Much Ado About Nothing — Quotes

11 quotes — Language & Wit with full 6-part analysis

Language & WitShow all quotes →
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

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

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

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

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

20
STAGNATE

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

TRICOLON WITH ESCALATIONINNUENDO / LINGUISTIC POISON

Don John · Act 3, Scene 2

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

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