Much Ado About Nothing

by William Shakespeare

The Real Original Banter Couple?
Want to do a compare/contrast exercise between Much Ado and another Shakespeare play? Talk to the kids about The Taming of the Shrew, another play where the main couple argues…a lot. The couple, Katharina and Petruchio, aren't equals the same way that Benedick and Beatrice are, but some of the arguing is similar. You could have a great conversation about the differences and similarities between these snarky couples.

Speaking of Rumors and Squealers…
Don John may be an effective rumor-monger, but he pales in comparison to one of the most prolific propagandists in literature: Squealer in Animal Farm. This character manages to fool everyone around him with his master skills in lying. Look at some of the persuasion tools he uses in Animal Farm and see if any of the Much Ado characters employ the same strategies.