Use of form in Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing is a play and so is intended for performance. The script makes more sense when read aloud and coupled with stage directions.
It is largely written in Lines in a poem that don't rhyme, usually in iambic pentameter - five two-syllable feet per line.. Most lines use Line of verse written in five pairs of syllables each made up by an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. (ten syllables) which are organised in five pairs. The first syllable is weak, the second stronger. So if we look at a typical line, we can show the weak or unstressed syllable with an 'x' above it, and the stressed syllable with an '/' above it.
In this example Claudio is saying goodbye to Hero:
This follows the patterns of natural speech and is used by Shakespeare to draw attention to particular words and ideas.
When describing form in Much Ado About Nothing, you can refer to:
- the fact that it is a play and meant to be performed
- blank verse
- the comedy genre
Evidence of the form used
Blank verse
Blank verse is usually reserved by Shakespeare for higher status characters. Notice how the Watch speak in prose. This lets the audience know that they are lower status characters and also adds to the comedic effect.
Comedy genre
In Shakespeare's comedies we tend to find wordplay and confusions. There are lots of examples in Much Ado About Nothing of mistaken identity, overheard conversations and misunderstandings. Shakespeare uses When the audience or reader knows something important which the main character does not., in which the audience is aware of things that the characters are not, to create comedy.