Much Ado About Nothing

• Genre: Fiction; comedy
• Originally Published: 1598
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 690L; grades 9-12; college/adult
• Structure/Length: Five acts; approximate page length varies depending on edition, approximately 110 pages; approximately 2 hours 7 minutes of running time.
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The story primarily revolves around two pairs of lovers. The first pair, Benedick and Beatrice, are entangled in a “merry war” of witty banter, while the love of the second couple, Claudio and Hero, endures tests of deception and public disgrace. The central conflicts arise from misunderstandings, schemes, and love's complexities.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Contains themes of deception; public shaming; misunderstandings that lead to heartbreak; gender roles and expectations of the time

William Shakespeare, Author

• Bio: Born 1564; died 1616; English playwright, poet, and actor; often regarded as the greatest writer in the English language; his works have been translated into every major language and are performed more than those of any other playwright; co-owner of the Globe Theatre; his plays range across tragedies, comedies, and histories
• Other Works: Romeo and Juliet (1597); Hamlet (1600); Macbeth (1606); A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595); Othello (1603); King Lear (1605); The Tempest (1611); As You Like It (1623)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Sex and Class
• Faithfulness and Deceit
• Love and Pride