5.2.2

Key Lines

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Benedick

There is a clear sense of comedy at the beginning of this scene, created through the male characters mockery of Benedick's change of character in the face of his love for Beatrice.

Key line

Key line

BENEDICK: Gallants, I am not as I have been.

Mockery

Mockery

Despite Benedick’s attempt to justify his decision to love Beatrice through the fact he didn’t think he would live long enough to marry, the audience can sense that he is being (deservedly) mocked by his friends.

Comedy

Comedy

There is a clear sense of comedy here, and this serves the dramatic function of contrasting with the sharp change in mood and atmosphere that follows Don John’s arrival.

Don John

Shakespeare illustrates Don John’s Machiavellian character through his tentative language.

Key line

Key line

DON JOHN: You may think I love you not. Let that appear hereafter

Machiavellian actions

Machiavellian actions

Shakespeare illustrates Don John’s Machiavellian character through his tentative language.
The audience are fully aware of his true feelings towards Claudio having been privy to his conversations with Borachio and Conrade.

Appearances and deception

Appearances and deception

Don John’s use of “appear” also seems deliberately manipulative in light of the lack of concrete proof he will present to Claudio and the key theme of appearances and deception.

Key line

Key line

DON JOHN: Leonato’s Hero, your Hero, every man’s Hero.

Objectification of women

Objectification of women

The possessive language again illustrates the concept the women were objectified in the Elizabethan era, belonging first to their fathers and later their husbands.

Syntax

Syntax

The syntax (word order) is significant here as Don John ends with “every man’s Hero”, insinuating that Hero has had many sexual partners.

Claudio

Claudio

Claudio is sandwiched between these other men and Leonato, highlighting the fact that he should be the one to take Hero’s virginity following their marriage but he is too late.

1

Key Terminology

1.1

Key Terminology

1.1.1Key Terminology 1.1.2End of Topic Test - Key Terminology

2

Structure & Form

2.1

Structure

2.1.1Structure 2.1.2Acts 1 - 3 2.1.3Acts 4 - 5

2.2

Form

2.2.1Tragicomedy 2.2.2End of Topic Test - Structure & Form

3

Act 1: Plot Summary

3.1

Act 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

3.2

Act 1, Scene 2

3.2.1Summary 3.2.2Key Lines

3.3

Act 1, Scene 3

3.3.1Summary 3.3.2Key Lines 3.3.3End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scenes 2-3

4

Act 2: Plot Summary

4.1

Act 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

4.2

Act 2, Scene 2

4.3

Act 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

5

Act 3: Plot Summary

5.1

Act 3, Scene 1

5.1.1Summary 5.1.2Key Lines

5.2

Act 3, Scene 2

5.2.1Summary 5.2.2Key Lines

5.3

Act 3, Scene 3

5.4

Act 3, Scene 4

5.5

Act 3, Scene 5

5.5.1Summary 5.5.2End of Topic Test - Act 3

6

Act 4: Plot Summary

6.1

Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1)

6.1.1Summary 6.1.2Key Lines 6.1.3Key Lines 2

6.2

Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 2)

6.2.1Summary 6.2.2Key Lines 6.2.3Key Lines 2

6.3

Act 4, Scene 2

6.3.1Summary 6.3.2End of Topic Test - Act 4

7

Act 5: Plot Summary

7.1

Act 5, Scene 1

7.2

Act 5, Scene 2

7.2.1Summary 7.2.2Key Lines

7.3

Act 5, Scene 3

7.4

Act 5, Scene 4

7.4.1Summary 7.4.2End of Topic Test - Act 5

8

Key Themes

8.1

Key Themes

8.1.1Love & Marriage 8.1.2Deception, Appearances & Noting 8.1.3Gender 8.1.4Reputation 8.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Themes

9

Recap: Main Quotes

Jump to other topics

1

Key Terminology

1.1

Key Terminology

1.1.1Key Terminology 1.1.2End of Topic Test - Key Terminology

2

Structure & Form

2.1

Structure

2.1.1Structure 2.1.2Acts 1 - 3 2.1.3Acts 4 - 5

2.2

Form

2.2.1Tragicomedy 2.2.2End of Topic Test - Structure & Form

3

Act 1: Plot Summary

3.1

Act 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

3.2

Act 1, Scene 2

3.2.1Summary 3.2.2Key Lines

3.3

Act 1, Scene 3

3.3.1Summary 3.3.2Key Lines 3.3.3End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scenes 2-3

4

Act 2: Plot Summary

4.1

Act 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

4.2

Act 2, Scene 2

4.3

Act 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

5

Act 3: Plot Summary

5.1

Act 3, Scene 1

5.1.1Summary 5.1.2Key Lines

5.2

Act 3, Scene 2

5.2.1Summary 5.2.2Key Lines

5.3

Act 3, Scene 3

5.4

Act 3, Scene 4

5.5

Act 3, Scene 5

5.5.1Summary 5.5.2End of Topic Test - Act 3

6

Act 4: Plot Summary

6.1

Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1)

6.1.1Summary 6.1.2Key Lines 6.1.3Key Lines 2

6.2

Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 2)

6.2.1Summary 6.2.2Key Lines 6.2.3Key Lines 2

6.3

Act 4, Scene 2

6.3.1Summary 6.3.2End of Topic Test - Act 4

7

Act 5: Plot Summary

7.1

Act 5, Scene 1

7.2

Act 5, Scene 2

7.2.1Summary 7.2.2Key Lines

7.3

Act 5, Scene 3

7.4

Act 5, Scene 4

7.4.1Summary 7.4.2End of Topic Test - Act 5

8

Key Themes

8.1

Key Themes

8.1.1Love & Marriage 8.1.2Deception, Appearances & Noting 8.1.3Gender 8.1.4Reputation 8.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Themes

9

Recap: Main Quotes

Practice questions on Key Lines

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1
Who says __"Gallants, I am not as I have been."__ in Act 3, Scene 2?Multiple choice
2
Which character is mocked in Act 3, Scene 2?Multiple choice
3
Act 3, Scene 2, Don John:Fill in the list

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Summary

Summary