GCSE-ready- Home
- Lessons
- GCSE & IGCSE English Literature
- Much Ado About Nothing: the plot
Much Ado About Nothing: the plot
🎬 The doodle video for this lesson is coming soon. Subscribe on YouTube to see it first.
A comedy with two couples: one tricked into love, one nearly destroyed by a lie. It is set in Messina, Sicily.
Acts 1 and 2: arrivals and plots
Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, returns from war with Claudio and Benedick to the house of Leonato, Governor of Messina.
Claudio falls for Leonato's daughter Hero, and Don Pedro woos her for him at a masked ball. They are engaged.
Leonato's niece Beatrice and Benedick trade insults. Their friends plan to trick them into love.
Claudio falls for Leonato's daughter Hero, and Don Pedro woos her for him at a masked ball. They are engaged.
Leonato's niece Beatrice and Benedick trade insults. Their friends plan to trick them into love.
Acts 2 and 3: two tricks
In the orchard, Benedick 'overhears' that Beatrice loves him; then Beatrice 'overhears' that Benedick loves her. Both decide to love in return.
Meanwhile the villain Don John uses his follower Borachio to make Claudio believe Hero is unfaithful: Borachio courts Margaret at Hero's window.
The comic Watch, led by Dogberry, overhears Borachio boasting and arrests him.
Meanwhile the villain Don John uses his follower Borachio to make Claudio believe Hero is unfaithful: Borachio courts Margaret at Hero's window.
The comic Watch, led by Dogberry, overhears Borachio boasting and arrests him.
Acts 4 and 5: the wedding and the cure
At the wedding, Claudio publicly shames Hero: "Give not this rotten orange to your friend."
The Friar suggests they pretend Hero has died. Beatrice demands that Benedick "Kill Claudio", and he challenges his friend.
The Watch's evidence reveals the truth. Claudio agrees to marry Leonato's 'niece', who turns out to be Hero. Benedick and Beatrice also marry.
The Friar suggests they pretend Hero has died. Beatrice demands that Benedick "Kill Claudio", and he challenges his friend.
The Watch's evidence reveals the truth. Claudio agrees to marry Leonato's 'niece', who turns out to be Hero. Benedick and Beatrice also marry.
How is Claudio deceived?
- Don John tells him Hero is disloyal.
- Borachio talks with Margaret at Hero's window at night.
- Claudio, watching from below, believes the woman is Hero.
Answer: He sees Borachio with Margaret at Hero's window and believes it is Hero.
Arrival from war, Claudio and Hero engaged, Benedick and Beatrice tricked into love, Don John's window deception, Hero shamed at the wedding, the Friar's plan, the truth uncovered by the Watch, and two weddings.
Check you have got it
Answer 6 quick questions with instant marking. If you get one wrong, GCSE-ready shows you why and gives you another go. It is free, and you do not need an account.