A Midsummer Night's Dream Group at eNotes

Shakespeare was first and foremost a playwright. The scenes when the...

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:11:20 PST

Shakespeare was first and foremost a playwright. The scenes when the rehearsal and the staging of the play "Pyramus and Thisby" take place contain Shakespeare's opinions and insights into contremporary stage and theatre craft. A few examples are as follows:1. "Let it (the prologue) be written in eight and eight." ActIII sc1.2. Bottom loses the chance of earning six pence for playing his part in the play, ActIV sc2. 3....

Well, it depends what you mean. Shakespeare's voice as a writer is...

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 04:07:54 PST

Well, it depends what you mean. Shakespeare's voice as a writer is everywhere in the play, as it's all written by him: so the mode of expression he personally employed to write lines of dialogue for characters is shown in every single one of the lines. If you're looking for clues to Shakespeare's biography, that's somewhat more difficult to find: because we don't know a great deal of concrete information about Shakespeare's life. The...

How is William Shakespeare's voice shown in "A Midsummer Night's Dream"?

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:32:29 PST

How is William Shakespeare's voice shown in "A Midsummer Night's Dream"?

Another important point to add to the answer above is that desire and...

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 15:24:21 PST

Another important point to add to the answer above is that desire and love often make people do things they normally would not do. Desire and love can cause people to make rash and not well-thought out decisions. Emotions are very powerful! On the other hand, desire and love can also motivate and inspire people to pursue their dreams. Although some of the characters made rash and "crazy" decisions at times, they also did not...

Shakespeare wrote his plays, especially his comedies, to entertain his...

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 07:14:42 PST

Shakespeare wrote his plays, especially his comedies, to entertain his audiences. Remember, writing plays (and acting in them sometimes) was his job. Shakespeare wrote this play using comedy, romance, fantasy, and a little bit of adventure so that there would be something that appealed to every audience member.

Whether the play is entirely or partially a dream is debated. The...

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 07:09:20 PST

Whether the play is entirely or partially a dream is debated. The dream mentioned in the title probably refers to:1. Lysander's and Demetrius' actions while under the influence of the Love Potionand2. Titania's actions under the influence of the love potionand 3. Bottom's experience of being given the head of an ass and wooed by Titania.

Well, Hermia and Lysander go into the forest in the first place because...

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 07:03:35 PST

Well, Hermia and Lysander go into the forest in the first place because they love each other and want to elope. Hermia tells her friend, Helena, who then tells Demetrius because she (Helena) wants his love and attention. Demetrius follows Hermia into the forest because he desires her and Helena follows Demetrius because she desires him. The web of desire and the relationships between the characters become even more complicated when Puck uses...

Discuss the ways in which desire animates the action of "A...

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 00:39:49 PST

Discuss the ways in which desire animates the action of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

I disagree with this statement. To be qualified an "ass," in...

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:27:52 PST

I disagree with this statement. To be qualified an "ass," in my opinion, would mean Bottom would have to be stupid, which he is not. Bottom is missing elements in his life that have prevented him from being truly happy, in my opinion; therefore, he seeks attention which equates to love for him. He may seem foolish, but his motives are fueled by the need to be desired, wanted, and appreciated. Without Bottom, in addition, the...

Nick Bottom the weaver and his friends make up the farcical element in...

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 07:56:35 PST

Nick Bottom the weaver and his friends make up the farcical element in "A Mid summer Night's Dream." Their clowning and malapropisms are meant to generate laughter spontaneously in the audience especially amongst the 'groundlings.' For instance in ActIII sc.1 Quince remarks," Bottom!... thou art/translated."Initially, It seems as though Bottom is a fool who is over enthusiastic in wanting to play the roles of Pyramus,...

Is Bottom Always an Ass?

Sat, 9 Aug 2008 22:24:12 PST

"No matter what head Bottom wears, he is always a complete ass." Do you agree?

The notion of love and the various forms of love are highlighted within...

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:59:00 PST

The notion of love and the various forms of love are highlighted within the play and other plays by Shakespeare. The symbolic nature of the plant; name; qualities are important. Oberon is having a difficult time within his relationship and having to work hard to get his way. 'Love in idleness - as the name suggests does not rely upon effort or personal choice. Somehow this natural plant can create the feelings of desire - thus hinting at the...

Each couple represents something (is symbolic). Titania and Oberon...

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 13:56:04 PST

Each couple represents something (is symbolic). Titania and Oberon represent the power of the fairy world and how our dreams can mesh with reality. Hippolyta and Theseus represent the law and government of the "real" world, the mortal world. They remind us there are rules and that reality, does in fact, yield to dreams sometimes. The four young lovers represent the instability and inconstancy of love. Because they are all...

What is the function of each of the couples in the play "A...

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 12:59:36 PST

What is the function of each of the couples in the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream"?

I don't think your two definitions need to be mutually exclusive. He...

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:11:55 PST

I don't think your two definitions need to be mutually exclusive. He can farcical and egotistical, as seen when he introduces himself joyfully to the fairy who recognises him. ' Thou speakest arright! I am that merry wanderer of the night! He craves Oberon's attention and good opinion, boasting that he can 'put a girdle round the earth in thirty minutes. He also rejoices in the frailties of the Athenians, as seen when he says,...

Another way to look at this concept is the plot within a plot design. ...

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:40:30 PST

Another way to look at this concept is the plot within a plot design. We have several plots in this play. One is Titania and Oberon's fight over a young servant boy. Another is the young lovers' troubles (Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia, and Helena). You also have the love story of Hippolyta and Theseus. Another is the artisans story, with Bottom, Snug, Peter Quince, and the rest. Finally, you also have the play within a play with the...

The structure of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" has been analysed...

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:59:26 PST

The structure of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" has been analysed in great detail by many Shakespearean scholars over the years. The structure of the play continues to be studied in the light of contemporary critical theories. Of the innumerable ananlyses, a simple and easily understandable one is by Mark Rose (1972) in his book "Shakespearean Design".Mark Rose considers the play as two concentric circles with Act III sc.1 as...

In what way is "A Midsummer Night's Dream" a play full of...

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:52:48 PST

In what way is "A Midsummer Night's Dream" a play full of pattern and design?

As for Titania, her experience seemed to make her appreciate Oberon more...

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:49:36 PST

As for Titania, her experience seemed to make her appreciate Oberon more than she did and realize that their quarreling over the boy as ridiculous and silly.The four lovers' troubles are all solved through the fairies' meddling, despite the mess that Puck intially makes. Lysander and Hermia don't have to worry anymore about dealing with trying to be kept apart. Their love, after the mess is straightened out, is given her father's and...

Although it was a horribly cruel thing to do to Titania, the spell might...

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:14:50 PST

Although it was a horribly cruel thing to do to Titania, the spell might have bettered her reality by making her be more appreciative of Oberon. When she wakes, she is horrified by the dream she believes she has had. She and Oberon make up and their "tiff" is over...all is well. Although Oberon put the spell on Titania to get the boy, once Titania gives him to Oberon, even Oberon seems to have a better sense of reality, too. ...