A Midsummer Night’s Dream Acts IV and V Discussion

1. How has Bottom adjusted to the attention of Titania and her fairies? Adjusted well line 6 - “Scratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where’s Mounsieur Cobweb?”

2. What is Oberon’s reaction to Titania’s infatuation with Bottom? Happy, but also begins to pity Titania, and he wants Puck to undo the spell because he now has the changeling boy. line 44 - “Welcome, good Robin. Seest thou this sweet sight?” line 45 - “Her dotage now I begin to pity;” line 58 - “I then did ask of her here changeling child...”

3. What sort of explanation will Oberon make to Titania’s question about what happened to her? Really gives no explanation feels guilty and releases Titania from spell but only tries to charm her into reconciliation and revelry lines “Come my queen take hands with me./And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be.” line 86 - “Now thou and I are new in amity,”

4. Why are Theseus, Hippolyta, Egeus, and the others out in the woods so early in the morning? Out in the morning for a hunt to celebrate the May morning line “My love shall hear the music of my hounds.” line “Go bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns.”

5. What is Theseus’ first explanation of why the young people are asleep in the woods? Thinks they rose early to observe the rite of May and to celebrate the wedding lines “No doubt they rose up early to observe/The rite of May; and, hearing our intent,/Came here in grace of our solemnity.”

6. What explanation does Demetrius make? Why does he compare his love for Hermia to an illness? He confesses that he stole into the wood to follow Lysander and Hermia and that Helena followed him. Line “My lord, fair Helen told me of their stealth,” He compares his love for Hermia to an illness to compare his love for Hermia to temporary insanity or mania. Lines “But, like a sickness, did I loathe this food;/ But, as in health, come to my natural taste.”

7. What is Theseus’s decision concerning the four young people? Theseus overrules Egeus and allows love to prevail over a father’s wishes. Lines “Egeus, I will overbear your will;/For in the temple, by-and-by, with us,/These couples shall eternally be knit;”

8. Why can’t the young people be sure whether they are awake or dreaming? The events that have taken place seem unbelievable. Lines “That we are awake? It seems to me/That yet we sleep, we dream.”

9. Bottom believes he too has had a dream. How is he going to use that dream to entertain the Duke? He will include his “dream” at the end of the artisan’s performance for the Duke. Lines “It shall be call’d ‘Bottom’s Dream,’ because it hath no bottom; and I will sing it in the latter end of our play, before the Duke. Peradventure, to make it the more gracious, I shall sing it at her death.” - use of pun - foreshadowing - comedy tinged with tragedy

1. What opinion do the other artisans now have of Bottom since they think he is lost? They are disappointed that the play cannot go forward without his performance of Pyramus. Lines “It is not possible. You have not a man in all Athens able to discharge Pyramus but he.”

2. What do they most regret losing by not being able to perform the play? They most regret losing the money. Lines “O sweet bully Bottom! Thus hath he lost sixpence a day during his life.”

3. Why must the artisans hurry to the Duke’s palace? The marriage is about to take place. They have a performance to do. Their play is preferred by the Duke. Lines “presently at the palace; every man look o’er his part; for the short and long is, our play is preferr’d.”

1. Why does Theseus dismiss the stories of the four young people? He thinks they are mad. His comments reflect the play’s statement about the nature of romantic love. He thinks they imagined this incident being overcome with infatuation. Lines “Lovers and madmen have such seething brains,/Such shaping fantasies,” Lines “Such tricks hath strong imagination/That, if it would but apprehend some joy,”

2. Why does Theseus choose to see the play about Pyramus and Thisbe rather than the other entertainments? He wishes to have some entertainment so that the time will pass quickly. He chooses Pyramus and Thisbe because the plot is both tragic, comic, and brief. (Oxymorons) Lines “ ‘A tedious brief scene of young Pyramus/ And his love Thisby; very tragical mirth.’/Merry and tragical? Tedious and brief.”

3. Why does Philostrate try to keep Theseus from seeing the play? What does he say is wrong with it? He admits that the play is very brief but is concerned that the play is too sad. Lines “Made mine eyes water; but more merry tears/ The passion of loud laughter never shed.”

4. What does Theseus mean by the lines: “For never anything can be amiss, when simpleness and duty tender it”? He feels nothing can be wrong when the actors are performing for the Duke, and he may be implying that the artisans are simpletons, or how can anything be wrong or amiss with such a simple, brief plot? Line 83 - “When simpleness and duty tender it.”

5. What is accomplished by having the Prologue tell the whole story that the actors are then going to enact? Completely common in ancient and Shakespearean times. The prologue serves to familiarize the audience with the plot. This prologue serves to soften this tragic plot. Lines “If we offend, it is with our good will./That you should think, we come not to offend.”

6. How does Shakespeare use the comments from the audience to enhance the humor of the play they are watching? Their comments emphasize the burlesque, comedic parody. Lines “His speech was like a tangled chain; nothing impaired, but all disordered. Who is next?” Line “Would you desire lime and hair to speak better?” Lines “It is the wittiest partition that every I heard discourse, my lord.”

7. What is Hippolyta’s reaction to the play? She thinks the play is silly and unreal. Line “This is the silliest stuff that ever I heard.” Line “It must be your imagination then and not theirs.” Lines “How chance Moonshine is gone before Thisby comes back and finds her lover?”

8. In what way is Thisby’s final speech humorous? Her inane surprise reaction is absurd. Line “Asleep my love?” Line “What, dead, my dove?” Line “Speak, speak! Quite dumb?”

9. What does Oberon tell the fairies to do? The fairies sing and dance and bless the couples, their possible offspring, and every room in the castle. Lines “To the best bride-bed will we,/Which by us shall blessed be;/And the issue there create/Ever shall be fortunate.”

10. What is the purpose of Puck’s final speech? The purpose is to emphasize that all the action in this play has been in jest. Famous lines Lines “If we shadows have offended,/Think but this, and all is mended”