Much Ado About Nothing Guided Reading Questions for Act V

Act V/ Scene 1

1. What kind of philosopher does Leonato say never existed?

2. Which characters challenge Claudio?

3. What is Benedick's reply when asked by Claudio if he will use his wit?

4. What does Benedick tell Claudio and Don Pedro about Don John?

5. What does Borachio tell Don Pedro about the watch?

6. Does Leonato accept Borachio's claim to be solely responsible for Hero's death?

7. Does Borachio name Margaret as a co-conspirator in the slander of Hero?

8. What penance does Leonato give to Claudio and Don Pedro?

9. What does Dogberry want Leonato to remember when punishing Conrade?

10. Whom will Leonato talk with and why?

1. Who does Benedick meet at the opening of the scene?

2. Why has Benedick had trouble writing a love poem for Beatrice?

3. What news did Beatrice want to find out?

4. For which of Benedick's bad parts did Beatrice first fall in love with him?

5. Why does Benedick suffer love for Beatrice?

6. Why can't Benedick and Beatrice woo peaceably?

7. What news does Ursula bring?

1. Where does the action take place?

2. Who reads the epitaph to Hero?

3. After reading the epitaph, what does Claudio do with the scroll?

4. Who is the goddess of the hymn sung to Hero?

5. Who is the goddess of the night?

7. At what time of day do they end their rite?

8. What will Claudio and Don Pedro do next?

ACT V / Scene 4

1. Who is declared innocent?

2. When Benedick asks Leonato for Beatrice's hand and Leonato reveals the double gull, what is Benedick's response?

3. Who is the masked lady that Claudio swore to marry and how does he respond when she unveils herself?

4. What paper does Claudio produce?

5. How does Benedick stop Beatrice's mouth?

6. What is Benedick's conclusion about man?

7. What advice does Benedick give Don Pedro?

8. What news does the messenger bring?

Quotations for Act V:  Note (a) who said it, (b) to whom did they say it, (c) explain how the quote relates to the events and/or characters in the play

1.         …for, brother, men
            Can counsel and speak comfort to that grief
            Which they themselves not feel; but, tasting it,
            Their counsel turns to passion, which before
            Would give preceptial medicine to rage...

2. “You are a villain; I jest not: I will make it good how ou dare, with what you dare, and when you dare.  Do me right, or I will protest your cowardice.  You have killed a sweet lady, and her death shall fall heavy on you.  Le me hear from you.”

3. “…I have deceived even your very eyes: what your wisdoms could not discover, these shallow fools have brought to light; who, in the night, overheard, and saw me court Margaret in Hero’s garments: how you disgraced her, when you should marry her: my villany they have upon record; which I had rather seal with my death than repeat over to my shame.”

4.         …but, I pray you both,
      Possess the people in Messina here
     How innocent she died; and if your love
     Can labour aught in sad invention,
     Hang her an epitaph upon her tomb,
     And sing to her bones, sing it to-night…

5.         And since you could not be my son-in-law,
      Be yet my nephew: my brother has a daughter,
     Almost a copy of my child that’s dead,
     And she alone is heir to both of us:
     Give her the right you should have given her cousin,
     And so dies my revenge.

6.  “for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion.”