TEACHER’S NOTES AUTHOR: William Shakespeare to the text once, allow time to check unfamiliar TITLE: Much Ado About Nothing (Act V) words in the glossary. THEMES: Tricks, deceit (unit 12) Optional extension WRITING: Plot Ask some comprehension questions to check general THINK STYLE: Shakespeare’s English understanding of the text.
3 Students read through the questions. Check for
ABOUT THE AUTHOR understanding and remind them to refer closely to William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was born in Stratford-Upon- the text to find the answers. Avon, England. His works include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (first performance, 1605), King Lear (1606) and Macbeth (first Answers performance, 1611). We have very little factual information about William 1 T 2 F 3 DS 4 T 5 F 6 T Shakespeare’s life. He was born and went to school in Stratford- upon-Avon. He married at the age of 18 and then went to London 4 Students read the text again. Discuss the questions where he worked as an actor. A few years later, he started writing and answers with the class. plays which were performed by his theatre company. He wrote most of his 38 plays between 1589 and 1613. The plays are Suggested answers usually divided into three groups: histories (King John, Henry V), comedies (Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice) and tragedies 1 No. He asks to see the woman’s face. He then says ‘I will (Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet). He also wrote 154 sonnets and be your husband if you like me’. He isn’t very enthusiastic, two narrative poems. Shakespeare’s plays are still very popular but probably doesn’t mind. 2 Yes. She says ‘The real Hero today and are performed in countries all over the world. was dead while the lies live. And as surely as I live, I am innocent.’ She’s saying that Claudio thought she was dead which was untrue. It follows that the lies about her being unfaithful are also untrue. 3 Yes. Hero says ‘It’s a poem INTRODUCTION about her love for Benedick.’ She is probably being cautious Ask students what they know about Shakespeare and his because she knows that other people have been interfering and may have been lying. works. Write any ideas on the board in note form. Use the information in the About the author box to provide an introduction. Ask if students know any of the plays mentioned. You could also ask them if they know of VOCABULARY any versions of his plays, for example Romeo + Juliet 5 Read through the sentences one at a time to check (1996) starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. comprehension of any unknown vocabulary. Working Depending on the class, it may be appropriate to use L1 individually, students complete the sentences with at this stage. the correct form of the words in the glossary. Ask individual students for answers. START THINKING … Answers 1 Draw students’ attention to the film still at the top 1 chapel 2 confronted 3 moderately 4 trick of the worksheet. Elicit responses to the questions: 5 pretends 6 masks What can you see in the first picture? (three women at the front wearing masks) Where do you think they are? (at a ball or party) Why do you think they are wearing Optional extension masks? (to disguise themselves, it’s like a fancy dress Ask students which facts they find interesting or surprising party). and why. Point out that these facts all relate to Shakespeare’s Organise the class into pairs or small groups. Set a life and works. time limit of a few minutes for students to discuss 6 Ask students to read the text again and to underline the questions. Then ask students for their opinions. five more words that are new to them. Ask them to Encourage them to back up their answers with write the words in sentences. They then read their examples. If you have students from different sentences in pairs and correct each other’s mistakes. backgrounds, it might be interesting to hear about wedding traditions in different countries. ROLE PLAY 2 Draw students’ attention to the text above the film still which ‘sets the scene’ and clarify understanding. 7 Organise the class into pairs. Read the instruction Play the audio. When students have read and listened and check that students understand what they
are going to do. Ask two students to read the first when she hadn’t. In Shakespeare’s time, a woman being part of the conversation. Set a time limit of 5–10 unfaithful could have serious consequences. minutes. Monitor and offer support while students are preparing their role play. Students should write their scripts. Encourage as many students as possible WRITING: PLOT to perform their role plays. Consider asking groups 10 Ask students to explain the meaning of the word plot. to perform to each other. The ‘audience’ groups Ask them to explain what they think makes a good can monitor language use and make corrections story. They could talk about realistic characters, if necessary. This can also be done as a full-class varied descriptions, use of dialogue, a dramatic exercise. ending, etc. Read through the Writing skills box. Ask students to explain setting and dilemma. Brainstorm some ideas for the story and write useful vocabulary LISTENING on the board. Students could plan their stories in 8 Before listening, explain that students are going to pairs before writing. Students can write their story hear a summary of the play. They could guess who in class or for homework. Students then swap their the sentences refer to from their understanding of stories with a partner. They read each other’s work Benedick and Beatrice’s characters in the reading and highlight any mistakes. They assess whether the text. Play the recording twice. The first time, student has completed the task fully and whether encourage students to listen without taking notes. they have followed all of the points in the box. They The second time, they complete the answers. should focus especially on the structure. They then return the story to the original student who looks Answers at the comments and redrafts their work. Ask some 1 A 2 C 3 A 4 B 5 B students to read their stories out loud to the class.
9 Students read through the questions. Encourage
students to answer from memory. Play the recording SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLISH again for students to complete their answers and to check. 11 Explain that Shakespeare’s plays and poems had a huge influence on the English language. For example, Answers ‘barefaced’ in the expression a ‘barefaced lie’ comes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It means a lie that 1 In Hero’s house. 2 Because she isn’t interested in him is obviously not true. When we say ‘It’s all Greek and likes being independent. 3 soldier 4 Because he’s dramatic and exaggerates everything. to me’, we’re admitting that we don’t understand something. This expression comes from Julius Caesar. Examples of other words that students will know also have their origins in Shakespeare’s works, AUDIOSCRIPT for example: ‘amazement’, ‘accommodation’ and Beatrice is a young, unmarried girl and she lives in her ‘suspicious’. Students discuss the meanings of the cousin Hero’s house. She is clever and lively and makes fun quotations in pairs. of everything – especially Benedick. She might have been in love with Benedick in the past, but their relationship is Suggested answers now over. Beatrice says she doesn’t want to marry and even refuses a proposal of marriage from Don Pedro. He is a rich A heart of gold, extremely kind and helpful; All of a sudden, and powerful man, but Beatrice isn’t interested in him. She suddenly; Vanish into thin air, disappear; Too much of a good likes being independent and is determined to stay that way. thing, too much of something could be harmful; Truth will Surprisingly, she is tricked into falling in love with Benedick out, we’ll know what happenened; Neither here nor there, it’s by her friends. She believes them when they tell her that not important. Benedick loves her. However, their relationship doesn’t last because they have a serious disagreement. When Claudio accuses her cousin Hero of being unfaithful to him, Beatrice Additional reading or internet research topics tells Benedick to kill Claudio, but he refuses. Benedick is a young soldier who had recently returned from ● Britain in the 16th Century fighting in a war. He is attracted to Beatrice and enjoys joking ● Shakespeare plays with her. There is a competition between them to say the cleverest things. He is very dramatic and often exaggerates, ● Much Ado About Nothing themes so it is difficult to understand his true feelings for Beatrice. At the beginning of the play, he is certain he will never marry, ● The life of William Shakespeare but by the end of the play he has fallen in love with Beatrice and is very happy when she agrees to marry him.
CRITICAL THINKING Ask the students the question: Why does Beatrice tell Benedick to kill Claudio? Elicit that he lied about her cousin, Hero. Then ask them: Was the lie a serious lie? Elicit that Claudio said that Hero had been unfaithful
