http://sandyfeet.com/sand/lovetriangle2/index.html
http://www.fanpop.com/spots/william-shakespeare/images/2549951/title/midsummer-nights-dream
http://www.extratextual.tv/2008/05/top-50-television-comedies/
http://simonsfamily.net/rugrats/phillil.html
http://www.logoi.com/pastimages/sleeping_beauty.html
http://www.life-times.net/Dreaming_Girl_1_image.html
http://www.robeson.k12.nc.us/1034205622141747/site/default.asp
http://www.freewebs.com/modelbluedevilband/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/figmentsimagination/3479881848/
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Works Cited
Act V Artistic Rendering
This picture is significant to A Midsummer Night's Dream because following one's heart was a moftif throughout the play. No matter if the characters were intoxicated by the love-juice bestowed upon their eyes, or it their actions and decisions were of their own choice, they always followed and were persistant in what they believed to be right.
Act V Connections
1. The movie Hercules is similar to the play. In the movie, at the end, Hercules has a decision to make: should he follow the rules of the living- that once you are dead, you cannot return to Earth- or, should he follow his heart. Hercules follows his heart which turns out to be the right decision and grants him his dream of returning to Mount Olympus to live with his parents and the Gods once more. However, Hercules chose love over official godly glory and went back to Earth so as to live with his love, Meg for the rest of their lives. In the play, at the end, Theseus is also faced with a similar choice. Should he follow his heart or follow the law? The law states that if a woman disobeys her father in not marrying who she wants him to marry, then she should face punishment as death or sent to a nunnery. Instead, he follows his heart and lets the happily in love couples remain with their respective lovers, and even let's them get married with him and his true love.
2. The movie Beauty and the Beast is also similar to A Midsummer Night's Dream. In the movie, the Prince does something uncharitable and is turned into a beast. The woman who placed the charm upon him told him that he had to find true love by his 21st birthday, or he would forever remain a beast. Things don't look good for him, but in the end, everything turns out perfectly. In the middle of the play, there is confusion amongst the lovers, but at the end of it, everything plays out to be great for everyone and they are all happy.
Act V Quotes
1. "His speech was like a tangled chain: / Nothing impaired, but all disordered." -Theseus of Peter Quince (Scene 1, lines 130-131)
This quote is significant because it shows the reader/audience what they royals and well-offs think of the working class of rude mechanicals. They do not even think of them as worthy or level, they think of them as mixed up and unsure of themselves, but maybe the royals are just too cocky for their own good.
2. "I am sent with broom before, / To sweep the dust behind the door." -Puck (Scene 1, lines 384-385)
This quote is significant because as a reader or member of the audience, we find out one more detail of Puck's duty to Oberon and the royal fairies. He is the one that always cleans up the messes made by the immortals and keeps the messes safely hidden from the mortals, so that they will never suspect a thing to be different than as they know it.
This quote is significant because it shows the reader/audience what they royals and well-offs think of the working class of rude mechanicals. They do not even think of them as worthy or level, they think of them as mixed up and unsure of themselves, but maybe the royals are just too cocky for their own good.
2. "I am sent with broom before, / To sweep the dust behind the door." -Puck (Scene 1, lines 384-385)
This quote is significant because as a reader or member of the audience, we find out one more detail of Puck's duty to Oberon and the royal fairies. He is the one that always cleans up the messes made by the immortals and keeps the messes safely hidden from the mortals, so that they will never suspect a thing to be different than as they know it.
Act V Vocab
1. abridgment: n. pastime (Scene 1, line 43)
Today, most teen's favorite abridgment includes texting, listening to music, or going on facebook.
2. beguile: v. to decieve, or cheat someone (Scene 1, line 44)
The girl beguiled him with her charm into believing lies about his girlfriend.
3. broached: v. stabbed (Scene, line 152)
When they found the movie star, it was too late, he had already been broached in a gruesome knife fight on the streets of London.
4. dole: v. to have sorrow (Scene 1, line 276)
After hearing of their classmate's death, the students doled for the deceased's friends and family.
5. imbrue: v. to stain, especially with blood (Scene 1, line 341)
After the ardous fist fight, his shirt was imbrued with his opponent's blood.
Today, most teen's favorite abridgment includes texting, listening to music, or going on facebook.
2. beguile: v. to decieve, or cheat someone (Scene 1, line 44)
The girl beguiled him with her charm into believing lies about his girlfriend.
3. broached: v. stabbed (Scene, line 152)
When they found the movie star, it was too late, he had already been broached in a gruesome knife fight on the streets of London.
4. dole: v. to have sorrow (Scene 1, line 276)
After hearing of their classmate's death, the students doled for the deceased's friends and family.
5. imbrue: v. to stain, especially with blood (Scene 1, line 341)
After the ardous fist fight, his shirt was imbrued with his opponent's blood.
Act V Questions
1. Is Theseus's reaction to the lover's adventure something you would expect of him?
Theseus's reaction to the lover's adventure is not something you would expect of him. This is because he gave Hermia the options of a nunnery and death, which both seems very harsh on her for just wanting to have the man her heart desires. Because of the ultimatum he gave her, the readers or audience would not expect Theseus to be empathetic of them.
2. Why does Hippolyta initially seem hesitant to watch the play?
Hippolyta initially seemed hesitant to watch the play because of the description Philostrate gives her. She wishes not to see the wretchedness and goriness of the 'happily tragical serious comedy'.
3. Why does Snug, who plays the Lion, make a fuss about proclaiming his true identity?
Snug makes a fuss about proclaiming his identity. He does this so as not to scare the sensitive ladies in the audience.
4. In reading the play-within-a-play, we become the audience for the drama played out by Theseus, Hippolyta, and the others. These performers, in turn, form the audience for the reenactment of Pyramus and Thisbe. How does observing another audience help you understand the relationship between audience and performers?
While watching the audience watch a play, we notice many things about the audience and the performers through their actions. Of Theseus we note that, though he did his noble deed of letting the lovers stay together and getting married with him and Hippolyta, he often cuts in during the dialect of the play, furthur showing the reader/audience his arrogance-the fact that he just assumes that everything will halt at his wish. Of the rude mechanicals, we notice their skittishness- how they act in the play and how they answer to Theseus's commentary shows us all this. And of the lovers and Hippolyta, we see their subservientness to Theseus- he often interrupts the play, but they do not speak unto he does, or until spoken to, especially the women, who do not speak until their significant other speaks to them.
5. How does the theme of love's difficulty occur throughout the play? Explain.
In Act I Lysander said, "the course of true love never did run smooth". This we know now, was a foreshadow for the play later on. Most of the conflict in the play stems from romantic troubles and though the play involves many romantic elements, it is not exactly a true love story. The theme of love's difficulty quite often shown through the motif of love out of balance or a distraction in a romantic relationship. The most prevalent people we see this happen to are the four young adults: Hermia, Helena, Lysander, and Demetrius- Hermia loves Lysander and Lysander loves Hermia, but Demetrius also loves Hermia, and Hermia does not love Demetrius, but Helena loves Demetrius though his love is not returned. Throughout the play, these relationships become skewed, from love-juice placed upon some of the character's eyes, until things are set right with Hermia and Lysander loving each other and Helena and Demetrius loving each other. Something similar happens to Oberon and Titania in the fact that Oberon places the love-juice on Titania's eyes so that any love she has for him will diminish and in turn she will fall in love with a beast so that he can aquire the changeling boy they had previously argued about. This shows the imbalance of Oberon's love for Titania- his want of the Indian boy outweighed his love of his wife. The matter of Titania loving the ass-headed Bottom also represents an imbalance of apperance and nature in the fact that she is beautiful, graceful and immortal, and Bottom is grotesque, clumsy and mortal.
Theseus's reaction to the lover's adventure is not something you would expect of him. This is because he gave Hermia the options of a nunnery and death, which both seems very harsh on her for just wanting to have the man her heart desires. Because of the ultimatum he gave her, the readers or audience would not expect Theseus to be empathetic of them.
2. Why does Hippolyta initially seem hesitant to watch the play?
Hippolyta initially seemed hesitant to watch the play because of the description Philostrate gives her. She wishes not to see the wretchedness and goriness of the 'happily tragical serious comedy'.
3. Why does Snug, who plays the Lion, make a fuss about proclaiming his true identity?
Snug makes a fuss about proclaiming his identity. He does this so as not to scare the sensitive ladies in the audience.
4. In reading the play-within-a-play, we become the audience for the drama played out by Theseus, Hippolyta, and the others. These performers, in turn, form the audience for the reenactment of Pyramus and Thisbe. How does observing another audience help you understand the relationship between audience and performers?
While watching the audience watch a play, we notice many things about the audience and the performers through their actions. Of Theseus we note that, though he did his noble deed of letting the lovers stay together and getting married with him and Hippolyta, he often cuts in during the dialect of the play, furthur showing the reader/audience his arrogance-the fact that he just assumes that everything will halt at his wish. Of the rude mechanicals, we notice their skittishness- how they act in the play and how they answer to Theseus's commentary shows us all this. And of the lovers and Hippolyta, we see their subservientness to Theseus- he often interrupts the play, but they do not speak unto he does, or until spoken to, especially the women, who do not speak until their significant other speaks to them.
5. How does the theme of love's difficulty occur throughout the play? Explain.
In Act I Lysander said, "the course of true love never did run smooth". This we know now, was a foreshadow for the play later on. Most of the conflict in the play stems from romantic troubles and though the play involves many romantic elements, it is not exactly a true love story. The theme of love's difficulty quite often shown through the motif of love out of balance or a distraction in a romantic relationship. The most prevalent people we see this happen to are the four young adults: Hermia, Helena, Lysander, and Demetrius- Hermia loves Lysander and Lysander loves Hermia, but Demetrius also loves Hermia, and Hermia does not love Demetrius, but Helena loves Demetrius though his love is not returned. Throughout the play, these relationships become skewed, from love-juice placed upon some of the character's eyes, until things are set right with Hermia and Lysander loving each other and Helena and Demetrius loving each other. Something similar happens to Oberon and Titania in the fact that Oberon places the love-juice on Titania's eyes so that any love she has for him will diminish and in turn she will fall in love with a beast so that he can aquire the changeling boy they had previously argued about. This shows the imbalance of Oberon's love for Titania- his want of the Indian boy outweighed his love of his wife. The matter of Titania loving the ass-headed Bottom also represents an imbalance of apperance and nature in the fact that she is beautiful, graceful and immortal, and Bottom is grotesque, clumsy and mortal.
Act V Scene I
After Class Reading Reflections
The lovers wed and it is implied that they all live 'happily ever after'. They watch the play put on by the rude mechanicals and often interrupt to commentate. All in all, the play performed is asinine and supercilious, which Hippolyta makes known. After the mortals have all retired, the immortals take to the dance floor, and Puck makes a little closing speech. At the end of his dialect he leaves the audience thinking that maybe the play itself was nothing but a dream and leaves many questions unanswered...
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Act IV Artistic Rendering
This picture of a dreaming girl is significant to the play from a couple different perspectives. What goes on in our subconscious when we are dreaming or day dreaming is based off of what has happened during our day or recently when we were conscience. Dreams are said to be a way to replay for us what happened in consciousness, but often times they have an unrealness to them. Most of the time, we don't even remember what we dream of, but when we do, it tends to be something that sticks with you, if not forever, then for quite a while. This is similar to A Midsummer Night's Dream because in the play, all the characters who get the love-juice placed on their eyes are magically transformed, not only in their affections, but also in their mannerisms. When they wake up after having the antidote placed on their eyes, they think of their actions as nothing but a dream. Titania remembered her actions with Bottom, but Lysander and Demetrius's memories were slightly clouded when it came to what happened in the woods after the love-juice was placed on their eyes. This is just an example of how the effects of dreams work on different people.
Act IV Real Life Connections
1. The movie Sleeping Beauty is similar to A Midsummer Night's Dream. This is because in the movie, the fairies make everyone in the castle fall asleep until the princess waskes up. When they finally do wake up, everyone thinks that everything that had previously happened was just a dream. In A Midsummer Night's Dream, when Titania wakes up, she believes she had a frightful dream in which she loved an ass, and immediately takes to Oberon in a way that the reader and audience never saw of her do earlier in the play.
2. The song "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" is significant to A Midsummer Night's Dream. This is because this song is used to congratulate someone for something they have done. Once Bottom returns, the rude mechanicals that he is acting alongside are overjoyed to see him, for the time they previusly saw him, he had the head of an ass, so they probably assumed that a beast overtook him, but he conquered it.
Act IV Quotes
1. "My Oberon! What visions have I seen! / Methought I was enamored of an ass!" -Titania to Oberon (Scene 1, lines 75-76)
This quote is significant because it shows the readers how when the victims of the love-juice wake up, they believe it all to have been a dream and can't believe what they went through.
2. "May all to Athens back again repair / And think no more of this night's accidents / But as the fierce vexation of a dream." -Oberon (Scene 1, lines 66-68)
This quote is especially significant to the play. This quote explains to the readers or audience why the victims feel as though they have had a most peculiar dream when they wake up after having the love-juice put on their eyes.
This quote is significant because it shows the readers how when the victims of the love-juice wake up, they believe it all to have been a dream and can't believe what they went through.
2. "May all to Athens back again repair / And think no more of this night's accidents / But as the fierce vexation of a dream." -Oberon (Scene 1, lines 66-68)
This quote is especially significant to the play. This quote explains to the readers or audience why the victims feel as though they have had a most peculiar dream when they wake up after having the love-juice put on their eyes.
Act IV Vocab
1. discourse: n. conversation (Scene 1,line 182)
The Bush Administration was in discourse with the public over it's Iraq strategy.
2. enmity: n. hostility (Scene 1,line 151)
The enmity in his eyes was so great, I thought I could die just from looking at him.
3. paragon: n. model of perfection (Scene 2,line 13)
She was a paragon for the painting he had always dreamed of making.
4. amiable: adj. lovable, lovely (Scene 1, line 2)
She brown hair and rosy cheeks looked amiable in the snow covered forest.
5. upbraid: to reprimand somebody (Scene 1, line 49)
The principal upbraided the boys for leaving school property during school hours without permission
The Bush Administration was in discourse with the public over it's Iraq strategy.
2. enmity: n. hostility (Scene 1,line 151)
The enmity in his eyes was so great, I thought I could die just from looking at him.
3. paragon: n. model of perfection (Scene 2,line 13)
She was a paragon for the painting he had always dreamed of making.
4. amiable: adj. lovable, lovely (Scene 1, line 2)
She brown hair and rosy cheeks looked amiable in the snow covered forest.
5. upbraid: to reprimand somebody (Scene 1, line 49)
The principal upbraided the boys for leaving school property during school hours without permission
Act IV Questions
1. How does Theseus's current decision regarding Hermia and Lysander contradict his earlier statement?
In the beginning, Theseus told Hermia that if she did not do as her father wished and marry Demetrius, she would be forced to live forever at a nunnery, or face death. After hearing Lysander and Demetrius's stories and seeing that Demetrius truly did not love Hermia anymore, having eyes only for Helena, Theseus decided that their story was legitimate and decided that the couples could be married to their respective lovers with him and Hippolyta on their wedding day. Theseus probably thought, "Why hold love apart?", him himself having captured the woman he fell in love with so that they could be together forever.
2. How do most of the dreamers respond to the dream experience upon waking? Which character is changed permanently by the dream experience?
Most of the dreamers respond to the dream experience upon waking up similarily. They all believe that they have just had a dream in which everything they had previously went through when the love-juice was involved was just a wild and exciting dream. Demetrius is the only charcater who was permanently changed by the dream experience- he loved Hermia, but thanks to the love-juice, he now loves Helena forevermore.
3. In this act, several characters look back at prior infatuations with disbelief. What do you think Shakespeare is saying about love and infatuation?
I believe that Shakespeare is trying to demonstrate for the audience/reader how love functions. There is no 'way' of love and it is impossible to understand. It is something that will always be one of the biggest and unsolved mysteries of mankind. In this play, Shakespeare demonstrates that love can change at a blink of an eye with no reason at all expect that the infatuation of the person had changed.
4. The fourth act opens and ends with Bottom at center stage. What is your opinion of Bottom's character? How might he be antithesis, or opposite, of Theseus's character?
Bottom is a character you love to hate. The audience/reader loves to see and read his arrogance and confidence, but hates his arrogance and confidence all the same. Bottom is antithesis of Theseus's character because he always puts himself first and he believes that he is on level with the gods. Also, tells everyone that he is the best actor of the actors assembled, though it is true, he should not need to advertise it, and in doing so, he is also percieved as conceited. The difference with Theseus is that he knows he is a god and doesn't need to advertise it to evveryone.
5. Should the rude mechanicals putting on the play be happy that Nick Bottom has returned or not?
The rude mechanicals putting on the play should not be overjoyed that Bottom has returned. This is because Bottom is cocky and lets everyone know how good he is at everything and eventually it gets old and tiring. Also, Bottom may be the best of the actors assembled to put the play on, however, he is overly dramatic and seems very asinine and if the actors want to win the competition they should keep Bottom out of it.
In the beginning, Theseus told Hermia that if she did not do as her father wished and marry Demetrius, she would be forced to live forever at a nunnery, or face death. After hearing Lysander and Demetrius's stories and seeing that Demetrius truly did not love Hermia anymore, having eyes only for Helena, Theseus decided that their story was legitimate and decided that the couples could be married to their respective lovers with him and Hippolyta on their wedding day. Theseus probably thought, "Why hold love apart?", him himself having captured the woman he fell in love with so that they could be together forever.
2. How do most of the dreamers respond to the dream experience upon waking? Which character is changed permanently by the dream experience?
Most of the dreamers respond to the dream experience upon waking up similarily. They all believe that they have just had a dream in which everything they had previously went through when the love-juice was involved was just a wild and exciting dream. Demetrius is the only charcater who was permanently changed by the dream experience- he loved Hermia, but thanks to the love-juice, he now loves Helena forevermore.
3. In this act, several characters look back at prior infatuations with disbelief. What do you think Shakespeare is saying about love and infatuation?
I believe that Shakespeare is trying to demonstrate for the audience/reader how love functions. There is no 'way' of love and it is impossible to understand. It is something that will always be one of the biggest and unsolved mysteries of mankind. In this play, Shakespeare demonstrates that love can change at a blink of an eye with no reason at all expect that the infatuation of the person had changed.
4. The fourth act opens and ends with Bottom at center stage. What is your opinion of Bottom's character? How might he be antithesis, or opposite, of Theseus's character?
Bottom is a character you love to hate. The audience/reader loves to see and read his arrogance and confidence, but hates his arrogance and confidence all the same. Bottom is antithesis of Theseus's character because he always puts himself first and he believes that he is on level with the gods. Also, tells everyone that he is the best actor of the actors assembled, though it is true, he should not need to advertise it, and in doing so, he is also percieved as conceited. The difference with Theseus is that he knows he is a god and doesn't need to advertise it to evveryone.
5. Should the rude mechanicals putting on the play be happy that Nick Bottom has returned or not?
The rude mechanicals putting on the play should not be overjoyed that Bottom has returned. This is because Bottom is cocky and lets everyone know how good he is at everything and eventually it gets old and tiring. Also, Bottom may be the best of the actors assembled to put the play on, however, he is overly dramatic and seems very asinine and if the actors want to win the competition they should keep Bottom out of it.
Act IV Scenes I and II
After Class Review
I feel like Oberon and Titania's relationship is not trustful AT ALL. I like the fact that when they all wake-up, they think it to be nothing more thatn a dream, playing off the drama's title. Bottom really is annoying and tries much too hard to be liked by Titania. It seems though, that when Titania wakes up with the antidote having been put on her eyes, her and Oberon seem to share a new fondness for each other. When Theseus finds Hermia, Helena, Lysander, and Demetrius he is surprised that they are all civil and how Lysander and Demetrius's situation played out. He surprisingly accepts it and wants them to get married with him and Hippolyta.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Act III Artistic Rendering
This image is significant to A Midsummer Night's Dream in a few different ways. This can be significant because Demetrius loves Hermia, and Egeus wants Hermia to marry Demetrius, but Hermia does not want to take him as her husband. It could also be significant because, after the love juice is placed on his eyes, Lysander wakes up to see Helena first and immediately loves her, and she does not love him back. Hermia is heart broken to realize this and immediately thinks Helena stole her love from her.
Act III Real Life Connections
1. Rancocas Valley vs. Northern Burlington County
RV and NBC are known rivals when it comes to sports because both school's athlete's skill levels are so close to each other, no one ever knows who is going to win. Recently, the girl's lacrosse team beat NBC after losing 11 consecutive game to them, the two last year having gone into overtime where NBC scored the winning goal in both games. This is similar to Helena and Hermia because as soon as Lysander shunned Hermia, she and Helena became enemies for the time being. Both girls were described as beautiful in their own way and it was always changing who had the love of who throughout the play, just as the records of these two schools are always changing, as to what sport is winning to the rival school and which one is losing.
2. Edward Cullen and Jacob Black from the popular Twilight book series is significant and similar to Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream because Edward and Jacob are rivals, fighting for a common thing: the love of main character Bella Swan. They both have an intense love for the same girl, much as Demetrius and Lysander do for Helena after having the love-juice placed upon their eyes and waking up to see her first. Neither of these girls know what to do- Bella, because she shares a love for both of them, but in different ways, and Helena, because she is used to being shunned, and remembers when Demetrius once loved her and longs for those days again, but becomes bewildered with all the attention she is now receiving from both men.
Act III Quotes
1. "What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?... On the first view, to say, to swear, I love thee" -Titania to Bottom (Scene 1, lines 125, 138)
This quote is significant because here, Titania admits her falsified love of Bottom, which just insures Oberon that plan is going work and he will be the master of the Indian boy.
2. "What hast thou done? Thou has mistaken quite / And laid the love-juice on some true-love's sight. / Of thy misprision must perforce ensue / Some true-love turned, and not a false turned true." -Oberon to Puck (Scene 2, lines 89-92)
This quote is significant, because this is where Oberon sees that Puck messed up with the love potion and the audience or reader of the play knows that Oberon will make Puck fix what he did, but leaves them wondering how exactly he will do it, promising them more laughs, because where ever Puck is involved, the reader/ audience is guaranteed some form of comical entertainment.
This quote is significant because here, Titania admits her falsified love of Bottom, which just insures Oberon that plan is going work and he will be the master of the Indian boy.
2. "What hast thou done? Thou has mistaken quite / And laid the love-juice on some true-love's sight. / Of thy misprision must perforce ensue / Some true-love turned, and not a false turned true." -Oberon to Puck (Scene 2, lines 89-92)
This quote is significant, because this is where Oberon sees that Puck messed up with the love potion and the audience or reader of the play knows that Oberon will make Puck fix what he did, but leaves them wondering how exactly he will do it, promising them more laughs, because where ever Puck is involved, the reader/ audience is guaranteed some form of comical entertainment.
Act III Vocab
bequeath: v. to leave to or pass on to, as in a will (Scene 2, line 168)
He accumulated an immense fortune and bequeathed a good estate to each of his sons.
sojoun: v. to stay somewhere for a while (Scene 2, line 173)
During my sojourn in Paris, I had many experiences, one that was not so pleasant was eating snails- a Parisian delicacy.
derision: n. scorn (Scene 2, line 387)
The governor, who resigned amid a tax evasion scandal was greeted with shouts of derision from the crowd.
chide: v. to scold (Scene 2, line 45)
My mother always used to chide me for making a fuss about taking my medicine.
recompense: n. payment (Scene 2, line 183)
The company offered recompense if there was anything wrong with their product.
He accumulated an immense fortune and bequeathed a good estate to each of his sons.
sojoun: v. to stay somewhere for a while (Scene 2, line 173)
During my sojourn in Paris, I had many experiences, one that was not so pleasant was eating snails- a Parisian delicacy.
derision: n. scorn (Scene 2, line 387)
The governor, who resigned amid a tax evasion scandal was greeted with shouts of derision from the crowd.
chide: v. to scold (Scene 2, line 45)
My mother always used to chide me for making a fuss about taking my medicine.
recompense: n. payment (Scene 2, line 183)
The company offered recompense if there was anything wrong with their product.
Act III Questions
1. What part of her appearance does Hermia believe Helena exploited to make Lysander fall out of love with her?
Hermia believes that Helena makes Lysander fall out of love with her by telling him that she is short and therefore not worthy of his love. Since Hermia and Helena are opposites of each other: Helena being tall and light featured, and Hermia being short and dark featured- Hermia beleives Helena of saying these things to Lysander to show him that she is the only one worthy of his affections.
2. Think of characters from television or the movies who are tricksters like Puck. Why might audiences enjoy watching the antics of such characters?
Audiences enjoy watching characters like Puck because they always lighten up the mood and make things more enjoyable through comical means. Puck's pranks and hijinks are gauranteed to make the audience/reader laugh and all in all make the comedy more enjoyable for all.
3. In act 3, what emotion does Oberon show he is capable of? How does he show this?
In act 3, Oberon shows that he is capable of the emotions of compassion and empathy. He shows this by trying to set things right amonst the mortals so that all of them could have their rightful and desired loves. He makes Puck fix his error and in doing so, he shows the readers/audience that he is very empathetic, especially of Helena who once had her love, but lost him to her best friend, Hermia. He understands her plight and tries to help her in any way he can, and that just happens to be by charming her love's eyes, and when Puck messes his plan up and both Demetrius and Lysander love her, instead of just leaving the whole mess alone, Oberon tells Puck to fix it so that she can actually have her love as planned, leaving the reader/audience to believe that maybe Oberon wishes this was the way his love life were too: that someone could help him out and that he would have eternal and undying love instead of the untrusting relationship him and Titania share.
4.What causes Helena to become angry with Hermia? Why does Helena refuse to believe her friend and her would-be lovers?
Helena becomes angry with Hermia because suddenly both Demetrius and Lysander love her, and she believes it to be a cruel prank conducted by Hermia to make her feel even worse about herself, and for Hermia to gloat how both men love her. Helena refuses to believe her best friend and would be lovers. She does this because she is used to being the pursuee, not the object of pursuit. She is prone to rejection and is not used to recieving love and much less the love of two men, so naturally, she does not know how to handle herself or this new attention.
5. Do you think Oberon's choice was justified in getting the changeling boy?
Hermia believes that Helena makes Lysander fall out of love with her by telling him that she is short and therefore not worthy of his love. Since Hermia and Helena are opposites of each other: Helena being tall and light featured, and Hermia being short and dark featured- Hermia beleives Helena of saying these things to Lysander to show him that she is the only one worthy of his affections.
2. Think of characters from television or the movies who are tricksters like Puck. Why might audiences enjoy watching the antics of such characters?
Audiences enjoy watching characters like Puck because they always lighten up the mood and make things more enjoyable through comical means. Puck's pranks and hijinks are gauranteed to make the audience/reader laugh and all in all make the comedy more enjoyable for all.
3. In act 3, what emotion does Oberon show he is capable of? How does he show this?
In act 3, Oberon shows that he is capable of the emotions of compassion and empathy. He shows this by trying to set things right amonst the mortals so that all of them could have their rightful and desired loves. He makes Puck fix his error and in doing so, he shows the readers/audience that he is very empathetic, especially of Helena who once had her love, but lost him to her best friend, Hermia. He understands her plight and tries to help her in any way he can, and that just happens to be by charming her love's eyes, and when Puck messes his plan up and both Demetrius and Lysander love her, instead of just leaving the whole mess alone, Oberon tells Puck to fix it so that she can actually have her love as planned, leaving the reader/audience to believe that maybe Oberon wishes this was the way his love life were too: that someone could help him out and that he would have eternal and undying love instead of the untrusting relationship him and Titania share.
4.What causes Helena to become angry with Hermia? Why does Helena refuse to believe her friend and her would-be lovers?
Helena becomes angry with Hermia because suddenly both Demetrius and Lysander love her, and she believes it to be a cruel prank conducted by Hermia to make her feel even worse about herself, and for Hermia to gloat how both men love her. Helena refuses to believe her best friend and would be lovers. She does this because she is used to being the pursuee, not the object of pursuit. She is prone to rejection and is not used to recieving love and much less the love of two men, so naturally, she does not know how to handle herself or this new attention.
5. Do you think Oberon's choice was justified in getting the changeling boy?
Oberon's choice was not justified, because he should not have tricked his wife into loving an ass to acquire the changeling boy. If he truly loved Titania, he would have understood and respected her reasonings for wanting the boy. Even if he still wanted him, Oberon should have reapproached her and asked her instead of messing with her affections.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Act III Scene II
After Class Reading Reflection
I feel pretty bad for Hermia because she is used to getting attention and now she's been stripped of it. Now, Helena is getting all the attention and doesn't know how to handle it. She believes they are just making fun of her, and with good reason. I do feel thta she should be a bit more trusting though, since these are her close friends. Hermia now believes that Helena was in on this turning of Lysander's love but little does she know that it is the workings of magic- she shouldn't be so distrusting of her best friend. I do wonder where their parents/chaperones have been though. It has been at least a day and no one has come looking for them. I think it would be thought of as scandalous that four young adults have gone missing.
Act III Scene I
Independent Reflection
Bottom is really obnoxious in saying he is the best actor there, he keeps putting down his castmates, and that doesn't show good character. I believe Shakespeare wants us to think him an ass and hence, he is cursed with an ass's head. How is it though that he doesn't know his head had been transformed? The act all in all was quite funny. Titania falls in love with Bottom just as Oberon wanted. Bottom starts acting ridiculously (not surprisingly) and we come to figure out one of his other traits: he always thinks he is right- he believes that a man should play the part of the wall and that they should introduce themselves in order not to scare the women in the audience and steadfastly believes there is no other way. My biggest question though, is how come he calls the fairies master if they are clearly women?
After Class Reading Reflection
Bottom has fallen in love wiht Titania and tries to impress her and her train with fancy words that just make him seem like an idiot, though Titania doesn't think so because her beter judgement has been fogged by the love potion's spell. Because Titania has falsely fallen in love with Bottom, she wants to keep him and make him into a fairy if possible.
In Athens, the women are treated as property with no value. With the faires Titania and Oberon are equal rulers, however Titania depicts Shakespeare's view of women: evil, bossy and gullible.
Act II Artistic Rendering
Peter Pan plays tricks on Captain Hook all the time as Puck plays tricks on Humans. They are both immature and always just want to have fun. Also, not only do they have an immature and playful side, but a serious and loyal side. They always follow through with whatever needs to be done and know how to fix their mistakes, even if they do not want to take the blame for them.
Act II Real Life Connections
1. Rugrats the tv show has similar compents that the play A Midsummer Night's Dream also does. In Rugrats, the twin brother and sister, Phil and Lil were always so competetive and couldn't stand when one of them got something the other one didn't; they would use whatever hijinks they had. This is similar to Titania and Oberon. They fought over the Indian boy, so finally Oberon decided to put Titania under a love spell that would make her fall in love with whatever living thing she saw first.
2. Tinkerbell from Peter Pan is similar to Puck in the play. They are both mischevious fairies that like to pull pranks on people for their own entertainment. They are also loyal to their 'masters'- Puck to Oberon and Tinkerbell to Peter Pan, and would do anything for them, even if they don't like the idea themselves.
Act II Quotes
1. "You are a shrewd and knavish sprite/ Called Robin Goodfellow." -Fairy to Puck/ Robin Goodfellow (Act 2, Scene 1, lines 33-34)
It is here in the play that we are introduced to Puck who is Oberon's jester of sorts- provides entertainment and does Oberon's bidding. We come to know him as Puck throughout most of the play, but we know that he is also refferred to as Robin Goodfellow. In the play there are many doubles: Titania and Oberon to Hippolyta and Thesues, Hermia and Lysander to Helena and Demetrius, and Puck to Robin Goodfellow. Puck has two sides to him and we figure it out here as well in various other places throughout the play. Puck is the jester and Robin is the do- gooder.
2. "Thou shalt know the man/ By the Athenian garments he hath on." -Oberon to Puck (Act 2, Scene 1, lines 268-269)
This quote is significant because it is where all the conflict that later appears in the play stems from. Oberon has only seen one man with Athenian garments on, but little does he know that there happen to be two of them in the forest, leaving it possible that Puck will put the potion on the wrong man's eyes and mess Oberon's whole plan up.
It is here in the play that we are introduced to Puck who is Oberon's jester of sorts- provides entertainment and does Oberon's bidding. We come to know him as Puck throughout most of the play, but we know that he is also refferred to as Robin Goodfellow. In the play there are many doubles: Titania and Oberon to Hippolyta and Thesues, Hermia and Lysander to Helena and Demetrius, and Puck to Robin Goodfellow. Puck has two sides to him and we figure it out here as well in various other places throughout the play. Puck is the jester and Robin is the do- gooder.
2. "Thou shalt know the man/ By the Athenian garments he hath on." -Oberon to Puck (Act 2, Scene 1, lines 268-269)
This quote is significant because it is where all the conflict that later appears in the play stems from. Oberon has only seen one man with Athenian garments on, but little does he know that there happen to be two of them in the forest, leaving it possible that Puck will put the potion on the wrong man's eyes and mess Oberon's whole plan up.
Act II Vocab.
1. dissemble: v. to pretend (Scene 2, line 98)
After commiting the horrible crime, the man could not dissemble his feelings in front of the jury.
2. flout: v. to mock (Scene 2, line 129)
The girl did not like her classmates flouting her lisp.
3. progeny: n. offspring (Scene 1, line 116)
It is a mystery how their progeny have blue eyes and blond hair when they themselves have dark features.
4. promontory: n. peak of land that juts out (Scene 1, line 151)
When we would take vaccations to the island, my mom always told me not to go near the promontory to insure that i would not hurt myself.
5. wanton: adj. shameless (Scene 1, line 64)
Her wanton courage proved to the world that woman could really do anything and everything a man could.
After commiting the horrible crime, the man could not dissemble his feelings in front of the jury.
2. flout: v. to mock (Scene 2, line 129)
The girl did not like her classmates flouting her lisp.
3. progeny: n. offspring (Scene 1, line 116)
It is a mystery how their progeny have blue eyes and blond hair when they themselves have dark features.
4. promontory: n. peak of land that juts out (Scene 1, line 151)
When we would take vaccations to the island, my mom always told me not to go near the promontory to insure that i would not hurt myself.
5. wanton: adj. shameless (Scene 1, line 64)
Her wanton courage proved to the world that woman could really do anything and everything a man could.
Act II Questions
1. Why does Oberon want to help other people's love lives when his own is unstable?
Oberon and Titania's love is not built trust and they don't share a sexual connection. Oberon helps Helena because he can see her desire of Demetrius and his scorn for her. He realizes that they once had a sexual relationship, but now he dotes on Hermia who does not love him back. Oberon notices all of this and decides that while he plays a cruel trick on his wife so that he can achieve what he wants, he will also help the mortal Helena so that she too can be happy.
2. How might the magical herb described by Oberon act as a metaphor for the way infatuation operates in real life?
The magical herb described by Oberon acts as a metaphor for the way infatuation operates in real life. This is because you can't control who you are attracted to and much less who you love. Your infatuations can change at the blink of an eye, with no rhyme or reason. That's just the way love works, and that is also how the magical herb Oberon talks about works.
3. How would you describe the character of Puck? What kind of mood does he create?
I would describe Puck as a lively sprite who is an accomplished prankster. He creates a playful and yet turmoiled mood all throughout the play. Though he messes up Oberon's plan, he is able to ultimately fix his accident, and right things for the four mortals that wander in the woods.
4. By the end of act 2, what is similar about the following pairs: Lysander and Hermia, Demetrius and Helena, and Oberon and Titania?
At the end of act 2 the pairs of: Lysander and Hermia, Demetrius and Helena, and Oberon and Titania all have something in common. This is that they were all lovers, but now in this act, one of the lovers in the pair's affections have turned to someone else, whether it be from the magical herb or from their own will, something is wrong. In this case, Lysander loves Helena instead of Hermia, Titania loves Bottom instead of Oberon, and Demetrius loves Hermia instead of Helena, as Oberon had planned. There has been a big mix up and somehow it needs to be fixed.
5. At the end of act 2, why does Lysander turn his back on Hermaia?
Lysander turns his back on Hermia at the end of act 2 because Puck mistakenly places the juice from the magical herb on his eyes, thinking him to be Demetrius. He was doing Oberon's bidding- Oberon having told him to put the juice on a man with Athenian garments on, not knowing that there were two in the woods at the time.
Oberon and Titania's love is not built trust and they don't share a sexual connection. Oberon helps Helena because he can see her desire of Demetrius and his scorn for her. He realizes that they once had a sexual relationship, but now he dotes on Hermia who does not love him back. Oberon notices all of this and decides that while he plays a cruel trick on his wife so that he can achieve what he wants, he will also help the mortal Helena so that she too can be happy.
2. How might the magical herb described by Oberon act as a metaphor for the way infatuation operates in real life?
The magical herb described by Oberon acts as a metaphor for the way infatuation operates in real life. This is because you can't control who you are attracted to and much less who you love. Your infatuations can change at the blink of an eye, with no rhyme or reason. That's just the way love works, and that is also how the magical herb Oberon talks about works.
3. How would you describe the character of Puck? What kind of mood does he create?
I would describe Puck as a lively sprite who is an accomplished prankster. He creates a playful and yet turmoiled mood all throughout the play. Though he messes up Oberon's plan, he is able to ultimately fix his accident, and right things for the four mortals that wander in the woods.
4. By the end of act 2, what is similar about the following pairs: Lysander and Hermia, Demetrius and Helena, and Oberon and Titania?
At the end of act 2 the pairs of: Lysander and Hermia, Demetrius and Helena, and Oberon and Titania all have something in common. This is that they were all lovers, but now in this act, one of the lovers in the pair's affections have turned to someone else, whether it be from the magical herb or from their own will, something is wrong. In this case, Lysander loves Helena instead of Hermia, Titania loves Bottom instead of Oberon, and Demetrius loves Hermia instead of Helena, as Oberon had planned. There has been a big mix up and somehow it needs to be fixed.
5. At the end of act 2, why does Lysander turn his back on Hermaia?
Lysander turns his back on Hermia at the end of act 2 because Puck mistakenly places the juice from the magical herb on his eyes, thinking him to be Demetrius. He was doing Oberon's bidding- Oberon having told him to put the juice on a man with Athenian garments on, not knowing that there were two in the woods at the time.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Act II Scene II
After Class Reading Reflection
In this scene, Oberon's plans start to unfold. I feel bad for Helena, because little does she know that magic is at work here. She is so used to being shunned and pushed away, that all the attention that she is now getting by Lysander is strange and foreign to her. I feel as if she has a right to think that he is just playing a men trick on her because only a few hours before, he was madly in love with Hermia.
In this scene, Oberon's plans start to unfold. I feel bad for Helena, because little does she know that magic is at work here. She is so used to being shunned and pushed away, that all the attention that she is now getting by Lysander is strange and foreign to her. I feel as if she has a right to think that he is just playing a men trick on her because only a few hours before, he was madly in love with Hermia.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Act II Scene I
Independent Reading Reflection
Scene I is far from a bore. Puck is quite the trickster and I find him to be really comical. I don't really understand how this whole predicament between Oberon and Titania come from. The Indian Boy is really random. Also, I wonder why Oberon and Titania seem not to be exactly civil with each other? I feel as though Oberon is kind of the head honcho of the fairies and Titania is in a useless struggle to be equal or more powerful than him. Though he controls all males and she controls the females, it seems to me that if Oberon was to give a command that most of the females as well as the males would do his bidding. I also wonder why Oberon cares to help Helena...
After Class Discussion Reflection
After Class Discussion Reflection
Oberon and Titania's relationship is strange and is not 'normal' as we would see it today in modern society. Their relationship is not really loving, but it is more of a convenience. Almost as if the two most powerful faires were brought together to lead the people. Oberon's intentions for placing Titania under the flower's juice-potion spell is very childish. Normally a man would let his lady have the thing that she desires before himself, but instead he is just as selfish as she.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Act I Artistic Rendering
This sculpture is of a love triangle which is prevalent thorughout the play. In the sculpture, we could see the hugging couple as Hermia and Lysander- happy to be together, and the man on the ground Demetrius, who is biting the young woman's ankles to keep ahold of her and wrapping his legs around the other young man's in an effort to try to push him away. This love triangle is the basis of the play, which therefor makes this picture signifcant to the play.
Act I Vocab.
1. austerity: n. condition of lacking pleasure and luxury (Scene 1, line 92) The trip through the Middle Passage for captured Africans was very austere- they were jam packed into barracks with barely any space to breathe, and were never allowed out to use the facilities.
2. beguile: v. to trick (Scene 1, line 245)
Puck is a beguiling fairy who turns Nick Bottom's head into an ass' head in the play.
3. cloister: n. place where members of a religious community live (Scene 1, line 73)
In the movie The Sound of Music, the nuns were safely cloistered behind the convent walls.
4. dote: v. to live with foolish fondness (Scene1, line 236)
Like any doting teenager, i wanted to show off the amazing gift I had been given.
5. feign: v. to pretend (Scene 1, line 32)
Liam feigned a stomach ache to the nurses so that they would call his mom to take him home so that he would not have to take his Spanish test in the last period of the day.
2. beguile: v. to trick (Scene 1, line 245)
Puck is a beguiling fairy who turns Nick Bottom's head into an ass' head in the play.
3. cloister: n. place where members of a religious community live (Scene 1, line 73)
In the movie The Sound of Music, the nuns were safely cloistered behind the convent walls.
4. dote: v. to live with foolish fondness (Scene1, line 236)
Like any doting teenager, i wanted to show off the amazing gift I had been given.
5. feign: v. to pretend (Scene 1, line 32)
Liam feigned a stomach ache to the nurses so that they would call his mom to take him home so that he would not have to take his Spanish test in the last period of the day.
Act I Real Life Connections
1. The "reality" tv show Parental Control is a real life example to the play so far. Parental Control is a show where the parents of a child that has an intolerable boyfriend/girlfriend pick a candidate each that they feel would suit their son/daughter well, and in high hopes will make a good enough impression on their child, that the son/daughter will dump their boyfriend/girlfriend for one of the others. This is like the novel because Egeus has a man that he wants Hermia to love and marry, Demetrius. However, Hermia sees Demetrius as a man with little moral and loathes him, and instead loves Lysander, whom her father hates. But sometimes, on Parental Control, the son/daughter chooses to stay with their loved one, as does Hermia.
2. Another example is the Disney Movie Aladdin. Princess Jazmin needs to marry a prince before her next birthday, but none of the suitors are good enough for her, so her father is tempted to just pick one for her, and it is against the law for her to marry the man she actually loves. this is like the play because Egeus wants Hermia to marry the man he chose, but she does not love him, and it would be against the law for her to marry the man she does love, Lysander.
2. Another example is the Disney Movie Aladdin. Princess Jazmin needs to marry a prince before her next birthday, but none of the suitors are good enough for her, so her father is tempted to just pick one for her, and it is against the law for her to marry the man she actually loves. this is like the play because Egeus wants Hermia to marry the man he chose, but she does not love him, and it would be against the law for her to marry the man she does love, Lysander.
Act I Quotes
1. "With cunning hast thou filched my daughter's heart, / Turned her obedience, which is due to me, / to stubborn harshness." -Egeus about Lysander Act 1 Scene 1, lines 37-39
Egeus is saying that Lysander has captured Hermia's heart and made her love him. That he turned her obedience to him into stubborness by not marrying the man Egeus wants her to, Demetrius, and instead loves Lysander and hence, has caused all the turmoil. Without this conflict, the play would have no plot, which makes the quote quite significant. It shows Egeus's personal view of Lysander and the quarrel- that it is all Lysander's fault and that his daughter shall not marry him.
2. "The course of true love never did run smooth." -Lysander to Hermia Act 1 Scene 1, line 136
Lysander is saying that no true love is easy and must be worked for to achieve. This quote is significant, because, in all the relationships displayed in the play: Theseus and Hippolyta, Oberon and Titania, Helena and Demetrius, Demetrius and Hermia, and Hermia and Lysander, we notice that none of the relationships are smooth and all full of great joy, but somewhere within them lies conflict and that is what is souht to be straightened out and made right in the play.
Egeus is saying that Lysander has captured Hermia's heart and made her love him. That he turned her obedience to him into stubborness by not marrying the man Egeus wants her to, Demetrius, and instead loves Lysander and hence, has caused all the turmoil. Without this conflict, the play would have no plot, which makes the quote quite significant. It shows Egeus's personal view of Lysander and the quarrel- that it is all Lysander's fault and that his daughter shall not marry him.
2. "The course of true love never did run smooth." -Lysander to Hermia Act 1 Scene 1, line 136
Lysander is saying that no true love is easy and must be worked for to achieve. This quote is significant, because, in all the relationships displayed in the play: Theseus and Hippolyta, Oberon and Titania, Helena and Demetrius, Demetrius and Hermia, and Hermia and Lysander, we notice that none of the relationships are smooth and all full of great joy, but somewhere within them lies conflict and that is what is souht to be straightened out and made right in the play.
Act I Questions
Questions and Answers
1. Is Egeus's anger at Hermia justified?
It really depends on perpective in this case. Egeus is angry with Hermia for disobeying him and not accepting Demetrius, but instead continues to love Lysander and fight for their love. From the perpective of Theseus, who could stand for the Law in this case, Hermia must obey her father's wishes of marrying Demetrius, because, as Egeus's daughter, Hermia is his property. If she does not marry Demetrius she will have to become a nun, or face death. In our perspective, as modern readers, we would think this as repressive for her not to be able to chose who she loves and the punishments unjust. Though children are supposed to obey what their parents command of them, the solutions given to her seem unreasonable. However, in some countries today, there are still arranged marriages, so it really depends on the perspective of the reader, which make Egues's anger aguably justified or not.
2. Why do Lysander and Hermia tell Helena of their plan, knowing that she is a bit crazy?
Lysander and Hermia tell Helena of their plan in hopes that she will keep their secret and won't wonder or miss them too much. They tell her, so that she will be able to take her place by Demetrius's side once Hermia is gone. Instead of understanding that she would have Demetrius all to herself, she tells him and he at once goes looking for them to try and stop Lysander from taking Hermia away.
3. What other reasons would Egeus have for wanting Demetrius to marry Hermia?
In the 19th century, it was common for fathers to pick the man who they want their daughters to marry for a few reasons. One was last name and title, if a man took a fancy for another's daughter and he was a lord or some higher title than the father's family, then naturally, a father would choose that man to marry his daughter. Another was wealth, after all, what father doesn't want his daughter to marry a wealthy man that could help support the family?
4. What similarities do Egeus and Demetrius share?
Egeus and Demetrius are similar in the fact that they are both naive and short sighted. Egeus is this because he believes that by choosing the man that he wants his daughter to marry, he believes that she will just be able to love him even though she loves another man dearly. He does not understand the fact that just because he may see Demetrius as the best man for her to marry, that it may not be the best choice for her. Demetrius is the same as Egeus because of his arrogance that any woman will love him and do his bidding, and his naiveness of believing so.
5. At the end of the act, the characters seem as if they are all on the same path, is this significant or not?
The characters are all on a similar path and as it would seem they will all meet up at one point or another. This is a way for Shakespeare to foreshadow their meet, which will probably be something very significant that may change the course of some peoples desires or affection later in the play.
Act I Scene II
After Class Reading Reflection
This scene was awfully funny with Bottom's ignorance and malapropisms and such., though i don't know how the other characters are able to take Bottom's obnoxiousness. Though this scene was short and only told of the rude mechanicals who would be putting on a play for the competiton at Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding, I have a feeling these characters will have something to do with the main plot.
Act I Scene I
Independent Reading Reflections
I think it is unfair that Hermia can't choose to marry whomever she wants, and that her father is not understanding of her feelings for Lysander and lack, thereof, for Demetrius. Shakespeare is a little hard to interpret at times, and seems to get a little long winded, but besides that, the play is quite enjoyable. I think Theseus to be pompous and arrogant, considering himself a God of sorts and I think that wrong of him. Helena is crazy and stalkerish, maybe it's because of the deprication she has faced from Demetrius. I do not understand why Demetrius still chases after Hermia if it is not him that she loves.
After Class Reading Reflection
Helena and Demetrius had some sort of sexual relationship in the past and that is why she feels the need to follow him around and try to force her love on him. Demetrius is a decieving youth with little morals to go on. Why Egeus thinks him suitable for Hermia is still escapes me. And why Helena can't just move on and find someone better is even more of a wonder. Time will only tell the answers.
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