Beatrice would be like a cream egg, hard but sweet on the outside and beautiful, pure and sweet on the inside. The orange bit would be her hidden love for Benedick.

Beatrice Cake.

Quotes:
1 'exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December' -This shows that Beatrice is very beautiful, warm and happy.
2 'He is the prince's jester' -Beatrice is cruel and self-deceptive. She is very intelligent with a quick wit.
3 'She cannot love' -She appears to have a hard outer shell, giving the impression of someone with little feelings. Heartless, a shrew that would crush any man that tried to woo her.
4 'I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest' -She is only human, she has a soft spot and proves everyone wrong.

Ingredients:
-Red cake -Cruel and heartless, also love that's hidden inside her.
-Silver icing balls inside -Hard yet beautiful and valuable looking, She is a prize.
-Yellow icing - Summery, happy and beautiful.

Act 3 Scene 2

Transformation.
1)According to Claudio and Don Pedro how has Benedick changed? How does Benedick explain the change?
Benedick has shaved his beard, 'the old ornament of his cheek hath already stuffed tennis balls' he has made a lot more effort with his appearance, shown through his eccentric change of clothes, use of 'civet' and appearance of make-up or 'paint' on his face. Don Pedro and Claudio draw the conclusion that he is in love this links to Burton's oppinion that men who are lovestruck 'go beyond women, they wear harlot's colours, and do not walk but jet and dance.' Benedick blames a toothache for his shaved face and clear ill looking expression, this also highlights that he is in love as toothache was often linked to love.

2) How does Don John's choice of language make the impact of his revelation about Hero all the more devastating to Claudio?
Don John acts almost apologetic, He forces Claudio to believe him because what he is saying appears genuine, the villain seems genuinely sorry for the "news" he is bringing, 'If it please you' he approaches with respect. 'You may think I love you not. Let that appear here after.' To Claudio this would seem as though he cares however he would look past the meaning clear to the audience (with the help of dramatic irony) that eventually Don John's hatred would be revealled along with the truth.

3) Why does Claudio immediately announce that he will shame Hero in the church at the wedding?
This is to preserve is honor and prove his power and control, He needed to publically prove himself and ensure that the woman who has wronged him is defiled.

Act 2 Scene 1 Homework

Act 2 Scene 1  essay: Act 2 Scene 1 is a key scene with regards to the main plot throughout the rest of the play, Shakespeare cleverly uses setting to build layers of comedy and a focus on gulling that links to further on in the plot, the scene is set at a masked ball allowing both good and bad deceit to take place. Shakespeare uses characterisation to challenge conventional ideas around love and marriage, institutionalised love is the stereotypical image of love found in fairy tales, Beatrice is very cynical of men and the idea of marriage, when presented with the description of the perfect man, ‘half Signor Benedick’s tongue…..and half Count John’s melancholy’ she still wants more, this challenges the image of women at the time who were expected to be ‘weak’ and ‘frail’ as described by John Knox. It is through Beatrice that Shakespeare makes further challenges to traditional beliefs, she says ‘I up my apes and away to Saint Peter’ it was said that women who did not procreate would live an eternal life of bestiality, ‘leading apes to hell’ however Beatrice is determined to justify her beliefs her unladylike manor is presented through the theme of marriage that runs throughout the play, the metaphor of horns is used as a negative symbol for marriage within the scene, ‘God sends a cursed cow short horns’ Beatrice is stating the benefits of not getting married this would shock upper class audiences as the construct’s view is not conventional of women at the time, ‘horns’ were said to be a symbol of cuckolds, if you don’t marry you cannot be cheated on, the word ‘curst’ suggests the she is seen as shrew-like, this links to David Stevenson’s critique that she is a shrew, ‘playing roles’ with Benedick to hide her true feelings.
    Gulling and disguise is a major theme within this scene, Beatrice and Benedick are a large source of comedy through deceit throughout the play. Benedick believing his identity is hidden tells Beatrice that her wit has been described as unsophisticated jokes similar to that found in ‘the hundred merry tales’ , it is clear that Shakespeare is trying to present hidden love described in the ‘Book of Courtier’ through her reaction, she describes Benedick as the ‘prince’s jester’ however a sense of previous affairs is implicitly indicated through double entendre, ‘I would he had boarded me’ aside from the clear sexual reference this comment presents the idea that if he gave her the chance of love she would take it. Self deception is presented through Benedick’s reaction to Beatrice’s insults, Shakespeare presents Benedick as a misogynistic character who, according to Camille Wells Slights, accuses Beatrice of ‘inverting the hierarchy of the sexes’ he then contrasts this idea as ‘every word stabs’ it can be said that the two protagonists are playing a game in which the subject is ‘a distaste for institutionalized romantic love’.Basic essay, Got the points but not enough good stuff, needs critical interpretation, historical context and links to language form and structure as well as a less list-like format:
Don John fools Claudio into thinking that Don Pedro won Hero for himself,‘Are not you Signor Benedick?’/‘You know me well. I am he.’ when this happens it can be seen as manipulation of Claudio, he is very easily fooled and trusts Don John too quickly this can be linked to further on when he falls so easily for Borachio’s plan and spoils Hero’s reputation ending the wedding. Claudio overreacts and bursts into soliloquy, ignoring his trust in Don Pedro and blaming love, he is in a constant state of fluctuation, a hopeless lover that falls very easily in and out of love, ‘the prince hath got your Hero.’/‘I wish him joy of her.’ this links to his name which means lame. In the long term this gulling of Claudio wasn’t very effective as Claudio is quick to fall back in love with Hero and regain his trust in Don Pedro.

Questions Homework.

Is 'Come hither, Leonato' meant for Benedick’s ears, or is it meant as a signal to begin the gulling?
It is possible that this was either a sinal to begin the gulling, letting Leonato know he was about to start however it could also just be Don Pedro asking Leonato to move closer, it is less likely to be the second as whilst gulling they talk louder so Benedick will hear therefore Leonato does not need to be close....if he was closer it would A) make it seem private and secret but B)make it odd that they would talk so loud, however the news would be so shocking to Benedick that, with Leonato's involvement, he would not think to question this. 

What was it you told me of to-day, that your niece Beatrice was in love with Signior Benedick? Does Benedick react to this? If so, how, and how large is the reaction?
He would react with shock, his reaction would be large because of course he thinks she hates him, she previously described him as the princes jester. He may look towards the audience or comically trip over (the other characters would turn away as if they heard a bird or something).

BENEDICK: Is't possible? Sits the wind in that corner?

Is this a moment for audience contact? If so, where does Benedick need to be in order to make that contact? Does he need to move during the previous lines, from one hiding space to another?
Benedick would gradually need to move closer to the naives as they gained his attention, hesitant at first as the nature of their conversation is private however he is self-absorbed and would "need" the gossip. He may turn to the audience at this point however it would be more effective if he were asking himself. The stage would be in a sort of split screen.

What are eight "graces" which Benedick believes a hypothetical woman must have before he would consider marrying her? What one quality is he flexible upon? Rich, wise, virtuous, fair, mild, noble(well born), well spoken and a musician. 'her hair shall be of what colour it please God.'

What one element of the "gulling scene" seems to convince Benedick that it is no trick?

Leonato the 'white-bearded fellow' is involved. Benedick describes the 'conference' as 'sadly borne' meaning conducted in seriousness, he also believes they have facts from Hero.

What effect does the news of Beatrice’s possible suicide have on Benedick?
He feels it is his duty to requite her love to save her, he realises his love for her and is willing to endure 'wit broken on' him for her.

What is Beatrice’s meaning in the message she delivers to Benedick between lines 243 – 252? What does Benedick think she means?
Beatrice asks him to dinner, she tells him that it isn't a hard task or she wouldn't have done it. Benedick thinks that she means she wanted to speak to him and that she would endure all the pain in the world for him, he now thinks back to everything she's ever said to him looking for new meaning.

Act 3 Sc 1
How does the form of the language in this gulling scene differ from that used in the scene with Benedick? Why the difference?

• The males make sexual references 'between the sheet'
• Very critical of Beatrice
• Seems more rehearsed 

Mr Smith: Simply the women speak in verse, the chaps speak in prose.

 

What are three elements found in common in the gulling of both Benedick and Beatrice?

1. Evoking their fear of rejection
2. Both are incapable of finding their love
3. The love is already there- Self perception

What is unusual about the form of the language of last ten lines in this scene? Why does Shakespeare have Beatrice speak like this?
Structural similarities to a sonnet. About love and romance. Beatrice has been enlightened and filled with realisation of her deep love for Benedick.

Benedick and Beatrice.

Benedick and Beatrice


-Thought I'd have a go

Reading too far into lover's names....

Benedick
Bene- Latin for 'well' or 'good'
Dick- Aside from the obvious meaning, dick can also mean 'lad', from a 21st Century view Benedick is a "lad" with his rude jokes and views on women with regards to sex.
A clever dick is a person who is obnoxiously opinionated or a self-satisfied know it all, Benedick is certainly full of himself: 'I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted'
Benedict(a popular name for Popes): "Blessed"- is Benedick blessed?......He finds his perfect woman and has friends willing to spend time to make him realise this? Blessed also refers to someone who is happy.
Saint Benedict of Nursia- Italy
Perhaps it was just a popular name in Italy...

Beatrice
a symbolic figure developed from the person whom Dante (A major Italian poet of the Middle Ages) first saw as a child and loved as an ideal of womanhood.
from a Latin word meaning "one who brings joy"
associated with the Latin word beatus, meaning "blessed" or "happy" .   -Same as Benedict
Beau: Beauty or masculine

Claudio
lame- Very fickle in his love for Hero, falls in and out of love quickly.
Disabled
Appears crippled at the death of Hero

Hero
A priestess of Aphrodite (Greek Goddess of Love) who drowned herself after her lover Leander drowned- Hero is desparately in love with Claudio, like the priestess or Juliet she would probably kill herself to be with him.

Almost helpful, but revision definitely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZmfHlXwvv0

Time markers in sections -_-

Section 1: Pages 29-49     Time quotes."Late in the year"-(page 29) Telescoping through time.
"Where once he'd watched trout swaying in the current"- (page 30) References to time before (flashbacks)
"They set out again in the morning"-(page 30) Passage of time.
"Dark of the invisible moon"-(page 32) Time expands.
"Within a year"- (page 33) Telescoping through time.
"Tomorrow came and went" (page 33) Telescoping through time.
"Then it returned" -(page 38) Time expanding/a more abstract reference to time.
"It's getting colder every day"-(page 42) Time expanding.

Markers in the year:"It could be November" pg 93
"Snow" - winter - pg 100


Telescoped time:
"They'd had no food and little sleep in five days" pg 111


Time expands:Before (flash backs):
"He'd seen it all before" pg 94
Suspended time:
"The snow fell nor did it cease to fall" pg 101


Part 2: Page 113-133   Time quotes.
‘it was almost light enough to see’ – 123‘Lingering odour of cows... and he realized they were extinct’ – p127‘When the time comes? When the time comes there will be no time. Now is the time.’ – p120‘He would have ample time later to think about that’ – shows there are no deadlines/rushing p113  perhaps he doesn't want to think about it because the large pile of clothes opens many questions.
‘No time to look’ – contrasts to above quote, shows how we perceive time differs depending on our situation p117
‘stopping to rest each fifty counted steps’ – shows a new way of making references to time; whereas we might say every 5 minutes, the man uses steps as an indication of passing time p123
Part 3: Pages 155-175'He followed the man back and forth across the lawn' (Page 155) - Time is being expanded
'It took a long time' (Page 155) - Passage of time
'While the boy slept' (Page 156) - Passage of time
'The town had been abandoned years ago' (Page 157) - References to the past.
'In the night he was wakened by the muted patter of rain' (Page 162) - Passage of time
'They spent the day eating and sleeping' (Page 164) - Telescoping through time
'Impossible to tell what time of the day he was looking at' (Page 164) - Abstract reference to time
'The day was brief, hardly a day at all' (Page 164) - Telescoping through time.
'By dark the rain had ceased' (Page 164) - Passage of time
'They sat for a long time' (Page 167) - Expanding time
'In the long gray dusk' (Page 169) - Passage of time
'They followed him for a while' (Page 171) - Expanding time


Part 4: Page 176-196
‘When did you eat last?’ ‘I don’t know.’ ‘You don’t remember.’
This shows the reader that there is no reason for people on the road to remember when they have eaten as they have no reason to plan meals. We only plan meals today because our day follows a set routine and we eat to keep up with this. On the road however, day and night have almost become one due to the ash and dust that falls, blocking out the sun. They have no concept of time and no reason for it so all they can really distinguish between is day and night so it is easy to imagine how a person could lose track of the days as they are all the same; as long as they are alive, they have no reason to remember when or what they eat.
‘How old are you?’
Similarly to the food, the old man is unable to truthfully recall his age as there is no reason for him to know it and no reminder of the date. Time and day are hypothetical things created by humans to gain a routine in life. However, mankind is dying out and everybody lives in the moment and has no cause to plan ahead, unless people meticulously count each day then it would be impossible to tell precisely when a year has passed and even if someone did work it out, what would be the point? It’s hardly like they’re going to celebrate. McCarthy uses the old man as an example to show that in the novel, the reader can never be certain as to how much time has passed, as the characters have no idea either.
‘How long have you been on the road?’ ‘I’ve always been on the road.’
Once again, in this section, McCarthy uses the dialogue between two characters to make the reader question the necessity of time; the fact that the man can’t actually remember how long he has been on the road for suggests that time is insignificant. The way that the man says he has always been on the road would suggest that time is standing still for these people. McCarthy handles time simply by putting a halt to it to show that it is just another thing on the road which is dying.
‘People were always getting ready for tomorrow. I didn’t believe in that. Tomorrow wasnt getting ready for them.’
This quote is suggesting that for all the care we take over time, it doesn’t care about us. It is telling the reader that all the worry we have over keeping to a schedule is ridiculous because time is a made up thing and isn’t going to alter itself to suit us. All the people who worried and invested plans in the future, ironically, weren’t actually as prepared for the next day as they could have been where as those who take each day as it comes are surviving still as they had no expectations and don’t need time to rule their lives.
‘In the morning the stood in the road’
McCarthy gives the reader absolutely no idea what time in the morning they are talking about to once again highlight the lack of importance time holds for people on the road. All they have to go by is the road; they walk along it when it is light enough and sleep when it isn’t, to them it is completely irrelevant what time it is as they have no goals in life other than to get to the sea as quickly as possible with no real aim when they get there, meaning that they can take as long as they need to.
‘In the early afternoon’McCarthy uses slightly more detail in this section. This could be because this is the first time phrase used since they left the old man alone in the road so the man and they boy are paying more attention to time as they are feeling guilty, wondering where the old man is and how long he has been left on his own for.
‘In the night he woke in the cold dark’
McCarthy uses this phrase to lead onto ‘coughing and he coughed till his chest was raw’ to fit in with the image that cold dark night quite often symbolise death, something that we know is imminent for the man but the way the author associates it with time suggests that his time is running out quickly.

Symbolism.

1. Look at this list and for each one, first explore its literal importance in the text and then its possible symbolic meanings. Do the meanings vary or change in the course of the book?
Water, cleaning and washing- Keeping humanity, washing away all wrong (when the man washes the brains out the boys hair)
The mountain- Their journey of survival resmbles climing a mountain as it is hard. The mountain looks down on them but is always in the distance as though it is God watching but unable to be reached. Could the mountain or the trees be the narrator?
The sea- The sea is their hope, all the way through the novel they hope the sea will be blue, it allows them to realise there is not hope as it is colourlesss like everywhere else.
The colour grey (gray American spelling) Ash- The world is flimsy, dull and burnt. Everywhere is colourless, humanity is also gray.
Fire- The fire is the only light in the world, it helps them survive, the man and the boy are carrying the fire because they are the good guys. The trees are on fire at one point this suggests that the good guys that are carrying the fire will prove to be destructive and show signs of evil further into the book.
Sight/sightlessness- The world has lost sight of itself, it has changed. The man looks at his map but nowhere looks the same, he is sightless. 'cold glaucoma' humanity is blind to what it used to be like and everything is now savage.
Seeds- seeds are a sort of metaphor for new life however within the novel o new life will begin, life that does start is doomed (baby on the spit). vegetation cannot grow as teh land is dead. Hope.
can -The cans represent all that is keeping them alive, it is a basic food we all have access to and yet in the road they are few and far between, They are also a sign of hope. Like the man and the boy cans last a long time however will inevetably be used up and end.
2. Add any other metaphors or symbols that you have noticed during your reading.
Light- the symbol of any light left wihin the dead world.