A Midsummer Night’s Dream Study Guide

Act I Act I
What are Theseus and Hippolyta discussing at the play’s start? Theseus and Hippolyta are discussing their wedding.
How does Hippolyta come to be betrothed to Theseus? He comes in battle.
Why is Egeus distrubed? Egeus is disturbed because Hermia will not marry Demetrius?
What will de Hermia’s fate if she refuses to marry Demetrius? Hermia will become a nun or die.
To what do Lysander and Hermia agree? Lysander and Hermia agree that they will leave for Lysander’s aunt’s house.
What hope does Helena have by telling Demetrius of Lysander and Hermia’s flight? By telling him this, she hopes that she will gain his trust.
Who are the characters in scene two, and what do they plan? The characters are Quince, Snug, Bottom, Flute, Snout, and Starveling. They are planning for their play for Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding.
Act II Act II
Why is Oberon angry with his queen? Oberon is angry with his queen because he wants the Indian boy that she has.
On what mission does Oberon send Puck? Oberon sends Puck to get the magical herb that was shot by Cupid’s arrow.
Upon overhearing Demetrius and Helena, what does Oberon command Puck to do? Upon overhearing Demetrius and Helena, Oberon commands Puck to anoint Demetrius with the magical herb.
Upon whose eyes does Puck apply the potion? Puck applies the potion on Lysander’s eyes.
When he wakes up, who does Lydander see and love? When Lysander wakes up, he sees and loves Helena.
What is Helena’s reaction to Lysander’s words of love? Helena’s reaction to Lysander’s words of love is that she thinks he is mocking her.
To where has Lysander disappeared when Hermia awakes? When Hermia awakes, Lysander has disappeared to chase after Helena.
Act III Act III
Why does Bottom want a prologue written for the play? Bottom wants a prologue for the play to let all the women in the audience know that the action isn’t real and the characters are only actors. If the women know Pyramus isn’t Pyramus, but really only Bottom the weaver, they’ll be comforted.
What has Puck done to Bottom? Puck turns Bottom’s head into the head of a donkey.
Identify the speaker: “Tie up my love’s tongue, bring him silently.” Titania
What news does Puck bring to Oberon? Puck tells Oberon that that he saw a group of craftsmen who were practicing for a play and found Bottom to be the dullest, so he transformed his head into that of a donkey.
Why does Oberon send Puck to fetch Helena? Oberon sends Puck to fetch Helena to bring Helena and Demetrius together.
What is Helena’s situation at this point in the play? At this point in the play, Helena is very confused because she thinks that everyone is playing a trick on her since both Demetrius and Lysander love her.
What does Helena suppose of Hermia? Helena supposes that Hermia is making fun of her.
What does Hermia think Helena has done? Hermia thinks that Helena has stolen Lysander’s love from her.
Why does Oberon send Puck to confuse the two young men? Oberon sends Puck to confuse the two young men because Oberon wants them to not kill each other and fall asleep so that the love spell can be reversed.
What remedy corrects the crossed-loved couples? The remedy that corrects the crossed-loved couples is a charm, which will be applied while they are asleep, that will make all of the events that occurred seem like a dream when they wake up.
Act IV Act IV
Why does Titania give Oberon the child? Titania gives Oberon the child because she is under the spell and is in love with Bottom.
How does Oberon find Titania and Bottom? Oberon finds Titania and Bottom sleeping in each other’s arms.
Why does Oberon remove the spell he has cast over his queen? Oberon removes the spell he has cast over his queen because he wants Titania back and because he now has the boy.
Finding the two couples asleep in the wood and learning of their more balanced love, what order does Theseus give? Theseus says that they will have a triple wedding.
What news does Bottom bring his companions? The news that Bottom brings his companions is that their play (Pyramus and Thisbe) has been chosen for the wedding.
Act V Act V
Why do you think Shakespeare included a play within a play? Shakepeare included a play within a play because he wanted to add humor and comic effect. Also, he added a play within the play because it (Pyramus and Thisbe) would have been familiar to his audience.
What do the fairies do after the palace goes to sleep? After the palace goes to sleep, the fairies sing and dance in the house and bless the couples.
Who does Puck address at the play’s end? At the play’s end, Puck addresses the audience.
What is the purpose of this last speech? The purpose of this last speech is to let them know that, if there were offended, they should think of the play as if it were a dream. In the speech, Puck also thanks the audience for coming.
July 1, 2019