A+Mid+Summer+Night's+Dream

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Act I, Scene 1 1. How is Hippolyta’s reasoning concerning how quickly the next four days will pass different from that of Theseus? Hippolyta thinks that the four days before their wedding will pass very quickly while Theseus thinks it is very far away.

2. Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do? Egeus brought Hermia to Theseus because Hermia refuses to marry Demetrius and wants to, instead, marry Lysander. Egeus expects Theseus to honour the Athenian law and allow him to kill her if she refuses to marry Demetrius.

3. What was the proper role for women/daughters in Athenian society according to Egeus and Theseus? What is Theseus’s ruling concerning Hermia? You have to honour your father's wishes and do anything they tell you to, including marrying a man that he approves of. Theseus gives Hermia three choices. Either she has to marry Demetrius, become a nun and stay single her entire life, or her father may "dispose" of her.

4. How does Lysander’s comment about Demetrius’s previous love affair with Helena complicate things? Lysander's comment hints that Demetrius can't stay committed. If Demetrius couldn't stay with Helena why would he be able stay and love Hermia.

5. What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about this seemingly impossible situation? Why do they tell Helena? Lysander and Hermia plan to meet in the forest that night and run away together. That way they can get married at Lysander's aunt's house in a city outside of Athens and the law. They tell Helena because because they think Helena will be happy at a second chance at Demetrius' heart.

6. Even though Helena loves Demetrius and is Hermia’s best friend, why does she decide to tell Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander’s plans? Helena tells Demetrius of their plan because she thinks that Demetrius will be so grateful that he will fall in love with again.

7. Identify Hermia’s basic dilemma. What are the choices outlined for her by Theseus and her father? What other choice does Lysander suggest? Hermia has to marry Demetrius, a man who her father loves, or else be killed for loving Lysander and disobeying her father. Theseus tells Hermia that she must either marry Demetrius, be sent to a nunnery, or be killed. Lysander instead suggests they run off together and get married where no one can stop them.

Act I, Scene 2 8. Why does Nick Bottom want to play all the parts? Nick Bottom wants to play all the parts because he thinks he is better than everyone else with his "superior" acting skills. He thinks the play will be amazing if the audience gets to see him play all the parts/

9. In what way is this scene funny? Why do you suppose Shakespeare included this scene? the scene is funny because Bottom is contradicting and making fun of himself without realizing it. He claims to be an amazing actor but makes mistakes in his lines and over exaggerates everything. I think Shakespeare included this scene as a introduction to the characters and the play within a play. Also it's funny and entertaining.

10. Where are the actors to meet the following night? Who else is meeting there at the same time? The actors are to meet a mile outside of town in the woods. Hermia and Lysander are also meeting there to run away together.

11. How would you describe Bottom’s acting ability? What is Bottom’s own opinion of his acting ability? Bottom's acting ability is limited. He is over dramatic and exaggerates everything he does. His own opinion of he acting ability is very high, he probably thinks he is the best actor in the world.

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Act II, Scene 1

10. What does the reader find out about the current relationship between Oberon, King of the Fairies, and Titania, Queen of the Fairies, from Puck and the first fairy? We find out that Oberon and Titania are not on good terms. Oberon is jealous of the attention Titania is giving the child so he wants the child.

11. How have Oberon and Titania been involved in the past with Theseus and Hippolyta; why have they come to Athens? Oberon and Titania have had previous affairs with Hippolyta and Theseus respectively. They have come to Athens to attend their wedding.

12. What effect has their quarrel had on nature, on the seasons, on humans? When the two of them fight the river beds overflow and there are floods, the seasons get all messed up, and crops end up rotting and humans starve because of it.

13. Why won’t Titania give up the changeling to Oberon? The mother of the changeling was one of her servants and when she died she promised to take care of him.

14. What does Oberon send Puck to find? Oberon sends Puck to find a flower that, because it was hit by Cupid's arrow, makes people fall in love with the first living thing that they see.

15. What are Oberon’s plans for Titania? Oberon plans to put the juice of the flower on Titania's eyes hoping that when she wakes she will see some vulgar creature and fall in love with it for revenge.

16. How does Helena react to Demetrius’s verbal abuse? Helena twists everything Demetrius says around and professes her love for him over and over again. She's willing to put herself down even more just have Demetrius' love.

17. What is her response to his threats of physical abuse? Helena twists the threat into an expression of love and continues to follow him.

18. In what way is Helena’s behaviour inappropriate for Athenian women? In Athens, women didn't talk back to men. They obeyed and agreed with them and never questioned them.

19. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about Demetrius and Helena? Oberon tells Puck to help Helena out and put some of the juice of the flower on Demetrius' eyes to make him fall in love with Helena.

Act II, Scene 2 20. Why does Oberon want Titania to wake and fall in love with some vile thing? Oberon wants Titania to fall in love with a vile thing for revenge.

21. Why does Hermia insist Lysander sleep a little ways from her? Hermia wants to keep her modesty until she is married and she does not believe Lysander will be able to behave himself.

22. Why does Puck anoint Lysander’s eyes? Puck sees Lysander's Athenian guard and thinks he is the Athenian boy Oberon was talking about as he has no idea what the Athenian boy is supposed to look like.

23. How does Helena react to Lysander’s sudden love for her when he awakens? Helena thinks it's a cruel joke. She thinks Lysander is making fun of her and is hurt.

24. How is Hermia’s dream a reflection of reality? Hermia was dreaming that a serpent was ripping out her heart which in reality is what Lysander was doing by declaring his love for Helena.

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Act III, Scene 1 25. How are the actors going to keep from scaring the ladies when Pyramus kills himself or when the lion roars? The actors are going to give prologues and soliloquies to explain to the audience that Pyramus is not really killing himself. Snug, who is playing the lion, will also be wear the costume so that the audience can see half of his face at all times to further emphasize that he is only a man.

26. How are the actors going to manage the setting/scenery such as the moonlight and the wall? The actors are just going to have someone walk in holding a lantern play the moon and someone else stand with their arms out play the wall.

27. Why do the rest of the actors run off when Bottom reappears? Bottom comes back with a donkey's head which scares the other actors into running away. Bottom has no idea why though because he doesn't know he has the head of a donkey.

28. What does Puck plan to do when he follows after the other actors? Puck plans to follow them and scare them and lead them around in circles until they are lost in the forest.

29. How does Bottom react to Titania and the other fairies? Bottom is surprised but very flattered that Titania loves him as the other actors just ran away from him. He loves the attention that he's getting from the fairies and wants to get to know them better.

30. Bottom says, "…reason and love keep little company together nowadays." Why is this such an apt statement at this point in the play? The statement is ironic becomes the characters have fallen in love with people they don't really love for no reason except that someone put magical love potion in their eyes. Bottom is actually stating the truth without actually knowing what's going on.

Act III, Scene 2

31. What does Hermia accuse Demetrius of doing? Hermia accuses Demetrius of killing Lysander.

32. How are Puck and Oberon going to correct Puck’s earlier mistake? Puck and Oberon are going to put the love potion in Lysander's eyes again to make him fall in love with Hermia like he should be.

33. Why is Helena upset when Demetrius says he loves her? Isn’t this what she had wanted all along? Helena thinks Demetrius is mocking as she was professing her love to him profusely only hours ago and now he is the one doing it.

34. Of what does Helena accuse Hermia? Helena is accusing Hermia of betraying their friendship by mocking her along with Demetrius and Lysander.

35. How close had Hermia and Helena been in the past? Hermia and Helena had been super close, like sisters. They grew up together, went to school together, and were best friends through it all.

36. How does Lysander treat Hermia? Why can’t she believe what he says? Lysander treats Hermia like Demetrius was treating Helena, complete dirt. Hermia can't believe Lysander because they were running away together to get married earlir that day.

37. Of what does Hermia accuse Helena? Hermia accuses Helena of seducing Lysander,

38. Why is Helena afraid of Hermia? Hermia threatened Helena and she is afraid that she would lose in a fight with Hermia.

39. What are Lysander and Demetrius going off to do? Lysander and Demetrius are going off to fight over Helena.

40. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about the two young men? Oberon tells Puck to separate the two and put them to sleep. The he tells Puck to put the flower juice/love potion in Lysander's eyes to make him fall in love with Hermia again.

41. What is Oberon going to do about Titania? Oberon plans on talking to Titania about the changeling boy and then make her fall out of love with Bottom if she agrees to give him the boy.

42. Why doesn’t Oberon fear the coming of day? Oberon doesn't fear the coming of day because his magical powers last during the day as well as the night until the other sprites.

43. How well does Puck’s trickery work? Puck's trickery works really well. He tricks the Lysander and Demetrius into believing his own voice is that of the other man. The both go through the woods looking for each other until they decide to sleep which is when Puck comes swooping in and puts the love potion in Lysander's eyes.

====**Review Question: The climax, or turning point, of //A Midsummer Night’s Dream// comes at the end of Act 3. In point form describe the major plot points of Act Three starting from when Titania falls in love with Bottom leading to the climax or turning point of the play near the end of act three.** ====

-Pucks gives Bottom the head of an ass and Titania falls in love with him -Hermia, after waking up without Lysander, accuses Demetrius of killing Lysander -Oberon finds out that Puck anointed the wrong Athenian's eyes -Oberon anoints Demetrius' eyes to make him fall in love with Helena -Lysander expresses his love for Helena and she thinks that he is making fun of her -Demetrius wakes up and sees Helena and therefore falls in love with her. -Demetrius and Lysander start fighting over Helena. -Hermia arrives and is shocked to find Lysander fawning over Helena -Helena accuses Hermia of breaking their friendship by joining in the boys mockery -Puck interferes as Lysander and Demetrius go off to duke it out for Helena by mimicking their voices to lead them in the wrong directions. He then anoints Lysander's eyes again so that when he wakes up he will see Hermia and fall in love with her once again

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Act IV, Scene 1 44. How has Bottom adjusted to the attention of Titania and her fairies? Bottom is now getting the fairies to pamper him and bring him food.

45. What is Oberon’s reaction to Titania’s infatuation with Bottom? I think Oberon is a bit jealous that Titania is in love with Bottom but he also feels guilty for making her fall in love with an ass.

46. What sort of explanation will Oberon make to Titania’s question about what happened to her? Oberon avoids her question and changes the subject.

47. Why are Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, and the others out in the woods so early in the morning? The three of them are out hunting as a celebration for Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding.

48. What is Theseus’s first explanation of why the young people are asleep in the woods? Theseus thinks that they are out celebrating the holiday as well.

49. What explanation does Demetrius make? Why does he compare his love for Hermia to an illness? Demetrius says that he followed Hermia into the woods because he was in love with her at the time. But like a cold, the love he had for Hermia eventually went away and he fell in love with Helena again.

50. What is Theseus’s decision concerning the four young people? Theseus decides to overrule Egeus and lets them get all get married.

51. Why can’t the young people be sure whether they are awake or dreaming? Everything that happened the night before seems hazy and unreal to them. Now everything seems to good to be true.

52. Bottom believes he too has had a dream. How is he going to use that to entertain the Duke? Bottom is going to get Peter Quince to write a ballad titled "Bottom's Dream" for him to sing at the end of the play.

Act IV, Scene 2 53. What opinion do the other artisans now have of Bottom since they think he is lost? The other artisans now miss Bottom and think he is awesome.

54. What do they most regret losing by not being able to perform the play? They regret losing the money the could have made.

55. Why must the artisans hurry to the Duke’s palace? The Duke has chosen their play to be performed and it is almost time for the performance.

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**Extending the thought process.**
====a) The fourth act opens and ends with Bottom at center stage. What is your opinion of Bottom’s character? How might he be the antithesis, or opposite, of Theseus’s character? ====

I think Bottom's a nice guy although he is arrogant and that leads to many embarrassing moments for him. I think he is the opposite of Theseus' character because he is loud and aloof while Theseus is more reserved and calm. Also Bottom is unhappy in his marriage while Theseus has found the love of his life. Bottom is like the underling who can never seem to catch a break while Theseus is the well established confident character.

====b) How do most of the dreamers respond to the dream experience upon waking? Which character is changed permanently by the dream experience? ====

They seem to be in a daze, not really knowing what just happened. Demetrius is changed permanently from this experience because now, after the events of the dream, he loves Helena instead of Hermia. Although I think all the characters are changed as they all can live their lives "happily ever after" with their respective lovers instead of chasing after one another like before.

====c) In this act, several characters look back at prior infatuations with disbelief. What do you think Shakespeare is saying about love and infatuation? ====

I thinks Shakespeare is trying to say that true love is hard to find and most times "love" is just an infatuation. The play conveys that true love isn't easy and simple. There are bumps and turns along the way but if it's true love, you'll end up with together.

Act V

56. Why does Theseus dismiss the stories of the four young people? Theseus thinks that the four just imagined everything and doesn't believe that any of their story could have possibly happened.

57. Why does Theseus choose to see the play about Pyramus and Thisby rather than the other entertainments? Theseus has either seen the other choices or thinks they aren't appropriate for a wedding.

58. Why does Philostrate try to keep Theseus from seeing the play? What does he say is wrong with it? Philostrate tries to keep Theseus from seeing the play because he thinks it's a joke. He thinks the actors a horrible and the whole thing is just ridiculous. He says he even teared up during the scene where Pyramus kills himself, not out of sadness but because it was so funny.

59. What does Theseus mean by the lines, "For never anything can be amiss, when simpleness and duty tender it"? Theseus means that through commitment and effort anything and anyone can be successful.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">60. What is accomplished by having the Prologue tell the whole story that the actors are then going to enact? <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Telling the whole story ensures that the audience won't be

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">61. How does Shakespeare use comments from the audience to enhance the humour of the play that they are watching? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">The comments Shakespeare uses are like snide little jibes towards the actors and the play. Having someone mock what was just acted out further establishes that the play they are performing is so bad that it's funny.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">62. What is Hippolyta’s reaction to the play? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Hippolyta does not like the play and thinks that the actors are silly.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">63. In what way is ThisbE’s final speech humorous? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Thisbe starts her final speech after she has stabbed herself. She is talking about dying and bidding farewell to the audience when she should be dead.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">64. What does Oberon tell the fairies to do? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Oberon tells the fairies to bless the lovers.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">65. What is the purpose of Puck’s final speech? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Puck's final speech is a way for him to apologize for his wrong doing and to offer the characters a choice of either believing the events actually happened or dismissing them.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Extending the thought process:

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Find at least one example of each of the following that occurs during the play within the play. Write down the quote that illustrates example.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">excessive alliteration ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">"Whereat with blade, with bloody blameful blade..." <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">"He bravely broached his boiling bloody breast."

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">breaking the play’s illusion of reality ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Pg. 88 When Pyramus is speaking to Theseus. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Pg. 90 When Moonshine is speaking to the audience. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Pg. 93 When Bottom is speaking to Theseus.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">using the wrong word or name ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Pyramus: "I see a voice. Now will I to chink, To spy and I can hear my Thisbe's face. Thisbe!" <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Pyramus: "And, like Limander, am I trusty kill." <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Thisbe: "And I like Helen, till the fates me kill." <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Pyramus: "Not Shafalus to Procus was so true." <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Thisbe: "As Shafulus to Procus, I to you." <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Pyramus: "Wilt thou at Ninny's tomb meet me straightaway." <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Thisbe: "This is old Ninny's tomb."

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">repeating a word excessively ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Pg. 88 Pyramus repeating O over and over again and when he says "Alack, alack, alack!" <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Pg. 92 Pyramus: "Thus die I, this, thus, thus...Now die, die, die, die, die." <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Pg. 93 Thisbe: "Adieu, adieu, adieu!"

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">ridiculous metaphor ** "...dainty duck..."

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">a) In reading the play-within-a-play, we become the audience for the drama played out by Theseus, Hippolyta, and the others. These performers, in turn, form the audience for the reenactment of Pyramus and Thisbe. How does observing another audience help you understand the relationship between audience and performers? ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Observing another audience gives us insight on what audiences were like in that time period. It evens gives us a little insight on how we react and critique performers everyday.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">b) Modern television shows often create comic effects by having a silly, innocent, or “clueless” character and a sarcastic, knowing, clever character play off of each other. What examples can you think of? ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Friends, The Big Bang Theory, SpongeBob, and most Disney shows.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">c) Identify ways in which Pyramus and Thisbe might be unsuitable for a wedding celebration. Are there any ways in which the play might be appropriate? In what ways is the play-within-a-play an ironic commentary on what the two pairs of young lovers (Demetrius and Helena, Lysander and Hermia) have gone through earlier? ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">The story is about love and lovers. However seeing Pyramus and Thisbe die out of love kind of brings down the whole happy mood of a wedding doesn’t it? The play within a play is ironic in the way that the two lovers were separated just like Demetrius, Helena, Lysander, and Hermia. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Completion 10/10 <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"> Effort 8/10 <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"> Content8/10

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"> total: 26/30