no close ties to Benedick whatsoever and has a close relationship with Beatrice, her uncle. Beatrice’s possible suicide makes Benedick speculate once again on his perception of love and change it.

46. Three different ways that Benedick’s friends question his personal character are by:

1. Accusing him of being scornful

2. Claudio postulates that Beatrice must ‘wear out’ her passion rather than take the risk of being emotionally damaged by Benedick’s cruelty.

3. Accusing Benedick of taking pleasure in other people’s melancholy situations.

47. ‘Die’ in Shakespeare’s plays often means ‘reaching a sexual climax’.

48.   Benedick suddenly has a change of heart: He now looks at Beatrice with a sensitive and caring eye instead of the scornful and disapproving look he used to give. He also, now seems to have changed his views on love from something that was just not tolerable to something that he wouldn’t mind doing.

49.   Beatrice posits ‘Against my will I am sent to bid you come in to dinner…’ Yes, just so much as you may take upon a knife’s point, and choke a daw withal: You have no stomach, signior, Fare you well.’ By the comments along those lines it is seen that Beatrice is highly annoyed at the fact she is the one to call Benedick in for dinner after she notices that he does not respond in the manner he normally does she uses the last statement to say he is not responding to her insults as usual so he is basically wasting her time.