A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Act I

order vs chaos, reason vs imagination What are the two themes of this story?
dictionary definition denotative meaning
symbolic meaning connotative meaning
Athens, the palace of Theseus Where does Act I, Scene I take place?
an organized center of commerce and residence What is the denotative meaning of a city?
law, order, structure, rules, reason, intellect, obedience What is the connotative meaning of a city? (7 words)
sets up the themes of order vs chaos and reason vs imagination Why is the setting of the first scene important?
excited about the marriage, forceful, doesn’t love Hippolyta because she is a trophy to him Based upon what you have read about Theseus in I-I, how do you expect him to behave?
not looking forward to the prospect of marrying, however she is still mostly obedient because of the time period Based upon what you have read about Hippolyta in I-I, how do you expect her to behave?
Hippolyta does not want to get married so time is passing quickly for her, Theseus does want to get married so time is passing slowly How does Hippolyta’s view of her upcoming marriage differ from Theseus’s? Provide evidence from the text to support.
He is upset because Hermia doesn’t want to marry Demetrius and women were supposed to be modest and obey their fathers Why is Egeus so upset? How does his speech reflect the values held during Elizabethian times?
You should obey your father Meaning of “To you your father should be as a god” (47)?
Your father can destroy/kill you Meaning of “By him imprinted, and within his power to leave the figure, or disfigure it” (50-51)?
punishment of death, Theseus gives her the choice to become a nun instead If Hermia refuses to obey her father, what punishment does Egeus seek? How does Theseus circumvent this situation?
Theseus is telling Hermia that she will be happier on earth as a wife but happier in heaven as a nun. Meaning of “But earthlier happy is the rose distill’d than that which, withering on the virgin thorn, grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness”(76-78)?
to become a nun What does Hermia decide after Theseus’s rose speech?
he is as noble and as rich, if not more, Hermia loves him, and Demetrius made Helena fall in love with him and then left her What reasons does Lysander have to get Egeus’s approval instead of Demetrius?
Hermia is sick, sad, and crying because of her father’s decision, also goes back to virgin rose metaphor What is the meaning of the metaphor in Lysander and Hermia’s dialogue in I-I?
differences in social class, age difference, father disapproves According to Lysander, what obstacles must love often face?
The course of true love never did run smooth…” What is Lysander’s line in I-I that is considered one of the most famous lines written by Shakespeare?
He and Hermia will run away to his rich widow aunt’s house 21 miles away and get married, breaking Athenian law What is Lysander’s plan?
Helena loves Demetrius, is extremely jealous of Hermia, and is not a very good person How would you describe Helena upon first meeting her?
Hermia’s eyes pull Demetrius in, and her beautiful voice makes people fall in love with her Explain the metaphors Helena uses when describing Hermia in I-I.
Helena is extremely jealous of Hermia, and is going to betray Hermia because of it to watch Demetrius chase after them. How does Helena’s soliloquy in lines 226-250 reveal her true, darker nature? What does she think of Hermia? What are her plans to gain Demetrius’s love?
like a hailstorm, because it came down hard, strong, and fast, almost hurting her, and now it’s completely gone What metaphor does Helena use when describing Demetrius’s oaths of love to her? Explain what the metaphor means.
monologue A speech given when someone is onstage with other people and the character’s ego is skewing the truth because they are trying to impress others on some level
soliloquy A speech given when someone is onstage all by themself and the character shows some of their deepest and darkest secrets that truly give insight into the human condition because they are not trying to impress anyone
What say you, Hermia? Be advis’d, fair maid. To you your father should be as a god, One that compos’d your beauties; yea, and one To whom you are but as a form in wax By him imprinted, and within his power to leave the figure, or disfigure it.Demetrius is a worthy gentleman. Recite I-I, lines 46-52
Athens, Peter Quince’s house Where does I-II take place?
Iambic Pentameter How do nobles speak?
prose How do commoners speak?
rhythmic couplets How do fairies, lovers, and angry people speak?
tragedy at a wedding, emotional, lovers kill themselves What is ironic about the mechanicals’ choice of play for the duke’s marriage?
dominating, bossy, ambitious, dramatic Describe the personality of Bottom.
women were not allowed to perform in the theater, so young boys and men had to play the female parts. How does Flute’s assigned part reflect Elizabethian theater?
he’s the figurehead but is not the one in charge, this is the same with real politics How does Shakespeare comment on politics through the character of Quince?
exposition, scene II is comic relief What function does Act I serve in the plot of the play?
August 4, 2019