Starter: TRAGEDY OR COMEDY?

Put a C or a T next to each statement depending on if you think it refers to tragedy or comedy.

We think

We're like everyone elseWe accept the real

We celebrate our humannessWe change in the nick of time

We learn from lifeOther people humble us

We asked for itWe live!

Resolution at the end

We feel

We're uniqueWe strive for the ideal

We despair the human conditionWe can't change

We're crippled for lifeGod punishes us

It's someone else's faultWe die!

Resolution only possible after deathComplications remaining unresolved

Starter: TRAGEDY OR COMEDY?

Put a C or a T next to each statement depending on if you think it refers to tragedy or comedy.

TRAGEDYCOMEDY

Much Ado About NothingWilliam Shakespeare

AQA English Literature – Unit 2 Dramatic GenresWeek 2 of Comedy Lesson 3 and 4

Task 1: As a table come up with a compiled list of all the features you identified for homework. You will be sharing these in a minute the class. Use the A3 or A4 paper as this will allow you to present your work

Still maintains the basic Aristotelian principles but there are more specific conventions...

Comedy through language, clever word play, metaphors and insults.

Love is prevalent , often we are presented with sets of lovers who overcome obstacles and unite. Shakespearian comedy often ends with a marriage or even a double marriage!

Complex plots, twists and turns. Often ridiculous coincidence and scenario. (Although comedies do follow similar patterns, e.g. the final scene has a celebratory feel when the lovers finally declare their love for each other.)

Often a pastoral element (courtiers living an idealised, rural life).

The plot is often driven by mistaken identity.• As an intentional part of a villain’s plot • Part of a character’s disguise • Female characters disguised as male characters.

THE SHAKESPEARIAN COMEDY

STRUCTURE

TASK 2: Look at the summaries of three Shakespearean comedies...

1. Working in groups ,share out the summaries between you. Read and annotate your summary with anything you notice about its structure. For instance, you might notice a period of confusion, chaos and disorder right in the middle. Aim to use terms from last lesson if you can

2. Take it in turns to introduce your play. Together, talk about any similarities or repeated patterns you notice across the three plays.

3. Do you notice any similarities/differences?

In simple terms you could describe the basic phases of a dramatic comedy as:

1. HARMONY2. COMPLICATION3. DISORDER OR CHAOS4. RESOLUTION5. RESTORATION

STRUCTURE

Task 2Now, write a brief , but still detailed, summary of Much Ado About Nothing. Does it have a similar structure the previous play?Which parts of the structure above apply?

Task3: Why was comedy so important in Elizabethan England?

1. Look at the summery of Russian critic Mikhail Bakhitin’s response to Shakespearian comedy.

2. Write notes on the summary, putting it into your own words.

3. Why does Bakhitin think comedy was important for Elizabethan's?

Mikhail Bakhitin (1895-1975) and the CarnivalesqueIn the 1930s Bakhitin formulated some of his ideas based on the French novelist Francois Rabelais (1494-1553), which was eventually published in English as Rebelais and his World in 1968. In the book Rebelais makes observations on the contrast between the official culture of the state and religious organisations and the culture of the market place and people.

Within this he notices that carnival is a significant celebration because it allowed freedom for the people away from the official culture. Carnival allowed both indulgence on food and sexual activity, as well as any kind of misrule. Misrule permitted temporary suspension of the normal rules. In Catholic countries this happened during Mardi Gras before the restrictions of lent.

In this way, some bad and comic behaviour was tolerated. Like a carnival or feast, dramatic comedy may be away of the official society and church tolerating dissent and discontentment. Some people might say that in order to prevent riotous or revolutionary behaviour, the ruling authorities have allowed working-class people the opportunity for a kind of controlled misrule. Comedy therefore has an extremely important social function. Bakhtin’s theories tell us much about the issues of control and freedom in the genre of dramatic comedy.

Stop and think

Do we still need ‘controlled misrule’?

Can you think of any modern

day examples of ‘controlled misrule’?

Love How is love shown in modern day comedies?

Is this similar to Shakespeare? (Look back at your summaries if you need to)

Does Much Ado have the same portrayal of relationships?

Task 4: On your table is a character statement.

1)Try and work out which character you have. 2) Now try do come up with 3 more statements for that

character.You will need to remember these statements for later in the

lesson.

Characters in comedy• In comedy the play may seem to have more ‘leading’

characters• Characters in comedies may seem to represent

particular social or personality types• Names of characters may be significant• As always, it is important to distinguish between

character and characterisation and character and role

Task 5:Look at the cast list for Much Ado. • What conclusions might we draw about character, role and

dramatic relationships here?• Do they fit into the above categories? • Begin to find specific examples from the text to support

your ideas.

Task 6: What can you remember about the characters in the play?

Hero, Beatrice, Leonarto, Don Pedro, Don John, Claudio, Benedick, Dogberry,

Borachio