1. "There is a kind of merry war betwixt SigniorBenedick and her. They never meet but there's a
skirmish of wit betweenthem."
What does the audience learn about the relationship between Beatrice and Benedick in Act 1
Scene 1 of the play?
Points to consider:
 What do Beatrice’s enquiries about Benedick before he returns suggest about her character
and her relationship with Benedick?
 The audiences initial impression of Beatrice. How does she compare to the conventional
model of femininity for this period?
 Why does Shakespeare allow both Benedick and Beatrice to use the Euphuistic style; bearing
in mind that Beatrice is a female.
 How does Shakespeare’s use of Euphuism in this passages relate to the fact that the
characters of Beatrice and Benedick polarise themselves from the given social norms in
Messina.
 What can the audience infer from the line ‘I know you of old’
 What does Benedick’s conversation with Claudio reveal about his attitudes towards women
and the expectations of society?
Write as a short essay response.
Use S.E.A to structure your paragraphs.