Much Ado About Nothing — Quotes

25 quotes with full 6-part analysis

1
STAGNATE

I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me

HYPERBOLIC SIMILEDRAMATIC IRONY

Beatrice · Act 1, Scene 1

2
PROGRESS

Kill Claudio

IMPERATIVE MONOSYLLABLESCAESURA & STRUCTURAL DISRUPTION

Beatrice · Act 4, Scene 1

3
STAGNATE

Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, Men were deceivers ever

PROLEPTIC IRONYCHORIC FUNCTION

Balthasar's Song · Act 2, Scene 3

4
REGRESS

O, what men dare do! What men may do! What men daily do, not knowing what they d…

ANAPHORIC TRICOLONPUBLIC PERFORMATIVITY

Claudio · Act 4, Scene 1

5
PROGRESS

O that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the marketplace

VIOLENT IMAGERY / SEMANTIC FIELD OF SAVAGERYEXCLAMATORY SYNTAX & CONDITIONAL MOOD

Beatrice · Act 4, Scene 1

6
PROGRESS

I do love nothing in the world so well as you — is not that strange?

LITOTES & SELF-INTERROGATIONPROSE vs VERSE — REGISTER SHIFT

Benedick · Act 4, Scene 1

7
PROGRESS

When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were ma…

PARAPROSDOKIAN / COMIC REVERSALDRAMATIC IRONY

Benedick · Act 2, Scene 3

8
PROGRESS

Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably

PARADOX / OXYMORONIC WITMETALINGUISTIC COMMENTARY

Benedick · Act 5, Scene 2

9
PROGRESS

Man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion

EPIGRAMMATIC UNIVERSALISMTHEMATIC SUMMATION / CHORUS FUNCTION

Benedick · Act 5, Scene 4

10
PROGRESS

Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu! No glory lives behind the back of s…

APOSTROPHE & PERSONIFICATIONVERSE SHIFT — PROSE TO VERSE

Beatrice · Act 3, Scene 1

11
PROGRESS

Of this matter is little Cupid's crafty arrow made, that only wounds by hearsay

MYTHOLOGICAL ALLUSION / PERSONIFICATIONPROLEPTIC IRONY / FORESHADOWING

Hero · Act 3, Scene 1

12
REGRESS

Is my lord well, that he doth speak so wide?

INTERROGATIVE SYNTAX / DRAMATIC IRONYLINGUISTIC RESTRAINT / SILENCING

Hero · Act 4, Scene 1

13
PROGRESS

One Hero died defiled, but I do live, and surely as I live, I am a maid

SYMBOLIC DEATH & RESURRECTIONTHIRD-PERSON SELF-REFERENCE

Hero · Act 5, Scene 4

14
STAGNATE

And seemed I ever otherwise to you?

RHETORICAL QUESTION / MONOSYLLABIC POWERAPPEAL TO EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

Hero · Act 4, Scene 1

15
STAGNATE

Silence is the perfectest herald of joy: I were but little happy, if I could say…

PARADOX / PETRARCHAN CONVENTIONDRAMATIC IRONY / PROLEPTIC CONTRAST

Claudio · Act 2, Scene 1

16
REGRESS

Give not this rotten orange to your friend

EXTENDED METAPHOR / OBJECTIFICATIONPUBLIC PERFORMANCE / RITUAL HUMILIATION

Claudio · Act 4, Scene 1

17
REGRESS

Beauty is a witch, against whose charms faith melteth into blood

DEMONIC IMAGERY / MISOGYNISTIC TROPESEMANTIC FIELD OF ENCHANTMENT

Claudio · Act 2, Scene 1

18
STAGNATE

I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied but I am a…

PARADOX / ANTITHETICAL SELF-DEFINITIONMALCONTENT ARCHETYPE

Don John · Act 1, Scene 3

19
STAGNATE

I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace

NATURAL IMAGERY / ANTITHETICAL METAPHORCOMPRESSED SOLILOQUY / SELF-CHARACTERISATION

Don John · Act 1, Scene 3

20
STAGNATE

Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every man's Hero

TRICOLON WITH ESCALATIONINNUENDO / LINGUISTIC POISON

Don John · Act 3, Scene 2

21
STAGNATE

If I can cross him any way, I bless myself every way

INVERTED RELIGIOUS LANGUAGEVICE FIGURE / MORALITY PLAY TRADITION

Don John · Act 1, Scene 3

22
STAGNATE

There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her; they never meet b…

OXYMORON / EXTENDED MILITARY METAPHOREXPOSITORY DIALOGUE / DRAMATIC FRAMING

Leonato · Act 1, Scene 1

23
REGRESS

Mine, and mine I loved, and mine I praised, and mine that I was proud on — mine …

ANAPHORA / OBSESSIVE POSSESSIVESOLIPSISTIC GRIEF / SELF-CENTRED RHETORIC

Leonato · Act 4, Scene 1

24
REGRESS

Hath no man's dagger here a point for me?

RHETORICAL QUESTION / MELODRAMATIC EXCESSPATHOS & TRAGIC REGISTER

Leonato · Act 4, Scene 1

25
PROGRESS

For there was never yet philosopher that could endure the toothache patiently

BATHOS / PHILOSOPHICAL DEFLATIONUNIVERSAL APHORISM / COMIC WISDOM

Leonato · Act 5, Scene 1