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? Theseus is impatient for the time to come and finds that the remaining time is going to slowly but Hippolyta tells him that it will go quickly enough. Theseus seems impatient more for the wedding night than the wedding, but Hippolyta is level-headed and calms him down.

2. Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do? Egeus is upset that his daughter loves another man other than the one who has his favour. Egeus expects him to see his reasoning and grant him the power to force Hermia to marry Demetrius or die.

3. What was the proper role for women/daughters in Athenian society according to Egeus and Theseus? What is Theseus’s ruling concerning Hermia? They think that daughters should obey their father's will regarding who they marry. Theseus agrees with Egeus but gives one other option. He tells Hermia that she can marry Demetrius, be killed by her father, or live the rrest of her life as a Nun.

4. How does Lysander’s comment about Demetrius’s previous love affair with Helena complicate things? It makes Theseus think twice about how good of a man Demetrius is, and perhaps his compassion combined with this is why he leaves Lysander and Hermia alone together. It also adds another person to the tangled love triangle already emerging.

5. What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about this seemingly impossible situation? Why do they tell Helena? They plan to run away to his aunt's house outside of Athens and get married there. They tell her because they are friends and Hermia wants Demetrius to love Helena and not her.

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 she tells Demetrius, he will change his mind once again to love Helena. She thinks he will be so thankful to her that he will fall in love with her 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? She loves Lysander but her father wants her to marry Demetrius, or suffer the consequences. She can marry Demetrius, die, or become a nun, according to the law. Lysander suggests that they run away to get married outside of Athens.

Act I, Scene 2 8. Why does Nick Bottom want to play all the parts? He thinks very highly of himself, and so he thinks he can do the parts better than the people who are supposed to play them.

9. In what way is this scene funny? Why do you suppose Shakespeare included this scene? Shakespeare pokes fun at the conventions of theatre at the time, making a political statement of sorts that yes, sometimes things are a little odd, but the people involved are decent. He makes it funny by going over the top and making it silly in this way.

10. Where are the actors to meet the following night? Who else is meeting there at the same time? They are to meet 'at the Duke's oak'. Lysander and Hermia are also meeting there beforerunning away, and Helena said that Demetrius will follow them once she tells him of the lovers' plan.

11. How would you describe Bottom’s acting ability? What is Bottom’s own opinion of his acting ability? He is over the top and obnoxious, and not altogether all that great. However, his own opinion is very high, as in after he finishes his monologue, he comments, "This was lofty!"

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 learn that they fight when they come together because of the changeling boy. 11. How have Oberon and Titania been involved in the past with Theseus and Hippolyta; why have they come to Athens? They accuse each other of committing adultery with Theseus and Hippolyta, and they have come to Athens to atte/witness the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta.

12. What effect has their quarrel had on nature, on the seasons, on humans? When they fight, it makes bad things happen in the weather, the seasons switch around, and it causes a chain reaction to cause famine, flood, disease, etc.

13. Why won’t Titania give up the changeling to Oberon? The boy's mother was loyal to her so she feels indebted to raise the boy.

14. What does Oberon send Puck to find? He sends him to find the flowers with the juice that will change affections.

15. What are Oberon’s plans for Titania? He will squeeze the juice on to Titania's eyelids to make her fall in love with the next, hopefully nasty, thing she sees.

16. How does Helena react to Demetrius’s verbal abuse? She comes back to every insult with a smart return of how she loves him. She uses her intelligence to shove his insults back in his face and use it to prove her point. 17. What is her response to his threats of physical abuse? She flips it around once again to say that when she sees his face, it is not night and he is her world therefore the whole world is here and she is not alone. She knows that he will not hurt her and is only using threats to make her leave, but she refuses. 18. In what way is Helena’s behaviour inappropriate for Athenian women? It is not proper to be alone with a man in the 'opportunity' of night, herself being innocent and unmarried. 19. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about Demetrius and Helena? He tells Puck to put some of the magic juice on Demetrius' eyes as well 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? He wants revenge on her for not giving her the changeling boy.

21. Why does Hermia insist Lysander sleep a little ways from her? She wants to protect her innocence and keep her modesty.

22. Why does Puck anoint Lysander’s eyes? He sees his Athenian clothing and as this is the only indicator he was given to find Demetrius, he mistakes Lysander for him as he comes upon him first. Also, he is sleeping near to a woman, which Puck thinks is Helena but is actually Hermia.

23. How does Helena react to Lysander’s sudden love for her when he awakens? She thinks he is making fun of her, once she realizes he isn`t confused with her and Hermia.

24. How is Hermia’s dream a reflection of reality? It is a metaphor. Helena is the snake that steals Lysander, her heart. Lysander watches with a smile, because he is in 'love'.

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 are going to prepare a prologue to tell the audience that it isn't Pyramus but only Bottom and that he doesn't actually kill himself, it's just an illusion.

26. How are the actors going to manage the setting/scenery such as the moonlight and the wall? For the monnlight they are going to open a window or have someone come in with a lantern and tell everyone that they are playing the part of the moon. Someone else will play the wall dressed in plaster or roughcast. For the crack in the wall the person playing the wall will hold his fingers out for the players to whisper through.

27. Why do the rest of the actors run off when Bottom reappears? They see that his head has been transformed to an ass's head and it frightens them.

28. What does Puck plan to do when he follows after the other actors? He is going to follow them and lead them through bog, bush, etc pretending to be all sorts of creatures or fire. 29. How does Bottom react to Titania and the other fairies? He is a little confused a first by the reasons why they would want to be in his company but seems okay with it and goes along with it easily enough after Titania tells him not to go. 30. Bottom says, "…reason and love keep little company together nowadays." Why is this such an apt statement at this point in the play? All of the love that is going on is really without reason because it is induced by magic, for example, Lysander and Helena, Demetrius and Helena, and Titania and Bottom. Even Helena loving Demetrius is a bit off-kilter because even though he, until recently, hated her, she still loved him. Act III, Scene 2 31. What does Hermia accuse Demetrius of doing? She accuses him of killing Lysander. 32. How are Puck and Oberon going to correct Puck’s earlier mistake? They are going to put the love juice on Demetrius's eyes so he falls in love with Helena, then put the antidote on Lysander's eyes so he falls back in love with Hermia.

33. Why is Helena upset when Demetrius says he loves her? Isn’t this what she had wanted all along? She thinks that he is making fun of her, because she doesn't see any reason in his sudden change of feelings. Yes, this is what she wanted but it doesn't seem logical to her. 34. Of what does Helena accuse Hermia? She accuses him of murdering Lysander in his sleep.

35. How close had Hermia and Helena been in the past? They were basically like sisters, always in each other's company. 36. How does Lysander treat Hermia? Why can’t she believe what he says? Lysander is a bit rude to her and keeps telling her that he hates her and insults her. She doesn't know about Puck's trick so she is confused as to why he so suddenly reversed his feelings. 37. Of what does Hermia accuse Helena? She accuses her of stealing her love. She thinks that Helena stole Lysander's love for her. 38. Why is Helena afraid of Hermia? She knows that she is little but is scornful and tough and cunning when angry. 39. What are Lysander and Demetrius going off to do? They are going off to fight it out over Helena. 40. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about the two young men? He wants him to cast a fog over the night and lead the two around by playing as the other's voice in the night until they are too tired to chase after the voice any longer so they will go to sleep. Then he is to put more herbs in Lysander's eyes to make him fall back in love with Hermia. 41. What is Oberon going to do about Titania? He will go back to her and beg to have her changeling boy, and also release her from her love of Bottom. 42. Why doesn’t Oberon fear the coming of day? He tells Puck that they are not the kind of spirits that need to hide from light but to 'make no delay. We may effect this business, yet ere day.' 43. How well does Puck’s trickery work? It works just as planned. They each wander around in search of the other until they grow tired and lie down to rest.

==== **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.** ====

Scene 1:
-The troupe of actros meet and practice their performance, hammering out some details. -Puck turns Bottom's human head to an ass's head. -The rest of the actors are scared so they run away, Bottom remains thinking they are playing a trick on him and sings. -Titania awakens and instantly falls in love with Bottom. -She brings in fairy attendants to take care of Bottom.

Scene 2: -Puck realizes that he put the potion into the wrong Athenian man's eyes when Hermia and Demetrius come along. -Hermia accuses Demetrius of murdering Lysander, they argue, Hermia leaves fuming, Demetrius stays to sleep. -Puck puts the potion on Demetrius's eyes and brings Helena to him. Wakening and seeing her, he falls in love with her. -Helena believes neither Lysander's nor Demetrius's vows of love and accuses them of scorning her for a joke. -Hermia enters, happy to have found Lysander only for him to tell her that he ran away to follow Helena. -Helena accuses Hermia of being in cahoots with the men in making fun of her. -As Hermia realizes that Lysander hates her, she blames it on Helena. They insult each other and argue. Lysander and Demetrius both defend Helena. -Demetrius and Lysander go off to fight for Helena. -Puck and Oberon make a plan to tire out the men so they will go to sleep so they can put the antidaote in Lysander's eyes to make him fall back in love with Hermia. -They all wander around and fall asleep in the woods. Puck puts the juice on Lysander's eyes.

Act IV, Scene 1 44. How has Bottom adjusted to the attention of Titania and her fairies? He seems rather pleased with his position. He seems to enjoy being doted upon by the fairy attendants, even maybe taking advantage of them. 45. What is Oberon’s reaction to Titania’s infatuation with Bottom? He did it for his won enjoyment but know he might feel a little guilty and it's getting old and it's a bit embarrasing for him to watch, even though they fight sometimes because he still loves her. Also, he is done with his joke now that eh got what he wanted, the changeling boy. 46. What sort of explanation will Oberon make to Titania’s question about what happened to her? He tells her that it was just a dream caused by her love. 47. Why are Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, and the others out in the woods so early in the morning? They are going on a hunt before the wedding later that day.

48. What is Theseus’s first explanation of why the young people are asleep in the woods? He thinks they came to the woods early for the hunt.

49. What explanation does Demetrius make? Why does he compare his love for Hermia to an illness? He says that he came here to follow Lysander and Hermia because he loved her but nut now he loves Helena. He compared how you lose appetite in sickness (here loss of feeling for Helena) and now that he is 'healthy' he loves Helena again. 50. What is Theseus’s decision concerning the four young people? He overbears Egeus's will and says that there will be a triple wedding for Theseus and Hippolyta, Lysander and Hermia, and Demetrius and Helena.

51. Why can’t the young people be sure whether they are awake or dreaming? All of the past events seem a little hazy, like a dream, and they cannot believe their own good fortunes, nor quite explain rationally how they came to be. 52. Bottom believes he too has had a dream. How is he going to use that to entertain the Duke? He is going to write a ballad of his dream and present it at the wedding along with Pyramus and Thisbe.

Act IV, Scene 2 53. What opinion do the other artisans now have of Bottom since they think he is lost? They now think he is great and very talented because without him, they cannot perform their piece.

54. What do they most regret losing by not being able to perform the play? They won't get paid.

55. Why must the artisans hurry to the Duke’s palace? Bottom tells them that the Duke has dined and that they are to perform soon so they must hurry so they can prepare.

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 he seems a little insecure so he overcompensates with attempted humour and bravado that sometimes wears a little thin and gets annoying but I do have some empathy for him. He seems to only care about himself and is caught up in his own world compared to Theseus who seems to be much under the influence of Hippolyta. Also, Theseus seems to be more sensetive about the needs, wants, and feelings of those around him than Bottom, who is a bit selfish.==== ==== b) How do most of the dreamers respond to the dream experience upon waking? Which character is changed permanently by the dream experience? ==== ====They are in disbelief perhaps because they cannot rationalize their experiences to themselves or doubt their own minds memory. Demetrius is permanently changed becuase he continues to love Helena after he wakes up because he accepted that as true, maybe because that is what he really felt all along.==== ==== 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 think he is saying that at the time, love is blind and the person you love can do no wrong, but when you look back in hindsight sometimes you can be bitter about what happened and seem to have more clarity and say `why would I ever have liked them`.====

Act V 56. Why does Theseus dismiss the stories of the four young people? He thinks that the love has gone to their heads and made them crazy and imaginative. 57. Why does Theseus choose to see the play about Pyramus and Thisby rather than the other entertainments? He has already heard the others or decides they are not fit, so he wants to see Pyramus and Thisbe becasue he is giving them the benefit of the doubt despite Philostrate's warnings. Also, he thinks it will be funny to watch their garish mistakes. 58. Why does Philostrate try to keep Theseus from seeing the play? What does he say is wrong with it? He says the actors butcher it so badly it is painful to watch. He doesn`t want his lord to have to suffer through it. 59. What does Theseus mean by the lines, "For never anything can be amiss, when simpleness and duty tender it"? I think he means that when someone really wants to do a good job for a good reason (duty) and without overly dramatic gestures (simpleness) that it will probably be okay. 60. What is accomplished by having the Prologue tell the whole story that the actors are then going to enact? The audience knows what to expect, therefore rendering the actors the advantage of the element of surprise. 61. How does Shakespeare use comments from the audience to enhance the humour of the play that they are watching? He can point out where the obvious comical errors are in an obvious way. Also, the audience`s comments are funny as well, although perhaps a little mean. 62. What is Hippolyta’s reaction to the play? She recognises that it is comically bad, but also that they are giving a sincere effort to put on a good play. 63. In what way is Thisby’s final speech humorous? It is overly romantic and dramatic, not to mention that it was performed by a man. 64. What does Oberon tell the fairies to do? He tells them to go about the house and bless it and its inhabitants and their doings. 65. What is the purpose of Puck’s final speech? He tells the audience that if it was bad, that they ahould just imagine it a dream and that this will fix everything. It is also saying that he caused the mishaps and he is going to clean them up. 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 broached his boiling bloody breast.`` breaking the play’s illusion of reality ``No, in truth sir, he should not. `Deceiving me` is Thisbe`s cue.`` using the wrong word or name ``This is old Ninny`s tomb.`` repeating a word excessively ``Moon take thy flight! Now die, die, die, die, die.`` ridiculous metaphor ``His eyes were green as leeks.``

===‍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?=== They way it is comicly poorly done highlights what we would normally expect, such as the certain amount of imagination and `filling in the blanks` you are expected of as an audience member, the `fourth wall` between the audience and actors is also broken here which shows how we have come to expect that also. We also hear the comments the audience of Theseus etc are making so there we get to see how the actors are judged on things that they might not be able to control. Overall we see it is a fine balance between actor and audience and there are many intricacies therein that all must fit together in order to have a sucessful performance.

===‍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?=== The Big Bang Theory as Sheldon is oblivious to social cues and Leonard is always having to explain things to him, or Sheldon will do something that is entirely inappropriate for the situation and you see Leonard cringe.

===‍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?=== ====It is a tragic story so that sad mood of death doesn`t really fit with the happy mood of a wedding celebration but it is a story of true, undying love so that coul appeal to the wedding couple, who would appreciate the love story. Both the play within a play and the lover`s story have the people separated by parents, running after each other, comic misunderstandings, and excessive drama. In contrast Pyramus and Thisbve ends in death for the lovers and our four have happy endings.==== Completion 25/25 Effort 25/25 Content 22/25 Total 72/75

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