English 154/180
Harlan
MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What is one element of the play that reminds us of the country folklore which most of Shakespeare’s audience knew?
2. What is one element of the play that reminds us of the London which was most familiar to Shakespeare’s audience?
3. What is one element of the play which would appeal to the interest in the classical world which Shakespeare’s audience possessed?
4. In the pending marriage between Theseus and Hippolyta what factor might complicate their feelings for each other? What event in the opening scene might Hippolyta believe would predict how Theseus would treat her?
5. How does Theseus soften Egeus’s “either-or” demand to his daughter Hermia?
6. What are some of the barriers to true love which Lysander and Hermia list?
7. What are the arguments Lysander uses to convince Hermia to elope with him?
8. How does Hermia express her doubts about Lysander’s possible fidelity?
9. Explain the qualities of love represented by the figure of Cupid for the ancient Greeks and the Elizabethan English.
10. Why does Helena tell Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander’s elopement?
11. What are three ways that Bottom tries to compete with Peter Quince for control of the acting troupe?
12. What kinds of roles is Bottom used to playing?
13. Why do the actors decide to sneak out into the forest to hold their rehearsals?
14. Explain the point of the joke about “some French crowns have no hair at all.”
15. What is the extent of Puck’s “evil”? What function does he perform for Oberon? What dramatic function does he perform in the play as a whole?
15. What is the extent of Oberon and Titania’s powers, and how are those powers shown in this scene?
16. What is the reason for the rift in Oberon and Titania’s relationship?
17. Why is Titania unlikely to back down in her opposition to her husband?
18. What is the source of the magic flower which Oberon sends Puck to fetch?
19. How does Helena violate the rules of conduct for proper young Elizabethan gentlewomen? What is the cause of her impropriety, according to Helena?
20. Why does Oberon decide to help Helena straighten out her relationship?
21. Where on the Elizabethan stage was Titania’s “bower” located where she slept?
22. What arguments does Lysander use to convince Hermia they should sleep side-by- side? What argument does she use to deny his request? What is the most important outcome of Hermia’s insistence that they sleep physically separated?
23. How does Puck explain the sleeping arrangements when he finds Lysander/Hermia?
24. How does Shakespeare use the rhyme of the lines to show the extent of Lysander’s sudden passion for Helena? What other feeling is associated with his new love?
25. How does Lysander explain his sudden change of heart about Hermia and Helena?
26. What is Hermia dreaming about when Lysander dumps her and why is that significant?
27. Why do Bottom and the boys select this particular place for their rehearsals?
28. How does Bottom propose to overcome the adverse audience reaction when he kills himself in the play?
29. What is the problem the boys anticipate with the appearance of the lion? How do they propose to overcome the potential difficulty with a “wild beast” on stage?
30. What are the stage problems posed by the wall and the moon?
31. Why does Thisby have problems with his lines? What name does everyone have trouble pronouncing?
32. What is unusual about the way Shakespeare prepares the audience for Bottom’s sudden transformation?
33. How do Bottom’s friends react to his sudden transformation? How does he explain their reaction?
34. What is ironic about the song Bottom sings to show he is not afraid when everyone runs away?
35. How does Bottom react to Titania’s appearance and declaration of love?
36. Find at least two places where Titania’s choice of words makes clear what she wants from Bottom?
37. How does Bottom respond to the “courtesies” of the fairies like Peaseblossom, etc.?
38. How do the first 35 lines of this scene reveal Shakespeare’s use of different levels of awareness?
39. How does Hermia react to Demetrius’ declaration of love for her and hatred of Lysander?
40. What’s Puck’s reaction when Oberon says he has mistakenly destroyed a true love?
41. What is Helena’s reaction when both Lysander and Demetrius declare their love?
42. Why does it take Hermia so long to realize that Lysander no longer loves her?
43. What is Hermia’s “hot button,” and what are some of the examples of words which Helena and Lysander use to enrage her?
44. How does Puck manipulate the lovers to bring them together physically at the end of this scene?
45. What are some of the signs by which Bottom might have realized he had changed?
46. How is the custody conflict between Oberon and Titania resolved, and how do they mark their reconciliation?
47. How does Theseus explain the presence of the sleeping lovers in the forest?
48. What does Bottom decide should be done with his dream?
49. Why does Flute believe the Duke would have given Bottom “sixpence a day”?
50. How does Bottom explain what had happened to him in the forest?
51. How does Theseus explain what happened to the lovers in the forest?
52. What are the choices Theseus has for entertainment at his wedding? Why does he settle on the “Pyramus and Thisby” play?
53. How does Peter Quince screw up the intended meaning of the play’s Prologue?
54. Why is there a “dumb show” or pantomime at the beginning of the play?
55. Characterize Bottom’s performance as Pyramus. Where does Pyramus “step out of character”?
56. What is the running joke about the stones of the Wall?
57. Characterize the performance of the Lion.
58. Why do the members of the audience heckle the performers?
59. Characterize the performance of Flute as Thisby.
60. What other play does the death scene of “Pyramus and Thisby” recall?
61. What do the performers offer as entertainment at the conclusion of the play?
62. What does Oberon seek to protect the offspring of the newly married couples from?
63. What does Puck request the audience to do in the final speech?