Question

At the beginning of William Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing, Claudio and Hero are about to marry. However, the wedding is called off because of a hoax conceived by Don John, a bad character in the play. After many complications, the couple is successfully married.

Which effect does the final wedding most likely have on the play?

A. As the exposition, it creates mystery about whether Don John will make more trouble.

B. As the resolution, it creates surprise that any couple is willing to get married.

C. As part of the rising action, it creates humor as the couple marry the wrong people.

D. As the climax, it resolves tension about whether the couple will ever get married.

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In William Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing, there are two parallel plots in which Claudio and Hero experience obstacles to their love, and Benedick and Beatrice, who first hate each other, are tricked into falling in love with each other.

What effect do these two parallel plots most likely have on the text?

A. They create surprise that young people declare their love for each other on first meeting.

B. They create humor that young people do not believe each other's declarations of love.

C. They create tension about whether the pairs of lovers will unite.

D. They create mystery about the origins of the pairs of lovers.

Answer 1

Answer to Question 1 is D.

As the climax, it resolves tension about whether the couple will ever get married.

Answer to Question 2 is C.

They create tension about whether the pairs of lovers will unite.

Answer 2

D. As the climax, it resolves tension about whether the couple will ever get married.

The climax is reached when Hero is cleared of all guilt and Claudio/Don Pedro understand that it was Don John's treachery that fooled them. This allows for everyone to relax and for the audience to know that Hero and Claudio will end up together.

C. They create tension about whether the pairs of lovers will unite.

Each pairing goes through several ups and downs before finally getting married in the end. Hero and Claudio have to overcome the scandal that Don John creates, and Beatrice and Benedick have to get over themselves and their fighting for long enough to realize that they truly love each other.