A+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 thinks that the wedding is very far away and that the next four days will pass very quickly while Hippolyta tells him to be patient. She thinks the four days will pass by quickly and is much more calm than Theseus.

2. Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do? Egeus brought his daughter, Hermia, and her two suitors to Theseus because she refuses to marry the man of his choice. He wants her to marry Demetrius, but she is in love with Lysander and refuses to obey him. Egeus expects Demetrius to give him the permission to kill Hermia if she does not marry Demetrius.

3. What was the proper role for women/daughters in Athenian society according to Egeus and Theseus? What is Theseus’s ruling concerning Hermia? According to Egeus and Theseus, the proper role for women/daughters in Athenian society is to obey their husband or father. Theseus' ruling concerning Hermia is that she can either marry Demetrius, die, or become a nun.

4. How does Lysander’s comment about Demetrius’s previous love affair with Helena complicate things? Lysander's comment about Demetrius' previous love affair with Helena complicates things by making Theseus want to keep Lysander and Hermia together because he realizes that Demetrius isn't a nice guy. Theseus realizes that Demetrius doesn't deserve Hermia, so it complicates things even more by making him sympathetic and biased towards Lysander and Hermia.

5. What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about this seemingly impossible situation? Why do they tell Helena? Lysander and Hermia plan to elope tomorrow night and travel to his aunt's house. They will meet in the woods and plan to get married outside of Athens so the Athenian law cannot pursue them. They tell Helena because they think it will make her feel better by letting her know that she can have Demetrius all to herself so she can try to get him to love her 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? Even though Helena loves Demetrius and is Hermia's best friend, she decides to tell Demetrius of the plans because for some reason she thinks it will make Demetrius start to love her again. I believe that she probably thinks he will appreciate her telling him about the plan before Lysander and Hermia actually leave.

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, but her father wishes for her to marry Demetrius. Her father and Theseus decide that she can either marry Demetrius, die, or become a nun. Lysander suggests that they run away and get married without anyone knowing, and Hermia agrees to the plan.

Act I, Scene 2

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">8. Why does Nick Bottom want to play all the parts? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Nick Bottom wants to play all the parts because he wants to prove that he is a good actor that is sure of himself. He is actually insecure, and he wants to cover that up by acting annoying and obnoxious and playing every part.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">9. In what way is this scene funny? Why do you suppose Shakespeare included this scene? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">This scene is funny because it shows how annoyed all the other actors and director get when Bottom tries to play every single part. It's funny because it show how naive Bottom is and how cool he thinks he is. I suppose Shakespeare included this scene to illustrate Bottom's character and let us know more about him.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">10. Where are the actors to meet the following night? Who else is meeting there at the same time? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">The actors are to meet in the woods the following night, in the same place and at the same time where Lysander and Hermia are meeting.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">11. How would you describe Bottom’s acting ability? What is Bottom’s own opinion of his acting ability? <span style="color: #1a1a18; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bottom's acting ability is really forced and not very good, but he thinks that he is an amazing actor. He thinks he can play every part, whether it's a tyrant, or a gentle character, but really, he is not very good.

<span style="color: #1a1a18; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Podcast: A Midsummer Night's Dream: Act 1: Night Images by Krysta

[|Krysta.mp3]

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Act II, Scene 1

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">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? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Oberon and Titania are currently angry at each other because Titania refuses to give her dead friend's son to him. Puck and the first fairy discuss how Titania treats the boy with great care and loves him dearly.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">11. How have Oberon and Titania been involved in the past with Theseus and Hippolyta; why have they come to Athens? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Oberon states that Titania once had an affair with Theseus, which is also why he's angry with her. They have come to Athens to help prepare the festivities for Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">12. What effect has their quarrel had on nature, on the seasons, on humans? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">When they become very angry, the nature and weather become violent and windy, the season turns cold, and people become angry too. When they start to argue more lightly, the weather calms down, the season turns warm, and people become calm and happy.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">13. Why won’t Titania give up the changeling to Oberon? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Titania won't give up the changeling to Oberon because she promised her friend before she died to take care of him. She also loves the boy and is too attached to him to leave him.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">14. What does Oberon send Puck to find? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Oberon sends Puck to find a flower that was once hit by Cupid's Arrow. When put on sleeping people's eyelids, the juice of the flower will cause them to fall in love with whoever they see first once they wake up.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">15. What are Oberon’s plans for Titania? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Obercon's plans for Titania are to put a couple drops from the magic flowers onto her eyes while she is sleeping. He hopes that she will wake up to see a vile creature and that she will fall in love with it.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">16. How does Helena react to Demetrius’ verbal abuse? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Helena reacts to Demetrius' verbal abuse by twisting everything he says into a reason why she loves him even more. When he insults her by telling her that he is sick when he looks at her, she cleverly tells him that she is sick when she doesn't look at him.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">17. What is her response to his threats of physical abuse? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Her response to his threats of physical abuse are also twisted back at him into a reason why she loves him. When he threatens her about being alone without anyone else in the world, she simply replies that she isn't alone because he is her whole world. Eventually he stops threatening her because she has a comeback for everything he says, which catches him off guard.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">18. In what way is Helena’s behaviour inappropriate for Athenian women? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Helena's behaviour is inappropriate for Athenian woman because she is basically throwing herself at Demetrius. She also isn't listening to what Demetrius says when she should be, because he is the man she loves. Even though he doesn't love her, she should still listen to him and stop following him.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">19. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about Demetrius and Helena? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Oberon tells Puck to find Demetrius and Helena and to put some of the flower juice on Demetrius' eyes so he will fall in love with Helena. Oberon tells Puck <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">this because he has sympathy for Helena and wants her to be happy.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Act II, Scene 2

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">20. Why does Oberon want Titania to wake and fall in love with some vile thing? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Oberon wants Titania to wake and fall in love with some vile thing because he is mad at her about the changeling situation, and this is his revenge. He thinks that if she falls in love with some vile thing and pursues it, it'll kill her.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">21. Why does Hermia insist Lysander sleep a little ways from her? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Hermia insists that Lysander sleep a little ways from her out of human modesty and because she doesn't want him to try anything on her before they are married.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">22. Why does Puck anoint Lysander’s eyes? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Puck anoints Lysander's eyes because he thinks he is anointing Demetrius.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">23. How does Helena react to Lysander’s sudden love for her when he awakens? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Helena reacts to Lysander's sudden love for her by taking it as a cruel joke. She gets upset with him and thinks he is mocking her.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">24. How is Hermia’s dream a reflection of reality? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Hermia's dream is a reflection of reality because the serpent represents her and Lysander's love eating away her heart since he is now in love with Helena. In the dream Lysander sits there smiling as the serpent eats her heart which symbolizes that he doesn't want her anymore and doesn't want to protect her.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Act III, Scene 1

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">25. How are the actors going to keep from scaring the ladies when Pyramus kills himself or when the lion roars? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">The actors are going to keep from scaring the ladies when Pyramus kills himself and when the lion roars by writing a prologue. Before the play, they will tell the audience that Pyramus does not actually kill himself, and that he is really Bottom the Weaver. They will tell everyone that the lion is really Snout and he will have half of his head showing out of his costume so they know for sure it's him.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">26. How are the actors going to manage the setting/scenery such as the moonlight and the wall? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">They will perform in front of the great chamber window so moonlight will shine through, or someone will be holding a lantern and will play the part of Moonshine. The wall will be played also by a person, who is covered in plaster, and makes a circle for their finger as the cranny in the wall.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">27. Why do the rest of the actors run off when Bottom reappears? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">The rest of the actors run off when Bottom reappears because he has a donkey head, so they are scared of him because they think he's a monster.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">28. What does Puck plan to do when he follows after the other actors? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">When he follows after the other actors, Puck plans to keep following them and scaring them by shapeshifting into different things for fun.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">29. How does Bottom react to Titania and the other fairies? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bottom says to Titania that she has no reason to love him, and he seems confused that she loves him. Bottom likes the fairies and likes the idea of them tending to his every need and wish.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">30. Bottom says, "…reason and love keep little company together nowadays." Why is this such an apt statement at this point in the play? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">This is such an apt statement at this point in the play because everybody is in love with the wrong person for no reason. The relationships are all jumbled up and no one is thinking straight because they're either under the flower's magic or the person they love is.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Act III, Scene 2

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">31. What does Hermia accuse Demetrius of doing? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Hermia accuses Demetrius of killing Lysander in his sleep because she cannot find him since he is off pursuing Helena.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">32. How are Puck and Oberon going to correct Puck’s earlier mistake? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Puck and Oberon are going to correct Puck's earlier mistake by sending Puck out to find Helena and Lysander and to bring them to Demetrius and Hermia. Oberon puts some of the magic flower juice onto Demetrius' eyes, so that when he wakes up he will fall in love with Helena.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">33. Why is Helena upset when Demetrius says he loves her? Isn’t this what she had wanted all along? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Helena is upset when Demetrius says he loves her because she thinks it is a joke. She's wanted him all along, but he called such horrible things before and said he could never love her, so she doesn't take him seriously.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">34. Of what does Helena accuse Hermia? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Helena accuses Hermia of playing along with Lysander and Demetrius' joke (which is really not a joke). She says Hermia is being very mean and she is not acting how a best friend should.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">35. How close had Hermia and Helena been in the past? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">In the past, Hermia and Helena were very close, took sisters' vows, had been friends since childhood and in school, and had grown up and did everything together.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">36. How does Lysander treat Hermia? Why can’t she believe what he says? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Lysander treats Hermia like how Demetrius used to treat Helena. He constantly insults her, is very rude ,and keeps telling her that he hates her.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">37. Of what does Hermia accuse Helena? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Hermia accuses Helena of stealing Lysander from her and being an unloyal friend.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">38. Why is Helena afraid of Hermia? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Helena is afraid of Hermia because even though Hermia is small, she can be fierce and will not hesitate to attack Helena for stealing the love of her life. Helena knows that she should be scared of angry Hermia because she's witnessed Hermia's anger when they used to go to school.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">39. What are Lysander and Demetrius going off to do? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Lysander and Demetrius are going off to fight to see who is worthy of being with Helena.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">40. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about the two young men? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Oberon tells Puck to put a kind of spell involving smoke on the two young men to lead them back to Hermia and Helena and fall asleep. He then tells Puck to squirt some of the antidote to the magic flower onto Lysander's eyes. When the four wake up, everything that happened will seem like a dream and all will be well.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">41. What is Oberon going to do about Titania? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Oberon is going to beg Titania for the indian boy, and if she gives him up he'll take the magic flower spell off of her.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">42. Why doesn’t Oberon fear the coming of day? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Oberon doesn't fear the coming of day because he isn't afraid of ghosts and damned spirits, and because him and Puck are spirits of another kind. Oberon is confident that all his plans will turn out okay.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">43. How well does Puck’s trickery work? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">Puck's trickery works really well and rounds up the two ladies and men quickly and easily. ====<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;"> ==== ====<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">**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.** ====

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">-Demetrius and Lysander leave to fight to see who gets to be with Helena
====<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">-Oberon makes Puck separate Lysander and Demetrius and makes them and the ladies fall asleep to a spell that will make them forget all that has happened ====

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">-Puck puts an antidote to the flower juice on Lysander's eyes

 * <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">Act IV, Scene 1 <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">44. How has Bottom adjusted to the attention of Titania and her fairies?  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">Bottom has adjusted well to the attention of Titania and her fairies and calls them 'monsieur' because he thinks highly of himself.  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">45. What is Oberon’s reaction to Titania’s infatuation with Bottom?  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">Titania gave Oberon the changeling, so he feels bad that she is in love with Bottom and decides to take the spell off of her and give Bottom his real head back.  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">46. What sort of explanation will Oberon make to Titania’s question about what happened to her?  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">Oberon will tell Titania that she wasn't in love with an ass, but that instead they will dance at Theseus and Hippolyta and the other couples' weddings tomorrow.  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">47. Why are Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, and the others out in the woods so early in the morning?  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">Theseus, Hippolyta, and Egeus are out in the woods early in the morning in celebration of May with hunting hounds in preparation of the day's ceremony.  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">48. What is Theseus’ first explanation of why the young people are asleep in the woods?  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">Theseus' first explanation of why the young people are asleep in the woods is that they rose early to observe the rite of May.  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">49. What explanation does Demetrius make? Why does he compare his love for Hermia to an illness?  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">Demetrius says that Helena told him of Lysander and Hermia's plan, so he followed them with Helena. He compares his love for Hermia to an illness because he is in love with Helena now.  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">50. What is Theseus’ decision concerning the four young people?  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">Theseus' decision concerning the four young people is that each couple should get married along with Theseus and Hippolyta.  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">51. Why can’t the young people be sure whether they are awake or dreaming?  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">The young people can't be sure whether they are awake or dreaming because everything that is happening seems confusing and hazy.  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">52. Bottom believes he too has had a dream. How is he going to use that to entertain the Duke?  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">He will use his dream to entertain the Duke by writing a ballad of his dream called 'Bottom's Dream."

Act IV, Scene 2 <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">53. What opinion do the other artisans now have of Bottom since they think he is lost? <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">The other artisans have a better opinion of Bottom since they think he is lost. They talk about how they won't be able to perform the play without him, because he is the only actor good enough to play Pyramus. They call him kind and gentle, and are sorry that he isn't with them. <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">54. What do they most regret losing by not being able to perform the play? <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">They most regret losing the money they'd get for not being able to perform the play. They say how Bottom would've probably gotten six pence a day from the Duke for playing Pyramus, which is more than he could ever make in one day.

55. Why must the artisans hurry to the Duke’s palace? <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">The artisans must hurry to the Duke's palace because Bottom has told them on short notice that they will be performing their play at the wedding of the Duke and two other couples. <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">==== <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;">Extending the thought process. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13px;"> 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’ character? My opinion of Bottom's character is that he is a bit obnoxious, but he means well. He may be annoying at times, but it's only because he doesn't know how to express his kindness and willingness to do everything. Bottom contrasts from Theseus' character in the way that Theseus has authority over people, and Bottom doesn't. Bottom tries to have authority over people, because he doesn't always understand that he isn't the center of attention. Bottom is much more carefree whereas Theseus is much more serious about making decisions. Theseus is compassionate towards other couples because he is getting married to the woman he loves, and he wants the same for other people. Bottom, however, doesn't really know what love is like, so he tends to only think of himself. 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 respond to the dream experience upon waking by wondering why everything seems so confusing and why things are doubling. Hermia is changed permanently by the dream experience because she can't tell if everything is still doubling, because of the double marriage. She still has a lingering thought about Lysander and Demetrius, but it's very vague, so she thinks that things are in fact still doubling. 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 is saying that love and infatuation are confusing, yet wonderful things. Our minds do not decide who we love, but instead our hearts. However, our hearts don't always choose the best decision. When love changes, it can cause many problems and become illogical. An example of this idea is when Lysander falls in love with Helena because of the magic flower. Throughout that process, Hermia never stops loving Lysander even though he is in love with someone else. Love is also influenced easily, such as when Demetrius falls in love with Helena because of magic, despite the fact that he hated her before. Shakespeare was trying to describe love as challenging, confusing, and unpredictable. ========

<span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">Act 4 Podcast: Bottom decides to commission Peter Quince to write a ballad called “Bottom’s Dream.” On your own or with a partner, imagine that you have been asked to write the lyrics and compose the musical accompaniment. Remember that at the beginning of act 4, Bottom told the fairies that he likes to listen to the “tongs and bones” (act 4, scene 1, line 30). Tongs were pieces of metal struck against each other and bones were actual bones. These instruments were used in comical or in less sophisticated musical performances. Write the poetry for the ballad (a minimum of 2 stanzas, 4 lines each), then put it to music! <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">A weaver's dream, to play the role <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">Of Pyramus, Thisbe, and lion  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">But, oh methinks, whatever the part  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">The ladies will run away crying. <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">Within the wood, we practice there, <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">My lines ring loud and clear  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">As I enter onstage, the actors run  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">For an ass on my head did appear! <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">I sung with sorrow, all by myself <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">When the Fairy Queen did awake  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">Her love for me, as strong as an ocean  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">Her fairies my servants, what a mistake! <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">Soon I relaxed, all was well <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">As I fell into a deep slumber  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">But as I woke up, I was very surprised  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">Where is my ass' head, I wonder? <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">All alone in the woods, I did tremble <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">As I found my back back to my team,  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">Off to Athens we go, to recite our play  <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">And the Ballad of Bottom's Dream! <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 1.3em;">media type="file" key="Krysta's Podcast.mp3" width="240" height="20" Act V

56. Why does Theseus dismiss the stories of the four young people? Theseus dismisses the stories of the four young people because he doesn't believe that they all had the same dream since it's not logical.

57. Why does Theseus choose to see the play about Pyramus and Thisby rather than the other entertainments? Theseus chooses to see the play about Pyramus and Thisbe rather than the other entertainments because it's a fairly short play, and he knows that Bottom's group of actors aren't necessarily good, so it will be humorous.

58. Why does Philostrate try to keep Theseus from seeing the play? What does he say is wrong with it? Philostrate tries to keep Theseus from seeing the play because even though it's a short play, it drags on forever. He says that it's a very sad story, and that it will make everyone shed a tear, which is not exactly good as weddings are joyful occasions. He also knows that Bottom's group will not perform it well.

59. What does Theseus mean by the lines, "For never anything can be amiss, when simpleness and duty tender it"? Theseus means that it won't hurt to see the play, as the actors are dedicated and mean well and put all their hard work into it.

60. What is accomplished by having the Prologue tell the whole story that the actors are then going to enact? The Prologue is supposed to accomplish letting ladies to have no fear, but instead it accomplishes making people laugh at the play and making fools of the actors since they word everything wrong.

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 the humour of the play that they are watching by making the comments witty, and then having Bottom talk to the audience directly when he hears their comments. Shakespeare forces the actors to break down the fourth wall and interact with the audience, causing them to criticize the play.

62. What is Hippolyta’s reaction to the play? Hippolyta's reaction to the play is that it is silly, and she takes it as a joke.

63. In what way is Thisby’s final speech humorous? Thisbe's final speech is humorous, because she is played by a man, and it is actually portrayed well unlike the rest of the play.

64. What does Oberon tell the fairies to do? Oberon tells the fairies to go to each couple and bless them throughout the whole night, and to bless the house.

65. What is the purpose of Puck’s final speech? The purpose of Puck's final speech is to address the audience to tell them that if they didn't like the play, they should imagine it as just a dream.

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.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1a1a18; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 11px;">excessive alliteration: "Whereat, with blade, with bloody blameful blade, He bravely broach'd is boiling bloody breast;"

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1a1a18; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 11px;">breaking the play’s illusion of reality:

THESEUS

The wall, methinks, being sensible, should curse again.

Pyramus

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.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1a1a18; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 11px;">using the wrong word or name: "I see a voice: now will I to the chink, To spy an I can hear my Thisbe's face. Thisbe!"

repeating a word excessively: "Now, die, die, die, die, die."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1a1a18; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 11px;">ridiculous metaphor: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1a1a18; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 11px;">"those yellow cowslip cheeks."

=== 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? === Observing another audience helps you understand the relationship between audience and performers by making you aware of how there needs to be a fourth wall between them. The actors need to understand that they have to pretend that there's no one watching them, and the audience has to keep their comments to themselves to not distract the 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? === The examples I can think of are the audience and Quince, as the clever character who know that the clueless characters, the actors, don't know what their doing. Another example is Bottom playing Pyramus, the clueless one, and Flute playing Thisbe, the clever one.

=== 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 might be appropriate for the wedding because it's about a wedding, and two lovers, plus it is performed humorously. The play-within-a-play is an ironic commentary on what the two pairs of young lovers have gone through earlier because they get confused about who they are in love with. When Pyramus thinks that Thisbe is dead, he kills himself. When Hermia can't find Lysander, she feels are though her heart has been ripped out. The two stories correspond by both having lovers missing the other one and going to drastic measures to be with the one they love.

<span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> Completion 25/25 Effort 25/25 Content 22/25 Total 73/75

Podcast 1 - 20/20 Podcast 2 - 20/20 <span style="display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> ||