The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-08
Questions and Answers-lMuch 4 do About Nothing.

4 raroned into wit and poetry III others
being thus condensed Into brond hut
nor and drollery III him, and this
affords q great relief to the hearers
as tho tragic slide Of the play de-
velops. Tho watch discovers through
tho drunken boastngs Of Bornclo,
the guilty plot OF Don John and his
associates, and this completes tho
development OF tho play. Dolts and
asses blundcr on the truth that es-
capes tho wise and witty. The hear
ers know that Hero will be vindi-
Gated. or else the church scene would
be too painful for even trngi-comedy.
Dogberry and Verges mark tho per-
fectlon Of Shakcspeares skill In draw
ling blendcring slowncss.
W II. Which is tho more dramatic,
2 Scene I IN Act ", or Scene " In
Act v? Give reasons for opinion.
Answer. Scene in Act ". In this
scena. by means Of overmastering
feeling, tho depths OF personality are
action than Act v, Scene ", and
almost cvory emotion that stirs tho
minds and hearts Of men is brought
into prominence Don Joints plot
reaches It's climax. Passionate SYM
partly is felt for Hero. Contempt and
scorn for Claudio. Beatrice and Ben
cdlck reveal the true hearts hidden
beneath their Much ADO" and the
hearers arc wrought up to q higl,
pitch of excitement
Act V, Scene ~ does not compare
Will, Act ". Scene l In action. in
emotion. in development OF character
or in many other details necessary
to dramatic force. Happiness upon
the stage does not stir the audience
as sorrow or despair.
IS. What is the Significance OF the
words. God save the foundation"
uttered by Dogberry In Scene l. Act y?
Answer God save the foundation
was the customary phrase employed
by those who received aims at the
gates Of religious houses. DoEberry
had probably become familiar with
this method Of giving thanks before
he chad two gowns and everything,
handsome about him.
49, WHO was "Prestcr John mon
toned by Bcnedick in Act II. Scene 7?
Answer Prestcr John, or Prosbytcr
John, was a fabulous Christian mon
arch, believed In the twelfth century
to have made great conqucsts from
tho Mussclmnns. and to have ostab-
lished a powerful kingdom or empire
in Abyssinia, or somewhere In Asia
beyond Persia and Armenia.
Marvellous tales are told of his VIC
tories, riches and power. and extra
ordinary letters purporting to have
been written by him to Manuel Com
memes and other potcntates. were
circulated. Pope Alexander III sent
him letter by a special messenger.
who never returned. The foundation
of the legend Is uncertain. Sir John
Vaudeville gives this account: An
emperor OF India; Christian went
into church in Egypt on Saturday
in Whltsun week, where the bishop
was ordnining priests. tlc then SAID ne
would not be called emperor longer.
but priest, and he would have the
name of the first priest of the church,
which was John, and SO he has ever
since been called Prester John.
20. IN Scene V of Act III. Dog
berry says: when the age Is In,
the Wit is OUT What blundcr does
he make, and what proverbnl express
sion does he intend to recall?
Answer Dogbcrry's blundcr, When
the ago is In. the wit Is out" Is 4
blundcr for tho old provcrbial exprcs-
sion. "When the ale is In, the Wit Is
out" and recalls the saying OF Cassie,
80, God, that men should put an
enemy In their mouths to steal away
their brainS'; also,
GOOD liquor will make n cat talk"
Tempest. n, II.
Respectfully submitted by
MRS. W. II. II. DORNIIY.
9o6 Nelson Street, Roanoke. Va