Midsummer+Night's+Dream+Questions

=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's reasoning concerning how quickly the next four days will pass are different from that of Theseus in the way that he is impatient for them to get married, while she is relaxed and is sure that four nights will pass quickly enough.

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 her two suitors to Theseus because he wanted Theseus to grant him the ancient privilege of being able to dispose, or kill his daughter if she doesn't marry his chosen suitor.

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

The proper role for women/daughters in Athenian society according to Egeus and Theseus was to worship the male figures around them, obey their every command, and basically be servants to them.

4. How does Lysander’s comment about Demetrius’s previous love affair with Helena complicate things?

Lysander's comment about Demetrius's previous love affair with Helena complicated things in the way that a shadow of doubt had been cast on Demetrius's character.

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 from the city of Athens, and get married. They tell Helena so she can know that soon, she will have Demitrius to herself.

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?

She tells Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander's plans because she thinks by telling him of their plans, he will become so grateful, he will once again love 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 basic dilemma is that she is faced with the choice of an unhappy marriage, or death. Lysander suggests running away to his aunt's outside of Athenian law, so they can be wed there.

=Act I, Scene 2= 8. Why does Nick Bottom want to play all the parts?

Nick Bottom wants to play all the parts because he is showing off, he seems to be extremely conceited and arrogant.

9. In what way is this scene funny? Why do you suppose Shakespeare included this scene?

This scene is funny in it's irony, in the way that Nick Bottom is acctually annoying and concieted, but he in actually knows very little.

10. Where are the actors to meet the following night? Who else is meeting there at the same time?

The actors are meeting in the woods the following night. Lysander and Hermia are going to be meeting at that time as well. In pursuit of them are Demitrius and Helena.

11. How would you describe Bottom’s acting ability? What is Bottom’s own opinion of his acting ability?

I would describe Bottom's active ability as decent, but not amazing. I derive such opinions from both the play and the movie.

Night Images Podcast Assignment: By Hunter Hill and Chantelle Chan
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=Act II, Scene 1=

10. What does the reader find out about the current relationship between Oberon, King of the Fairies, and Titania, Queen of the Fairies, from Puck and the first fairy?

We find that Oberon and Titania don't get along, even though they are the married, and when they argue, they cause natural disasters and woes for the world.

11. How have Oberon and Titania been involved in the past with Theseus and Hippolyta; why have they come to Athens?

In the past, Oberon's suspected mistress was Hippolyta, and Titania's lover was Theseus. They have comet to Athens to honor the marriage and to grace the bed of King Theseus and Queen Hippolyta.

12. What effect has their quarrel had on nature, on the seasons, on humans?

Their quarrel causes negative effects on the world, such as storms, floods and thunder.

13. Why won’t Titania give up the changeling to Oberon?

Titania refuses to give up the changeling to Oberon because it is the son of one of her cherished maids which have died.

14. What does Oberon send Puck to find?

Oberon sends Puck to find the purple pansies that have the power from Cupid's arrow, and if smeared onto the eyelid of someone, it will cause them to fall in love with the first living thing they see when the awaken.

15. What are Oberon’s plans for Titania?

Oberon plans to use the juice of the pansies to make Titania fall in love with some hideous forrest creature. When Titania begs to have the charm removed, he will take the changeling as a sort of payment.

16. How does Helena react to Demetrius’s verbal abuse?

For the abuse, Helena only loves Demetrius all the more.

17. What is her response to his threats of physical abuse?

In responds to Demetrius threats, she says that he is her world, and that as he is with her, she is not alone.

18. In what way is Helena’s behaviour inappropriate for Athenian women?

Helena's behavior is inappropriate for Athenian women because women were not made to woo, they were supposed to be wooed.

19. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about Demetrius and Helena?

Oberon tells Puck to smear the juice of the pansies on his eyelids, so he will love Helena as she loves him.

=Act II, Scene 2= 20. Why does Oberon want Titania to wake and fall in love with some vile thing?

Oberon wants Titania to wake and fall in love with some vile thing because it will be his revenge for her disobedience to him.

21. Why does Hermia insist Lysander sleep a little ways from her?

Hermia insists on this because she wishes to retain her modesty until they are wed.

22. Why does Puck anoint Lysander’s eyes?

Puck anoints Lysander's eyes because he mistakes Lysander for Demetrius.

23. How does Helena react to Lysander’s sudden love for her when he awakens?

Helena believes Lysander to be cruel to play such a horrible prank on her. She thinks that after Demetrius rejected her she has suffered enough, and such a prank is simply too cruel.

24. How is Hermia’s dream a reflection of reality?

Hermia's dream is a reflection of reality, because she dreams that a serpent as torn her heart out while Lysander sat smiling. This reflects how Lysander has in reality torn Hermia's heart out by chasing after Helena, instead of loving Hermia. Whilst doing so, he is happy doing it too, reflecting how he is smiling in the dream.


 * =Act III, Scene 1=

25. How are the actors going to keep from scaring the ladies when Pyramus kills himself or when the lion roars?

The actors are going to keep the ladies from being scared when Pyramus kills himself or when the lion roars by adding a prologue to both the parts.

26. How are the actors going to manage the setting/scenery such as the moonlight and the wall?

For moonlight, they will leave a window open in the Great Hall. As for the wall, they will have a man play the part of the wall.

27. Why do the rest of the actors run off when Bottom reappears?

When Bottom reappears, the rest of the actors scatter in fear because he now has the head of an ass, and they believe him to be a demon.

28. What does Puck plan to do when he follows after the other actors?

Puck plans to lead and chase the other actors around in the forest when he follows them.

29. How does Bottom react to Titania and the other fairies?

To Titania and the other fairies, Bottom decides that because love and reason often do not mix, this is just the way that things have happened, and he will just, for a lack of a better phrase, go with it.

30. Bottom says, "…reason and love keep little company together nowadays." Why is this such an apt statement at this point in the play?

This is such an apt statement at this point in the play because it expresses how Helena finds herself suddenly wooed by Demetrius and Lysander, and although Hermia should hate Lysander for leaving her, she still loves him regardless of his actions. It also expresses how Titiania is suddenly in love Bottom himself and everything about him.

=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?

Puck and Oberon are going to correct Puck's earlier mistake by putting the antidote of the pansies' love juice into the eyes of Lysander.

33. Why is Helena upset when Demetrius says he loves her? Isn’t this what she had wanted all along?

Helena is upset when Demetrius says he loves her because she believes him to be mocking her.

34. Of what does Helena accuse Hermia?

Helena accuses Hermia of being in on the plan with Lysander and Demetrius, happy and willing to poke fun at her.

35. How close had Hermia and Helena been in the past?

Hermia and Helena in the past had been very good friends since their school girl days.

36. How does Lysander treat Hermia? Why can’t she believe what he says?

Lysander acts as if he hates Hermia. She can't believe what he says because only hours ago had he declared his unyielding love to him, and since then, she hasn't changed at all, so she can't reason that he would have.

37. Of what does Hermia accuse Helena?

Hermia accuses Helena of seducing Lysander and taking his love away from her on purpose.

38. Why is Helena afraid of Hermia?

Helena is afraid of Hermia because Hermia threatens to scratch her eyes out with her nails.

39. What are Lysander and Demetrius going off to do?

Lysander and Demetrius are going off to fight eachother for Hermia's love.

40. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about the two young men?

Oberon tells Puck to lead the two men off so that they would not meet, by pretending to be Lysander to Demetrius and vice versa

41. What is Oberon going to do about Titania?

Oberon is going to make Titania beg for the remedy to the love juice and in return he will take the changling boy.

42. Why doesn’t Oberon fear the coming of day?

Oberon is a different kind of fairy, one that can withstand the daylight.

43. How well does Puck’s trickery work?

Puck's trickery works perfectly. Lysander and Demetrius do not meet, and in the end, they are so exhaused they fall asleep.

====**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.**==== ||

-Titania awakens and sees Bottom -she falls in love with Bottom -four fairies are called in to take care of Bottom -Bottom is kept in Titania's garden -Puck sees that Titania has fallen in love with an ass -Oberon plans to give Titiana the remedy to the love potion in exchange for the changling boy -Hermia and Demetrius enter the scene -Hermia thinks that Demetrius has slain Lysander in his sleep -Demetrius sleeps while Oberon and Puck anoint his eyes with the love juice -Lysander tries to woo Helena who thinks he is making fun of him -Demetrius and Lysander argue over Helena's love -Hermia thinks Helena has seduced Lysander away from her -Demetrius and Lysander go to fight eachother for Helena's love -Helena flees from Hermia -Puck leads Demetrius and Lysander away from eachother -Helena, Hermia, Demetrius and Lysander are so exhausted, they all fall asleep in the forest -Puck gives the remedy love juice to Lysander

=Act IV, Scene 1= 44. How has Bottom adjusted to the attention of Titania and her fairies? Bottom begins to greatly enjoy Titania's love.

45. What is Oberon’s reaction to Titania’s infatuation with Bottom? Oberon begins to feel guilt over what he has done, and give Titania the remedy while she is asleep.

46. What sort of explanation will Oberon make to Titania’s question about what happened to her? Oberon doges Titania's question.

47. Why are Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, and the others out in the woods so early in the morning? Theseus, Hippolyta and train are out in the woods so early for hunting with their hounds.

48. What is Theseus’s first explanation of why the young people are asleep in the woods? His explaination is that they are there to observe the rite of May.

49. What explanation does Demetrius make? Why does he compare his love for Hermia to an illness? Demetrius explains that he was wrong in loving Hermia, and that his mind was sick, but now his has healed, and his love has returned home to Helena.

50. What is Theseus’s decision concerning the four young people? Theseus decides to overide Egeus's will and hold a three way marriage ceremony.

51. Why can’t the young people be sure whether they are awake or dreaming? They cannot be sure because the events of the night before seemed so strange and shrouded in mystery.

52. Bottom believes he too has had a dream. How is he going to use that to entertain the Duke? He will write a ballad of his dream and sing it to entertain the Duke when she dies.

=Act IV, Scene 2= 53. What opinion do the other artisans now have of Bottom since they think he is lost? The other artisans now think that Bottom has been lost they recall him as witty and a paragon with the sweetest voice.

54. What do they most regret losing by not being able to perform the play? They regret that they now cannot be paid.

55. Why must the artisans hurry to the Duke’s palace? They must hurry because they need to get dressed in their costume beforehand.

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? ==== ==== Bottom is presented as the opposite of Theseus's character because they have many opposite personality traits. Theseus seems to be humble, not at all a braggart, while Bottom is unabashedly proud and believes himself to be better than he really is. Bottom is in the working class, while Theseus is a royal. However, in the end, they both have the best of intentions. ====

==== b) How do most of the dreamers respond to the dream experience upon waking? Which character is changed permanently by the dream experience? ==== ==== Upon waking, the dreamers are confused as to the events of the night before, their memories appear shrouded in fog. Demetrius is changed permanently, as he has now shifted his love for Hermia back to 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? ==== ==== I believe that Shakespeare is saying that love and infatuation at first appear so alike, but infatuation is easily twisted and broken, while love will last through the obstacles. This is demonstrated because even though Lysander despises Hermia after the juice was applied to his eyes, she still wishes him shielded from harm. ====

=Act V= 56. Why does Theseus dismiss the stories of the four young people? Theseus dismissed the stories of the four young people because he thinks that they could have easily been imagining things at night in the woods.

57. Why does Theseus choose to see the play about Pyramus and Thisby rather than the other entertainments? Theseus chooses the play about Pyramus and Thisby rather than the other entertainments due to default, the other three are unfitting for that night.

58. Why does Philostrate try to keep Theseus from seeing the play? What does he say is wrong with it? Philostrate tried to keep Theseus from seeing the play because he deemed it too crudely performed and written, tedious yet brief, merry in it's tradgedy.

59. What does Theseus mean by the lines, "For never anything can be amiss, when simpleness and duty tender it"? He means that how could anything be wrong with the play, when even though it was simple, effort was put into it.

60. What is accomplished by having the Prologue tell the whole story that the actors are then going to enact? The point of the prologue is so that they will have a summary of the play, and that the ladies not be scared by the lion and the suicide of Pyramus.

61. How does Shakespeare use comments from the audience to enhance the humour of the play that they are watching? Shakespeare does this by giving the play another dimension, to allow the reader to see it from another point of view and by the audience's scorn, invokes humor with the reader.

62. What is Hippolyta’s reaction to the play? Hippolyta at first believes it to be silly, then finds it too long and weary.

63. In what way is Thisby’s final speech humorous? Thisby's final speech is funny because she is played by a man. In addition, Bottom ruins the illusion by breaking the fourth wall at then end and speaking directy to the audience.

64. What does Oberon tell the fairies to do? Oberon tells the fairies to bless the union of the three couples, and so that their children be without the blots of Nature's hand.

65. What is the purpose of Puck’s final speech? Puck's final speech appears to be a sort of disclaimer, in the way that it asks that if one had not liked the play, they simply pretend it was 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.

excessive alliteration: "Whereat, with blade, with bloody blameful blade, He bravely broach'd is 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."

using the wrong word or name: "Since lion vile hath here deflowered my dear?'

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

ridiculous metaphor: " bloody blameful blade"

=== 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? ===

It shows me that there is supposed to be a wall of etiquette between the audience and the performers. They should not converse with each other, as it ruins the illusion of reality within the play.
=== 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? ===

On television, a prime example would be the movie called "Get Smart". In it, a man named Maxwell is absolutely the part of a bumbling dork, while his partner secret agent is Ms. 99, a wise know it all kind of deal. In real life, this could be easily portrayed as a mother and her child.

=== 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? ===

Pyramus and Thisbe might be unsuitable for a wedding because it deals with the tragedy in which two lovers die. That may not be the kind of thought one wishes to start off their wedded life with. This is comments upon what the two pairs of young lovers had shortly beforehand gone throught because it deals with confusion between lovers, which caused Pyramus and Thisbe to ultimately be parted, only to be together in death.

=Bottom's Dream Podcast, by Hunter Hill and Chantelle Chan:=

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Completion 25/25 Effort 20/25 Content 21/25

Total 66/75

Podcast 1 - 18/20 Podcast 2 - 20/20