Short answer study guide questions- A Midsummer Night’s Dream

(Act 1) What are Theseus and Hippolyta discussing at the play’s start? Theseus and Hippolyta are discussing their upcoming wedding.
(Act 1) How does Hippolyta come to be betrothed to Theseus? Theseus bests Hippolyta in a sword fight and wins her hand in marriage.
(Act 1) Why is Egeus disturbed? Egeus is disturbed because his daughter, Hermia, would rather marry Lysander than Demetrius
(Act 1) What will be Hermia’s fate if she refuses to marry Demetrius? Hermia will either be killed or forced to become a nun if she refuses to marry Demetrius.
(Act 1) To what do Lysander and Hermia agree? Lysander and Hermia agree to run off together so that they may get married.
(Act 1) What hope does Helena have by telling Demetrius of Lysander and Hermia’s flight? Helena hopes that Demetrius will now have trust in her.
(Act 1) Who are the characters in scene two, and what do they plan? Quince the Carpenter, Snug the Joiner, Bottom the Weaver, Flute the Bellows Mender, Snout the Tinker, and Starveling the Tailor; They plan the performance of ‘Pyramus and Thisby’ for Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding
(Act 2) Why is Oberon angry with his queen? Oberon is angry with Titania because she dotes on the Indian boy too much and refuses to give him up.
(Act 2) On what mission does Oberon send Puck? Oberon sends Puck to obtain the magical herb/potion that when sprinkled onto a sleepers eyes will make them fall in love with the first human/creature they see
(Act 2) Upon overhearing Demetrius and Helena, what does Oberon command Puck to do? Oberon commands Puck to apply the potion on Demetrius so that he will love Helena back.
(Act 2) Upon whose eyes does Puck apply the potion? Puck mistakenly applies the potion to Lysander’s eyes.
(Act 2) When he wakes up, who does Lysander see and love? Lysander sees and loves Helena when he wakes up.
(Act 2) What is Helena’s reaction to Lysander’s words of love? Helena thinks that Lysander is mocking her because she knows his love is Hermia.
(Act 2) To where has Lysander disappeared when Hermia awakes? Lysander has disappeared in pursuit of Helena.
(Act 3) Why does Bottom want a prologue written for the play? Bottom wants a prologue written because he thinks the women in the audience will be comforted knowing the lion is not real and the actors did not actually kill themselves.
(Act 3) What has Puck done to Bottom? Puck turned Bottom’s head into an ass.
(Act 3) Identify the speaker: “Tie up my love’s tongue, bring him silently” Titania (speaking about Bottom)
(Act 3) What news does Puck bring Oberon? Puck tells Oberon that he applied the potion to the wrong ‘Athenian boy’ (Lysander instead of Demetrius).
(Act 3) What is Helena’s situation at this point in the play? Helena is frustrated and confused because she believes that Demetrius and Lysander are playing a trick on her and do not actually love her.
(Act 3) What does Helena suppose of Hermia? Helena supposes that Hermia too is in on the cruel joke against her.
(Act 3) What does Hermia think Helena has done? Hermia thinks that Helena has purposefully stolen away Lysander from her.
(Act 3) Why does Oberon send Puck to confuse the two young men? Puck is to confuse the two young men so they will tire themselves out and fall asleep before fighting each other, so that Puck can remedy the situation and remove the effects of the love potion.
(Act 3) What remedy corrects the crossed-loved couples? A different flower that will make what has just occurred seem to be a dream to the couples.
(Act 4) Why does Titania give Oberon the child? Titania is still in love with Bottom the Ass, so she no longer dotes on the Indian boy.
(Act 4) How does Oberon find Titania and Bottom? Oberon finds Titania and Bottom asleep in each others arms.
(Act 4) Why does Oberon remove the spell he has cast over his queen? Oberon removes the spell because now that he has the boy, there is no reason for her to be under the spell.
(Act 4) Finding the two couples asleep in the wood and learning of their more balanced love, what order does Theseus give? Theseus orders that they are all to be married at his wedding.
(Act 4) What news does Bottom bring his companions? Bottom brings the news that their performance of ‘Pyramus and Thisby’ has been chosen for the play.
(Act 5) Why do you think Shakespeare included a play within a play? Shakespeare included a play within a play for comedic effect, and because ‘Pyramus and Thisby’ is a well-known play.
(Act 5) What do the fairies do after the palace goes to sleep? The fairies sing and dance around the palace, and bless each of the newly married couples.
(Act 5) Who does Puck address at the play’s end? Puck addresses the audience.
(Act 5) What is the purpose of this last speech? The purpose is to reassure the audience that if they were offended by the play, that they could pretend as if it was a dream and they were asleep the whole time.
July 3, 2019