A Midsummer Night's Dream

Shakespeare wrote A Midsummer Night's Dream in about 1595, at about the same time he wrote Romeo and Juliet. The Lord Chamberlain's Men were newly formed then. This was one of Shakespeare's most original plots, and featured a great part for Will Kempe in Bottom. Some people have tried to connect the play to somebody's wedding, but weddings are a standard feature of all Shakespearean comedies, and not particularly of this one. There is no reason to think it was composed for a special occasion.

We can only guess, since we have no cast lists for any early productions of Shakespeare. We have a record of a contemporary that Shakespeare preferred to take "kingly roles" which suggests that he might have been cast as Theseus.

"Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania."

Midsummer, or the summer solstice, which is traditionally celebrated on June 24, has always been viewed as a magical time. It is associated with springtime and the growth of new life, fertility and love. It was common to have celebrations involving bonfires at night to drive away evil spirits who are thought to be especially active at this time.

Two long ones.

William Shakespeare was inspired to write "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by a blend of classical mythology, the themes of love and transformation, and the vibrant atmosphere of the Elizabethan age. The play incorporates elements from Ovid's "Metamorphoses," particularly the stories of love and enchantment, as well as the comedic misunderstandings that arise from romantic pursuits. Additionally, the interplay between reality and dreams reflects Shakespeare's fascination with the nature of love and the whimsical qualities of human relationships. The setting in a magical forest allows for exploration of these themes in a fantastical context.

In this excerpt from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare's use of literary devices like rhyme, meter, and symbolism serves to enhance the themes of love and magic. The rhyme and meter create a musical quality, reflecting the enchanting and dreamlike atmosphere of the play. Symbolism, such as the reference to Cupid's arrow, deepens the idea of love being uncontrollable and unpredictable. These devices work together to highlight the whimsical and fantastical nature of the characters' experiences, reinforcing the idea that love is a powerful force that can lead to both joy and confusion in the world of the play.

In Act I Scene I of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Lysander presents himself as a more suitable suitor for Hermia compared to Demetrius. This is evident in lines 97-98 where Lysander describes Demetrius as being fickle in love, having previously wooed and abandoned Helena. Additionally, Lysander argues in lines 112-113 that Hermia's father Egeus favors Demetrius only for material interests, not for genuine affection.

Lysander and Hermia plan to elope and marry in secret to escape her forced marriage to Demetrius. They hope to find a place where they can be together and live a life free from the constraints imposed by Athenian society.

In "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the donkey symbolizes foolishness, as it is associated with the character Bottom who undergoes a humorous transformation into a donkey. The donkey also symbolizes the theme of transformation and how appearances can be deceptive.

Dreams about overflowing water can symbolize emotions that are overwhelming or out of control in your waking life. It can indicate a need to address and manage these feelings before they become too much to handle. Consider reflecting on recent events or situations that may be triggering these strong emotions.

Theseus rules over Athens in William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." He is the Duke of Athens and embodies authority and order in the play.

Bottom is initially confused about his dream with Titania but quickly dismisses it as just that - a dream. He focuses more on the practical aspects of the play they are preparing for and does not dwell on the surreal experience.

Bottom's fellow workmen react this way because when he returns, his head has been transformed into that of an ass by Puck as part of Oberon's plan to trick Titania. They are shocked and afraid of his new appearance, believing it to be a monstrous and strange transformation.

Pyramus uses a sword to stab himself in the belief that his beloved Thisbe has died. This act leads to a tragic misunderstanding, as Thisbe is actually alive.

Philostrate believes that the Mechanicals' play is not suitable for the refined tastes of the Duke and his court. He thinks it is a poor choice for entertainment and is concerned about how it might reflect on the Duke and his court if they were to witness such a performance.

The structure of Act 3 Scene 1 in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" affects the audience by creating tension and dramatic irony through the confusion and conflict between the characters. The abrupt shifts in emotions and interactions keep the audience engaged and build anticipation for the resolution of the misunderstandings. Additionally, the use of comedic elements within the structure adds to the overall entertainment value of the scene.

They are to be married in a triple ceremony along with himself

Firstly, Lysander was deeply in love with Hermia, but when Puck (the fairy) put the love potion on Lysanders eyes, he fell in love with Helena- betraying Hermia. He was protective over her, because demetrius loved her also.

The presence of the fairies in the play can grate on modern sensibilities, since nobody believes that they are real. But they were not included for verisimilitude; in Shakespeare's day, people did not really believe much in them either. The presence of a magical world, a world of magical beings, centred in the forest, helps to reinforce that the people from the town, the lovers and mechanicals, have wandered into another and quite different reality, and one which will change them profoundly. When they get back, it all seems like a dream, but its effects will linger. By having the fairies invade the palace to bless the bride-beds of the three couples, Shakespeare is saying that this other reality is not so far away, even if we do not see it.

Yes, they are very different plays and both very good. Much Ado is recognizable as a romantic comedy, featuring a sparring couple that can't see they are made for each other. Midsummer is also a comedy, with a much more complicated plot involving fairies and some hilarious amateur actors. Good movie versions have been made of both, particularly Ken Branagh's film of Much Ado in 1994, and a 1999 film of Midsummer with Kevin Kline and Michele Pfeiffer. I recommend you watch them both.

He wants to contrast the rational everyday world with the world of magic and the supernatural.

Quince is trying. To be serious, he has no intentions. That would lead to amusing the guests, and he wants to. Make them weep? Hardly. Any sentence he says moves the audience to tears. They cry because they think. It's funny, the result is not what he intends.

Oops! punctuation problem.

That should read:

Quince is trying to be serious. He has no intentions that would lead to amusing his guests, and he wants to make them weep. Hardly any sentence he says moves the audience to tears. They cry because they think it's funny. The result is not what he intends.

There are four worlds: the fairy world, the Duke's world, the young lovers' world, and the rude mechanicals' world.

The fairy world is connected to the Duke's world because they come to the palace at the end of the play to bless all the weddings. Also, Oberon is jealous of Theseus who he thinks Titania fancies, and Titania thinks Oberon fancies Hippolyta. The fairy world is connected to the lovers' world because the application of the love juice affects which of the girls the men love, permanently in the case of Demetrius. The fairy world is connected to the mechanicals because Puck breaks up the rehearsal and transforms Bottom, and Bottom ends up sleeping with Titania.

The Duke's world is connected to the lovers, because the Duke is called on to judge Egeus's suit about Hermia and Demetrius. It is connected to the mechanicals because the mechanicals prepare their plpay for performance before Theseus and Hippolyta.

The mechanicals are connected with the young lovers for the same reason--they put on their play as a post-wedding entertainment.