Summary on "Much ado about nothing"

Act 1 Scene 1

The story takes place in the Italian town of Messina, where a messenger comes and tells leonato , hero, Beatrice and others about the war. And that it was over and successful even though some men died.where the wealthy and kind Leonato welcomes home Don Pedro of Aragon and his friends into his home. In Act 1 scence 2 Leonato is accompanied with his daughter Hero and her cousin Beatrice. Mean while Beatrice asks about Benedick who she clevvery mocked and insults. Also accompaning Don Pedro is his illcit brother Don John “the Bastard”. Don Pedro goes on to annouce To Claudio and Don John that Leonato has invitd them all to stay with him for a month and that he has accepted the offer to stay. Cludio then express his feeling about hero to Bendick, telling benedick that he is in love with her. Benedick trys his best to overthrow Claudio’s love for hero but Don Pedro returns and after being told of Claudio’s for love for Hero by Benedick takes Cluadio aside and Propose a trick. The trick was : at the custume ball, Don Pedro will disguise himself as Claudio and declare his love to Hero. He will then tlak to Leonato (her father) which would permit claudio to win Hero.In  this scene Leonato’s older brother Antonio. He says that a servant overheard Don Pedro talking with Cludio outside and Don Pedro was professing his love for hero and he wants to tell her the night of the cutume ball and then he would ask Leonato for her hand in marriage. Antonio obviously  heard the truth slightly wrong because it is claudio and not Don Pedro who loves hero.Leonato does not consider the rumour to be true until his daughter is actually “courted”. But he desides to tell Hero so she can have her mind prepared so she can have a response for Don Pedro if the information he recieves is true. Don John is somewhere else in the house conversing with his servant Conrad. When Conrad ask him why he is so angry. Don Pedro pleas that he is naturally depressed and sad. Conrad moves on to remind Don John that Don pedro has only recently started to be nice to him again and if Don John wants that relationship to continue in that manner , he should show a more cheerful face. Because he is depending on his more successful and highly ranked brother economically and socially. Borachio, who is another servant of Don john enters and tells Don John what he has overheard of the upcoming marriage of Claudio and Hero. Don John who hates claudio for being so well loved and respected decides to use the news he has heard to cause trouble on Claudio with the help of Conrad and Borachio.

Act 2 Scene 1

Hero, Beatrie, Leonato and Antonio wait for the evening’s masked ball to begin wile hero and Beatrice discuss their idea of the ideal man. This conversation leads into another conversation about wheather or not Beatrice will ever get a husband. The party begins and everyone was well  dressed with their masks and now the women cannot see which man in under which mask. Don Pedro dances with Hero and begins to flirt with her. Benedick dances with Beatrice, who does not recognize him but insults Benedick throughout the whole dance to her partner.Don John who notices Don Pedro courting Hero approaches Claudio and trys to make him jealous by making him think that Don Pedro has decided to win over Hero for himself instead of for Claudio as he had promised. Claudio believes Don John and rushes out. But when Don Pedro comes along with Hero and Leonato, Benedick learns that Don Pedro has been true to his word after all. Meanwhile Benedick remains bitter about the insulting things Beatrice said about him during the dance. So when Beatrice approaches with Claudio, he begs Don pedro to send him on  an task rather than be forced to be in the same “air” with her. When Claudio returns, Don Pedro tells him that Hero has agreed to marry him , and Leonato supports him. Claudio, excited , can barely speak, but he and Hero privately make their promises to one another. Beatrice half-seriously remarks that she will never have a husband, and Don Pedro offers himself to her. Beatrice, comparing him to fancy clothes, replies that she wishes she could have him but that he would be too lavish and valuable for her to wear every day. After Beatrice and Benedick leave, Leonato and Claudio discuss when Claudio will marry Hero. Claudio wants the wedding to occur the next day, but Leonato decides on the coming Monday, only a week away. Claudio doubts  that the wait will be so long, but Don Pedro comes up with a good way to pass the time.With the help of all his friends, he will design a plan to get Beatrice and Benedick to stop arguing and fall in love with one another. He gains the promises of Leonato, Claudio, and Hero to help him in the plan he will work out. The bitter and wicked Don John has learned of the upcoming marriage of Claudio and Hero, and he wishes that he could find a way to prevent it. Don John’s servant Borachio devises a plan. Borachio is currently the lover of one of Hero’s serving women, Margaret. He suggests that Don John go to Claudio and Don Pedro and tell them that Hero is not a virgin but a whore, a woman who has willingly tarnished her own innocence before her marriage and at the same time chosen to be adulterous to the man she loves. In order to prove this accusation, Don John will bring Don Pedro and Claudio below the window of Hero’s room on the night before the wedding, where they should hide and watch. On the balcony outside Hero’s room, Borachio will make love to Margaret.Whom he will have convinced to dress up in Hero’s clothing. The watchers will then see a woman who resembles Hero making love with Borachio, and will thus believe Don John’s claim that Hero has been false to Claudio. Very pleased with the plan, Don John promises Borachio a large reward if he can pull it off and prevent the planned wedding.

"Much ado about nothing"

1.       What is Don John about to do?

Don John “the bastard” is the grouch who plots to ruin Claudio and Hero’s wedding by creating a dark scheme to ruin the happiness of Hero and Claudio.

2.       Who Is Claudio in love with?

Claudio is in love with Hero.

3.       What are their perspective of love to comparison to Beatrice and Benedict?

Beatrice is a headstrong woman, who speaks her mind.  While Benedict is a soldier and a bachelor, who swore he would never marry again. Benedict is obviously anxious about lowering his guard with Beatrice, and letting her see his softer side. There is an attraction between them in the play. But they both are afraid of rejection from the other, preferring to scorn one another, rather than admit their true feelings. Plus, Beatrice and Benedict have similar personalities so that help them to draw closer to each other.

1. 4.       What is the plan executed by Don Pedro?

The plan executed by Don Pedro was to disguise as Claudio and try his best to persuade Hero in to falling in love with him (Claudio). Don Pedro also planned to maneuver Leonato (hero’s father) and develop closeness with him and then give her (hero) to Claudio.

Play

When determining any of Shakespeare plays the reader always have to take into deep concentration the stage directions, props, staging and whether the scenery interfere with or enhance the dialogue. In the book it was difficult to tell the difference between good or bad deception. For example, when Claudio announces his desire to “woo” Hero, Don Pedro took it upon himself to “woo” her for Claudio. Then at the start because of Don John, Claudio begins to mistrust Don Pedro, thinking he has been deceived by his friend. The play protrudes at the fanciful language of love that courtiers used; when Claudio falls I love, he tries to be the perfect courtier by using intricate language.

Movie

The movie “Much ado about nothing” is very enthusiastic. In the starting of the movie, the characters were clearly very excited to see Don Pedro, but this perception was not grasped in the text. The expression in the movie gives the viewer a different perception to a person who read the book. Also in the movie one receive a clear understanding of the characters and a brighter understanding of their  attitude towards each other. The constant teasing between the characters was also clearly shown; Also by their facial expression.

Music

The break taking music in the movie gives the viewers an exciting feeling. The music emphasizes how great the movie was going to be. The music quickly grabs the attention of the viewers by quickly bringing the characters to life.

William Shakespeare Biography

William Shakespeare was born on the 26^th April 1564, his actual birth date remains unknown; he was an English poet and play writer. He was the son of John Shakespeare, a Glover and alderman and Mary Arden, the daughter of a landowning farmer. He was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon. It is believed that at age four or five William Shakespeare was educated at the King’s New School a Grammar school run for benefit of sons of civil servants in Stratford. In his young years Shakespeare attended the Christian Holy Trinity church where he studied the book on common prayer and the English Bible, which is now famous for its elegant limestone cross shaped cathedral on the banks on the Avon River. At age 18, he married Anne Hathaway and they had three children: Susanna, Hamnet and Judith. 
He began a successful career in London as an actor, writer and part owner of a playing company called Lord Chamberlain’s Men later known As the King’s men.  Which was a theater troupe sponsored by a baron named Henry Carey; Shakespeare also purchased shares in the company, making him a manger and co-owner. Over the years the chamberlain men became one of the most popular theatre companies in London and a favourite of Queen Elizabeth 1.Early on Shakespeare likely attended the Elizabethan theatrical Productions of travelling theatre troupes who would go to Stratford to entertain the local official townsmen. Even if Shakespeare wrote his own work, he did not always write alone. As many as a dozen of his later plays are believed to have been collaborations with other authors including “The Two Noble Kinsman” known to be written with John Fletcher, “Timon of Athens” with Thomas Middleton and “Pericles” with George Wilkins.

William Shakespeare; the greatest writer ever

Shakespeare reputation as the greatest English language writer stops from at least five dimensions of his collective work. Over some thirty-eight plays, Shakespeare addressed virtually every aspect of human experience. His plays include comedies, tragedies, histories, romances and problem plays. Although he wrote for a specific audience of a particular historical era his work has been a major influence on subsequent theatre. His work was so extra ordinary; it allowed him to transform English theatre by expanding expectations about what could be accomplished through characterization, plot, action, language and genre. His poetic artistry helped raise the status of popular theatre, permitting it to be admired by intellectuals as well as by those seeking pure entertainment. Therefore William Shakespeare can safely be regarded as the greatest writer in the English Language.

The famous Theatre; The Globe Theatre

The Globe theatre was the most popular theatre during the Elizabethan era in London. It was associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare’s playing company, the lord Chamberlain’s men and was destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613. A second Globe theatre was built on the same site by June 1614 and closed 1642The Globe theatre was a huge success and as it had been built in close proximity to the Bear Garden. The plays were big, there was a lot of money made at this theatre and it was in constant demand for new material. As soon as a play had been written it was immediately published and it was then printed. Rival theater companies would send their members to attend plays to produce unauthorized copies or plays (during this time copyright didn’t exist).

The Elizabethan Era

Was a time associated with Queen Elizabeth 1’s reign (1558-1603) an is often considered to be the golden age in English history which was the height of the English renaissance; this allowed English poetry , music and literature to flourish. This was also the time during which Elizabethan theatre flourished and William Shakespeare and many others composed plays that broke England’s past style of plays and theatre. It was the age of exploration and expansion abroad while the protestant reformation became more acceptable to the people. It was also the end of the period when England was a separate realm before its royal union with Scotland. It was a brief periods of largely internal peace between the English Reformation and the battle between Protestants and Catholics and the battles of the parliament and the monarchy. The education during the Elizabethan era was necessary for boys to attend who attend grammar school while girls were not allowed in any place of education other than petty schools. Petty schools were for children from age 5 to 7 years old. At petty schools they learned basic manners and good behaviour.

   The fine art during in England during the Tudor and Stuart eras were dominated by foreign and imported talent under Henry VIII to Anthony van dick under Charles I. yet within this general trend, a native school of painting was developed. During the Elizabethan era, people looked forward to holidays because opportunities for leisure were limited, with time away from hard work being restricted to periods after church on Sundays. Leisure and festivities took place on a public church holy day. Every month had its own holiday such as Plough Monday, Candlemas, Valentines’ day, Ash Wednesday, Midsummer, Lammas tide, Michaelmas, St.Crispin’s Day, Accession day and the twelve days of Christmas.

    Lacking a dominant genius or a formal structure for research, the Elizabethan era saw significant scientific progress. English achievements in exploration were noteworthy in the Elizabethan era. The first attempt at English settlement of the eastern seaboard of North America occurred in this era. While Elizabethan England is not thought of as an age of technological innovation, some progress did occur.

1. Internal conflict- is an argument or decision- making process within one character's mind.An internal conflict has a motive and its resolution is important to the development of the plot.
2. External Conflict-is a fight , argument, disagreement or simply opposition in which 2 sides are present. characters , themes, ideas, forces can all be in conflict.An external conflict is shown through actions (fight, argument, physical struggle), character traits (a good and a bad character), dialogues, descriptions - just about anything.  Identification of conflicts will lead you to theme. The resolution of the external conflict will advance the plot toward the climax and the end.
3. Three types of irony are:

• Verbal Irony- is the use of words to convey something other than the opposite of the literal meaning of the words.
• Socractic Irony- is when a person pretends to be ignorance of something or someone in order to expose the weakness of another's position,
• Tragic Irony- or dramatic irony is employed to heighten the suspense in a given situation.in the form of irony the words and actions of the characters be tray the real situation. the character speaking may realize the irony of his words while the rest of the actors may not.

In the book Brother Man irony is played out right through the novel.at the starting of the novel , Brother Man is the most loved and kind person in the novel and at the ending Brother Man is seen as a cruel heartless  criminal who committed a terrible crime who seemed harmless at the beginning .

Letter to the Editor

Upper Tindale Road,
St John's,
Antigua.


3rd November,1954


Observer News Paper Publications
Coolidge,
St John's ,
Antigua.


Dear Editor,
                  On Saturday 30th November, I stood at the corner of Orange Lane and watched as Brother Man came walking down  the lane. As I looked on I notice Brother Man stopping and trying to speak to the jeering, jibing crowd behind of him.But the barbaric crowd shouted rude remarks such as Down dey old Ras Tafarites! Murders dem......... " and "nuttin but chop man and rape woman, an scuffle an pass bad money, an't t'ief!".All of a sudden a woman bulldozed herself through the crowd to the front and flung a half-brick towards Brother-Man which hit him in the side of his head. All of this is because of  previous act of a couple by someone who has the  features of a Rastafarian.suddenly Brother man , the gentle,kind religious turned into a attacker or criminal of such a harsh crime.
The Rastafarian movement emerged from the slums of West Kingston in the 1930's.It was a cultural movement as much as a religious movement designed to provide black people with a voice and identity outside of the colonial structure.As a young person of the Caribbean it really disappoints me that Rastafarians are abused, because these people are generally peaceful people , who look at their mother land "Africa" for their culture and history. "Our" culture and history! Rastafarians engage in conscious-raising with regards to black religion, black pride and basically being in the world.and for their own "black people" to turn on them, and beat them is highly dishonoured and unfavoured by me. Rastafarianism should be treated like every other religion, with respect.It is a choice by humans to practice what ever they want and should not be ridiculed for their choice




Disturbed Bystander .

Critique on Brother Man

According to Annie Paul “Brother Man” is a highly styled morality play which depicts that force of good and evil in combat. She also states that Brother man” was the first Jamaican novel to portray the Rastafarians in an optimistic light and the first to portray a Rastafarian protagonist in positive terms. Another critique says that the book “Brother Man” created a irrational fear of being in an confined or enclosed space, this shows that critics realize the novel “Brother Man” shows the ghetto side of Jamaica as a place where people lived closed to one another.ci people 

The Religious aspect of Rastafarianism.

Rastafarianism is a religious-cultural movement that began in the 1930’2 in Jamaica. Rastafarians believe that Halie Selassie. Also named Rais Tafari, the last emperor of Ethiopia is the Messiah. Rastafari developed in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica in the 1920s and 30s, in an environment of great poverty, depression, and racism and class discrimination. The Rasta message of black pride, freedom from oppression and the hope to return to the African homeland was gratefully received. Rastafarians believe in the Judeo- Christian God, whom they call “Jah”. Generally, Rastafarian beliefs are based in Judaism and Christianity with an emphasis on the Old Testament Laws and prophecies and the Book of Revelation. Rastas believed that Jah was manifested on earth as Jesus, who Rastas believe was black. Rastafarians are perhaps best known for their religious use of marijuana. Rasta’s know it as “ganja”, “the holy herb”,”lley” or “callie” and they believe it was sent from God. Scriptural support is found especially in Psalm 104:14: "He causeth the grass for the cattle and herb for the service of man." Other texts interpreted to refer to cannabis include Genesis 3:18, Exodus 10:12, and Proverbs 15:17. In addition to ritual use, Rastas also use marijuana for medicinal purposes, applying it to a variety of ailments including colds.

Today, the Rasta movement has been very successful in the Caribbean. It is said that six out of ten Jamaicans are believed to be Rastafarians or Rastafarian sympathizers. It also spread quickly in Barbados and was hugely attractive to the local black youth, many of whom saw it as an extension of their adolescent rebellion from school and parental authority. The period of the most phenomenal growth for the Rastafarian Movement has been from 1975 on.  As of 1988 the total following was believed to be around 700,000 worldwide, obviously it would be more now.

The Religious aspect of Rastafarianism.

Rastafarianism is a religious-cultural movement that began in the 1930’2 in Jamaica. Rastafarians believe that Halie Selassie. Also named Rais Tafari, the last emperor of Ethiopia is the Messiah. Rastafari developed in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica in the 1920s and 30s, in an environment of great poverty, depression, and racism and class discrimination. The Rasta message of black pride, freedom from oppression and the hope to return to the African homeland was gratefully received. Rastafarians believe in the Judeo- Christian God, whom they call “Jah”. Generally, Rastafarian beliefs are based in Judaism and Christianity with an emphasis on the Old Testament Laws and prophecies and the Book of Revelation. Rastas believed that Jah was manifested on earth as Jesus, who Rastas believe was black. Rastafarians are perhaps best known for their religious use of marijuana. Rasta’s know it as “ganja”, “the holy herb”,”lley” or “callie” and they believe it was sent from God. Scriptural support is found especially in Psalm 104:14: "He causeth the grass for the cattle and herb for the service of man." Other texts interpreted to refer to cannabis include Genesis 3:18, Exodus 10:12, and Proverbs 15:17. In addition to ritual use, Rastas also use marijuana for medicinal purposes, applying it to a variety of ailments including colds.

Today, the Rasta movement has been very successful in the Caribbean. It is said that six out of ten Jamaicans are believed to be Rastafarians or Rastafarian sympathizers. It also spread quickly in Barbados and was hugely attractive to the local black youth, many of whom saw it as an extension of their adolescent rebellion from school and parental authority. The period of the most phenomenal growth for the Rastafarian Movement has been from 1975 on.  As of 1988 the total following was believed to be around 700,000 worldwide, obviously it would be more now.

Biography of Roger Mais

Roger Mais was born on August 11, 1905 in Kingston Jamaica. He was born to a middle class family in Kingston. He was a journalist, novelist, poet and playwright. Mais began as a journalist and supplier of short stories, plays, and reviews for the political / cultural journal Public Opinion which was linked to the People’s National Party from 1939 to 1952.He also wrote several plays, reviews and short stories for the Newspaper Focus and the Jamaica Daily Gleaner concentrating mainly on his articles on social injustice and inequality. His fundamental role in the maturity of the political and cultural nationalism is evidence in his being awarded the high honor of the order of Jamaica in 1978. Mais also won ten first prizes in West Indian Literary competitions.Mais left for England in 1952; he travelled to Europe-London, Paris, and the South of France, just simply to fulfill himself. Roger Mais often incorporated a romantic idea into his writings which he drew from his western education inspirations that lead to his use of tragic, visionary and poetic elements within books and plays. Roger Mais was a dynamic and inspirational writer sadly Mais returned to Jamaica in 1955 after falling ill with cancer he died the same year at age 50.

Literary Terms

Forms of Prose Fiction

1. Novel- is a log fiction almost always, concentrating on characters and incidents and usually contains a plot.
2. Novellas- the word is applied to a story somewhat longer than a short story.But not long enough to be considered as a novel.
3. Short stories- it is a short prose fiction which concentrates on a few characters or often one single character, which lacks a complicated plot and leisurely description..

Elements of Prose Fiction

1.  Narrative Techniques- this is simply the technique in having narrative skills, styles of writing used by the author.
2. Point of view- refers too the way in which a narrator approaches his or her materials ( characters, action, setting) and the audience.
3. Characterization- the way in which the writer creates characters in a play.It can either attract or repel our sympathy.
4. Setting- the time, place, environment and surrounding.circumstances of an event, story or play.
5. Theme- the abstract of a work; its central idea or ideas , which may or may not be explicit or obivious.
6. Plot- the arrangment or plan of incidents literary works.( novels,dramas, plays).
7. Style- the characteristic manner in which a writer expresses him or herself, or the particular manner of an individual literary work.

Literary Devices

1. Imagery- the formation of mental images, figures or likeness of things or of such images collectively.
2. Irony- the use of words to convey a meaning hat is the opposite of its literal meaning; the technique of indicating as through characters or plot development, an intention or attitude apposite to that which is actually stated.
3. Satire- a novel, play, entertainment, etc, in which tropical issues, folly or evil are held up to scorn by means of ridicule and irony.
4. allusion- a passing or casual reference; an incidental; mention of something, either directly or by implication.
5. Symbols- something used for or regarded as representing something else.

Structural Devices

1.  Stream of Consciousness- a common narrative technique in the modern novel ( an attempt to convey all the contents of a characters mind.e.g feeling, mind, thought)
2. Interior Monologue - An attempt to convey in words the process of consciousness or thought ( as a means of narrating a story)
3. Flash Back- a term borrowed from films. a sudden jump backwards in time to a earlier episode or scene in a story, novel, play or film.
4. Foreshadowing- the use of hints to suggest events that are to come.
5. Time Frame- is a period during which something takes place or is projected to occur.
6. Motif- is some aspect of literature ( a type of character. theme or play) which recurs frequently.
7. Juxtaposition- is the state of being placed or situated side by side

Types of Fiction

1. Science Fiction- fiction story with a science theme, space etc.
2. Animal Fiction-  the main character is an animal.
3. Historical Fiction- fiction story based on an historical event.
4. Humorous Fiction- funny story, characters, setting and or plot.
5. Biography- true story of someone's life.
6. Mystery- a problem is solved y following clues.
7. Fantasy- fanciful fiction, cannot possibly be real.
8. Fables- similar to folktales but the characters are animals and these are usually a moral or a lesson.

Literary Terms

Forms of Prose Fiction

1. Novel- is a log fiction almost always, concentrating on characters and incidents and usually contains a plot.
2. Novellas- the word is applied to a story somewhat longer than a short story.But not long enough to be considered as a novel.
3. Short stories- it is a short prose fiction which concentrates on a few characters or often one single character, which lacks a complicated plot and leisurely description..

Elements of Prose Fiction

1.  Narrative Techniques- this is simply the technique in having narrative skills, styles of writing used by the author.
2. Point of view- refers too the way in which a narrator approaches his or her materials ( characters, action, setting) and the audience.
3. Characterization- the way in which the writer creates characters in a play.It can either attract or repel our sympathy.
4. Setting- the time, place, environment and surrounding.circumstances of an event, story or play.
5. Theme- the abstract of a work; its central idea or ideas , which may or may not be explicit or obivious.
6. Plot- the arrangment or plan of incidents literary works.( novels,dramas, plays).
7. Style- the characteristic manner in which a writer expresses him or herself, or the particular manner of an individual literary work.

Literary Devices

1. Imagery- the formation of mental images, figures or likeness of things or of such images collectively.
2. Irony- the use of words to convey a meaning hat is the opposite of its literal meaning; the technique of indicating as through characters or plot development, an intention or attitude apposite to that which is actually stated.
3. Satire- a novel, play, entertainment, etc, in which tropical issues, folly or evil are held up to scorn by means of ridicule and irony.
4. allusion- a passing or casual reference; an incidental; mention of something, either directly or by implication.
5. Symbols- something used for or regarded as representing something else.

Structural Devices

1.  Stream of Consciousness- a common narrative technique in the modern novel ( an attempt to convey all the contents of a characters mind.e.g feeling, mind, thought)
2. Interior Monologue - An attempt to convey in words the process of consciousness or thought ( as a means of narrating a story)
3. Flash Back- a term borrowed from films. a sudden jump backwards in time to a earlier episode or scene in a story, novel, play or film.
4. Foreshadowing- the use of hints to suggest events that are to come.
5. Time Frame- is a period during which something takes place or is projected to occur.
6. Motif- is some aspect of literature ( a type of character. theme or play) which recurs frequently.
7. Juxtaposition- is the state of being placed or situated side by side