A+Midsummer+Night+Dream


 * See Ryan Yeske`s wikispace for act 1 podcast.**
 * See Colin Baldwin`s for the rest of the podcasts.**

Act I, Scene 1

1. How is Hippolyta’s reasoning concerning how quickly the next four days will pass different from that of Theseus? 2. Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do?
 * Hippolytas reasoning is that her excitment will make the days pass quickly and Theseus thinks the days will pass slowly because he is anxious.**

3. What was the proper role for women/daughters in Athenian society according to Egeus and Theseus? What is Theseus’s ruling concerning Hermia?

4. How does Lysander’s comment about Demetrius’s previous love affair with Helena complicate things? 5. What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about this seemingly impossible situation? Why do they tell Helena? 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 because she believes that doing this will make Demetrius fall in love with her again out of trust or thoughtfulness.**
 * It shows that she will not be happy with him.**
 * Lysander and Hermia plan to move away where the laws wont effect then, let Helena know because she may have a chance with Demetrius once they are gone.**

7. Identify Hermia’s basic dilemma. What are the choices outlined for her by Theseus and her father? What other choice does Lysander suggest?
 * Her basic delemma is that she has to decide between death and marrying someone she does not love. The choices are marrying lysander, death, or becoming a nun. Lysander suggests running away and getting married**

Act I, Scene 2
 * See Ryan Yeske`s Wikispace for podcast.**

8. Why does Nick Bottom want to play all the parts?**Nick Bottom wants to play all the parts because he is very self centered and wants attention.**

9. In what way is this scene funny? Why do you suppose Shakespeare included this scene?
 * The scene was funny because Bottom was so full of himself. I think Shakespeare included this scene because the story is very tragic and depressing, this scene may make the audience feel lighthearted instead of serious.**

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 which is where Lysander and Hermia are meeting at the same time.**

11. How would you describe Bottom’s acting ability? What is Bottom’s own opinion of his acting ability? Act II, Scene 1
 * I would describe Bottom`s acting ability as over the top where he would describe his own as entertaining. **

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 about their relationship with Puck and the fairy arguing and debating.

11. How have Oberon and Titania been involved in the past with Theseus and Hippolyta; why have they come to Athens? They were involved with the affairs of Theseus and Hippolyta and they came to Athens to attend the wedding.

12. What effect has their quarrel had on nature, on the seasons, on humans? It effects humans because the seasons change (frost in the summer) and floods and famines occur.

13. Why won’t Titania give up the changeling to Oberon? Titania feels its her responsiblity to take care of the boy.

14. What does Oberon send Puck to find? Juice from a flower that was hit by an arrow of cupid.

15. What are Oberon’s plans for Titania? His plan is to make Titania fall in love with a beast and she will persue it.

16. How does Helena react to Demetrius’s verbal abuse? Her response is that no matter how terriblly he treats her she will continue to love him.

17. What is her response to his threats of physical abuse? Her response is that no matter how terriblly he treats her she will continue to love him.

18. In what way is Helena’s behaviour inappropriate for Athenian women? It is inappropriate for an Athenian woman because Athenian women are supposed to listen to men without question.

19. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about Demetrius and Helena? Oberon tells Puck to put some of the love juice into the Athenian man`s eyes so he will love Helena.

Act II, Scene 2 20. Why does Oberon want Titania to wake and fall in love with some vile thing? He want this because she may not love the baby anymore and he will persuade her to give it to him easier.
 * See Colin Baldwins Wikispace for Podcast** COLIN HAS NO ACT 2 PODCAST

21. Why does Hermia insist Lysander sleep a little ways from her? She does this because they are not yet and it would look bad for them to be sleeping so close before they have married.

22. Why does Puck anoint Lysander’s eyes? He does this because he wasnt given clear instructions and assumed Lysander is the right person.

23. How does Helena react to Lysander’s sudden love for her when he awakens? She reacts as if she was insulted because she thinks he is making fun of her.

24. How is Hermia’s dream a reflection of reality? Hermias dream is a reflection of reality because her heart will be taken away when she finds out what has happened.

Act III, Scene 1
 * See Colin Baldwin`s Wikispace for podcast**

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 give a prologue explaining that he is pretending to stab himself, and the lion costume will show the person inside so they dont believe it is a real lion.

26. How are the actors going to manage the setting/scenery such as the moonlight and the wall? They will use the moonlight from the full moon that night, or use a lantern. They will also use a person as the wall.

27. Why do the rest of the actors run off when Bottom reappears? They run off because his head has been turned into an ass`s head.

28. What does Puck plan to do when he follows after the other actors? He plans to move them so that Bottom is the first thing Titania sees.

29. How does Bottom react to Titania and the other fairies? He acts respectful and not surprised by the new attention. He also tells her that there is no reason for her to love him but does not push her away because he enjoys the attention.

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 all of the problems in the play are a result of love and people being unable to control whom they love.

Act III, Scene 2 31. What does Hermia accuse Demetrius of doing? She accuses him of killing Lysander,
 * See Colin Baldwin`s Wikispace for podcast**

32. How are Puck and Oberon going to correct Puck’s earlier mistake? By squeezing the juice in the eyes of Demetrius.

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 like Lysander.

34. Of what does Helena accuse Hermia? Helena accuses Hermia of being part of the prank. 35. How close had Hermia and Helena been in the past?

36. How does Lysander treat Hermia? Why can’t she believe what he says? Lysander treats Hermia poorly, she doesnt believe what hes saying because a day ago they were running away to get married and now all of a sudden he doesnt love her.

37. Of what does Hermia accuse Helena? Hermia accuses Helena of stealing her lover.

38. Why is Helena afraid of Hermia? Helena is afraid of Hermia because Helena is not the type of person who likes so fight and Hermia is.

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

40. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about the two young men? He tells Puck to squeeze the flower juice into Lysanders eyes so he will see Hermia and fall in love with her.

41. What is Oberon going to do about Titania? Oberon is going to ask again for the changeling boy.

42. Why doesn’t Oberon fear the coming of day? Oberon doesnt fear the coming of day because, being the fairy king, his powers are not altered by daytime.

43. How well does Puck’s trickery work? Pucks trickery works very well.

Act IV, Scene 1 44. How has Bottom adjusted to the attention of Titania and her fairies? Bottom has taken advantage of them and asks them to do numerous things.
 * See Colin Baldwin`s Wikispace for podcast**

45. What is Oberon’s reaction to Titania’s infatuation with Bottom? Oberon feels bad for her and places juice in Titanias eyes so she will fall in love with him again insted of staying in love with Bottom. He does this also because he got the changeling boy which was his goal.

46. What sort of explanation will Oberon make to Titania’s question about what happened to her? He may blame it on the changeling boy.

47. Why are Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, and the others out in the woods so early in the morning? They are hunting because it is the wedding day of Theseus and Hippolyta.

48. What is Theseus’s first explanation of why the young people are asleep in the woods? They are celebrating the wedding day just as they are and got tired.

49. What explanation does Demetrius make? Why does he compare his love for Hermia to an illness? He compares his love for Hermia to a sickness because he was unhappy when he loved her as Lysander also loved her, but when the "illness" was over he was much happier (as he would be getting over a cold).

50. What is Theseus’s decision concerning the four young people? Theseus decides that they are to be married together that day in a triple wedding to whom they love.

51. Why can’t the young people be sure whether they are awake or dreaming? They cant be sure because their feelings have changed dramatically the past days and now that everything is perfect it seems to good to be true.

52. Bottom believes he too has had a dream. How is he going to use that to entertain the Duke? He is going to tell Quince to write a ballad of the dream to sing at the end.

Act IV, Scene 2 53. What opinion do the other artisans now have of Bottom since they think he is lost? The other artisans believe that Bottom was such a great actor the play cannot go on without him playing his role.
 * See Colin Baldwin`s Wikispace for podcast**

54. What do they most regret losing by not being able to perform the play? They regret most the opportunity at money and fame.

55. Why must the artisans hurry to the Duke’s palace? They must hurry so they are on time and because they have not started preparing yet.

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 believe Bottom is an average person but has the need for attention, because of this he makes some poor decisions and is very dramatic. He may be the opposite of Theseus`s character because Theseus thinks before he makes decisions and has no need for attention.==== ====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 assume it was just that, "a dream". They assume that loving someone else never happened because of their new love for whom they woke to see. I believe that all of the characters were changed by the experiance but Demitrius was most changed because he falls in love with someone he hated.==== ====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 believe that Shakespeare is pointing out that love is not logical and even that, when people are in love they do not make decisions that have sense.====

Act V 56. Why does Theseus dismiss the stories of the four young people? Theseus dismisses the stories because they are in love. He doesnt care how they fell in love it seems.

57. Why does Theseus choose to see the play about Pyramus and Thisby rather than the other entertainments? He chooses this play because the actors are simple people and he thinks they will do a better job because they will feel honored to put on the play.

58. Why does Philostrate try to keep Theseus from seeing the play? What does he say is wrong with it? Philostrate trys to keep Theseus from seeing the play because she said it was poorly acted and the only enjoyment you would have is laughing at how terrible it is.

59. What does Theseus mean by the lines, "For never anything can be amiss, when simpleness and duty tender it"? He means that it cannot go wrong when the people are trying their best and they feel obligated to doing it well.

60. What is accomplished by having the Prologue tell the whole story that the actors are then going to enact? The audience does not have to be confused at what is happening when the actors are rhyming or get a line wrong during the preformance. It also lets them know that Bottom is not accually harming himself with the blade.

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 because it is something some of the viewers may be able to relate to.

62. What is Hippolyta’s reaction to the play? Hippolyta finds the play humorous and takes it as a joke.

63. In what way is Thisby’s final speech humorous? It is humorous because she asks if he is dead when he has a sword in is chest.

64. What does Oberon tell the fairies to do? He tells them to let the lovers be blessed.

65. What is the purpose of Puck’s final speech? I think he is saying indirectly that love is something you cannot fully control. He is also saying not to worry because everything will turn out alright (he will fix the problems).

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.

===**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?**=== ===A. It help one understand the the relationship between the audience and performers because it allows us to judge the audience also without having a biast opinion (as we are usually in the audience). In addition, it shows us not to be too critical of the performance and try to appreciate what it has that is entertaining before coming to a conclusion that it is terrible.===

===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?=== ===A. I can think of many examples, for instance: Gilligans Island, Family Guy, and The Office. Gilligans Island has the character Gilligan who is the ultimate clueless character, he never gets anything right, and the captain is very clever. In the Office Michel Scott and Dwight have silly molments and Jim and many other characters are clever. I believe that this works very well in entertainment because it allows us to laugh at the silly and clueless people and sometimes relate to the clever people.===

===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?=== ===A. This play may be unsuitable for a wedding because it involves two lovers not being able to be together and many depressing and dark molments. It is ironic because the two lovers had such strong feelings for each other and they thought they were in control of their love but they werent, just like the play watched.===

 Completion 7/10  Effort 6/10  Content 6/10

 total 19/30