Starter – What is the difference between Verse and Prose? Think about:

1. Starter – What is the difference between Verse and Prose? Think about: What do characters use them? How are they structured? Learning Objective – to explore some conventions of comedy.

2. Key word: Verse – rhymed or (most usually) unrhymed poetry that is found in Shakespearean and other drama of the period. The unrhymed form is written in iambic pentameter and when performed, closely imitates the rhythm of speech in English. What is iambic pentameter? Iambic Pentameter - A ten-syllable line consisting of five iambs is said to be in iambic pentameter ("penta" = five).  Its stress pattern is - five pairs of unstressed/stressed syllables

3. Key word: Prose – ‘Normal’ speech in paragraphs and not poetry. Task: Look back over the speeches between Beatrice and Benedick … are they talking in verse or prose? Is this something you would expect? What effect is being created? As we read through the play … have a look out for when Shakespeare uses verse or prose and think about why … what effect is he trying to create?

4. Comedy enjoys a long and complex history. In The Republic, Plato identifies: In comic representations, or for that matter in private talk, you take an intense pleasure from buffooneries, that you would blush to practice yourself, and do not detest them yourself. What is Plato suggesting? Inherent in Plato’s reading of comedy is the notion that what man finds amusing in artifice is precisely that which he abhors in reality.

5. What issues might arise from Plato’s definition? Central to this problem is that critics of theatre feared the social effects of presenting behaviours that are counter-intuitive to society. This illuminates two things: That which is humorous is often counter to the virtuous aspirations of society. That when we laugh at this we derive a pleasure from it which in turn perpetuates representations of this type.

6. Aristotle’s views on comedy (The Poetics) He believes the following about comedy Comedy is ‘an imitation of inferior people’ – by inferior people. Aristotle seems to mean ‘normal’ people (that is, not Kings, Gods or leaders, who often feature in a tragedy. ‘the laughable is a species of what is disgraceful’ – we laugh when we witness the disgraceful behaviour of others – maybe behaviour that we ourselves would not do, but might like to do.

7. ‘does not involve pain or destruction, for example a comic mask is ugly and distorted, but does not involve pain’ – watching comedy does not involve ‘pain’, whereas it would seem that watching tragedy is much more mentally anguishing. These simples rule of Aristotle continue to have an effect on how comedies are structured and how they affect audiences.

8. Let’s read to the end of Act 2, Scene 1 … Remember – the ball is extensive, varied and complex in structure and mood. It creates an air of refined grace, sophisticated merriment and romantic spaciousness. What has happened so far? The ball’s structure and movement are dance like – couples and groups form, dissolve and reform as social convention dictates. Watch out for which characters are the centre of attention

9. CLAUDIO (unmasking) Thus answer I in the name of Benedick, But hear these ill news with the ears of Claudio. 'Tis certain so, the Prince woos for himself. Friendship is constant in all other things Save in the office and affairs of love. Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues. Let every eye nogetiate for itself And trust no agent, for beauty is a witch Against whose charms faith melteth into blood. This is an accident of hourly proof, Which I mistrusted not. Farewell, therefore, Hero. What do we learn about Claudio? What is he suggesting about love?

10. BENEDICK Alas, poor hurt fowl, now will he creep into sedges. But that my Lady Beatrice should know me, and not know me! The Prince’s fool! Ha, it may be I go under that title because I am merry. Yea, but so I am apt to do myself wrong. I am not so reputed! It is the base, though bitter, disposition of Beatrice that puts the world into her person and so gives me out. Well, I’ll be revenged as I may. What do we learn about Benedick?

11. BENEDICK O, she misused me past the endurance of a block! An oak but with one green leaf on it would have answered her. My very visor began to assume life and scold with her. She told me, not thinking I had been myself, that I was the Prince’s jester, that I was duller than a great thaw, huddling jest upon jest with such impossible conveyance upon me that I stood like a man at a mark with a whole army shooting at me. She speaks poniards, and every word stabs. If her breath were as terrible as her terminations, there were no living near her; she would infect to the north star. I would not marry her, though she were endowed with all that Adam had left him before he transgressed. She would have made Hercules have turned spit, yea, and have cleft his club to make the fire, too. Come, talk not of her. You shall find her the infernal Ate in good apparel. I would to God some scholar would conjure her, for certainly, while she is here, a man may live as quiet in hell as in a sanctuary, and people sin upon purpose because they would go thither. So indeed all disquiet, horror and perturbation follows her. What is he suggesting about Beatrice?

12. Don Pedro: And Benedick is not the unhopefulest husband that I know. Thus far can I praise him: he is of a noble strain, of approved valor, and confirmed honesty. I will teach you how to humor your cousin that she shall fall in love with Benedick.—And I, with your two helps, will so practice on Benedickthat, in despite of his quick wit and his queasy stomach, he shall fall in love with Beatrice. If we can do this, Cupid is no longer an archer; his glory shall be ours, for we are the only love gods. Go in with me, and I will tell you my drift. What is his master plan? How might this add to the comedy in the play?

13. Task: Working with a partner, what similarities and differences can be made between: Claudio and Hero And Benedick and Beatrice?

14. You need to plan an essay in response to the following question: How is Comedy shown in the opening of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’? Think about: Characters Themes Context Key Words Homework (due on Monday) Is to select two points you are going to explore and then write two paragraphs about how the parts you have selected show comedy in the opening of the play!