Acts 1 - 3

Test yourself

Act 1: Exposition

Act 1 provides background information for the audience, establishing a sense of setting and character relationships.

Claudio and Hero

The audience are introduced to the patriarchal society of Messina.
We learn of Claudio’s love for Hero.
This is what the play’s main plot is centred around.

Benedick and Beatrice

We are also introduced to the “merry war of words” between Benedick and Beatrice.
- “You always end with a jade’s trick: I know you of old”.
Prior to the commencing of Don Pedro’s plot to trick Benedick and Beatrice into falling in love with one another, the audience are given several hints of a past relationship between the two.
This helps add plausibility and sincerity to their feelings when they are tricked in Act 2, Scene 3 and Act 3, Scene 1.

Don John

Act 1, Scene 3 also reveals Don John’s villainous character as he tells his henchmen Conrade and Borachio “I am a plain-dealing villain.”
Being aware of his Machiavellian nature establishes dramatic irony for the audience from this point onwards.

Machiavellian villains

Machiavellian villains are cunning and deceitful.
These characters present themselves very differently in private than when in public company.
Only the audience and sometimes their closest allies are aware of their true characteristics.

Act 2: Rising Action

Plot obstacles affecting the protagonists are introduced.

Claudio and Hero

Don John first suggests to Claudio that Don Pedro has wooed Hero for himself, rather than on Claudio’s behalf.
Whilst the deception initially works, it is quickly resolved at the end of Act 2, Scene 1 and Claudio and Hero are to be married.

Don John

Aided by Borachio, who plans to take advantage of his relationship with Margaret, Don John plots to ruin the engagement of Claudio and Hero.

Benedick and Beatrice

Having successfully ensured the engagement of Claudio and Hero, Don Pedro suggests that he and the others should see if they can make Benedick and Beatrice fall in love, too.

Act 3: Climax

The turning point – for better or worse – in the protagonist’s affairs.

Comedy and tragedy

Here is where the two romantic plots diverge into comedy (Benedick and Beatrice) and tragedy (Claudio and Hero).

Act 3, Scene 1

In Act 3, Scene 1, the audience witness the climax of Don Pedro’s plot to trick Benedick and Beatrice as she vows to requite Benedick’s love, echoing his resolution at the end of Act 2, Scene 3.

Don John's villainy

Don John informs Claudio and Don Pedro that he has ‘proof’ of Hero’s infidelity (unfaithfulness).
The Messinian Watch uncover the truth of Don John and Borachio’s villainy although Dogberry fails to make Leonato aware of this as he departs to give Hero away at the wedding.

1Key Terminology

1.1Key Terminology

1.1.1Key Terminology

1.1.2End of Topic Test - Key Terminology

2Structure & Form

2.1Structure

2.1.1Structure

2.1.2Acts 1 - 3

2.1.3Acts 4 - 5

2.2Form

2.2.1Tragicomedy

2.2.2End of Topic Test - Structure & Form

3Act 1: Plot Summary

3.1Act 1, Scene 1

3.1.1Summary

3.1.2Key Lines

3.1.3Key Lines 2

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scene 1

3.2Act 1, Scene 2

3.2.1Summary

3.2.2Key Lines

3.3Act 1, Scene 3

3.3.1Summary

3.3.2Key Lines

3.3.3End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scenes 2-3

4Act 2: Plot Summary

4.1Act 2, Scene 1

4.1.1Summary

4.1.2Key Lines

4.1.3Key Lines 2

4.1.4Key Lines 3

4.1.5End of Topic Test - Act 2, Scene 1

4.2Act 2, Scene 2

4.2.1Summary

4.3Act 2, Scene 3

4.3.1Summary

4.3.2Key Lines

4.3.3Key Lines 2

4.3.4End of Topic Test - Act 2, Scenes 2-3

5Act 3: Plot Summary

5.1Act 3, Scene 1

5.1.1Summary

5.1.2Key Lines

5.2Act 3, Scene 2

5.2.1Summary

5.2.2Key Lines

5.3Act 3, Scene 3

5.3.1Summary

5.4Act 3, Scene 4

5.4.1Summary

5.5Act 3, Scene 5

5.5.1Summary

5.5.2End of Topic Test - Act 3

6Act 4: Plot Summary

6.1Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1)

6.1.1Summary

6.1.2Key Lines

6.1.3Key Lines 2

6.2Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 2)

6.2.1Summary

6.2.2Key Lines

6.2.3Key Lines 2

6.3Act 4, Scene 2

6.3.1Summary

6.3.2End of Topic Test - Act 4

7Act 5: Plot Summary

7.1Act 5, Scene 1

7.1.1Summary

7.2Act 5, Scene 2

7.2.1Summary

7.2.2Key Lines

7.3Act 5, Scene 3

7.3.1Summary

7.4Act 5, Scene 4

7.4.1Summary

7.4.2End of Topic Test - Act 5

8Key Themes

8.1Key Themes

8.1.1Love & Marriage

8.1.2Deception, Appearances & Noting

8.1.3Gender

8.1.4Reputation

8.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Themes

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