"Did it hurt much when you fell from Heaven?"

As we compare Hero and Claudio's relationship with Benedick and Beatrice's, it may be too easy to draw the commentary that "young love is prone to failure" while "an older, mature love is grounded and real."  This may be true, and certainly something Shakespeare frequently hints at; but what else is he saying about love and relationships in MAAN? What makes for an enduring love? Is marriage the seat of contentment?  Should husbands fear their wives? Is friendship more important than love?

Who's on first? What's on second?

Where does Language and typical human behavior fail us in Much Ado? Note a specific scene or two where the characters fail to understand each other.  What is the cause or result of this misunderstanding?  With these examples in mind, what is Shakespeare noting about human nature and the facility of language?

The James Dean of his day

Shakespeare was a rebel, a mover and shaker, and an instigator who enjoyed turning convention on its ear.  With this in mind, what typical conventions does he introduce and fiddle with in Much Ado?  Consider stock characters, social rank and status, gender roles, marriage, love, cultural fears and taboos, and even the comic structure itself.

Contrasts to NOTE . . .

What contrasting images and ideas (or elements, including character) do you see at work in Much Ado?  And because we can't possibly leave our understanding at the doorstep of mere observation, What SIGNIFICANCE do these contrasting images serve?

Assessing Beloved

Does this book belong on the shelf of American epics?  What is the power of this book, and what is Morrison trying to say through it?

Jesus? Hercules? Odysseus?

Who is the most interesting character in this story? Who experiences the most development?  Is there a hero in this tale that counters the antagonism of Beloved?

(Feel free to answer any one of these questions and ignore the others.)

Enigmatic endings

Why does the book end with the one word: Beloved?

Why does Morrison suddenly switch POV in her last chapters?