A+Midsummer+Night's+Dream

=Act I, Scene 1= > //Hippolyta thinks that the four days will pass quickly; whereas Theseus has the opposite opinion. To him, the four days are an eternity, and pass very slowly.// > //Egeus brought his daughter to Theseus, so that he could ask him for permssion to kill her if she did not marry Demetrius.// > //Theseus and Egeus believe that women / daughters are the husband's / father's possesion - this is evident by Egeus's power over his daughter. Theseus rules that Hermia has three options - to die, marry Demetrius, or join a nunnery and never marry anyone.// > //Lysander's comment leads to everyone but Hermia and Lysander leaving the room, leaving them alone.// > //Lysander and Hermia plan to run away to his aunt's house, outside Athens. They will meet in the woods and travel together through them. They tell Helena because, since this means that Hermia will no longer be competition to her for Demetrius's love, they think it will make her feel better.// > //She decides to tell Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander's plans because she believes that Demetrius will be so grateful to her for telling him that he will start to love her again.// > //Hermia must decide whether or not to marry Demetrius. Theseus and her father give her three choices - to let Egeus kill her, to join a nunnery, or to marry Demetrius. Lysander, in secrecy, suggests that she should run away with him to his aunt's house, outside Athens.//
 * 1) How is Hippolyta’s reasoning concerning how quickly the next four days will pass different from that of Theseus?
 * 1) Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do?
 * 1) What was the proper role for women/daughters in Athenian society according to Egeus and Theseus? What is Theseus’s ruling concerning Hermia?
 * 1) How does Lysander’s comment about Demetrius’s previous love affair with Helena complicate things?
 * 1) What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about this seemingly impossible situation? Why do they tell Helena?
 * 1) Even though Helena loves Demetrius and is Hermia’s best friend, why does she decide to tell Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander’s plans?
 * 1) Identify Hermia’s basic dilemma. What are the choices outlined for her by Theseus and her father? What other choice does Lysander suggest?

=Act I, Scene 2= > //He wants to play all the parts because he believes himself to be the best actor, and thinks the play would be much better if he played every single part.// > //One comedic element could be the fact that Bottom wants to play every part. Another comedic element could be the fact that Flute must play a woman. I suppose Shakespeare included this scene because it is an important part of the story - it introduces important characters, and sets up other events in the storry.// > //They are to meet in the woods, at the same spot Hermia and Lysander are meeting.// > //Bottom thinks he is a fabulous actor, who can play any part well - he claims that he can play men or women, and if he is a lion, he can adjust his roar to suit the audience, ranging from extremely ferocious to sweet and calming.//
 * 1) Why does Nick Bottom want to play all the parts?
 * 1) In what way is this scene funny? Why do you suppose Shakespeare included this scene?
 * 1) Where are the actors to meet the following night? Who else is meeting there at the same time?
 * 1) How would you describe Bottom’s acting ability? What is Bottom’s own opinion of his acting ability?

=Act I, Podcast= media type="file" key="A Midsummer Night's Dream Act I Podcast.mp3" width="240" height="20"

=Act II, Scene 1= > //The reader learns that Oberon and Titania have been experiencing problems with their relationship lately, are mad at each other and will probably fight if they meet.// > //Oberon had an affair with Hippolyta, and Titania had an affair with Theseus. Oberon and Titania have come to Athens for Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding.// > //The quarrel between Oberon and Titania caused many weather-related disasters; for example, the weather was so warm during winter that flowers started to bud.// > //Titania refuses to give up the boy because she promised his mother she would raise him, not Oberon.// > //Oberon sends Puck to find the magical flower Cupid shot with a bow. This flower, when rubbed on someone's eyes while they are asleep, will cause them to fall in love with the next living thing they see.// > //Oberon plans to play a trick on Titania by anointing her eyes with the magic flower so she will fall in love with some sort of animal.// > //Helena ignores Demetius's verbal abuse and continues to follow him, telling him that everything he says to insult her makes her love him more.// > //Helena does not mind Demetrius's threats and replies with statements of love.// > //Athenian women are supposed to listen to the men and act like possessions. Helena is not listening to both her father, because she sneaked out of his house, and Demetrius, by following him.// > //Oberon tells Puck to anoint Demetrius's eyes with the flower so that he will fall in love with Helena. Oberon tells Puck he will be able to identify Demetrius by the Athenian clothing he is wearing.//
 * 1) 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?
 * 1) How have Oberon and Titania been involved in the past with Theseus and Hippolyta; why have they come to Athens?
 * 1) What effect has their quarrel had on nature, on the seasons, on humans?
 * 1) Why won’t Titania give up the changeling to Oberon?
 * 1) What does Oberon send Puck to find?
 * 1) What are Oberon’s plans for Titania?
 * 1) How does Helena react to Demetrius’s verbal abuse?
 * 1) What is her response to his threats of physical abuse?
 * 1) In what way is Helena’s behaviour inappropriate for Athenian women?
 * 1) What does Oberon tell Puck to do about Demetrius and Helena?

=Act II, Scene 2= > //It is a form of revenge upon Titania for not giving Oberon the boy.// > //Hermia insists Lysander sleep away from her because she wants to wait until she is married to be intimate with Lysander.// > //Puck anoints Lysander's eyes because he thinks he is the man Oberon told him to anoint. The man is actually Demetrius, but Puck is unaware of this fact.// > //Helena thinks that Lysander is not actually in love with her, and is just playing a joke on her.// > //Hermia's dream, where a serpent ate her heart, is a symbol for Demetrius no longer loving her because of Puck. Puck is the serpent.//
 * 1) Why does Oberon want Titania to wake and fall in love with some vile thing?
 * 1) Why does Hermia insist Lysander sleep a little ways from her?
 * 1) Why does Puck anoint Lysander’s eyes?
 * 1) How does Helena react to Lysander’s sudden love for her when he awakens?
 * 1) How is Hermia’s dream a reflection of reality?

=Act II, Podcast=

//In pairs, use Garage Band to produce the introduction of Act 2 Scene 2. Use sound effects to create the magical and mysterious mood of the opening. Record the text up to line 34. Create the music to go with the lyrics of the Fairies Song. Upload to your Wiki.//

media type="file" key="MSNDact2s2.mp3" width="240" height="20"

=Act III, Scene 1= > //The actors plan to have a prologue at the beginning of the play to notify the audience that when Pyramus kills himself, he does not actually kill himself - it is make-believe.// > //For moonlight, the actors plan to leave the windows open. If it is too cloudy, and there is no moonlight, they plan to make someone hold a lantern and pretend to be the moon. The wall will be played by an actor, with his fingers opened slightly to make a crack that Pyramus and Thisby can talk through.// > //The actors run off because Bottom's head has turned into the one of an ass.// > //Puck plans to chase the other actors through the forest in various forms to mess with them.// > //Bottom is very flattered by the attention and starts to talk to them.// > //This statement is true because this has happened twice so far in the play: with Bottom and Titania, and Helena and Demetrius. In Bottom and Titania's case, Titania should reasonable not think Bottom is beautiful because of his ugly face of an ass. In Helena and Demetrius, Helena should not love Demetrius because her father says so, and it would be in her best interests to listen to him, but she ignores reason anyways.//
 * 1) How are the actors going to keep from scaring the ladies when Pyramus kills himself or when the lion roars?
 * 1) How are the actors going to manage the setting/scenery such as the moonlight and the wall?
 * 1) Why do the rest of the actors run off when Bottom reappears?
 * 1) What does Puck plan to do when he follows after the other actors?
 * 1) How does Bottom react to Titania and the other fairies?
 * 1) Bottom says, "…reason and love keep little company together nowadays." Why is this such an apt statement at this point in the play?

=Act III, Scene 2= > //I don't know. I could not find Hermia accusing Demetrius anywhere in Act III, Scene 2.// > //Puck and Oberon plan to lead the two men around by pretending to be the other until they fall asleep, rub the ointment on their eyes, and make sure they each see their respective lover when they wake up.// > //Helena is upset because she does not believe Demetrius really loves her. She thinks it is a cruel joke. If she knew Demetrius really did love her, she would be very happy.// > //Helena accuses Hermia of joining in the conspiracy against her. She thinks that when Hermia gets mad at Lysander for loving Helena, she is actually just trying to tease Hermia like the others.// > //Hermia and Helena had been great friends in the past; Helena says to Hermia that she "did ever keep your counsels; never wrong'd you."// > //Lysander insults Hermia and says that he hates her and regrets ever spending time with her. Hermia does not believe this because he loved her just a few hours ago, and such a sudden change is hard to comprehend.// > //Hermia accuses Helena of coming to Demetrius at night and convincing him to run away with her and fall in love with her.// > //Helena is afraid of Hermia because Hermia is much stronger then her, and they are fighting.// > //Lysander and Demetrius plan to go off into the woods to fight over Helena.// > //Oberon tells Puck to lead the two men away from each other until they fall asleep. He will get them to follow him by imitating the other man's voice.// > //Oberon plans to ask Titania for the boy one more time. If Titania accepts, he will release her from the charm that keeps her in love with Bottom.// > //Oberon does not fear the day because he and Puck are special types of fairies which the day does not affect.// > //Puck's trickery works very well, and both men fall asleep fine.//
 * 1) What does Hermia accuse Demetrius of doing?
 * 1) How are Puck and Oberon going to correct Puck’s earlier mistake?
 * 1) Why is Helena upset when Demetrius says he loves her? Isn’t this what she had wanted all along?
 * 1) Of what does Helena accuse Hermia?
 * 1) How close had Hermia and Helena been in the past?
 * 1) How does Lysander treat Hermia? Why can’t she believe what he says?
 * 1) Of what does Hermia accuse Helena?
 * 1) Why is Helena afraid of Hermia?
 * 1) What are Lysander and Demetrius going off to do?
 * 1) What does Oberon tell Puck to do about the two young men?
 * 1) What is Oberon going to do about Titania?
 * 1) Why doesn’t Oberon fear the coming of day?
 * 1) How well does Puck’s trickery work?

=Act III, Podcast= //Shakespeare plays with ideas of vision, of blindness, and of different ways of interpreting what one sees. Create a podcast, with music the lines in Act Three that deal with this imagery.//

media type="file" key="MSND Podcast III.mp3" width="240" height="20" =Act III, 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 falls in love with Bottom
 * Oberon gets news of this development, and also is told told that Puck anointed Demetrius's eyes
 * Hermia and Demetrius walk by Oberon, Oberon notices they are fighting which was not his intention
 * Oberon figures out that Demetrius's eyes were not anointed, it was Lysander's eyes that were
 * He tells Puck to bring Helena to him, then anoints Demetrius's eyes so that he can fall in love with Helena and all can be right
 * Lysander and Helena walk in, fighting, because she thinks Lysander is playing a trick on her by pretending to love her
 * Demetrius wakes up and falls in love with Helena, she thinks this is also a joke and gets even more mad
 * Hermia comes, notices Lysander is in love with Helena, is surprised and saddened by the sudden change
 * Lysander and Demetrius decide to settle this with a fight, leave the group to go fight in the woods
 * Helena, scared of Hermia, leaves also, and Hermia follows
 * Oberon, having observed this whole scene, instructs Puck to lead Lysander and Demetrius around in the wood until they fall asleep, then anoint there eyes so they fall in love with their corresponding lovers as was originally intended
 * Puck carries out the plan

=Act IV, Scene 1= > //Bottom is enjoying the attention and seems to be comfortable in his new surroundings, making jokes and asking for things to be served to him.// > //Oberon states that even though he is happy with the result of his eye ointment, he feels pity for her.// > //Oberon avoids the question, one time shushing her and the second time by being interrupted by Theseus and Hippolyta's train.// > //Theseus and Hippolyta are out hunting to celebrate their wedding.// > //Theseus thinks that they "rose up early to observe the rite of May".// > //Demetrius tells Theseus that he no longer loves Hermia, and loves Helena instead. He chooses an illness as a metaphor to describe his situation because, like an illness, his love for Hermia was only temporary, and he feels better now that it is gone.// > //Theseus decides that the couples may get married at their wedding, which is now a triple wedding.// > //The young people just woke up, and so are confused whether or not the Duke was a dream. They realize he was not momentarily, however.// > //Bottom decides to get Quince to write a ballad about his dream, called Bottom's Dream, and he will sing it at the end of his play, or potentially at Thisby's death.//
 * 1) How has Bottom adjusted to the attention of Titania and her fairies?
 * 1) What is Oberon’s reaction to Titania’s infatuation with Bottom?
 * 1) What sort of explanation will Oberon make to Titania’s question about what happened to her?
 * 1) Why are Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, and the others out in the woods so early in the morning?
 * 1) What is Theseus’s first explanation of why the young people are asleep in the woods?
 * 1) What explanation does Demetrius make? Why does he compare his love for Hermia to an illness?
 * 1) What is Theseus’s decision concerning the four young people?
 * 1) Why can’t the young people be sure whether they are awake or dreaming?
 * 1) Bottom believes he too has had a dream. How is he going to use that to entertain the Duke?

=Act IV, Scene 2= > //The other artisans now are fond of Bottom, and speak greatly of him.// > //They regret the loss of earnings, which they potentially would have received for performing the play.// > //The artisans must hurry because they need to perform their play on time. They are not prepared due to the play being canceled because Bottom was missing, leading to the need to rush.//
 * 1) What opinion do the other artisans now have of Bottom since they think he is lost?
 * 1) What do they most regret losing by not being able to perform the play?
 * 1) Why must the artisans hurry to the Duke’s palace?

=Act IV, Extending the Thought Process= > //My opinion of Bottom's character is mostly positive. He is a bit full of himself but is not mean or condescending to the other characters. He could be the antithesis of Theseus's character if you consider that Bottom acts as if he is very high up in society, but is not, and Theseus is very modest about his position as Duke.// > //The dreamers, after the dream, feel as if reality is far off in the distance and they are not very clear-minded. Demetrius is changed permanently by the experience; he falls out of love with Hermia and in love with Helena.// > //I think Shakespeare is saying that at the time of being in love it feels like the feeling is very strong, but after you have fallen out of love you cannot imagine ever being in love with that person.//
 * 1) 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?
 * 1) How do most of the dreamers respond to the dream experience upon waking? Which character is changed permanently by the dream experience?
 * 1) In this act, several characters look back at prior infatuations with disbelief. What do you think Shakespeare is saying about love and infatuation?

=Act IV, 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!//

media type="file" key="all 5 verses smushed together into one ultimate file_edited.mp3" width="240" height="20"


 * Bottom’s Ballad **

When learning our lines in the Athenian wood,  Did grotesque apparitions ‘go to my head’.  There I stood feebly, with the good masters fled  with such ignorance to my plight, as they should.

 As I sang a tune to ease my fears,  There was a voice, smooth as tears.  And on a limb I did espy,  A flowery angel, sitting nearby.

 She beckoned for my voice,  So loud, so clear;  I showed he my rude form,  But an ass she did not fear.

 She pampered me with food and song,  And it seemed my luck had shifted.  Yet after that night ever so long, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> My perfect dream cloud seemed to have lifted.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Now that my tales are gone, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Choked down by you like a most dreadful salad. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Now I will tell you why I wrote not a song: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> For this is mine, and Bottom’s, ballad.

= = =Act V, Scene I and II= > //Theseus dismisses the play because he says lovers are a bit crazy.// > //Theseus chooses Pyramus and Thisby because all the other plays have problems; they are either not suited for the wedding or have been seen before by Theseus.// > //Philostrate tells Theseus that the play is very boring and the actors are simply common men and not very good actors.// > //Theseus means that sometimes the simple men do a good job on things because of their duty to it.// > //The audience now knows the whole story, helping them understand what is going on while the play is being performed.// > //Theseus, Hippolyta, and the two couples comment on the play mulitple times during, with both criticism, humor, and praise.// > //Hippolyta thinks the play is "rather silly", and makes fun of it on multiple occasions.// > //Thisby thinks Pyramus is sleeping, even though there is a sword through his chest, and blood on his chest.// > //Oberon tells the fairies to dance and sing to bless the newly married couples.// > //Puck's final speech states that if you did not like the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream", you should pretend your experience watching it was simply a dream.//
 * 1) Why does Theseus dismiss the stories of the four young people?
 * 1) Why does Theseus choose to see the play about Pyramus and Thisby rather than the other entertainments?
 * 1) Why does Philostrate try to keep Theseus from seeing the play? What does he say is wrong with it?
 * 1) What does Theseus mean by the lines, "For never anything can be amiss, when simpleness and duty tender it"?
 * 1) What is accomplished by having the Prologue tell the whole story that the actors are then going to enact?
 * 1) How does Shakespeare use comments from the audience to enhance the humour of the play that they are watching?
 * 1) What is Hippolyta’s reaction to the play?
 * 1) In what way is Thisby’s final speech humorous?
 * 1) What does Oberon tell the fairies to do?
 * 1) What is the purpose of Puck’s final speech?

=Act V, Extending the Thought Process= >> excessive alliteration >>> //The prologue at the beginning of the play states, "With bloody blameful blade, he bravely broach'd his boiling bloody breast."// >> breaking the play’s illusion of reality >>> //Puck's long speech at the end of the play; too long to quote here.// >> using the wrong word or name >>> //Pyramus while talking to Thisby through the wall; "I see a voice", "I can hear my Thisby's face"// >> repeating a word excessively >>> //Pyramus dying; "Now die, die, die, die, die."// >> ridiculous metaphor >>> //Pyramus referring to the moon's beams as "sunny" and "golden, glittering streams"// > //The commentary provided by the audience provides an extra element of humor and also makes it easier to understand what is going on in the play-within-a-play.// > //In "Pyramus and Thisbe", the couples may relate to Pyramus and Thisbe and think of them as just like themselves. This is appropriate because they love each other very much, but inappropriate because they both die. The play-within-a-play is similar to events in the play, because a couple (Pyramus and Thisby vs. Lyrander and Hermia) decide to meet, without permission, somewhere (tomb vs. woods). Once they get there, someone interferes (lion vs. Demetrius / Helena / Oberon).//
 * 1) Find at least one example of each of the following that occurs during the play within the play. Write down the quote that illustrates each example.
 * 1) 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?
 * 1) 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?
 * 2) //"Shaggy" and "Velma" in "Scooby Doo"//
 * 3) //"Ben" and "Jerry" in "Ben and Jerry"//
 * 4) 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="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> COMPLETION 10/10 <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> EFFORT 8/10 <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> CONTENT 8/10

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> TOTAL 26/30