Act I Questions

1.                  Why is it important that Don Pedro and his men returning from the wars?

2.                  Why does Beatrice ask about Benedick? What is the "real" reason?

3.                  Beatrice and Benedick say that lovers are fools, and they want nothing to do with love. Why do you think they say this?

4.                  How does Benedick react to Claudio's saying that Hero is "the sweetest lady that ever I looked on"?

5.                  Why does Claudio send Don Pedro as his messenger to Hero to declare his love?

6.                  Why does Don John want to cause trouble? Why is he so sullen?

Act II Questions

1.                  What are Beatrice's reasons for not wanting to have anything to do with men?

2.                  What are Leonato’s instructions to his daughter, Hero, and what do these show about attitudes at the time?

3.                  According to the original stage directions, Don John is not masked during the party? Why?

4.                  Do you think Beatrice and Benedick know each other when they speak behind their masks? Why? Why not?

5.                  Why does Don John pretend that he does not recognize Claudio?

6.                  How does Benedick feel about his conversation with Beatrice?

7.                  What does Beatrice mean when she says, "once before he [Benedick] won it [my heart] of me with false dice"?

8.                  Why is Claudio unable to speak when Don Pedro tells him that the Lady Hero is his?

9.                  Why does Don Pedro's plan work so well?

10.              How does Benedick convince himself to love Beatrice?

Act III Questions

1.                  Why do the women praise Benedick so highly when they describe how he loves Beatrice?

2.                  Why does Hero say that she will not tell Beatrice about Benedick's love?

3.                  How fair are the women in their description of Beatrice's behavior? Why are they devoting so much time to her reputation for "disdain"?

4.                  What is Beatrice's reaction to the women's speech?

5.                  Why do the men make fun of Benedick?

6.                  How does Don John plan to deceive Claudio and Don Pedro?

7.                  Why does the Watch arrest Borachio and Conrade?

Act IV Questions

1.                  How does Claudio judge Hero's behavior when he accuses her?

2.                  How do the rest of the people react? Discussion the reactions of Beatrice, Benedick, and Leonato.

3.                  What does the Friar think?

4.                  What does the Friar hope will happen as a result of his plan to have it published that Hero is dead? What kind of change does he think will come about in Claudio?

5.                  What happens between Benedick and Beatrice?

6.                  Why does Beatrice want to kill Claudio?

7.                  Why is Dogberry’s way of expressing himself so appropriate to the play?

Act V Questions

1.                  What does Antonio say that gets Leonato to think again about his passionate denunciation of Hero?

2.                  Does Leonato think Hero is guilty of being unvirtuous? Why? Why not?

3.                  Do you think Claudio makes a move to draw his sword against Leonato? Why or why not?

4.                  What seems to be the purpose of the scene in which Leonato and his brother Antonio challenge Claudio for slandering Hero?

5.                  What is Claudio's attitude about their challenge? What does this show about his character? Is it what you would expect based on the rest of his behavior?

6.                  How does Don Pedro act when Benedick meets he and Claudio? What happens?

7.                  Why is the punishment Leonato places on Claudio appropriate? Why does he want Claudio to believe that he has killed Hero?

8.                  Why do Beatrice and Benedick talk about loving each other only according to "reason"? How do they really feel about each other?