Midsummer+Night's+Dream

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BOTTOM'S DREAM media type="file" key="JinJinBottomsDreamBallad.mp3" width="260" height="18" 20/20 Awesome! Act 1 Scene 1

1. How is Hippolyta’s reasoning concerning how quickly the next four days will pass different from that of Theseus? She thinks that the wait will make the day so much more meaningful and better.

2. Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do? Egeus wants the duke to grant him permission to kill Hermia if she disobeys her father. He also wants the duke to enforce his descision, or to help him decide in a just way, like a judge at court.

3. What was the proper role for women/daughters in Athenian society according to Egeus and Theseus? What is Theseus’s ruling concerning Hermia? To marry a man of their father's selection and to listen to instructions.

4. How does Lysander’s comment about Demetrius’s previous love affair with Helena complicate things? That means that Demetrius may not be who Egeus thought and also means that he may be unstable; inconsistant; a cheater.

5. What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about this seemingly impossible situation? Why do they tell Helena? They plan to run away from Athens. They will go to Lysander's aunt's house, which is 7 leagues outside of Athens city limits, to be wed, where the law cannot touch them. They tell Helena to comfort her; to tell her that they will be gone so Demetrius will be free; to tell her not to worry.

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? She thinks that if Demetrius knows that he doesn't have a chance at Hermia, he will settle for "second best" (Helena)

7. Identify Hermia’s basic dilemma. What are the choices outlined for her by Theseus and her father? What other choice does Lysander suggest? She can either die, marry someone she despises, or never be associated with men again. Lysander suggests, that they could run out of Athen's boudaries, thus the law would no longer have jurisdiction over them, so that they can be married.

Act I, Scene 2 8. Why does Nick Bottom want to play all the parts? He thinks very highly of himself, and he thinks that he would do better than anyone else. He is very insecure, and he compensates with that by pretending to have a world of things to boast about.

9. In what way is this scene funny? Why do you suppose Shakespe are included this scene? It is funny because of the way that bottom acts. He is sort of like the comedian of our day, playing out massive antics and speaking in a very grandiose way. Also, just as he's getting to the peak of his act, he is out right back down.

10. Where are the actors to meet the following night? Who else is meeting there at the same time? They plan to meet in the woods outside of town. This may cause them to bump into Demetrius, Helena, Hermia and Lysander, who are also going into the woods.

11. How would you describe Bottom’s acting ability? What is Bottom’s own opinion of his acting ability? Bottom actually is a "not-too-bad" actor. He seems to be capable of performing parts of in the play, while capturing the essence of the characters to some extent. He thinks of himself to be an all star actor outwardly, but inside, he probably isn't very happy, and he probably doesn't truthfully feel the way that he behaves.

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?

That the two of them are always quarreling and fighting, and that they have been for quite a while

11. How have Oberon and Titania been involved in the past with Theseus and Hippolyta; why have they come to Athens?

Oberon was in love with Hippolyta and Titania was in love with Theseus. They've come because Theseus and Hippolyta are here.

12. What effect has their quarrel had on nature, on the seasons, on humans?

Their fighting disrupts nature, causing floods, earthquakes, storms, and other natural disasters. The humans cannot survive midst their quarreling.

13. Why won’t Titania give up the changeling to Oberon?

The mother of the changeling was a very good friend to Titania, but she, being mortal, died, leaving the half fairy-half human to Titania. For her sake, she will not give him up.

14. What does Oberon send Puck to find?

He sends Puck to find the pansies that were shot by Cupid's arrow

15. What are Oberon’s plans for Titania?

He is going to out the juice into her eyes so that when she awakes, she will fall in love with the first living creature she sees. He hopes that it will be something hideous.

16. How does Helena react to Demetrius’s verbal abuse?

She just comes back with strategic words born of desperation, flipping everything he has to say against him.

17. What is her response to his threats of physical abuse?

She says that she has the entire world with her to protect her because he is her world

18. In what way is Helena’s behaviour inappropriate for Athenian women?

She, as a female, is to be sought after by the male, but she is trying to get the the male like her. In other words, she is doing the opposite job.

19. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about Demetrius and Helena?

He tells puck to apply the juice to Demetrius' eyes so that he will 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?

He wants to put Titania in a humiliating situation so that he can have revenge on her for not listening.

21. Why does Hermia insist Lysander sleep a little ways from her?

She wants to keep her modesty, since they aren't married yet, and she may be afraid that he may try "something".

22. Why does Puck anoint Lysander’s eyes?

He mistakes Lysander to be Demetrius because he is an Athenian man and there is an Athenian woman nearby

23. How does Helena react to Lysander’s sudden love for her when he awakens?

She thinks that Lysander is mocking her, and she is very upset and angry. She tells Lysander to go away and to stop abusing her.

24. How is Hermia’s dream a reflection of reality?

In her dream, a serpent eats her heart and Lysander was watching with pleasure. In reality, all love for her was gone, and Lysander no longer cared for her.

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?

They will right a prologue to explain that the lion is fake and they will keep half the head of the actor visible

26. How are the actors going to manage the setting/scenery such as the moonlight and the wall?

They will have someone play the part of the wall, and they will open the window so that the moon can shine into the room.

27. Why do the rest of the actors run off when Bottom reappears?

His donkey head scares them out of their wits

28. What does Puck plan to do when he follows after the other actors?

He says he is going to watch the play, maybe mess around a bit with it.

29. How does Bottom react to Titania and the other fairies?

At first, he is sort of startled, but he concludes that logic is not necssary.

30. Bottom says, "…reason and love keep little company together nowadays." Why is this such an apt statement at this point in the play?

It basically describes the situation of Hermia, Lysander, Helena and Demetrius. They have a complicated and illogical love web.

Act III, Scene 2

31. What does Hermia accuse Demetrius of doing?

She thinks that Demetrius has killed Lysander in his sleep because Lysander is gone and wouldn't leave her side for any logical reasons.

32. How are Puck and Oberon going to correct Puck’s earlier mistake?

They are going to lure the four of them together and then they will put them to sleep. Puck will apply the antidote to Lysander's eyes and all will be well. Lysander loves Hermia and Demetrius loves Helena.

33. Why is Helena upset when Demetrius says he loves her? Isn’t this what she had wanted all along?

She thinks he is mocking her because Lysander was already loving her illogically and there is no logical reason for Demetrius to go from hate to love in an instant.

34. Of what does Helena accuse Hermia?

She thinks that Hermia organized the entire thing with the "fake" affection from the men.

35. How close had Hermia and Helena been in the past?

They were the best of friends, like sisters; two of a kind

36. How does Lysander treat Hermia? Why can’t she believe what he says?

He says he hates her, that he regrets deeply all the tedious moments he spent with her. Hermia cannot believe this because he was in love with her deeply and that there is no logical reason for him to abandon her.

37. Of what does Hermia accuse Helena?

She accuses Helena of wooing Lysander and setting him against her.

38. Why is Helena afraid of Hermia?

She is afraid of Hermia because she is beginning to perceive her as insane.

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

They are going to have a duel to determine who will be Helena's lover.

40. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about the two young men?

He tells Puck to make them fall asleep, then apply the antidote to Lysander's eyes.

41. What is Oberon going to do about Titania?

He is going to steal the changeling boy from her and then give her the antidote

42. Why doesn’t Oberon fear the coming of day?

He is a spirit on a different plane of existence, unaffected by the day and its effects

43. How well does Puck’s trickery work?

Puck's trickery is very effective and all is made well.


 * 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. **


 * The actors meet in the forest and discuss the play
 * Bottom is turned into a donkey, and Titania falls in love with him.
 * The four lovers are thrown into chaos by the love juice
 * Bottom is tended to by fairies
 * Puck tells Oberon of the happenings
 * Oberon is outraged at the situation of the four lovers
 * Hermia and Helena have a big fight
 * Puck makes the four lovers fall asleep and the antidote is applied to Lysander's eyes
 * Puck does a little chant.
 * The night is ending, the days is coming

Act IV, Scene 1

44. How has Bottom adjusted to the attention of Titania and her fairies?

He is enjoying it a lot, and now treats it as if he were pampered like this for his whole life.

45. What is Oberon’s reaction to Titania’s infatuation with Bottom? At first, he is very pleased, saying it worked out better than he expected, but he begins to feel pity towards his Queen.

46. What sort of explanation will Oberon make to Titania’s question about what happened to her?

47. Why are Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, and the others out in the woods so early in the morning?

They are fox hunting to celebrate the day of Theseus' wedding.

48. What is Theseus’s first explanation of why the young people are asleep in the woods?

He says that they are there to join them in the hunt.

49. What explanation does Demetrius make? Why does he compare his love for Hermia to an illness?

He says that due to some event, his love for Hermia "melted like snow" and was temporary, like an illness.

50. What is Theseus’s decision concerning the four young people?

He decided to exert his power over Egeus and have them wed with him.

51. Why can’t the young people be sure whether they are awake or dreaming?

Because they have just "woken up" from a dream. that seems so real.

52. Bottom believes he too has had a dream. How is he going to use that to entertain the Duke?

He will have quince write a ballad to be sung.

Act IV, Scene 2

53. What opinion do the other artisans now have of Bottom since they think he is lost?

They reconsider, and say that he may not be as bad as they once thought.

54. What do they most regret losing by not being able to perform the play?

They regret that they will not get any money.

55. Why must the artisans hurry to the Duke’s palace? The Duke has just finished dinner and it is time to see entertainment. "Pyramus and Thisbe" was selected.

of Theseus’s character?
==== Bottom pretends to think very highly of himself and acts very much like someone who wants to be the center of attention. Theseus, has the kind of power and fame that Bottom wants, and he seems to be fairly modest. ====

c) In this act, several characters look back at prior infatuations with disbelief. What do you think Shakespeare is saying about love and infatuation?
Shakespeare is trying to say that love is illogical and random, even sudden, but once true love falls into place, all goes well.

Act V

56. Why does Theseus dismiss the stories of the four young people? He finds it to be illogical and impossible. 57. Why does Theseus choose to see the play about Pyramus and Thisby rather than the other entertainments? He thinks that anything done with good intentions cannot be bad. 58. Why does Philostrate try to keep Theseus from seeing the play? What does he say is wrong with it? He says thawt the play is tedious and brief, so it's short but redundant and boring. 59. What does Theseus mean by the lines, "For never anything can be amiss, when simpleness and duty tender it"? all will go well if there is hard work and effort. 60. What is accomplished by having the Prologue tell the whole story that the actors are then going to enact? They have revealed the entire play, and they reveal that they do not mean to offend and the effects are all fake. 61. How does Shakespeare use comments from the audience to enhance the humour of the play that they are watching? All of the audience are mocking him, so it makes it more realistic. 62. What is Hippolyta’s reaction to the play? she likes it and thinks it is hilarious. 63. In what way is Thisby’s final speech humorous? She seems sincere and is actually quite tragic, but she has told it all wrong. 64. What does Oberon tell the fairies to do? He tells them to bless the three marriages with prosperity 65. What is the purpose of Puck’s final speech? He says that if //A Midsummer Night's Dream// was offending or disrupting, regard it as nothing more than a dream. I think it may have been Shakespeare sincerely apologizing since some of his plays may have been offensive to certain parties, but it also adds a mystical feeling to //A Midsummer Night's Dream.// Extending the thought process:

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. excessive alliteration //"Whereat, with blade, with bloody blameful blade,// //He bravely broach'd is boiling bloody breast" --prolgue//

breaking the play’s illusion of reality //"No, in truth, sir, he should not. 'Deceiving me'// //is Thisby's cue: she is to enter now, and I am to// //spy her through the wall. You shall see, it will// //fall pat as I told you. Yonder she comes." --Bottom to Theseus//

using the wrong word or name //"Wilt thou at Ninny's tomb meet me straightway?"--Pyramus//

repeating a word excessively //"Now die, die, die, die, die."--Pyramus//

ridiculous metaphor //"that cherry nose"--Thisbe// === 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? === It helped me realize that when a play is written, the playwright has to have the audience in mind, otherwise it may be the best play ever written, but everyone's opinion is different and to truly write a good play your audience has to be your judge and guide.

=== 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? === SpongeBob Squarepants and Squidward Tentacles.

=== 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? === The play //Pyramus and Thisbe// wouldn't really be appropriate for a wedding because it talks about two lovers dying tragically in the process of trying to get married

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