1. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
ACT 5 REVIEW

2. MAJOR EVENTS IN ACT 5
At his palace, Theseus speaks with Hippolyta about the story that the Athenian youths have told them.
Theseus says that he does not believe the story. Hippolyta says that if their story is not true, then it is quite strange that all of them managed to tell the events in exactly the same way.
The lovers come in and Theseus tells them that they will pass the time by watching a play before going to bed.

3. MAJOR EVENTS IN ACT 5
Egeus tells Theseus about the play that is about to be performed by the workmen, Pyramus and Thisbe.
He says the play is terrible and Theseus should not even bother watching it.
Theseus believes that there is some merit in the play even if it is terrible.
Quince comes in and tells the Prologue; the audience jokes about the awkward performance throughout the play.

4. MAJOR EVENTS IN ACT 5
Bottom continues to use many malapropisms stating at one point: “I see a voice...I can hear my Thisbe’s face” ( –191). He also states, “And, like Limander, am I trusty still” ( ), instead of saying Leander.
At the end of their performance, Bottom asks Theseus if he would like to see a bergamask dance or hear an epilogue; Theseus asks for the dance, which Bottom and Flute perform.
Everyone retires to bed.

5. Major events in act 5
Puck enters once night has fallen and says that he is “sent with broom before, / To sweep the dust behind the door.” ( ).
Oberon and Titania enter and bless the entire palace so that the lovers will remain true to one another, their children will be beautiful, and no harm will ever befall the palace (lines ).
Puck ends the play by stating that if the play has offended, the audience should remember it simply as a dream. He wishes the audience members good night and asks them to give him their hands in applause if they are kind friends.

6. YOUR TURN . . .
To help you prepare for your Test of Terminology, try to map out the play on a plot graph.
Exposition
Trigger/ Inciting Incident
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Dénouement/ Conclusion

7. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Major themes

8. What is a theme?
Theme: Life lesson, meaning, moral, or message about life or human nature that is communicated by a literary work.
In other words…
Theme is what the story teaches readers.

9. Theme statements A theme is not a word, it is a sentence.
You don’t have to agree with the theme to identify it.
Examples
Money can’t buy happiness.
Don’t judge people based on the surface.
It is better to die free than live under tyranny.

10. How to identify a theme Themes are not explicit (clearly stated).
Themes are implied.
Themes are BIGGER than the story and can be applied to real world situations and people.

11. THEMES IN THE PLAY A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
A NOTE

12. 1. Love ultimately triumphs in the end
Despite all the obstacles they face, the central characters eventually unite with the ones they love.

13. 2. LOVE is difficult for those involved
All of the lovers encounter mishaps before they achieve their heart's desire— marriage to the one they love above all others.
As Lysander tells Hermia in Act 1, Scene 1, "The course of true love never did run smooth" (Line 134).

14. 3. APPEARANCES ARE DECEIVING
Thanks to Puck’s pranks again and again throughout the play, the characters struggle to determine what is real and what is not.
Displays of affection
Love and lust
A person’s true self

15. 4. DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM
Bottom, Snug, Snout, Quince and Flute—all bumbling comic characters—fancy themselves great actors and wits. So they put on a play.
The moral: Dare to dream and your dream will come true—or at least you will have fun and enjoy life.
Dreams are mentioned throughout the play by several different characters.
Hippolyta’s first words draw on this theme: “Four days will quickly steep themselves in night, / Four nights will quickly dream away the time” ( ).

16. 5. Adults do not always know what is best
Egeus orders his daughter Hermia to marry a man she does not love.
Hermia protests and runs away.
In the end, Egeus is proven wrong as Hermia stays with Lysander.

17. Your turn . . .
As you begin to prepare for your Test of Terminology, create a list of your own theme statements.
Remember that a theme must be stated in a sentence
Provide proof from the play to show your thinking
State your idea clearly