7.2.1

Summary

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Act 5, Scene 2

Privately, Benedick and Beatrice grow increasingly confident in their love for one another. Ursula brings news of the discovery of Don John’s villainy.

A sonnet

A sonnet

  • Benedick is struggling with his new role as a romantic lover, expressing his frustration that he is unable to write a sonnet for Beatrice.
  • The poem serves a dramatic function in that it will be revealed by Claudio in Act 5, Scene 4, just as it seems Benedick and Beatrice will not publicly declare their feelings for one another.
Public vs. private

Public vs. private

  • Unlike their very public exchange of repartee in Act 1, Scene 1, Benedick and Beatrice are much more comfortable in this intimate scene, where - as the second part of Act 4, Scene 1 - they are left alone on stage.
  • This intimacy also contrasts with the very public setting in which Claudio chooses to denounce Hero.
Convention

Convention

  • Benedick and Beatrice accept the fact that theirs is not - and probably never will be - a conventional relationship for the time period.
  • He tells his love “thou and are art too wise to woo peaceably”.
Protagonists

Protagonists

  • In getting to know each other over a long period of time, there is something distinctly modern in their relationship.
  • This may be why Benedick and Beatrice are often considered the main protagonists of the play, despite their deception forming its sub-plot.
A social comment

A social comment

  • Benedick and Beatrice’s relationship serves as a foil (highlighting the contrasts) for Claudio and Hero’s - perhaps Shakespeare is making a social comment on the way marriage was traditionally arranged amongst the nobility?
Jump to other topics
1

Key Terminology

1.1

Key Terminology

1.1.1Key Terminology1.1.2End of Topic Test - Key Terminology
2

Structure & Form

2.1

Structure

2.1.1Structure2.1.2Acts 1 - 32.1.3Acts 4 - 5
2.2

Form

2.2.1Tragicomedy2.2.2End of Topic Test - Structure & Form
3

Act 1: Plot Summary

3.1

Act 1, Scene 1

3.1.1Summary3.1.2Key Lines3.1.3Key Lines 23.1.4End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scene 1
3.2

Act 1, Scene 2

3.2.1Summary3.2.2Key Lines
3.3

Act 1, Scene 3

3.3.1Summary3.3.2Key Lines3.3.3End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scenes 2-3
4

Act 2: Plot Summary

4.1

Act 2, Scene 1

4.1.1Summary4.1.2Key Lines4.1.3Key Lines 24.1.4Key Lines 34.1.5End of Topic Test - Act 2, Scene 1
4.2

Act 2, Scene 2

4.2.1Summary
4.3

Act 2, Scene 3

4.3.1Summary4.3.2Key Lines4.3.3Key Lines 24.3.4End of Topic Test - Act 2, Scenes 2-3
5

Act 3: Plot Summary

5.1

Act 3, Scene 1

5.1.1Summary5.1.2Key Lines
5.2

Act 3, Scene 2

5.2.1Summary5.2.2Key Lines
5.3

Act 3, Scene 3

5.3.1Summary
5.4

Act 3, Scene 4

5.4.1Summary
5.5

Act 3, Scene 5

5.5.1Summary5.5.2End of Topic Test - Act 3
6

Act 4: Plot Summary

6.1

Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1)

6.1.1Summary6.1.2Key Lines6.1.3Key Lines 2
6.2

Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 2)

6.2.1Summary6.2.2Key Lines6.2.3Key Lines 2
6.3

Act 4, Scene 2

6.3.1Summary6.3.2End of Topic Test - Act 4
7

Act 5: Plot Summary

7.1

Act 5, Scene 1

7.1.1Summary
7.2

Act 5, Scene 2

7.2.1Summary7.2.2Key Lines
7.3

Act 5, Scene 3

7.3.1Summary
7.4

Act 5, Scene 4

7.4.1Summary7.4.2End of Topic Test - Act 5
8

Key Themes

8.1

Key Themes

8.1.1Love & Marriage8.1.2Deception, Appearances & Noting8.1.3Gender8.1.4Reputation8.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Themes
9

Recap: Main Quotes

9.1

Characters Quotes

9.1.1Beatrice9.1.2Beatrice 29.1.3Benedick 19.1.4Benedick 29.1.5Benedick 39.1.6Benedick 49.1.7Benedick 59.1.8Beatrice & Benedick9.1.9Beatrice & Benedick 29.1.10Beatrice & Benedick 39.1.11Claudio9.1.12Claudio 29.1.13Claudio & Benedick9.1.14Don John9.1.15Don John 29.1.16Don Pedro9.1.17Hero9.1.18Leonato9.1.19Leonato & Messanger
9.2

Text Structure - Quotes

9.2.1Deception, Appearances & Noting9.2.2Gender9.2.3Reputation

Practice questions on Summary

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  1. 1
    Who brings news of the discovery of Don John’s villainy?Multiple choice
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Summary

Key Lines