Name ___________________________________________ Period __________
Act One
Scene Guide
As you read A Midsummer Night’s Dream, you will complete a scene guide which will help you
keep track of the characters and events of the play. It is not necessary to write using complete
sentences, but it is important that you fill out the guide completely and accurately as you read.
Scene One
Characters Involved/Introduced
Characters Involved/Introduced
Setting
(Where does the scene take place?)
Setting
(Where does the scene take place?)
Action (What happened?)
Action (What happened?)
What do you think will happen next?
What do you think will happen next?
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Scene Two
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream Literature Guide
Name ___________________________________________ Period __________
Act One
Comprehension Check
This exercise is meant to ensure that you have understood Act One by asking you to recall
its details. Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper in complete
sentences. Some answers are quite simple, while others require more thought.
Scene One
1. When we are introduced to Theseus and Hippolyta they are awaiting and planning a
particular event. What is it?
2. Who is Hermia in love with? Who does Egeus want Hermia to marry?
3. Why is Egeus mad at Lysander?
4. What right does Egeus have if Hermia refuses to follow her father‘s orders?
5. From the fact that Egeus has the right to choose his daughter‘s spouse and Theseus‘
agreement with Egeus‘s claim, what can you tell about women‘s rights in Athens at
this time? What are the rights of men? What is more important: love or duty? How
do you know?
6. What three choices does Theseus give to Hermia? What is Hermia‘s response?
7. Who do you think Shakespeare wants the audience to sympathize with: Egeus or
Hermia? How do you know?
8. What evidence does Lysander give against Demetrius‘ character? What does he say of
his own worthiness?
9. Who does Lysander suggest marry Demetrius? Why?
10. What does Lysander mean when he says ―The course of true love never did run
smooth‖? Do you agree? Why or why not?
11. What is Lysander‘s plan?
12. When Hermia and Lysander meet Helena, what kind of mood is Helena in? How can
you tell?
13. How does Helena feel towards Hermia? Why?
14. What does Helena wish for?
15. What does Helena decide to do at the end of the scene? What does she hope will
happen?
Scene Two
1. In this scene we are introduced to a group of men who seem to be having a meeting;
what is this meeting about?
2. Who seems to be in charge of the meeting (the one who assigns the parts)?
3. Why doesn‘t Flute want to play Thisbe?
4. What part is Bottom assigned? What part(s) does he also want to play? What is your
impression of Bottom?
5. Where do the men agree to rehearse? Why do they not want to rehearse in town?
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream Literature Guide
Name ___________________________________________ Period __________
Act One
Standards Focus: Development of Drama
In Act One, we are given information regarding the elements of drama (setting, conflict,
plot, character, and theme), which help set up and develop the story. Provide some of this
information by completing the following activity.
1. Setting is not only the physical location of a story, but also the mood or atmosphere, and
time. What is the geographical setting of the play? What is the general mood or
atmosphere? How can you tell? What is the time of year?
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2. Character: We also meet several characters in this act. Fill in the empty boxes in the
table below with information about the characters we have met so far. An example has
been done for you.
Character
Current Situation
Position in Society
Relationship to Other
Characters
Theseus
Preparing to marry
Hippolyta.
The Duke of Athens. Well
respected authority figure
as the Duke and as a man.
Holds authority over the other
citizens of Athens.
Queen of the Amazons;
soon to be the Duchess
of Athens.
Egeus
Hermia‘s Father
Forced into an
engagement with a man
she does not love.
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream Literature Guide
Name ___________________________________________ Period __________
Character
Current Situation
Place in Society
Relationship to Other
Characters
Wants to marry Hermia,
though she does not love him.
Once vowed to love Helena,
but has since changed the
direction of his affection.
Lysander
In love with Demetrius,
though he does not love
her.
A carpenter and the
leader of an amateur
acting troupe.
Apparently none, though
he would say he was quite
important.
3. Conflict is the problem faced by the characters and is the driving force behind the plot.
Conflicts often plays a key role in the theme, since once a conflict is resolved, the
characters (and the audience) learns a lesson. In Act One, we are given a sneak peek into
what will become the major conflicts of the story. So far, what can you see might be
potential conflicts within the play?
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream Literature Guide
Name ___________________________________________ Period __________
Act One
Assessment Preparation: Vocabulary Development
Complete the following chart for the Act One vocabulary words. Keep the following in mind as you
complete the chart:
 Denotative Meaning: the literal (dictionary) definition of a word.
 Contextual Meaning: how the word is used within the play
 Origin and Meaning: the original root of the word, and the meaning of the root
 Original Sentence: an original sentence using the vocabulary word in the form it
appears within the text
 Synonyms: words that have the same or similar meaning to the vocabulary word
Use a dictionary for help if needed. An example has been done for you.
nuptial
Denotative
Meaning
adj. 1. Of or relating to marriage of the wedding ceremony. 2. Of, relating to,
or occurring during the mating season. n. a wedding ceremony.
Contextual
Meaning
In the play, the word carries its literal meaning, but also all the pomp and
ceremony that comes with a wedding.
Origin and
Meaning
Derived from the Latin word nuptualis, which means wedding.
Original
Sentence
They had spent so much time preparing for their nuptial that the day was
upon them before they realized it.
Synonyms
marriage, wedding, bridal, matrimonial, marital
Denotative
Meaning
Contextual
Meaning
revenue
Origin and
Meaning
Original
Sentence
Synonyms
Denotative
Meaning
abjure
Contextual
Meaning
Origin and
Meaning
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Name ___________________________________________ Period __________
Original
Sentence
Synonyms
Denotative
Meaning
Contextual
Meaning
estate
(unto)
Origin and
Meaning
Original
Sentence
Synonyms
Denotative
Meaning
Contextual
Meaning
extenuate
Origin and
Meaning
Original
Sentence
Synonyms
Denotative
Meaning
Contextual
Meaning
dowager
Origin and
Meaning
Original
Sentence
Synonyms
Denotative
Meaning
lodestars
Contextual
Meaning
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Name ___________________________________________ Period __________
Origin and
Meaning
Original
Sentence
Synonyms
Denotative
Meaning
Contextual
Meaning
transpose
Origin and
Meaning
Original
Sentence
Synonyms
Denotative
Meaning
Contextual
Meaning
extempore
Origin and
Meaning
Original
Sentence
Synonyms
Denotative
Meaning
Contextual
Meaning
properties
Origin and
Meaning
Original
Sentence
Synonyms
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream Literature Guide