A+Midsummer+Night's+Dream

Questions completed by: Ninu Forrest Podcasts completed by: Ninu Forrest, Emily Ding, Cecilia Liu

1. How is Hippolyta’s reasoning concerning how quickly the next four days will pass different from that of Theseus? Hippolyta believes that four days will pass quickly. She wants to enjoy the time before she is married, whereas Theseus is very eager to hurry the betrothal along. He wants to get married as soon as possible and does not want to wait any longer to be married to Hippolyta.
 * Act I, Scene 1 **

2. Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do? Egeus brings his daughter and two suitors to Theseus for him to uphold ancient Athenian law. He expects Theseus to force Hermia to marry the suitor of his choice, or have the right to kill his own daughter if she chooses against her father's wishes.

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 roll of women/daughters in Athenian society was to obey their father's demands and have no choices made by themselves. Theseus rules that Hermia must either marry Demetrius, or be forced into a nunnery for the rest of her days.

4. How does Lysander’s comment about Demetrius’s previous love affair with Helena complicate things? Lysander's comment about Demetrius and Helena complicates things by bringing up the idea that Demetrius is still in love with Helena. If he were still in love with Helena, then, in Lysander's opinion, he is not deserving of Hermia's love.

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 to an aunt's house outside of the Athenian city boundaries to escape the laws and get married. They tell Helena of their plans, because it will encourage Helena to try and win back Demetrius' love and distract him from 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 decides to tell Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander's plans because she thinks that it will make Demetrius love her again. Hermia will not available to him once she runs away with Lysander, but Helena wants to show that she will be.

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 she is in love with Lysander, but cannot marry him because her father wants her to marry Demetrius. Athenian law gives fathers power over their daughter's decisions, but Hermia does not love Demetrius and wants to marry Lysander. To avoid Athenian law, Lysandere suggests they get married outside of the city boundaries where the law does not reach.

8. Why does Nick Bottom want to play all the parts? Nick Bottom wants to play all the parts because he thinks he is the best actor in the company and will perform all the parts better than the other actors.
 * Act I, Scene 2 **

9. In what way is this scene funny? Why do you suppose Shakespeare included this scene? This scene is funny because Bottom is an over-the-top actor and will not even play one part well, let alone all the others parts. Shakespeare might have included this scene to demonstrate what some of the actors he worked with could have been like or to show the general dynamics of acting companies behind stage.

10. Where are the actors to meet the following night? Who else is meeting there at the same time? The actors are meeting at the Duke's oak, woods set outside the city and in the countryside. Lysander and Hermia are meeting there at the same time to flee the city and be 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 minimal, and over-acts all of his lines. Bottom thinks he is the best actor and can play any part. In this scene, he says that he will play all of the parts and evoke emotion as Pyramus, roar as the lion, speak sweetly as Thisbe, and speak as a tyrant all perfectly, when that is not the case at all.

media type="file" key="MSND Act 1.mp3" width="240" height="20"

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 Oberon and Titania have been fighting, and when they fight bad things befall humanity. We also discover that Oberon is jealous of Titania's attention to a changeling boy, and wants to have the child for himself.
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Act II Scene 1 **

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">11. How have Oberon and Titania been involved in the past with Theseus and Hippolyta; why have they come to Athens? Oberon has had an affair with Hippolyta and Titania has had an affair with Theseus. The two of them have come to Athens to celebrate the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">12. What effect has their quarrel had on nature, on the seasons, on humans? <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Their quarrel causes the seasons to flip, floods, famine, disease, and the rotting of crops.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">13. Why won’t Titania give up the changeling to Oberon? <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Titania won't give up the changeling, because she promised her bet servant that she would take care of the boy should anything happen to her.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">14. What does Oberon send Puck to find? <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Oberon sends Puck to find a purple flower that's juice will make one fall in love with the first creature they see when they awake from sleep.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">15. What are Oberon’s plans for Titania? <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Oberon plans to put the juice on her eyelids and make her fall in love with a vile thing, giving him the opportunity for payback and to take the changeling.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">16. How does Helena react to Demetrius’s verbal abuse? Helena reacts to Demetrius' verbal abuse by reversing his comments to her advantage.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">17. What is her response to his threats of physical abuse? <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Helena reacts to Demetrius' abuse by agreeing with it. She tells him that he should use her as his dog, and whatever abuse she receives will not stray her from her pursuit.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">18. In what way is Helena’s behaviour inappropriate for Athenian women? If Helena were a proper Athenian woman, she would wait for Demetrius to pursue her, not the other way around.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">19. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about Demetrius and Helena? <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Oberon tells Puck to anoint the eyes of the Athenian man (Demetrius) when he is near the Athenian woman (Helena) so that he will fall in love with her.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">20. Why does Oberon want Titania to wake and fall in love with some vile thing? <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Oberon wants Titania to fall in love with some vile thing because he wants payback after he was ignored by her love for the changeling. If she falls in love with an ugly creature, he will also be able to take the changeling boy away from her.
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Act II, Scene 2 **

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">21. Why does Hermia insist Lysander sleep a little ways from her? <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Hermia insists Lysander sleep away from her because she wants to maintain her modesty before she is married.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">22. Why does Puck anoint Lysander’s eyes? <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Puck anoints Lysander's eyes because he is dressed in Athenian clothes such as those that the Athenian man would be wearing, and therefore must be the man Oberon spoke of.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">23. How does Helena react to Lysander’s sudden love for her when he awakens? <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Helena thinks that Lysander is playing a cruel joke on her when he professes love. She believes that he is mocking her pursuit of Demetrius, and is stunned because she thought he was a better man.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">24. How is Hermia’s dream a reflection of reality? <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Hermia's dream is a reflection of reality because Lysander is the serpent eating her heart. In reality, Lysander has fallen in love with another, and Hermia will awake broken-hearted when she sees what has occurred.

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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 announce to the audience in a prologue that Pyramus does not actually die and that the lion is not really real.
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Act III, Scene 1 **

26. How are the actors going to manage the setting/scenery such as the moonlight and the wall? The play will be performed on a moonlight evening so that the moon will shine through a window. If not, the actors will use a lantern as moonlight. The issue of the wall will be solved by having an actor be the wall.

27. Why do the rest of the actors run off when Bottom reappears? The rest of the actors run off when Bottom reappears because he has the head of an ass and they believe they are cursed.

28. What does Puck plan to do when he follows after the other actors? Puck plans to continue his mischief and lead the other actors astray in the forest.

29. How does Bottom react to Titania and the other fairies? He seems confused and wants to leave, but is soon swayed by her to stay when she offers many benefits to him.

30. Bottom says, "…reason and love keep little company together nowadays." Why is this such an apt statement at this point in the play? This is an apt statement because reason and love are not together in his situation or in the lovers'. Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia and Helena are all victims of love and reason being far from close in this part of the play.

31. What does Hermia accuse Demetrius of doing? Hermia accuses Demetrius of killing Lysander because when she went to sleep, Lysander was there, but when she awoke, he was not.
 * Act III, Scene 2 **

32. How are Puck and Oberon going to correct Puck’s earlier mistake? Puck and Oberon are going to put the love juice in 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 is upset because his turn of feelings is sudden and she thinks he is mocking her.

34. Of what does Helena accuse Hermia? Helena accuses Hermia of being part of Demetrius' joke on her.

35. How close had Hermia and Helena been in the past? Hermia and Helena had been very close, like sisters. They shared everything and were best friends.

36. How does Lysander treat Hermia? Why can’t she believe what he says? Lysander treats Hermia as if she is the most vile thing he has ever seen. He throws insults at her, talks of his deep hatred and how he loves Helena. She can't believe what he says because just a few hours ago, she couldn't keep him away from her.

37. Of what does Hermia accuse Helena? Hermia accuses Helena of making Lysander fall in love with her when she knew Lysander was Hermia's man.

38. Why is Helena afraid of Hermia? Helena is afraid of Hermia because she is a coward, and Hermia will fight her, though she is smaller than Helena.

39. What are Lysander and Demetrius going off to do? Lysander and Demetrius are going off to fight each other for Helena's love.

40. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about the two young men? Oberon tells Puck to send the two men in different directions.

41. What is Oberon going to do about Titania? Oberon feels guilty about Titania, and is going to put the love juice on her eyes and make her fall in love with him, forgetting about Bottom.

42. Why doesn’t Oberon fear the coming of day? Oberon doesn't fear the coming of day because his powers are stronger than most fairies, and will last throughout the day.

43. How well does Puck’s trickery work? Puck sends Demetrius one way and Lysander another by using his voice to imitate the other. His trickery worked well. ====<span style="font-size: 1.06em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"> media type="file" key="MSND ACT3_.mp3" width="240" height="20"====

44. How has Bottom adjusted to the attention of Titania and her fairies? Bottom has adjusted very well to fairy attention. He uses this attention to get what he wants, and is enjoying every moment of it.
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Act IV, Scene 1 **

45. What is Oberon’s reaction to Titania’s infatuation with Bottom? Oberon realizes that he shouldn't have made her fall in love with a vile thing in the first place, and decides to eliminate her infatuation by a second dose of love juice.

46. What sort of explanation will Oberon make to Titania’s question about what happened to her? Oberon will likely make her believe her experience was just a dream.

47. Why are Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, and the others out in the woods so early in the morning? They are hunting as a celebration prior to Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding.

48. What is Theseus’s first explanation of why the young people are asleep in the woods? He thinks that the youth are out celebrating the holiday before the wedding.

49. What explanation does Demetrius make? Why does he compare his love for Hermia to an illness? He says he followed Hermia into the woods because he was temporarily in love with her. He then compares that love to illness, because like a cold, it eventually goes away.

50. What is Theseus’s decision concerning the four young people? Theseus sees hows happy all of them are and decides that all of them should be married in Athens.

51. Why can’t the young people be sure whether they are awake or dreaming? They can't be sure whether they are awake or dreaming because their entire time in the forest has been like a dream.

52. Bottom believes he too has had a dream. How is he going to use that to entertain the Duke? He is going to put his dream into song form as entertainment for the duke.

53. What opinion do the other artisans now have of Bottom since they think he is lost? They now think he is the best actor and that they will not be able to continue with their play without him.
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Act IV, Scene 2 **

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

55. Why must the artisans hurry to the Duke’s palace? They must hurry to the duke's palace because Bottom arrives and tells them they are performing the play at the wedding.

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<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**Extending the thought process.**
====<span style="font-size: 1.06em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">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? ==== ====<span style="font-size: 1.06em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Bottom is overbearing, self-centred, and unintelligent. He could be viewed as the opposite of Theseus' character because Theseus is humble, thoughtful of others, and uses logical thinking. ==== ====<span style="font-size: 1.06em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">b) How do most of the dreamers respond to the dream experience upon waking? Which character is changed permanently by the dream experience? ==== ====<span style="font-size: 1.06em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Most of the dreamers are unsure of whether what they experienced was a dream or not and remain slightly dazed when they awake. Demetrius has been permanently changed to love Helena after the "dream". ==== ====<span style="font-size: 1.06em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">c) In this act, several characters look back at prior infatuations with disbelief. What do you think Shakespeare is saying about love and infatuation? ==== ====<span style="font-size: 1.06em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Shakespeare is saying that love is not logical. When looking back on infatuation and using logic to see how illogical a lover's feeling might have been, you can consider more than when you are in love and choose to oversee what you don't like in a person. ====

<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">56. Why does Theseus dismiss the stories of the four young people? <span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Theseus dismisses the stories of the four young people because he believes they are fiction. He says that when you are young and in love, nothing makes sense, such as the lovers' stories.
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 19px;">Act V **

<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">57. Why does Theseus choose to see the play about Pyramus and Thisbe rather than the other entertainments? <span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Theseus chooses to see the play about Pyramus and Thisbe because he has seen the others ones before, and they would bore him.

<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">58. Why does Philostrate try to keep Theseus from seeing the play? What does he say is wrong with it? <span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Philostrate tries to keep Theseus from seeing the play because it is not worth the time. He says the play is a tedious brief. It is a short play, but because of the bad acting, it seems to go on forever.

<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">59. What does Theseus mean by the lines, "For never anything can be amiss, when simpleness and duty tender it"? He means that nothing can go wrong when something very simple is done with care.

<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">60. What is accomplished by having the Prologue tell the whole story that the actors are then going to enact? By having the prologue tell the whole story, the actors hope to give warning to the audience of the "frightening" scenes that may scare them.

<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">61. How does Shakespeare use comments from the audience to enhance the humour of the play that they are watching? Shakespeare uses comments from the audience to enhance humour by pointing out the mistakes the actors make. The play is already funny because of its problems, but the way the obvious is pointed out by the audience only adds to the mishap.

<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">62. What is Hippolyta’s reaction to the play? Hippolyta thinks the play is silly.

<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">63. In what way is Thisbe’s final speech humorous? Thisbe's final speech is humourous when she bids adieu to the audience as she stabs herself over tragedy and dies. Her choice of words are not appropriate to the circumstances, and that adds humour.

<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">64. What does Oberon tell the fairies to do? Oberon tells the fairies to send a sort of blessing on the house so that all the lovers may have a life with no more of love's confusion.

<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">65. What is the purpose of Puck’s final speech? <span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Puck's final speech is a review from the audience. He says that if you enjoyed the play, clap and invite all of your friends. If you did not enjoy it, pretend it was all just a dream. This final statement helps to link the play-within-a-play to the story of the lovers in the woods.


 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Extending the thought process: **

<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">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="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">excessive alliteration: "He bravely broached his boiling bloody breast." <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">breaking the play’s illusion of reality: "No, in truth, sir, he should not. 'Deceiving me' is Thisbe's cue: she is to enter now, and I am to spy her through the wall. You shall see, it will fall pat <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">as I told you." <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">using the wrong word or name: "Wilt thou at Ninny's tomb meet me straightaway?" <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">repeating a word excessively:"O night, O night! Alack, alack, alack!" <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ridiculous metaphor: "This lanthorn doth the horned moon present; Myself the man i' the moon do seem to be."

<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">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="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It helps you to understand the relationship between audience and performers by showing the dynamic in theatre. Some of the characters in the audience say nothing at all and watch the play, whereas others mock it and make comments throughout the play.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">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? - Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">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="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Unsuitable: Suitable; <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- lovers die - man and woman have strong love for each other

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is ironic because Demetrius, Helena, Lysander, and Hermia have all lost their loves at some point in this story, and they can relate to the play of Pyramus and Thisbe. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Completion 10/10 Effort 8/10 Content8/10

total: 26/30