ALEX | Alabama Learning Exchange

Much Ado About Nothing and the Roots of Romantic Comedy: Shakespeare Uncovered

Classroom Resource Information

Title:

Much Ado About Nothing and the Roots of Romantic Comedy: Shakespeare Uncovered

URL:

https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/shak18.ela.lit.much.ado/much-ado-about-nothing-and-the-roots-of-romantic-comedy-shakespeare-uncovered/

Content Source:

PBS

Type:

Audio/Video

Overview:

Learn how Shakespeare invented the structure and character types we have come to love in modern romantic comedies in this video from Shakespeare Uncovered. In the play Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s Beatrice and Benedick banter back and forth as sparring partners who seem to hate each other, but underneath it, all, are actually in love. Helen Hunt reveals how the play inspired countless romantic comedies in Hollywood and gave voice to a new kind of heroine, full of wit and the power of words.

Be sure to use the Discussion Questions under the Support Materials to help meet the standards.

Content Standard(s):

English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 12

1. Read, analyze, and evaluate complex literary and historical texts written from particular points of view or cultural experiences, with an emphasis on works of literature from the British Isles.

a. Read, analyze, and evaluate a play by William Shakespeare, including an examination of its contributions to the English language and its influences on other works of literature.

Unpacked Content

Teacher Vocabulary:

Analyze
Evaluate
Complex literary text
Complex historical texts
Points of view
Cultural perspectives
British Isles literature

Analyze

Evaluate

Examination

Contributions

Influences

Knowledge:

1. Students know:

Necessary skills to read, analyze, and evaluate complex literary and historical texts.
Strategies to identify and describe various points of view and cultural perspectives.

1a.

Necessary skills to read, analyze, and evaluate a play by William Shakespeare.
Strategies to identify the impact of Shakespeare's plays on the English language and other works of literature.

Skills:

1. Students are able to:

Read complex texts.
Analyze elements within complex texts.
Evaluate text based on specific criteria provided by the teacher.

1a.

Read, analyze, and evaluate a play by William Shakespeare.
Examine a play by Shakespeare and determine its contributions to the English language and its influences on other works of literature.

Understanding:

1. Students understand that:

Texts written from various cultural perspectives and viewpoints can provide them with valuable information about the thoughts, opinions, and experiences of others in the present and in the past.

1a.

The plays of William Shakespeare contributed to the English language with certain figures of speech and terminology and influenced other literary authors.

Tags:

British Isles, Much Ado About Nothing, Romance, William Shakespeare

License Type:

Custom Permission Type
See Terms: https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/help/terms-of-use/#restrictions
For full descriptions of license types and a guide to usage, visit :
https://creativecommons.org/licenses

Accessibility

Video resources: includes closed captioning or subtitles

Comments

This resource includes supporting materials for teachers and students.

This resource provided by:

Author:

Jessica Byrd

ALEX Classroom Resource

Much Ado About Nothing and the Roots of Romantic Comedy: Shakespeare Uncovered