Much Ado About Nothing (William Shakespeare) KEY

1. Put the events in the order that they happen in the play. The first is shown as (1).

1 Leonato does not have time to listen to Dogberry’s news about Borachio and the plan.
(11)

2 Don John tells Claudio that Hero has been unfaithful. (9)

3 Don Pedro and Claudio arrive. Claudio immediately falls in love with Hero. (2)

4 Leonato tells Hero to pretend to be dead. (13)

5 The two couples get married. (17)

6 Don John plans to cause problems for his brother and Claudio. (7)

7 The friends carry out their plan to make Beatrice and Benedick fall in love. (8)

8 Beatrice and Benedick are arguing and Leonato and Hero are waiting for guests. (1)

9 Claudio discoveres Hero is still alive. (16)

10 Don Pedro decides to help Claudio win Hero’s heart. (3)

11 Benedick thinks that Don Pedro wants Hero for himself. (5)

12 Claudio rejects Hero at the wedding ceremony. (12)

13 At a masked dance, Beatrice is rude to Benedick while dancing with him. (4)

14 The Watch hears Borachio telling Conrad about the terrible plan and takes them both
away. (10)

15 They find out that Hero is innocent. (14)

16 Don Pedro suggests a plan to make Beatrice and Benedick realise they are in love. (6)

17 Benedick and Beatrice finally realise they love each other. (15)

2. Choose the correct word to complete the sentences.

18 When someone you love dies, you feel sad and mourn them.

19 If you want to destroy something, you want to ruin it.

20 When you do something wrong, you usually feel guilty.

21 A person who receives money or property when someone dies is an heir.

 22 If you win a war, it’s called a victory.

23 Someone who is clever and funny is witty.

24 To make a very serious promise is to swear.

3. Match the following sets of adjectives with the characters.

a talkative, dramatic, witty: Benedick

b jealous, sad, negative: Don John

c kind, generous, hospitable: Leonato

d gentle, kind, innocent: Hero

e powerful, generous, polite: Don Pedro

f brave, suspicious, pure: Claudio

g witty, independent, competitive: Beatrice

4. There are many misunderstandings in the play. Some are by mistake but some are on purpose.
Make notes under the headings in the table.

Who Why Result

1 Don John pretends to be
Claudio.
2 Beatrice and Benedick have a
conversation at a masked dance.
3 Don John tells Claudio that Don
Pedro loves Hero.
4 Don Pedro, Claudio and
Leonato cause Benedick to hear
their conversation about
Beatrice being in love with him.
5 Hero and Ursula have a
conversation about Benedick
being in love with Beatrice.
6 Don John takes Claudio to
overhear Margaret and Borachio
having a conversation.
7 Leonato pretends that Hero is
dead.
8 Claudio thinks he doesn’t know
his future wife.
To make Hero fall in love with
Claudio.
Maybe to continue their ‘merry
war’.
To cause trouble between Claudio
and Don Pedro.
To make Benedick realise that he
is in love with Beatrice.
To make Beatrice realise she is in
love with Benedick.
To make him believe that
Margaret is Hero and was
unfaithful.
To make Claudio feel bad about
what he has done.
To show he is sorry for accusing
Hero of being unfaithful.
Hero falls in love with Claudio.
Benedick feels insulted and
offended by Beatrice.
Claudio rejects Hero but then
discovers the lie.
Benedick falls in love with
Beatrice.
Beatrice falls in love with
Benedick.
Claudio decides not to marry
Hero.
Claudio feels guilty.
He discovers Hero is alive.