English Literature / Unit 7 ENL 0608 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Much Ado About Nothing
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The idea
Much Ado, set in Messina, pairs two couples. Claudio and Hero's match is nearly wrecked by the villain Don John's slander, while Benedick and Beatrice trade witty insults until friends trick them into love. The title puns on "noting," gossip and overhearing.
In practice
A slandered bride; two sparring wits.
Where people slip
The wit pair, not the plot pair, takes centre stage.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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