A+Midsummer+Night's+Dream

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Act I, Scene 1 1. How is Hippolyta’s reasoning concerning how quickly the next four days will pass different from that of Theseus?

2. Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do?

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

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

5. What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about this seemingly impossible situation? Why do they tell Helena?

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?

7. 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 8. Why does Nick Bottom want to play all the parts?

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

14. What does Oberon send Puck to find?

15. What are Oberon’s plans for Titania?

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

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

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

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

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

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

22. Why does Puck anoint Lysander’s eyes?

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

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