Midsummer+Nights+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 believes that the days will pass quickly into nights, whereas Theseus believes that the nights will pass extremely slowly 2. Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do? Egeus believes that Theseus can convince Hermia to marry Demetrius. If she chooses not to, however, Egeus has the right, by Athenian law, to make her swear the vow of eternal chasity, or face execution 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 two men believe that women should obey their husbands/fathers without question. Basically, Egeus wishes that Hermia could marry Demetrius without question. Theseus rules that Hermia must either die, go to a nunnery or marry Demetrius 4. How does Lysander’s comment about Demetrius’s previous love affair with Helena complicate things? Since Demetrius used to love Hermia, Lysander believes that he is not worthy to love Helena, because Demetrius' love for Hermia might still linger. 5. What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about this seemingly impossible situation? Why do they tell Helena? To travel to Lysander's Aunts house where they will get married. They tell Hermia, because she will follow to the forest, where she can fall in love with Demetrius again. 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? So that he will follow to the forest, and fall in love with her 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 dilemma is that her father is forcing her to marry Demetrius, yet she loves Lysander. Therefore, Lysander suggests that they go over to his aunts house to get married Act I, Scene 2 8. Why does Nick Bottom want to play all the parts? He believes that he is too good o play only the part of Pyramus 9. In what way is this scene funny? Why do you suppose Shakespeare included this scene? This scene is funny, because it describes the hilarity of one character who cannot act, yet believes that he is the best. Shakespeare might have used this scene to represent his own backstage. 10. Where are the actors to meet the following night? Who else is meeting there at the same time? By the Duke's oak, in the woods near the city. This also happens to be the meeting-place of Lycander and Hermia en route to Lycander's aunts house 11. How would you describe Bottom’s acting ability? What is Bottom’s own opinion of his acting ability? Bottom's actual acting talent, and his own view of his talent vary considerably. Though he feels that his talent is great enoughto acquire all the roles of the play, the others obviously think otherwise, because they resolve to flattery to shut him up.

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? The reader finds out that they are fighting over the changeling baby of Titania's servant. 11. How have Oberon and Titania been involved in the past with Theseus and Hippolyta; why have they come to Athens? Oberon had an affair with Hippolyta, and Titania had an affair with Theseus. The Fairy Queen and King are in Athens for the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. 12. What effect has their quarrel had on nature, on the seasons, on humans? The quarrels of Oberon and Titania cause an array of natural disasters, including floods, which ruin the corn of the farmers. 13. Why won’t Titania give up the changeling to Oberon? Titania feels a protection towards the changeling, because it was the child of her own dead friend, and she did not want the child to fall into the hands of Oberon, who wanted to train it for war. 14. What does Oberon send Puck to find? A pansy that was pierced by Cupid's Arrow. When the juice of the flower is squeezed onto a sleeping person's eyes, they fall in love with the first living thing they see 15. What are Oberon’s plans for Titania? To put the juice on her eyelids, and make her fall in love with the first thing she sees upon waking. Oberon's plan is that she will fall in love with something nasty. 16. How does Helena react to Demetrius’s verbal abuse? She turns it around and makes it a good thing. For instance, when Demetrius says that it makes him sick to look at Helena, Helena says that it makes her sick, when she does not look at him. 17. What is her response to his threats of physical abuse? When Demetrius threatens her with mischief in the wood, Helena responds: "Ay, in the temple, in the town, the field, You do me mischief. Fie, Demetrius! Your wrongs do set a scandal on my sex: We cannot fight for love, as men may do; We should be wood and were not made to woo." 18. In what way is Helena’s behaviour inappropriate for Athenian women? Helena is chasing after the man, whereas it was proper in those days, for the man to chase the woman 19. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about Demetrius and Helena? Put the juice of the flower onto the "Athenian man's eyes".

Act II, Scene 2 20. Why does Oberon want Titania to wake and fall in love with some vile thing? As revenge for not handing over the changeling boy. 21. Why does Hermia insist Lysander sleep a little ways from her? To maintain her modesty, Hermia believes that they should not sleep near each other until after their wedding day. 22. Why does Puck anoint Lysander’s eyes? Puck believed that Lysander was the man that his master told him to put the juice on. Puck sees that he fit the criteria: Athenian clothing, and the fact that he was sleeping a distance away from a woman 23. How does Helena react to Lysander’s sudden love for her when he awakens? She believes that Lysander is pulling a mean prank on her, and gets mad and runs away. Lysander follows 24. How is Hermia’s dream a reflection of reality? Hermia's dream of the serpent eating her heart is symbolic of her love being stolen away by some external force.

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 group decides to write a prologue stating that Pyramus is not Pyramus, but Bottom the weaver. Whereas, for the lion, the decision is that, on top of the short speech stating that the lion is portrayed by Snug the joiner, the costume of the lion should show half the face of the actor. This would prevent any confusion as to whether the lion is really a lion, or an actor. 26. How are the actors going to manage the setting/scenery such as the moonlight and the wall? Using a large casement (window with hinges) on the ceiling, and the fact that the moon will shine that night, the actors set up a plan that will allow the moonlight to shine through the window. 27. Why do the rest of the actors run off when Bottom reappears? When the other actors see that Bottom has the head of an ass, they fear they are haunted by something fearsome and strange. 28. What does Puck plan to do when he follows after the other actors? Puck's plan is to scare the actors, by chasing them "through bog, through bush, through brake, through brier". To make his happiness complete, Puck decides to chase them while changing shape, sometimes a headless bear, and others a raging fire. 29. How does Bottom react to Titania and the other fairies? At first, Bottom is wary, because he rightly believes that Titania has no real reason to love him. But, as she summons her fairies, Bottom gets more comfortable, and sends regards to the fairies mothers and fathers. 30. Bottom says, "…reason and love keep little company together nowadays." Why is this such an apt statement at this point in the play? At this point in the play, because of the mischief of Puck and Oberon, and the love juice, the love affairs of Helena, Demetrius, Lysander and Hermia become messed up, even though it is not by their own doing. Act III, Scene 2 31. What does Hermia accuse Demetrius of doing? Hermia accuses Demetrius of killing Lysander in his sleep. 32. How are Puck and Oberon going to correct Puck’s earlier mistake? They will apply the juice to Demetrius' eyes, so he falls in love with Helena, and then re-apply the juice to Lysander's eyes, causing him to fall in love with Hermia again. 33. Why is Helena upset when Demetrius says he loves her? Isn’t this what she had wanted all along? Helena believes that the sudden change that came about Demetrius is also part of the cruel game that was thought up to get rid of her, and make her feel terrible. 34. Of what does Helena accuse Hermia? Helena believes that Hermia is also in on the game, and believes that she is not her friend any more. 35. How close had Hermia and Helena been in the past? They were the best of friends. 36. How does Lysander treat Hermia? Why can’t she believe what he says? He scorns her and says that he hates her. She cannot believe this, because the previous night he wanted to sleep with her 37. Of what does Hermia accuse Helena? Betraying her friendship 38. Why is Helena afraid of Hermia? Hermia is a fighter, even though she is short 39. What are Lysander and Demetrius going off to do? Fight each other over Helena 40. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about the two young men? Lead them on a wild goose chase, until they are very sleepy. When they fall asleep, Puck will anoint their eyes with the love-juice. 41. What is Oberon going to do about Titania? Oberon's plan is to beg Titania for the Indian boy 42. Why doesn’t Oberon fear the coming of day? Oberon and Titania are a different kind of fairy, and are therefore not affected by daylight 43. How well does Puck’s trickery work? It works very well, because the men fall asleep with the women near them.

44. How has Bottom adjusted to the attention of Titania and her fairies? Bottom gets adjusted very quickly to the fairies attention, and enjoys it greatly. He uses the attention that he receives, to get whatever he wants. 45. What is Oberon’s reaction to Titania’s infatuation with Bottom? He realizes that it was a bad idea to put the flower juice on the eyes of Titania, and that he must resolve it. He carries this out by re-anointing the queens eyes with juice, and making her fall back in love with him. 46. What sort of explanation will Oberon make to Titania’s question about what happened to her? Most likely, Oberon's response will be that it was a dream. 47. Why are Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, and the others out in the woods so early in the morning? Involved in a hunting celebration before the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta 48. What is Theseus’s first explanation of why the young people are asleep in the woods? Theseus perceives this as a celebration of the young people before the wedding. 49. What explanation does Demetrius make? Why does he compare his love for Hermia to an illness? Demetrius says that he fell in love briefly with Hermia, and the love went away. He compares this fleeting love an illness that will pass quickly. 50. What is Theseus’s decision concerning the four young people? Theseus sees the happiness of the couples, and rules that they are to get married in Athens 51. Why can’t the young people be sure whether they are awake or dreaming? The youths believe that they were dreaming because the whole experience of the forest seemed like a dream. 52. Bottom believes he too has had a dream. How is he going to use that to entertain the Duke? Bottom puts the dream to song, and uses this to entertain the duke. Act IV, Scene 2 53. What opinion do the other artisans now have of Bottom since they think he is lost? They think that he was the best actor of the company, and therefore, the play cannot go on without him 54. What do they most regret losing by not being able to perform the play? Since the duke, if admiring of their performance, would doubtless reward them with a lot of money, the actors most regretted losing the money they might have made. 55. Why must the artisans hurry to the Duke’s palace? They hurry because Bottom arrives and tells them that they will perform the play

====**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?** Bottom is a character that thinks of none other than himself, is proud, and rather stupid. Theseus, on the other hand, thinks to help others, and puts other peoples plights before his own.====

====**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 characters believed that the adventure in the forest was a dream, and so are befuddled and dazed. Demetrius is permanently changed because the "dream" makes him fall 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?** Shakespeare, in this play chose to portray love as a random series of actions that are grouped together illogically, and sometimes have beneficial outcomes.====

Act V 56. Why does Theseus dismiss the stories of the four young people? Theseus dismisses the stories because he thinks that they are young, and dazed by their love, which causes them to invent huge events of fiction. 57. Why does Theseus choose to see the play about Pyramus and Thisby rather than the other entertainments? Theseus chooses to hear the play, because of the simpleness of the fact that the actors are workmen. He had also heard the rest of the possible entertainments before. 58. Why does Philostrate try to keep Theseus from seeing the play? What does he say is wrong with it? Philostrate tells Theseus that the play is terrible, and should not be shown at a wedding because it talks about lost love and death. 59. What does Theseus mean by the lines, "For never anything can be amiss, when simpleness and duty tender it"? Theseus means that when the actors do a play, it doesn't matter if it is done badly, and thinks are amiss, as long as there is care and effort behind it. 60. What is accomplished by having the Prologue tell the whole story that the actors are then going to enact? The actors use the prologue so as not to frighten the ladies of what is to come in the play. 61. How does Shakespeare use comments from the audience to enhance the humour of the play that they are watching? Shakespeare uses the audiences comments to point out the flaws in the play, to make it funnier. 62. What is Hippolyta’s reaction to the play? Hyppolyta believes that the play is silly. 63. In what way is Thisby’s final speech humorous? THisby's final speech is humorous because she bids adieu to the audience several times, as she stabs herself to death. 64. What does Oberon tell the fairies to do? Oberon tell the fairies to send a blessing over the houses of the lovers, so that they would not be troubled by any of loves meddling 65. What is the purpose of Puck’s final speech? Pucks final speech was relevant during Shakespeare's time, when those who disliked the play were at liberty to throw rotten fruits and vegetables galore at the poor actors. By telling those who did not like the play to walk away as if it were a dream, he could firstly avoid a barrage of fetid potatoes and yams, as well as poetically linking the play within a play to reality. 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 his boiling bloody breast." 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."  using the wrong word or name "I see a voice:" ,"Wilt thou at Ninny's tomb meet me straightaway?"  repeating a word excessively "Adieu adieu adieu!"- Thisbe before dying  ridiculous metaphor My cherry lips have often kiss'd thy stones,

===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?===

===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?===

===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?===

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

total: 21/30

media type="file" key="Midsummer Act 1 Ben, Simon and cyrus.m4a" width="300" height="50" act 1 media type="file" key="Act2.m4a" width="300" height="50" act 2 media type="file" key="Act3 sarsbnmrrysamn2.m4a" width="300" height="50" act 3 media type="file" key="Act4 2-1.m4a" width="300" height="50" act four

By cyrus ben murray and simon