Play Run Through

Scene	Synopsis	Aspects of Comedy
Act 1
Scene 1	- Don Pedro, Don John, Claudio and Benedick are greeted into Leonato’s house. - Benedick and Beatrice have a playful argument. - Benedick announces that he will never get married. - Claudio falls in love with Hero - Don Pedro works out a plan with Claudio to make Hero his.	Wordplay/Innuendo- “Signior Mountanto” Mockery- “I promised to eat all of his killings” Scheming- “I will assume thy part in some disguise”.
Scene 2	- Leonato finds out about Don Pedro and Claudio’s plan through his brother whose servant overheard them plotting.	Dramatic irony- “thus much overheard... break with you of it.”
Scene 3	- Don John is unhappy with his brother and then finds out about the plan to woo Hero.	Dramatic irony- “intelligence of an intended marriage”
Act 2
Scene 1	- Beatrice claims that she doesn’t want a husband. - A dance begins with all men masked. - They all pair up. With Don Pedro wooing hero. - Benedick dances with Beatrice pretending to be someone else. - Claudio, after speaking with Don John, believes that Don Pedro loves Hero and has taken her for himself. - Benedick swears revenge for Beatrice’s description of him - Misunderstanding is sorted out. Claudio and Hero kiss. - Don Pedro proposes to Beatrice which she turns down - The wedding is planned for a week away - Another plan is made to match Beatrice and Benedick.	Mistaken identity- “Thus answer I in name of Benedick” Misunderstanding- “his conceit is false” Wordplay- “Civil as an orange”
Scene 2	- Don John and Borachio plot to ruin the wedding	Plotting and scheming “the poison of that lies in you”
Scene 3	- Benedick talks of love - Benedick hides from Leonato, Don Pedro and Claudio. - They know Benedick is there and start talking about Beatrice - Benedick starts falling for Beatrice.
Act 3
Scene 1	- Beatrice overhears Hero talking about Benedick - Beatrice starts falling for Benedick
Scene 2	- Benedick is acting strange and Don Pedro and Claudio conclude that he is in love. - Don John breaks the fake news that Hero is unfaithful and invites Claudio to join him at midnight to see for himself.	Mockery Bawdiness/innuendo- “dies for him. She shall be buried with her face upwards”
Scene 3	- Meeting of the villages guards and Dogberry. - Borachio who is drunk tells his friend how he and Don John fooled Claudio. - The guards overhear and arrest them both	Mix- up- “Salvation” and “Damnation” Drunkenness - Borachio
Scene 4	- Hero prepares for her wedding. - Beatrice, Hero and Margaret talk of Beatrice’s love for Benedick.	Wordplay- “barns” and “bairns” Pun- Carduus Benedictus
Scene 5	- Dogberry talks to Leonarto about the two they arrested the other night. - Leonarto tells them to question the men themselves	Misunderstanding- Dogberry mistakes the word tedious as a compliment meaning rich
Act 4
Scene 1	- At the wedding Claudio announces that Hero is unfaithful. - He is backed by the Prince and Don John. - Hero faints, presumed dead but recovers - Leonarto doesn’t know who to believe but Beatrice and Benedick believe it was a set up. - They plot to fake Hero’s death	Plotting and scheming- “publish it that she is dead indeed”
Scene 2	- The watch examine Borachio and Conrade	Fools- Dogberry “I’m an ass”
Act 5
Scene 1	- Everybody hears of Hero’s death. - Leonarto and Antonio threaten Don Pedro and Claudio - Benedick challenges Claudio - Everybody finds out about Don John’s trick - Don John has fled	Mockery- “carve” a “calf’s head” (a fool) and a “capon” (impotent idiot) and a “woodcock” (a gullible dolt)
Scene 2	- Benedick talks to Margaret - Beatrice comes in and talks to Benedick about love	Innuendo- “pikes with the vice, and they are dangerous weapons for maids”
Scene 3	- Don Pedro and Claudio visit Hero’s tomb	Dramatic irony- Audience knows she is alive
Scene 4	- Claudio goes to marry Hero who is pretending to be her own cousin. - Benedick asks for permission to marry Beatrice. - Hero reveals herself - They get married happily - A messenger reveals that Don John has raised an army but it’s dismissed	Reveal- Hero reveals she is alive and Beatrice and Benedick reveal that they love each other. Mockery- “how dost thou, Benedick the married man”