League | a unit distance equal to 3.0 statue miles |
Victuals | food supplies, provisions |
Betwixt | in the middle, between |
Squarer | swashbuckler, one who delights in fighting |
Pestilence | a deadly or virulent epidemic disease |
Turncoat | person who changes to an opposing idea or reverses principles |
Pernicious | causing harm or ruin |
Flouting | showing contempt for |
Obstinate | stubbornly adhering to one’s purpose or opinion |
Liege | feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service |
Pleached | shaded or bordered with interlaced branches or vines |
Accordant | agreeable, compatible |
Peradventure | by chance, with doubt or uncertainty |
Mortifying | humiliating or shameful, injures one’s pride |
Canker | fungal disease in plants and animals |
Disdained | treated with hate; despised |
Enfranchised | freed as from bondage |
Betroths | promises to give in marriage |
Perfumer | one who makes or sells perfume |
Arras | a wall hanging (i.e tapestry) |
The messenger tells Leonato someone will be arriving to Messina. Who is coming? | Don Pedro of Aragon |
Beatrice questions the messenger about who? | Signior Benedick |
According to Leonato, who is fighting a “merry war.” | Beatrice and Benedick |
Describe Beatrice’s greeting to Benedick upon his arrival. | She immediately begins to insult him |
How long does Don Pedro and his company plan on staying in Messina? | One month |
Who is Don John? | He is Don Pedro’s scheming brother who was recently taken back. |
Who catches Claudio’s eye? | Hero |
What does Benedick swear will never happen to him? | He will get married. |
Where has Claudio been before coming to Messina? | He was at war |
What does Don Pedro intend to do for Claudio? | He intends to woo Hero for Claudio |
Who is Antonio? | Leonato’s brother |
What did Antonio claim to hear from one of his servants? | Don Pedro intends to woo Hero |
What is Leonato’s reaction to hearing the news that Don Pedro will woo Hero? | He is delighted/surprised. |
What are Don John’s feelings toward Don Pedro? | He resents Don Pedro. |
Who is Borachio? | Don John’s companion. |
What news does Borachio bring to Don John? | Don Pedro plans to woo Hero for Claudio |
What does Don John do regarding Claudio and Hero? | He plans to ruin the relationship between Claudio and Don Pedro by foiling plans surrounding Hero |
At the beginning of Act 1, Don Pedro and his men return from what? | A war with Don John |
In the war, Claudio has served Don Pedro well despite what? | His youth |
What does Beatrice refer to Benedick as? | Signior Mountanto, a “stuffed” man or scarecrow, and a person who changes best friends frequently |
The audience realizes what from Beatrice’s remarks? | She enjoys poking fun at Benedick |
Beatrice claims that Benedick is as changeable as what? | The weather |
“Hot January” is an example of what? | Oxymoron |
An example of Don Pedro’s magnanimity is what? | His forgiveness of Don John |
When Beatrice taunts Benedick what does he do? | Taunt her back |
What do Beatrice and Benedick both insist? | They never want to marry |
What does Benedick say about Hero? | She is too short, too dark, and uninteresting |
If Benedick is attracted to a woman the opposite of Hero, who must he be attracted to? | Beatrice |
What does Don Pedro insist he will live to see? | Benedick in love |
Cuckold | A husband whose wife commits adultery |
There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her. | Leonato is speaking to the Messenger, he is talking about Beatrice and Benedicks little “battle” between one another |
God help the noble Claudio! if he have caught the Benedick, it will cost him a thousand pound ere a’ be cured. | Beatrice is saying this to the Messenger saying how Claudio is burdened because Benedick is always with him. |
What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you still living? | Benedict says this to Beatrice upon first speaking with her comparing her to Lady Disdain (a typical Shakespearean spinster who falls in love by the end of the play)/ |
You always end with a jade’s trick: I know you of old. | Beatrice is saying this to Benedick after they have an argument saying how he always leaves before the job is done. |
[S]he’s too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too little for a great praise. | Benedick says this to Claudio after Claudio asks what he (Benedick) thinks of Hero, stating that she’s just okayish. |
I shall see thee, ere I die, look pale with love. | Don Pedro says this to Benedick saying that he will make sure the Benedick does not die a bachelor (even though that is what Benedick wanted) |
With anger, with sickness, or with hunger, my lord; not with love. | Benedick says this to Don Pedro, saying that he would rather die of sickness than love, saying again that he would rather die a bachelor. |
I will assume thy part in some disguise,/ And tell fair Hero I am Claudio. | Don Pedro says this to Claudio saying that he will speak highly of Claudio to Hero so that Hero will fall for him (Claudio) |
I’d rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his garden. | Don John says this to Conrade saying that he (Don John) will reduce himself to get into society’s graces; he would rather show his true, villainous character than hide in his brother’s (Don Pedro, the prince) shadow. |
Don Pedro is coming to Messina | What news does the messenger bring Leonato? |
Beyond the promise of his age | What praise does the messenger offer young Claudio? |
Benedick | Who is Beatrice referring to when she inquires “Signior Mountanto”? |
a month | How long will Don Pedro and his party stay in Messina? |
Too low for a high praise, I do not like her | How does Benedick respond when Claudio asks his opinion of Hero? |
He does not trust himself to keep it | How does Claudio feel now about his oath to remain a bachelor? |
The lady is very well worthy | How does Don Pedro regard Hero? |
his mother | For what does Benedick offer women thanks? |
married and pale with love | Don Pedro prophecies that before he dies he shall see Benedick in what position? |
He will disguise himself and say he is Claudio and woo her for him | Describe Don Pedro’s plan to win Hero to Claudio |
Don Pedro loves Hero | What misunderstood message does Antonio relay to his brother? |
Hath the fellow any wit | How does Leonato reply? What action does he think they should take? |
He hates his brother, he’s sad and not fake, he is a villain | What do we learn about Don John from his conversation with Conrade? |
Borachio | Who brings Don John news about Claudio and Hero? |
Try to stop it | What will Don John do now that he has heard this news? |
He’s Don Pedro’s friend | Why does Don John dislike Claudio? |
Much Ado About Nothing, Act 1
July 11, 2019