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A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Why is there a fifth act to this play?
By end of Act IV, the narrative line of A Midsummer Night's Dream is essentially played out. Oberon and Titania are reconciled in their quarrel over the changeling, the young couples are paired correctly (Hermia with Lysander and Helena with Demetrius), Theseus has over-ruled Egeus, and a triple wedding awaits. Indeed, Acts I through IV of A Midsummer Night's Dream comprise a perfectly symmetrical pattern that moves from court to enchanted realm and then back to daylight world in which Theseus rules. The question naturally arises: Why is there a fifth act to the play. The...
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- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Introduction
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Summary
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: William Shakespeare Biography
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Reading Shakespeare
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: List of Characters
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Historical Background
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Summary and Analysis
- Act I, Scene 1: Summary and Analysis
- Act I, Scene 2: Summary and Analysis
- Act II, Scene 1: Summary and Analysis
- Act II, Scene 2: Summary and Analysis
- Act III, Scene 1: Summary and Analysis
- Act III, Scene 2: Summary and Analysis
- Act IV, Scene 1: Summary and Analysis
- Act IV, Scene 2: Summary and Analysis
- Act V, Scene 1: Summary and Analysis
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Critical Commentary
-
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Quizzes
- Act I, Scene 1: Questions and Answers
- Act I, Scene 2: Questions and Answers
- Act II, Scene 1: Questions and Answers
- Act II, Scene 2: Questions and Answers
- Act III, Scene 1: Questions and Answers
- Act III, Scene 2: Questions and Answers
- Act IV, Scene 1: Questions and Answers
- Act IV, Scene 2: Questions and Answers
- Act V, Scene 1: Questions and Answers
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Essential Passages
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Themes
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Character Analysis
- Note on the Character Analysis
- Bottom (Character Analysis)
- Demetrius (Character Analysis)
- Helena (Character Analysis)
- Hermia (Character Analysis)
- Hippolyta (Character Analysis)
- Lysander (Character Analysis)
- Oberon (Character Analysis)
- Puck (Character Analysis)
- Theseus (Character Analysis)
- Other Characters (Descriptions)
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Principal Topics
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Essays
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Criticism
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Selected Quotes
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Suggested Essay Topics
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Sample Essay Outlines
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Modern Connections
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: FAQs
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Bibliography and Further Reading
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Pictures
- Copyright
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