Contents
The Persons of the Play..... 8
1
Act I Scene I …..10
Act I Scene II…..30
2
Act II Scene I …..45
Act II Scene II…..65
3
4
5
Act III Scene I …..79
Act III Scene II…..96
Act IV Scene I …..131
Act IV Scene II…..148
Act V Scene I…..157
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The Persons of the Play
THESEUS, Duke of Athens
HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus
PHILOSTRATE, Master of the revels to Theseus.
EGEUS, father to Hermia
HERMIA, daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander
LYSANDER, loved by Hermia
In love with Hermia
DEMETRIUS, suitor to Hermia
HELENA, in love with Demetrius
OBERON, King of the fairies
TITANIA, Queen of the fairies
PUCK, or Robin Goodfellow
PEASEBLOSSOM
COBWEB
MOTH
Fairies
MUSTARDSEED
Peter QUINCE, a carpenter
Nick BOTTOM, a weaver
Francis FLUTE, a bellows-mender
Tom SNOUT, a tinker
SNUG, a joiner
Robin STARVELING, a tailor
OTHER FAIRIES attending their King and Queen
Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta
Scene: Athens and a wood near it
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
8
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The Persons of the Play
THESEUS, Duke of Athens
HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus
PHILOSTRATE, Master of the revels to Theseus.
EGEUS, father to Hermia
HERMIA, daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander
LYSANDER, loved by Hermia
DEMETRIUS, suitor to Hermia
HELENA, in love with Demetrius
OBERON, King of the fairies
TITANIA, Queen of the fairies
PUCK, or Robin Goodfellow
PEASEBLOSSOMCOBWEB
MOTH
MUSTARDSEED
Peter QUINCE, a carpenter
Nick BOTTOM, a weaver
Francis FLUTE, a bellows-mender
Tom SNOUT, a tinker
SNUG, a joiner
Robin STARVELING, a tailor
OTHER FAIRIES attending their King and Queen
Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta
Scene: Athens and a wood near it
Figure 1
ACT I
SCENE I
Athens. The palace of THESEUS, Duke of Athens, four days before
his marriage to HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons.
(Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and attendants)
Directions: To help you better understand and follow A Midsummer Night’s
Dream, read the summary of a specific scene before you begin to read it. If you
get lost during the scene, you can refer to the summary.
Summary: Theseus and Hippolyta talk of their upcoming wedding, which will
take place in four days. The enraged Egeus, a citizen of Athens, brings to Duke
Theseus his case against his daughter, Hermia, who loves Lysander and refuses to
marry her father’s choice, Demetrius. Theseus agrees to invoke the law of Athens,
if Hermia doesn’t obey her father, she will either be put to death or be forced to
become a nun. Lysander and Hermia refuse to be parted and decide to (elope) the
following evening. They tell their plan to Helena, who loves Demetrius. She determines to tell Demetrius of the elopement.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
10
Act I Scene I
THESEUS
Now, fair Hippolyta°, our nuptial hour°1
Draws on apace°; four happy days bring in
Another moon°: but, O, methinks, how slow
This old moon wanes°! She lingers° my desires,
Like to a step-dame, or a dowager,
Long withering out a young man’s revenue.
HIPPOLYTA
Four days will quickly steep° themselves in night;
Four nights will quickly dream away the time;
And then the moon, like to a silver bow
New-bent in heaven, shall behold the night
Of our solemnities°.
THESEUS
Go, Philostrate,
Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments;
Awake the pert° and nimble spirit of mirth;
5
10
1 Hippolyta Queen of the Amazons. Theseus wooed and won her by defeating her in battle
nuptial hour the time of the wedding ceremony 2 draws on apace is approaching quickly 3
another moon the new moon 4 wanes fades lingers delays 5-6 Like … revenue an old stepmother or wealthy woman who lives so long that she uses up her heir’s inheritance 4-6 She …
revenue a) Theseus uses this comparison, called a simile, to describe his impatience to be married. He says that he feels the way a young man feels waiting to get an inheritance (money); b)
Theseus compares himself to an impatient young man whose inheritance is slowly being depleted
by his stepmother or widowed mother (dowager) 7 steep dissolve steep themselves in night
turn into night 9-10 like…heaven a simile, referring to the crescent of the new moon in the
sky 11 solemnities formal wedding ceremonies 13 pert lively Awake … mirth Let there be
lots of fun and laughter
11
Turn melancholy forth to funerals;
The pale companion°2 is not for our pomp.
15
(Exit PHILOSTRATE)
Hippolyta, I woo’d thee with my sword,
And won thy love, doing thee injuries°;
But I will wed thee in anther key,
With pomp, with triumph°, and with reveling°.
(Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and DEMETRIUS)
EGEUS
Happy be Theseus, our renowned° duke!
THESEUS
Thanks, good Egeus. What’s the news with thee?
EGEUS
Full of vexation° come I, with complaint
Against my child, my daughter Hermia.
Stand forth°, Demetrius. My noble lord,
20
15 pale companion melancholy fellow 14-15 Turn … pomp sadness and gloom belong at
funerals, not at our wedding 17 injuries according to legend, the Amazons were a warrior race
of women. Theseus’ injuries include a) defeating Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, in a battle
that ended the Amazons’ attempt to conquer Greece and then b) taking her captive 16-17 I
… injuries Theseus had made war against the Amazons and had taken their queen, Hipolyta,
captive. Here he is making a joke by calling their fighting their courting 19 triumph; reveling
public festivities 18-19 in … reveling in a different style, with fun and happiness 20 renowned
famous 22 vexation distress; anger; troubles 24 stand forth step forward
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
12
Act I Scene I
This man hath my consent to marry her.
Stand forth, Lysander: and, my gracious Duke,
This man hath bewitch’d°3 the bosom of my child:
Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes°,
And interchang’d love-tokens with my child:
Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung
With feigning° voice, verses of feigning° love;
And stolen the impression of her fantasy
With bracelets of thy hair, ring, gauds°, conceits°,
Knacks°, trifles°, nosegays°, sweetmeats° – messengers
Of strong prevailment° in unharden’d youth:
With cunning has thou filch’d° my daughter’s heart;
Turn’d her obedience, which is due to me,
To stubborn harshness. And, my gracious Duke,
Be it so° she will not here before your Grace
Consent to marry with Demetrius,
I beg the ancient privilege° of Athens,
25
30
35
40
27 bewitch’d be witched – today bewitched has a relatively harmless connotation, but in Shakespeare’s time, it meant literally “used witchcraft or magic charms.” An accusation of bewitching
would have indeed been serious 28 given her rhymes spoken words of love 31 feigning; feigning (faining) softly singing; deceptive feigning voice … love lying deceptive and pretending
that you love her 32 stolen the impression of her fantasy a) made her fall in love with you; b)
made a lasting impression on her imagination 33 gauds; conceits fancy toys and articles 34
knacks; trifles knickknacks; small gifts nosegays small bunches of flowers sweetmeats candies
35 prevailment persuasion 34-35 messengers…youth a) all of these gifts can easily persuade
a young person; b) tokens that can strongly influence inexperienced young people 36 filch’d
stolen 39 be it so if 41 privilege rights I beg … Athens I demand my rights within the laws
of this city
13
As she is mine, I may dispose of her:
Which shall be either to this gentleman
Or to her death, according to our law
Immediately provided°4 in that case.
45
THESEUS
What say you, Hermia? Be advis’d fair maid:
To you your father should be as a god;
One that compos’d° your beauties, yea, and one
To whom you are but as a form in wax
By him imprinted and within his power
To leave the figure or disfigure° it.
Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.
50
HERMIA
So is Lysander.
THESEUS
In himself he is;
°
But in this kind , wanting° your father's voice,
The other must be held the worthier.
55
HERMIA
I would my father look’d but with my eyes.
45 immediately provided clearly stated or granted 47 To … god a simile meaning that Hermia
should respect and honor her father 48 compos’d created 48-51 One … it as your parent, your
father is your creator and he has absolute power over you, even the right to put you to death 51
disfigure destroy 54 kind case wanting lacking But…voice in this case, without your father’s
approval 56-57 I would … look Hermia wishes her father could see Lysander as she does, but
she is told to look at Lysander from her father’s point of view
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
14
Act I Scene I
THESEUS
Rather your eyes must with his judgment look.
HERMIA
I do entreat your Grace to pardon me.
I know not by what power I am made bold,
Nor how it may concern my modesty°5,
In such a presence° here to plead my thoughts;
But I beseech° your Grace that I may know
The worst that may befall me in this case,
If I refuse to wed Demetrius.
60
THESEUS
Either to die the death or to abjure°
For ever the society of men.
Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desire°;
Know of° your youth, examine well your blood°,
Whether, if you yield not to your father's choice,
You can endure the livery° of a nun,
For aye° to be in shady cloister° mew'd°,
To live a barren sister all your life,
65
70
60 concern my modesty make me seem too brazen 59-60 I know…modesty I don’t know
how I have the nerve (courage) to say this, or what you’ll think of me 61 in such a presence
before you, the Duke 62 beseech beg; plead with; humbly ask 65 abjure renounce; give up 67
question your desires make sure you know what you want 68 know of remember; think about
blood passion Know of … blood Remember how young you are, take a good look at your
desires 70 livery uniform endure … nun tolerate becoming a nun 71 aye ever mew’d caged;
confined cloister convent For … mew’d forever to live confined in the nunnery or convent 72
To live … life a reference to the vows of chastity taken by nuns
15
Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon°6.
Thrice-blessed they that master so their blood°,
To undergo such maiden pilgrimage;
But earthlier° happy is the rose distill'd°,
Than that which, withering on the virgin thorn,
Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness°.
75
HERMIA
So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord,
Ere I will yield my virgin patent° up
Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke°
My soul consents not to give sovereignt°.
80
THESEUS
Take time to pause; and by the next new moon –
The sealing-day° betwixt my love and me,
73 cold fruitless moon Diana, goddess of the moon and of chastity Chanting … moon Shakespeare is referring to a time when many of the women who took vows of chastity were not
Christian nuns but worshippers of the moon goddess Diana. Theseus calls Diana cold because
she is a virgin, and fruitless because she has no children 74 blood passions 75 To undergo such
maiden pilgrimage to devote themselves to the life of a nun 76 earthlier on earth distill’d
changed; plucked and used to create perfume 78 single blessendness celibacy; chastity 74-78
Thrice-blessed…blessedness women taking vows of chastity are blessed in heaven, but many
other women are happier marrying and having children than remaining virgins 80 patent privilege my virgin patent my virginity, or my right to remain a virgin or before I give up my right to
remain a virgin 81 unwished yoke unwanted domination (constraint) 82 sovereignty authority
consents … sovereignty will not obey 84 sealing-day wedding day 84-85 The sealing-day …
fellowship our wedding day, when our vows are sealed
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
16
Act I Scene I
For everlasting bond of fellowship –
Upon that day either prepare to die
For disobedience to your father's will,
Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would;
Or on Diana's altar to protest°7
For aye austerity° and single life.
85
90
DEMETRIUS
Relent, sweet Hermia: and, Lysander, yield
Thy crazed title° to my certain right.
LYSANDER
You have her father’s love, Demetrius;
Let me have Hermia’s: do you marry him.
EGEUS
Scornful Lysander! True, he hath my love,
And what is mine my love shall render° him.
And she is mine, and all my right of her
95
I do estate° unto Demetrius.
LYSANDER
I am, my lord, as well deriv’d as he°,
As well possess'd; my love is more than his;
My fortunes every way as fairly rank'd,
If not with vantage°, as Demetrius';
100
89 protest vow 90 austerity morally strict; severe strictness 92 crazed unsound crazed title
faulty claim for possession 96 render give 98 estate bequeath; give estate unto settle upon,
leave to 99 as well deriv’d as he from as good a family 99-100 as well … possess’d as well born
and as rich 102 vantage advantage 101-102 My … vantage my prospects for the future are the
same as Demetrius, and →
17
And, which is more than all these boasts can be,
I am belov’d of beauteous Hermia:
Why should not I then prosecute°8 my right?
Demetrius, I'll avouch° it to his head°,
Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena,
And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes°,
Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry°,
Upon this spotted° and inconstant° man.
105
110
THESEUS
I must confess that I have heard so much,
And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof;
But, being over-full of self-affairs,
My mind did lose it. But, Demetrius, come,
And come, Egeus; you shall go with me,
I have some private schooling° for you both.
For you, fair Hermia, look you arm° yourself
To fit your fancies° to your father's will;
Or else the law of Athens yields you up –
Which by no means we may extenuat° –
To death, or to a vow of single life.
Come, my Hippolyta. What cheer, my love?
115
120
maybe even better 105 prosecute demand 106 avouch swear head face avouch … head
declare it to his face 107 made love to courted; wooed 108 dotes loves 109 dotes in idolatry
worships entirely 110 spotted guilty; immoral spotted and inconstant man inconsistent, untrustworthy, unfaithful 113-114 But … lose it I had my own business to think about and forgot
it 116 schooling business, instructions 117 arm prepare 118 fancies desires 120 extenuate
lessen; mitigate Which … extenuate which we cannot change (i.e. for a lighter sentence)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
18
Act I Scene I
Demetrius and Egeus, go along.
I must employ you in some business
Against°9 our nuptial, and confer with you
Of something nearly that° concerns yourselves.
125
EGEUS
With duty and desire we follow you.
(Exeunt all but LYSANDER and HERMIA)
LYSANDER
How now, my love! Why is your cheek so pale?
How chance the roses there do fade so fast?
HERMIA
Belike° for want of rain, which I could well
Beteem° them° from the tempest of my eyes.
130
LYSANDER
Ay me! For aught° that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth;
But either it was different in blood –
135
HERMIA
O cross°! too high to be enthrall'd° to low.
125 against in preparation for 126 that that closely 130 belike likely; perhaps 131 beteem
supply them the tears 132 aught anything 135 But … blood the lovers were members of different social classes 136 O cross a reference to the crucifixion of Christ, and a mild oath in those
times enthrall’d enslaved →
19
LYSANDER
Or else misgraffed° in respect of years° –
HERMIA
O spite! too old to be engag’d to young.
LYSANDER
Or else it stood upon the choice of friends°01 –
HERMIA
O hell! to choose love by another’s eyes.
140
LYSANDER
Or, if there were a sympathy° in choice,
War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it°,
Making it momentany° as a sound,
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream;
Brief as the lightning in the collied° night,
That, in a spleen°, unfolds both heaven and earth°,
And ere a man hath power to say “Behold!”
The jaws of darkness do devour it up:
So quick bright things come to confusion°.
145
too … low how unfortunate to love someone who is in a lower class or to be too high-born to be
bound to one so humbly born 137 misgraffed mismatched or poorly matched respect of years
age 139 friends relatives 141 sympathy agreement a sympathy in choice mutual love 142
did lay siege to it put an end to it 143 momentany momentary 145 collied coal-black 146
spleen the spleen was thought to be the organ in the body that produced sudden and impulsive
actions; fit of anger passion unfolds … earth the bright lightning illuminates the sky and the
land 149 come to confusion are ruined or come to an end
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
20
Act I Scene I
HERMIA
If then true lovers have been ever cross’d°1,
It stands as an edict° in destiny°.
Then let us teach our trial° patience
Because it is a customary cross°,
As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs,
Wishes and tears – poor Fancy’s° followers.
150
155
LYSANDER
A good persuasion°: therefore, hear me, Hermia.
I have a widow aunt, a dowager°
Of great revenu°, and she hath no child:
From Athens is her house remote seven leagues°:
And she respects° me as her only son.
There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee;
And to that place the sharp Athenian law
Cannot pursue us. If thou lov’st me, then,
Steal forth thy father's house tomorrow night;
And in the wood, a league without the town,
Where I did meet thee once with Helena
160
165
150 cross’d always thwarted If then … cross’d if lovers always have problems 151 edict order;
law destiny decree of fate It stands…destiny that is just the normal way things are 152 trial
suffering then … patience let us bear our troubles patiently 153 cross burden 155 fancy’s
love’s 152-155 Then let … followers then we should be patient with our problems and accept
our problems as being as normal for lovers as tears and dreams are 156 persuasion argument;
advice 157 dowager elderly woman 158 revenue wealth of great revenue with a lot of money
159 leagues 3 miles or 4 km 160 respects regards; treats
21
To do observance to a morn of May°21,
There will I stay° for thee.
HERMIA
My good Lysander!
I swear to thee, by Cupid’s° strongest bow,
By his best arrow with the golden head,
By the simplicity° of Venus' doves°,
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,
And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage queen,
When the false Troyan° under sail was seen –
By all the vows that ever men have broke,
In number more than ever women spoke,
In that same place thou hast appointed me°,
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee.
170
175
167 morn of May May day, when lovers celebrated woodland rites To do … May perform the
ceremonies of May Day. The arrival of spring, May Day was celebrated with dances, games, and
festivities for lovers (to perform the May Day rituals) 168 stay wait 169 Cupid the god of love
whose golden arrows aroused love 170 By his … head according to legend, Cupid’s gold-tipped
arrow produces love in the person struck 171 simplicity innocence Venus’ doves The chariot
of Venus, the goddess of love, was often depicted as drawn by silver doves By the … doves by
the innocence of the bird of peace, the bird sacred to Venus, the goddess of love 172 By that …
loves this refers to the belt (called a girdle in those days) of Venus. It had the power of being able
to join people together in love 173-174 And by … was seen Dido, queen of Carthage, burned
herself on a funeral pyre when Aeneas, her Trojan love, secretly deserted her and sailed away 174
Troyan Trojan 173-174 And by … was seen Dido, the queen of Carthage, burned herself on a
funeral pyre after Aeneas, her Trojan love, secretly deserted her and sailed away 177 thou hast
appointed me you just told me about
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
22
Act I Scene I
LYSANDER
Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena.
(Enter HELENA)
HERMIA
God speed°31 fair Helena! Whither away°?
180
HELENA
Call you me fair°? That fair again unsay.
Demetrius loves your fair: O happy fair!
Your eyes are lode-stars°; and your tongue's sweet air
More tuneable° than lark to shepherd's ear,
When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear.
Sickness is catching. O, were favor° so,
Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go;
My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye,
My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody°.
Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated°,
The rest I'd give to be to you translated°.
O, teach me how you look; and with what art
You sway the motion° of Demetrius’ heart!
185
190
180 God speed good to see you whither away where are you going? 181 fair beauty 183
lode-stars those stars used by sailors to navigate by. In Shakespeare’s time, these guide-stars were
believed to have magnetic powers your tongue’s sweet air your voice air song 184 tuneable
musical 186 favor beauty or love O, were favor so if beauty (attractiveness) could be caught
like sickness 189 melody song 190 being bated caught; expected 191 translated transformed
The rest … translated I would give it all to you 193 motion emotion
23
HERMIA
I frown upon him, yet he loves me still.
HELENA
O that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill!
195
HERMIA
I give him curses, yet he gives me love.
HELENA
O that my prayers could such affection move!
HERMIA
The more I hate, the more he follows me.
HELENA
The more I love, the more he hateth me.
HERMIA
His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine.
HELENA
None but your beauty. Would that fault were mine!
200
HERMIA
Take comfort. He no more shall see my face;
Lysander and myself will fly this place.
Before the time I did Lysander see,
Seem’d Athens as a paradise to me.
O, then, what graces°41 in my love do dwell,
That he hath turn'd a heaven unto a hell°!
205
206 graces quality (qualities) 207 he hath … hell her love for Lysander has resulted in her
father’s anger and Theseus’ edict
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
24
Act I Scene I
LYSANDER
Helen, to you our minds we will unfold°51.
Tomorrow night, when Phœbe° doth behold
Her silver visage° in the watery glass,
Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass,
A time that lovers' flights doth still° conceal,
Through Athens' gates have we devis’d° to steal.
210
HERMIA
And in the wood, where often you and I
Upon faint primrose beds were wont° to lie,
Emptying our bosoms of their counsel° sweet,
There my Lysander and myself shall meet;
And thence from Athens turn away our eyes,
To seek new friends and stranger companies.
Farewell, sweet playfellow. Pray thou for us;
And good luck grant thee thy Demetrius!
Keep word, Lysander. We must starve our sight
From lovers' food till morrow deep midnight.
215
220
LYSANDER
I will, my Hermia.
208 to you … unfold we’ll tell you our plan 209 Phœbe Diana, the goddess of the moon 210
visage face 209-210 doth … glass when the moon is reflected in the water 211 Decking …
glass dew 212 still always A time … conceal the time of night that is always best for lovers to
flee 213 devis’d planned 215 were wont accustomed, used 216 counsel secrets Emptying …
sweet talking our hearts out to each other 222-223 We must…midnight we’d better not see
each other till we meet tomorrow night
25
(Exit HERMIA)
Helena, adieu.
As you on him, Demetrius dote on you!
225
(Exit)
HELENA
How happy some o’er°61 other some can be!
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;
He will not know what all but he do know.
And as he errs°, doting on Hermia's eyes,
So I, admiring of his qualities.
Things base and vile, holding no quantity°,
Love can transpose° to form and dignity.
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind°;
And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind.
Nor hath Love's mind of any judgement taste;
Wings, and no eyes, figure unheedy° haste.
And therefore is Love said to be a child,
230
235
226 o’er over How happy … can be some people are a lot happier than others 230 and as he
errs he is making a mistake 232 no quantity having little value holding no quantity bearing
no relation; to how they are viewed by love 233 transpose change 234 mind imagination 235
And…blind in paintings, Cupid is shown wearing a mask to indicate that love is not just based
on how someone looks, but also on his or her personality. We have the expression “Love is blind”
236 Nor … taste sometimes there is no reason for loving someone 237 figure unheedy signify
(symbolize) careless Wings … haste love can be sudden
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
26
Act I Scene I
Because in choice he is so oft beguil’d°.
As waggish boys in game themselves forswear,
So the boy Love is perjur’d°71 everywhere:
For ere Demetrius look'd on Hermia's eyne°,
He hail'd down oaths that he was only mine;
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,
So he dissolv’d, and show’rs of oaths did melt.
I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight;
Then to the wood will he tomorrow night
Pursue her; and for this intelligence°
If I have thanks, it is a dear expens°:
But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
To have his sight thither and back again.
240
245
250
(Exit)
239 beguil’d deceived 238-239 And … beguil’d like a child, love is spontaneous, or doesn’t stop
to think, and is often fooled. This speech, lines 234-239, refers to Demetrius being in love with
Hermia, when Hermia does not love him back 241 perjur’d guilty of lying is perjur’d does not
keep his word 240-241 As waggish…everywhere boastful boys tell lies when they are playing,
and many people, playing at love, lie also; just as mischievous boys, in jest, will not keep their
word 236-241 Nor hath … everywhere Helena plays on Cupid’s blindness, his wings and his
boyish qualities 242 eyne eyes For … eyne before Demetrius noticed Hermia 242-245 for
… melt when Demetrius saw Hermia, his love for Helena melted away and disappeared 248
intelligence piece of information 249 expense costly a dear expense telling Demetrius about
Hermia’s plan may cost Helena her friendship with Hermia 251 To have … again I will follow
him (and be able to see him) as he goes into the woods after Hermia 250-251 But … again my
reward will be that Demetrius will accompany me to and from the woods
27
Exercises
1. Quotation Test:
Identify each of the significant or very characteristic quotation or
speech below, such as
(a) Who is the speaker?
(b) At which point in the play? State briefly the context.
(c) What is the speaker talking about?
“The course of true love never did run smooth;”
“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind.”
2. Why does Egeus go and complain to Theseus about his daughter
Hermia? Are similar things still happening today?
3. List how Lysander courted Hermia.
4. In Theseus’ opinion, what would happen to Hermia if she yields
not to her father’s choice to marry Demetrius?
5. What plan do Lysander and Hermia contrive in order to flee the
sharp Athenian Law?
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
28