Methinks I'll Read Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing

Art thou ready to read Shakespeare? But of course! Here you will finde instructions, assignments, definitions, explanations, and other sundry ‘stuff’ which will make reading ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ a zephyr – that is, a breeze! This approach focuses on seeing the big picture, with only the most interesting of extra information included for thine own interest. Read the words of the beloved Bard aloud! Write some of your own! Explore the themes of ‘miscommunication’ and ‘a big fuss about nothing’. . . learn about comedy and tragedy, fashion, and Shakespeare’s humour . . . examine the text one more time, looking for details ‘divine and rare’ . . . memorize a few lines . . . and hark! It is done!

Included here are the following: the complete play ‘Much Ado About Nothing’; seven separate sections each containing assignments and information; a glossary of Weird Words, a Biography, and Summaries of Acts and Scenes.

This text is well-suited to homeschoolers who do not anticipate putting on the play, or doing other activities that involve collaboration with numerous other people. It is especially aimed at students who are not yet familiar with Shakespeare’s plays, and who will benefit from a light-hearted but meaningful approach to reading them; however, I do recommend beginning with ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ or ‘Julius Caesar’ before proceeding to the slightly more challenging ‘Much Ado About Nothing’.

The sections and assignments are as follows:

Hark! Methinks I’ll Read the Play (read aloud and learn about types of humour in Shakespeare’s plays)

Hark! What Do I Understand? (copying, list, translation and learn about terms/roles/society in the 15th century when the play takes place)

Hark! Methinks I Hear A Voice! (memorization of a conversation or a song, learn about the songs of Shakespeare’s theatre)

Hark Methinks I’ll Look Again (underline certain features, learn about ‘comedy’ and ‘tragedy’, and whether Much Ado is one of these – or both!)

Hark! Methinks I’ll Write Mine Own (Choose between a 5 paragraph essay on the theme of ‘misunderstanding’ or a report on the topic of ‘a big fuss about nothing’ within the play. Detailed guidelines are given. Learn about the importance of telling the truth in Shakespeare’s society.)

Hark! Methinks I’ll Draw Awhile! (Contemplate the appearance of characters within the play, learn about ‘fashion’ in the play and in Shakespeare’s time and place.)

Stay, Good Friend - There’s More! (Glossary of Weird Words, Brief Biography, Summary of Acts and Scenes, List of Characters and their relationships to one another.)

Note: Parents should be cautioned that the play contains mature elements that are not appropriate for students younger than 12.