www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglishkids
© The British Council, 201
6
The United Kingdom’s international organisation
for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
Much Ad
o
A
bout Nothin
g
Shakespeare
War is over and Leonato is celebrating with a party at his
house.
Hero is Leonato's
daughter. She’s in love with Claudio,
the brave soldier, home from the war. Hero and Claudio
like each other very much.
“I love you, Hero!”
“I love you too, Claudio!”
“Let’s get married!”
Beatrice is Hero’s cousin. She likes jokes and laughing at
Benedick. Benedick and
Beatrice like the same things but they say they don't like each other.
“Oh Benedick, you’re too clever! You annoy me!”
“Oh Beatrice, you’re too clever! You annoy me!”
“I’m never going to get married!”
“Me neither!”
Don John is also a
t the party. He doesn’t like to see people having fun. He wants to
make everyone unhappy.
Don John plays a trick on Claudio. He takes Claudio for a walk and they see a man
talking romantically to a woman at Hero’s window.
“Claudio! Look! Hero is with anoth
er man!”
Claudio thinks the woman is Hero. He is wrong. The woman is really Hero’s
servant, but his heart is broken!
Now it is Hero and Claudio’s wedding day. But Claudio says he won’t marry Hero!
“No, I can’t marry you! You are in love with another man!”
Hero is shocked and falls on the floor. Claudio thinks she is dead.
Next Leonato plays a trick on Claudio.
“Claudio, you must marry my niece!”
Now Claudio thinks he is going to marry someone he has never met
–
Leonato's
niece, who looks like Hero. But the woman really is Hero!
www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglishkids
© The British Council, 201
6
The United Kingdom’s international organisation
for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
“Oh, Hero, you’re alive! I’m sorry for what I said. Please marry me!”
Finally, Beatrice and Benedick know that they are a perfect couple.
“I love you, Beatrice!”
“I love you too, Benedick!”
“Let
’s get married!”
The two couples have a double wedding. Everyone is happy.