Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/7-2-1-summary [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [English Lit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa.md) › [English Lit: AQA GCSE Much Ado About Nothing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing.md) › Summary # Summary English Lit: AQA GCSE Much Ado About Nothing, topic 7.2.1 ## 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-12/d485fa35-bf9c-4698-8a4d-6b1bd74033da/poem-book-rose-rhyme-.jpg) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/696e7d34-a5ce-4430-befb-9d811c7db445/shutterstock_758368624.jpg) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/728aef45-e19f-429f-9708-23b368e3a4e5/shutterstock_441541999.jpg) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/physics/5.2.3%20Radioactive%20decay/time-430625_640.jpg) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/b59b2f7b-43af-45a7-a7f4-f6f0db22deba/shutterstock_127100525.jpg) - 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? ## Test yourself on Summary - Who brings news of the discovery of Don John’s villainy? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/be0e71b0-7b1f-4788-975c-75acc073d9ad/section/f61ded9e-ce6a-47c7-95ff-720c62669831/session) - Previous topic: [7.1.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/7-1-1-summary.md) - Next topic: [7.2.2 Key Lines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/7-2-2-key-lines.md) ## English Lit: AQA GCSE Much Ado About Nothing contents ### 1 Key Terminology - 1.1 Key Terminology - [1.1.1 Key Terminology](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/1-1-1-key-terminology.md) - [1.1.2 End of Topic Test - Key Terminology](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/1-1-2-end-of-topic-test-key-terminology.md) ### 2 Structure & Form - 2.1 Structure - [2.1.1 Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/2-1-1-structure.md) - [2.1.2 Acts 1 - 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/2-1-2-acts-1-3.md) - [2.1.3 Acts 4 - 5](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/2-1-3-acts-4-5.md) - 2.2 Form - [2.2.1 Tragicomedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/2-2-1-tragicomedy.md) - [2.2.2 End of Topic Test - Structure & Form](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/2-2-2-end-of-topic-test-structure-and-form.md) ### 3 Act 1: Plot Summary - 3.1 Act 1, Scene 1 - [3.1.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/3-1-1-summary.md) - [3.1.2 Key Lines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/3-1-2-key-lines.md) - [3.1.3 Key Lines 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/3-1-3-key-lines-2.md) - [3.1.4 End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/3-1-4-end-of-topic-test-act-1-scene-1.md) - 3.2 Act 1, Scene 2 - [3.2.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/3-2-1-summary.md) - [3.2.2 Key Lines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/3-2-2-key-lines.md) - 3.3 Act 1, Scene 3 - [3.3.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/3-3-1-summary.md) - [3.3.2 Key Lines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/3-3-2-key-lines.md) - [3.3.3 End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scenes 2-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/3-3-3-end-of-topic-test-act-1-scenes-2-3.md) ### 4 Act 2: Plot Summary - 4.1 Act 2, Scene 1 - [4.1.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/4-1-1-summary.md) - [4.1.2 Key Lines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/4-1-2-key-lines.md) - [4.1.3 Key Lines 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/4-1-3-key-lines-2.md) - [4.1.4 Key Lines 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/4-1-4-key-lines-3.md) - [4.1.5 End of Topic Test - Act 2, Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/4-1-5-end-of-topic-test-act-2-scene-1.md) - 4.2 Act 2, Scene 2 - [4.2.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/4-2-1-summary.md) - 4.3 Act 2, Scene 3 - [4.3.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/4-3-1-summary.md) - [4.3.2 Key Lines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/4-3-2-key-lines.md) - [4.3.3 Key Lines 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/4-3-3-key-lines-2.md) - [4.3.4 End of Topic Test - Act 2, Scenes 2-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/4-3-4-end-of-topic-test-act-2-scenes-2-3.md) ### 5 Act 3: Plot Summary - 5.1 Act 3, Scene 1 - [5.1.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/5-1-1-summary.md) - [5.1.2 Key Lines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/5-1-2-key-lines.md) - 5.2 Act 3, Scene 2 - [5.2.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/5-2-1-summary.md) - [5.2.2 Key Lines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/5-2-2-key-lines.md) - 5.3 Act 3, Scene 3 - [5.3.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/5-3-1-summary.md) - 5.4 Act 3, Scene 4 - [5.4.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/5-4-1-summary.md) - 5.5 Act 3, Scene 5 - [5.5.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/5-5-1-summary.md) - [5.5.2 End of Topic Test - Act 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/5-5-2-end-of-topic-test-act-3.md) ### 6 Act 4: Plot Summary - 6.1 Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1) - [6.1.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/6-1-1-summary.md) - [6.1.2 Key Lines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/6-1-2-key-lines.md) - [6.1.3 Key Lines 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/6-1-3-key-lines-2.md) - 6.2 Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 2) - [6.2.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/6-2-1-summary.md) - [6.2.2 Key Lines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/6-2-2-key-lines.md) - [6.2.3 Key Lines 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/6-2-3-key-lines-2.md) - 6.3 Act 4, Scene 2 - [6.3.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/6-3-1-summary.md) - [6.3.2 End of Topic Test - Act 4](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/6-3-2-end-of-topic-test-act-4.md) ### 7 Act 5: Plot Summary - 7.1 Act 5, Scene 1 - [7.1.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/7-1-1-summary.md) - 7.2 Act 5, Scene 2 - [7.2.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/7-2-1-summary.md) - [7.2.2 Key Lines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/7-2-2-key-lines.md) - 7.3 Act 5, Scene 3 - [7.3.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/7-3-1-summary.md) - 7.4 Act 5, Scene 4 - [7.4.1 Summary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/7-4-1-summary.md) - [7.4.2 End of Topic Test - Act 5](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/7-4-2-end-of-topic-test-act-5.md) ### 8 Key Themes - 8.1 Key Themes - [8.1.1 Love & Marriage](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/8-1-1-love-and-marriage.md) - [8.1.2 Deception, Appearances & Noting](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/8-1-2-deception-appearances-and-noting.md) - [8.1.3 Gender](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/8-1-3-gender.md) - [8.1.4 Reputation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/8-1-4-reputation.md) - [8.1.5 End of Topic Test - Key Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/8-1-5-end-of-topic-test-key-themes.md) ### 9 Recap: Main Quotes - 9.1 Characters Quotes - [9.1.1 Beatrice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-1-beatrice.md) - [9.1.2 Beatrice 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-2-beatrice-2.md) - [9.1.3 Benedick 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-3-benedick-1.md) - [9.1.4 Benedick 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-4-benedick-2.md) - [9.1.5 Benedick 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-5-benedick-3.md) - [9.1.6 Benedick 4](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-6-benedick-4.md) - [9.1.7 Benedick 5](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-7-benedick-5.md) - [9.1.8 Beatrice & Benedick](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-8-beatrice-and-benedick.md) - [9.1.9 Beatrice & Benedick 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-9-beatrice-and-benedick-2.md) - [9.1.10 Beatrice & Benedick 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-10-beatrice-and-benedick-3.md) - [9.1.11 Claudio](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-11-claudio.md) - [9.1.12 Claudio 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-12-claudio-2.md) - [9.1.13 Claudio & Benedick](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-13-claudio-and-benedick.md) - [9.1.14 Don John](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-14-don-john.md) - [9.1.15 Don John 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-15-don-john-2.md) - [9.1.16 Don Pedro](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-16-don-pedro.md) - [9.1.17 Hero](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-17-hero.md) - [9.1.18 Leonato](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-18-leonato.md) - [9.1.19 Leonato & Messanger](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-1-19-leonato-and-messanger.md) - 9.2 Text Structure - Quotes - [9.2.1 Deception, Appearances & Noting](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-2-1-deception-appearances-and-noting.md) - [9.2.2 Gender](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-2-2-gender.md) - [9.2.3 Reputation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/much-ado-about-nothing/9-2-3-reputation.md)