A Midsummer Night's Dream Group at eNotes

Lysander turns his back on Hermia because Puck mistakenly places the...

Sun, 11 May 2008 22:03:38 PST

Lysander turns his back on Hermia because Puck mistakenly places the love potion on Lysander's eyes, thinking he is Demetrius. Hermia is not dull-looking at all, actually. She is very beautiful and is much more so than Helena. Helena is jealous of Hermia because of her beauty, among other things, including the fact that Demetrius is in love with Hermia. You may want to review the summary of the play here: ...

In "A Midsummer Night's Dream," why does Lysander turn his...

Sun, 11 May 2008 21:44:28 PST

Is it because Hermia won't sleep closer to him, or because of Puck's magic juice, or Hermia's dull appearance?

It implies several possible things. First, no matter how fierce their...

Fri, 9 May 2008 11:07:05 PST

It implies several possible things. First, no matter how fierce their clash, they are ultimately wed—they are a couple, paired natural forces, and so must get along in the end. Second, they are ruled by their passions. When those are spent, they return to accord. (They don't hold to reasoned positions.) Third, perhaps they are shallow. All it took was for them to get what they wanted (in Oberon's case), or to get distracted by a new fixation...

In A Midsummer Night's Dream what does the resolution of Titania's...

Thu, 8 May 2008 22:05:46 PST

In A Midsummer Night's Dream what does the resolution of Titania's quarrel with Oberon imply about the fairy dreamers?

Im reading this book called A Midsummer Night's Dream and Puck is not a...

Mon, 5 May 2008 14:24:52 PST

Im reading this book called A Midsummer Night's Dream and Puck is not a spirit he is a fairy that when he wants to be seen he can be seen but when he does not want to be seen he will not.

In Bottom's transformations there are several messages. First, think of...

Sun, 4 May 2008 10:38:06 PST

In Bottom's transformations there are several messages. First, think of what he was turned into: a jackass. What is he normally? A jackass. This transformation makes his inner character visible, showing the world what he is. Second, it is a metaphor for any person who gets a chance to be on stage, and for people in love. Many people make fools of themselves to be the star, and many more when they are in love. Third, look at what this does to...

What message is there in Bottom's transformation in "A Midsummer...

Sun, 4 May 2008 10:33:40 PST

What message is there in Bottom's transformation in "A Midsummer Night's Dream"?

Bottom is an artisan who would be considered "middle class" in...

Fri, 2 May 2008 10:49:43 PST

Bottom is an artisan who would be considered "middle class" in today's society (or the "working class"). Theseus is an aristocrat. He is the Duke of Athens. The aristocrats and artisans use different dialects and there are differences in their behaviors, obviously. Theseus is very logical and serious and is a good ruler. Bottom is very much a "clown" in that he loves to have attention showered on him. ...

In Act II Scene I of the play, Titania and Oberon argue over the child,...

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:06:55 PST

In Act II Scene I of the play, Titania and Oberon argue over the child, a "changeling" boy who Oberon wants to become one of his attendants. Titania will not give the boy up out of loyalty to his mother, who was one of her attendants. The boy's mother died in childbirth, and Titania promises that "for her sake I do rear up her boy, / And for her sake I will not part with him."This disagreement causes Oberon to pursue...

Why does Titania want to keep the child in "A Midsummer Night's...

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:34:22 PST

Why does Titania want to keep the child in "A Midsummer Night's Dream"?

There are many ways in which the play is a commentary.These lines: And...

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:40:08 PST

There are many ways in which the play is a commentary.These lines: And through Wall's chink, poor souls, they are contentTo whisper, at the which let no man wonder.Reflect on the lovers who were kept apart, but did a lot more than "whisper": they complained to the parents, the duke, the public, one another, etc. The play lovers are passive where the two couples are active.A later section is ironic as well:Approach, ye furies fell!O...

In what ways is the play-within-a-play an ironic commentary on what...

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:31:00 PST

help me please to find the 2 quotes that goes with the unwers of the question too please. thanks

Simply put, she's afraid they are going to be really, really bad. She's...

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:01:00 PST

Simply put, she's afraid they are going to be really, really bad. She's afraid their lack of talent and skill will make the play painful to watch. This attitude is reinforced once they start, as she carps about how badly they deliver their lines. Theseus, by contrast, says that the audience can choose to forgive their quality and enjoy them for what they are.

They all have love issues

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:37:27 PST

They all have love issues

Why does Hippolyta initally seem hesitant to watch the play?

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:35:06 PST

ACT V A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

What might make the Pyramus and Thisbe play inappropriate for a wedding...

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:08:26 PST

What might make the Pyramus and Thisbe play inappropriate for a wedding celebration is the fact that it is not a comedy. It is a tragedy much like Romeo and Juliet. Both Pyramus and Thisbe die in the play. The fact that Theseus wants to see this play after his wedding celebration is ironic and humorous at the same time, particularly since the artisans bungle the play :-). The play is appropriate because Pyramus and Thisbe's plight is...

In what ways is the Pyrumus and Thisbe play unsuitable for a wedding...

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:21:04 PST

Help me please.

I think that Bottom is funny and thinks too much of himself. Theseus...

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:43:44 PST

I think that Bottom is funny and thinks too much of himself. Theseus on the other hand is strict, simple, and plain.

BOTTOM IS HILARIOUS. HE IS VERY FUNNY WHEN HE USES THE WRONG TERMS AND...

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:25:46 PST

BOTTOM IS HILARIOUS. HE IS VERY FUNNY WHEN HE USES THE WRONG TERMS AND STUFF!!

Bottom is the opposite of Theseus in many ways. Some are obvious and...

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:45:19 PST

Bottom is the opposite of Theseus in many ways. Some are obvious and basic; some are more subtle. Start with the obvious: Bottom is a manual laborer. Theseus is duke of Athens. Bottom is a blustering fool. Theseus is not. Bottom is ruled by his ego; Theseus seems ruled by his rational mind. Bottom starts the play single, gets paired off with a queen, and ends up alone; Theseus starts single (technically), and ends up married to a queen. Bottom...