A+Midsummer+Night's+Dream

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 told Theseus that he should not be concerned that he has to wait four days for them to be married. She said four days would go by quickly and that he should relax during the time before their marriage.

2. Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do? Eugeus brought his daughter and two suitors to Theseus to try and get Thesues to rule that the law states it is his choice on who his daughter should marry, and if she does not choose to marry Demetrius she be killed.

3. What was the proper role for women/daughters in Athenian society according to Egeus and Theseus? What is Theseus’s ruling concerning Hermia? The proper role for women/daughters is to respect their fathers choice in who she should marry. Theseus's ruling is that she is to marry Demetrius, become a nun and never marry, or be killed.

4. How does Lysander’s comment about Demetrius’s previous love affair with Helena complicate things? Lysander says that Demetrius has had previous love affairs and is not suited to marry his daughter.

5. What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about this seemingly impossible situation? Why do they tell Helena? Lysander and Hermia plan to run away and get married where they are not under Athenian law. They tell Helena becasue they are good friends, and Helena is in love with Demitrius and will take comfort in knowing he will not marry Hermia.

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 Hermia's plans so that together they will go into the forest after them, and fall in love in the process.

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's basic dilemma is that she is in love with Lysander and wants to marry him, but her father wants her to marry Demetrius. Her father gives her three choices of what she can do: Marry Demetrius, become a nun, or be killed. Lysander suggests that they run away to the forest where they are not under Anthenian law and marry.

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 feels that he is the best actor out of all of them, and if he plays all the roles then the play will be great.

9. In what way is this scene funny? Why do you suppose Shakespeare included this scene? This scene is funny bcasue possibly the worst actor of the bunch is under the impression that he is the best, but all the others are doing are humoring him and being sarcastic. I feel Shakespeare included this scene to foreshadow the events that will take place with this group of men further into the story.

10. Where are the actors to meet the following night? Who else is meeting there at the same time? The actors are meeting at Duke's oak. At the same time, Lysander and Hermia will be running away into the forest to get married.

11. How would you describe Bottom’s acting ability? What is Bottom’s own opinion of his acting ability? Bottom's acting ability is very over dramitic, and he comes out very humrous and try-hardy. His own opinion is that he is a sensational actor that could amazingly portray all the roles in the play.

media type="file" key="MSND Scene 1 Night.mp3" width="240" height="20" By Ryan and Grayson

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 the two constantly fight. When they fight, they disturb the environment and seasons. The two also quarrel over the guardianship of a changeling child.

11. How have Oberon and Titania been involved in the past with Theseus and Hippolyta; why have they come to Athens? Oberona and Titania accused each other of having affairs with Theseus and Hippolyta. They are both in Athens for the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta.

12. What effect has their quarrel had on nature, on the seasons, on humans? When the two quarrel, there are floods and heavy winds. The weather destory men's entire crops.

13. Why won’t Titania give up the changeling to Oberon? Tutania grew fond of the changeling and did not want to hand him over. She also did not want Oberon to have guardianship because he wanted the child to grow up to be a soldier.

14. What does Oberon send Puck to find? Oberon sends Puck to find a flower that will make one fall in love at first sight.

15. What are Oberon’s plans for Titania? Oberon plans to use the magical flower to make Titania fall in love with the first animal she sees.

16. How does Helena react to Demetrius’s verbal abuse? Helena turns every abusive thing Demetrius says to explain her strong love for him. She says the more he tries to push her away the more she loves and wants him.

17. What is her response to his threats of physical abuse? She merely twists the threats to express her love.

18. In what way is Helena’s behaviour inappropriate for Athenian women? She followed a man that is engaged to another woman, that happens to be a close friend. She throws herself into him and constantly verbaly expresses her love for him.

19. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about Demetrius and Helena? Oberon tells Puck to use th flower on Demetrius so he will fall in love with Helena. He saw how she was strongly in love with him, but how much he abbused her. He felt sorry for her and thought she deserved his love.

Act II, Scene 2 20. Why does Oberon want Titania to wake and fall in love with some vile thing? He wants her to fall in love with a vile thing as an act of revenge fornot handing over the changeling boy.

21. Why does Hermia insist Lysander sleep a little ways from her? Hermia insists Lysander sleeps away from her becasue thy are not yet married and she is staying tru to Athenian customs, even though she is running away with a man her father does not approve of.

22. Why does Puck anoint Lysander’s eyes? Puck anoints Lysander's eyes because he mistakes him for Demetrius becasue he appears to be wearing Athenian clothing.

23. How does Helena react to Lysander’s sudden love for her when he awakens? When Lysander suddenly falls in love with Helena, she thinks he is mocking her.

24. How is Hermia’s dream a reflection of reality? Hermia drams that a serpant ate her heart, which reflects how Lysander's love for her has been stolen away. media type="file" key="A Midsummer Night's Dream Podcast 2.mp3" width="240" height="20" By Ryan and Eric

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 choose to make a prologue stating that the actors are simply just actors, and not vicious lions and suicidal men.

26. How are the actors going to manage the setting/scenery such as the moonlight and the wall? They said that they will bring in a man holding a lantern to represent moonlight, and a man to stand, making his fingers into a hol to represent a wall.

27. Why do the rest of the actors run off when Bottom reappears? The actors run off when Bottom reappears, becasue Puck turns his head into the head of an ass as a joke. 2 8. What does Puck plan to do when he follows after the other actors? When Puck follows the actors, he plans to cause mischief and play jokes on them because of their terrible acting.

29. How does Bottom react to Titania and the other fairies? When Titania and the fairies are praising Bottom, he acts like this is nothing out of the ordinary and goes with it.

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 quote states that true love and logic simply do not always go together. This sums up the entire story, as the characters fall in love, not becasue of true emotion, but of magic tricking their reasoning.

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 use the flower on Demetrius to fall in love with Helena, which they originally planned to do. They also have a use it on Lysander to correct their earlier mistake, and make him fall 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? Helena is upset when Demetrius says he loves her becasue she thinks that he is mocking her along with Lysander.

34. Of what does Helena accuse Hermia? Helena accuses Hermia of making Demetrius and Lysander act like they are in love with her as a joke.

35. How close had Hermia and Helena been in the past? Hermia and Helena had been very close. They grew up together.

36. How does Lysander treat Hermia? Why can’t she believe what he says? Lysander treats Hermia as if she is a vile creature, and wants nothing to do with her. She cannot believe what he is saying becasue she thought they had a very strong love.

37. Of what does Hermia accuse Helena? Hermia accuses Helena of stealing Lysander's love.

38. Why is Helena afraid of Hermia? Helena is afraid of Hermia becasue Hermia threats physichal abuse to her.

39. What are Lysander and Demetrius going off to do? They are going off the fight for Helena.

40. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about the two young men? Oberon tells Puck to lead Lysander and Hemetrius away from each other by pretending to be one of them and lead the other away.

41. What is Oberon going to do about Titania? Oberon is going to talk to Titania about the Changeling boy. If she decides to hand the child over, he will reverse the spell, making her not love Bottom.

42. Why doesn’t Oberon fear the coming of day? Oberon doesn't fear the day because fairies can't perform magic in the day, except for that he can.

43. How well does Puck’s trickery work? Puck lured the men away from each other by pretending to be both men and taunt the other to follow him.

====**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.**==== - Bottom sits with Titania while the fairies hail him - Hermia accuses Demetrius of murdering Lysander - Demetrius's eyes are anointed, and he falls in love with Helena - Demetrius and Lysander fight over Helena's love - Hermia and Helena fight because she stole the men's love - Puck anoints Lysander's eyes so everyone should awake with the right lover media type="file" key="A Midsummer Night's Dream Podcast 53.mp3" width="240" height="20"

Act IV, Scene 1 44. How has Bottom adjusted to the attention of Titania and her fairies? Bottom has become very comfortable around Titania and the fairies, and has started treating the fairies as if they were his servants.

45. What is Oberon’s reaction to Titania’s infatuation with Bottom? Oberon appears to be humoured by Titania's infatuation with Bottom, but also seems to feel a little sorrow for Titania.

46. What sort of explanation will Oberon make to Titania’s question about what happened to her? Oberon will tell Titania that what happened to her was just a dream, or lie and say he had nothing to do with it.

47. Why are Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, and the others out in the woods so early in the morning? They are out so early in the moring celebrating the rite of May.

48. What is Theseus’s first explanation of why the young people are asleep in the woods? Theseus's first explanation of why the young people are asleep in the woods is that they also came out to observe the rite of May.

49. What explanation does Demetrius make? Why does he compare his love for Hermia to an illness? Demetrius explains how he came looking for Hermia and Lysander, and Helena followed him. He compares his love for Hermia to an illness because it overcame him, but when he found Helena she was his medicine.

50. What is Theseus’s decision concerning the four young people? Theseus decides that Hermia Lysander, Helena and Demetrius will get married that day at the wedding.

51. Why can’t the young people be sure whether they are awake or dreaming? The young people don't know whether they are awake or dreaming because they can't believe that they had all been fighting over the love of each other, and awake in harmony with who their love was intended for.

52. Bottom believes he too has had a dream. How is he going to use that to entertain the Duke? Bottom decides to write a song about his dream, entitled "Bottom's Dream", and decided to sing it at the Duke's death.

Act IV, Scene 2 53. What opinion do the other artisans now have of Bottom since they think he is lost? The artisan's opinion of Bottom changed since they thought he was lost. They considered him an amazing actor that would have made a lot of money from his performance.

54. What do they most regret losing by not being able to perform the play? The thing they regret most is not being able to be payed.

55. Why must the artisans hurry to the Duke’s palace? The artisans have to hurry to the Duke's palace because he is already wed and they must perform their play.

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?==== My opinion on Bottom is like he is very loud and enthusiastic. He is extremely full of himself, is very self-absorbed, and acts on pure instinct without thinking. This is much the opposite of Theseus, who is very calm and thoughtful. He cares about others, as we see when he allows the young couples to marry who their hearts desire.

b) How do most of the dreamers respond to the dream experience upon waking? Which character is changed permanently by the dream experience?
Most of the "dreamers" don't know if it was a dream or not becasue it was so vivid and strange. Demetrius is changed permanently, because when he awakes he "realizes" that he is in love with Helena.

c) In this act, several characters look back at prior infatuations with disbelief. What do you think Shakespeare is saying about love and infatuation? In this story, I think Shakespeare tells how someone can fall in love with someone at first sight without reason. Thus saying, there is a large difference between infatuation and true love.

media type="file" key="Bottom's Dream.mp3" width="240" height="20"

Act V 56. Why does Theseus dismiss the stories of the four young people? Theseus dismiss the stories because Hippolyta says that it would be very strange if they all had the same dream.

57. Why does Theseus choose to see the play about Pyramus and Thisby rather than the other entertainments? Theseus decides to see the play because he thinks that nothing can be amiss, when simpleness and duty tender it.

58. Why does Philostrate try to keep Theseus from seeing the play? What does he say is wrong with it? Philostrate tells Theseus that in the play, there is not one word apt, and not one person is fit for his part. He adds he was crying, but with laughter.

59. What does Theseus mean by the lines, "For never anything can be amiss, when simpleness and duty tender it"? Theseus means that hard work and dedication can't be ignored.

60. What is accomplished by having the Prologue tell the whole story that the actors are then going to enact? The prologue allows the audience to know what's going to happen in the play, so they can souly see the actors.

61. How does Shakespeare use comments from the audience to enhance the humour of the play that they are watching? Shakespeare uses the comments from the audience to show that they are not really taking the play seriously.

62. What is Hippolyta’s reaction to the play? Hippolyta thinks the play is the silliest thing shes ever seen.

63. In what way is Thisby’s final speech humorous? In an obvious sense, it's humorous by the high voice the man is using, and how he asks if Pyramus is sleeping with a large sword in his chest. In an ironic sense, it is humerous how Flute finds inner emotion and speaks his final speech very deep and thoughtful.

64. What does Oberon tell the fairies to do? Oberon tells the fairies to go and bless all the couples.

65. What is the purpose of Puck’s final speech? The purpose of Puck's speech is to assure the audience that if they were offended by the play, that it didn't happen and it was all just a dream.

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: "...blade, with bloody blameful blade, He bravely broach'd is boiling bloody breast;"

breaking the play’s illusion of reality: When Bottom breaks character to explain things to the audience, or Thesues more specificly. using the wrong word or name: They repeatidly say "Ninny's tomb" instead of "Ninus' tomb". repeating a word excessively: While Pyramus is dieing, he excessively says "die". ridiculous metaphor: "My soul is in the sky;" ===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?=== By seeing the play from this point of view, we understand that an audience can comprehend the play by the quality of the acting. If the acting is poor with many mistakes, the audience finds humor, even when it is not intended. If an act is portrayed with deep emotion, it can put the audience in the characters shoes.

===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?=== Corner Gas (Wanda and Hank) How I Met Your Mother (all characters) Friends (Joey and everyone) Simpsons (Homer and others; Skinner and Bart) Family Guy (Stewy and Brian; Peter and everyone) The Big Bang Theory (Sheldon and everyone) The Office (Jim and Dwight; Michael and everyone)

===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 may be unsuitable for a wedding, because it is a tragedy between two lovers that die, and that is the last thing you want to think about at a wedding. Yet in the same way, it may be appropriate becasue the play portrays a very strong love between Pyramus and Thisbe. The play is ironic becasue Pyramus and Thisbe are willing to kill themselves if they can't be together, but the young lovers spend most of the story falling in love with different people without any thought.

 Completion 10/10  Effort 7/10  Content 7/10

 total24/30