Acts 4 - 5

Test yourself

Act 4: Falling Action

Building towards resolution of the climax where the protagonist will either ‘win’ in a comedy or ‘lose’ in a tragedy.

Hero

Hero is publicly denounced by Claudio at their wedding.
She faints and as part of the Friar’s plan to restore her reputation, it is reported that she has died.

Beatrice

Benedick and Beatrice declare their love for each other and in order to prove his love for her, he eventually acquiesces (agrees) to her request to “kill Claudio”.

From tragedy to comedy

After veering close to tragedy in Act 4, Scene 1, the play begins to course correct back onto a comedic narrative as Dogberry and the Watch extract a confession from Borachio.

Act 5: Resolution/Denouement

Harmony is restored and any misunderstandings are cleared up. Excluding the villain, characters are reconciled to one another.

The truth

Shortly after receiving Benedick’s challenge, Claudio learns the truth about Don John’s deception and immediately offers to atone for his slandering of Hero.
Leonato gives him the opportunity to marry his brother Antonio’s daughter.

The marriage

Fulfilling his instruction to hang an epitaph on Hero’s tomb, Claudio prepares to marry Antonio’s ‘daughter’.
She is revealed to be Hero, much to Claudio’s joy.

Love and punishment

Aided by Claudio and Hero, Benedick and Beatrice publicly confess their love for one another.
A messenger returns with news of Don John’s capture.
Benedick tells Don Pedro he will devise a suitable punishment.

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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