1.1.1

Key Terminology

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Key Terminology

In Section A of AQA’s English Literature Paper 1 (Shakespeare and the 19th Century Novel), students are assessed on their use of spelling, punctuation and grammar: the following terms may prove useful.

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Comedy and tragedy

  • Comedy and tragedy are the two original forms of classical Greek drama.
  • Comedies are often light-hearted and whilst the protagonists (main characters) are presented with plot obstacles that they must overcome, they do so and these plays end happily, often in marriage.
  • Tragedies are much more serious in tone and the Greek writer and philosopher, Aristotle, felt that in watching them, the audience should experience feelings of both fear and pity.
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Bachelor

  • A bachelor is an unmarried man.
  • In Much Ado About Nothing, the character of Benedick is a sworn bachelor and vows to never marry.
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Spinster

  • A spinster is an unmarried woman, such as Beatrice at the beginning of the play.
  • This term often carries more negative connotations (associated meanings) than its male equivalent (bachelor).
  • This is known as lexical asymmetry.
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Misogyny

  • Misogyny is a strong dislike or prejudice towards women.
  • Claudio’s treatment of Hero at their wedding in Act 4, Scene 1 could certainly be described as misogynistic.
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Patriarchy

  • Patriarchy is a system or society that in controlled and/or dominated by men.
  • The society of Messina in Much Ado About Nothing is patriarchal; its most senior figures are both male (Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon and Leonato, the Governor of Messina).
  • The fact that the villainous Don John’s lies are believed over Hero also illustrates the inferior social standing of women in the play.

Nothing and Noting

In Shakespeare’s time, the words nothing and noting were pronounced in a similar way. This holds some significance in terms of Much Ado About Nothing, giving the title three different possible meanings.

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  1. Much Ado About Nothing

  • Much Ado About Nothing = a lot of fuss over something trivial.
  • A concept well suited for a Shakespearean comedy.
  • The nothing in the title relates to the lack of actual proof in the accusations against Hero.
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  1. Much Ado About Noting

  • Much Ado About Noting = the importance of looking closely and taking note of things.
  • Deception and appearances is a key motif (recurring idea) throughout the play.
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  1. Nothing (No Thing)

  • Nothing (No Thing) was also an Elizabethan euphemism (a milder way of referring to something unpleasant) for the female genitals.
  • In this way, Much Ado About Nothing also relates to the value Shakespeare’s society placed on a woman’s virginity before she was married.

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