Midsummer Night's Dream Study Guide
Scene 1:
1. What specific lines in the speeches of Theseus and Hippolyta indicate that they
are looking forward to the wedding? Annotate with post-its; give the line
numbers here.
2. What can you conclude about Egeus's attitude toward his daughter's "place"?
Annotate with post-its; give the line numbers here of things he says to support
your point.
3. Paraphrase (put in your own words) Theseus's speeches on page 9 and 11.
4. List the points made by Lysander (lines 101-112) in defending right to marry
Hermia.
5. Reread Hermia's speech, lines 152-157. Are these honest emotions, or is she
enjoying somewhat being the center of a frustrated romance?
6. What do all of the images and metaphors in Hermia's vow speech (lines 171-181)
have in common?
7. What is the point of Helena's first speech? State it in one sentence. (lines 184-197)
8. (Discussion) Explain the ways in which Love is childlike and blind. Use Helena's
speech (lines 232+) as your reference.
Scene 2:
1. Underline lines and provide line numbers here to support each point about the
Mechanicals:
o Bottom misuses words (malapropisms):
o Bottom likes to be in charge:
o Snug is well-suited to be the lion:
2. Why must Thisbe be played by a man?
3. What device does Shakespeare use to arrange for the Mechanicals and the lovers
to be in the woods together tomorrow night?
Midsummer Night's Dream Study Guide
Scene 1:
1. What are Oberon and Titania fighting about?
2. What image does Puck use to show the Fairy how bad the feelings are between
Oberon and Titania (ll. 29-32)?
3. Contrast the ways Robin interacts with humans (ll. 33-43) with the ways Robin
admits to interacting with humans (ll. 44-59).
4. Why does Titania want to keep the child? (ll. 125-143)
5. Do you feel that Oberon is being spoiled or reasonable? Annotate with post-its;
give the line numbers here which support your argument.
6. What is the tone of Demetrius' first speech? Locate and underline the pun.
7. What kind of love is "true as steel?" (l.204) With what organic quality of
Demetrius' is Helena comparing her own heart? (see question 10)
8. To what does Helena compare herself in ll. 209-217? Paraphrase this speech in 12 sentences.
9. Paraphrase the "fight" Helena and Demetrius have: (ll. 227-249)
10. Who has overheard this fight? What does he resolve to do about it?
Scene 2:
1. Compare Lysander's first lines to those of Demetrius in Scene 1.
2. What does Hermia mean in line 71? (hint: who is the wisher and what is the
wish?)
3. Explain Helena's pun in line 94 on the word fond.
4. What is the meaning of "change a raven for a dove?" (l. 121)
5. Why is it ironic that Lysander claims it is his reason that makes him love Helena?
6. What is Helena's reaction to Lysander's love?
7. Read Lysander's speech (ll. 142-151) closely. In addition to love, what emotion
has the magic generated? Look up the words "surfeit" and "heresy" and
dictionary. How is Lysander applying these words to his "old love" for Hermia?
8. To what does the word "your" refer in line 150?
9. In what way is Hermia's dream true?
10. What is the irony in Hermia's last line in this scene? What "plot fact" does it
recall?
11. How does the story of Hermia and Lysander parallel the story of Oberon and
Titania?
Midsummer Night's Dream Study Guide
Scene 1:
1. What is the purpose of this night meeting of the Mechanicals?
2. Underline in the text examples of Bottom's malapropisms.
3. To whom is Robin speaking in lines 106-113? Is this the behavior you expect of
him? Explain.
4. What does Bottom think of the responses of his fellow actors to "ass head"?
Where in the play have we seen a similar response, in a very different
circumstance?
5. What wakes Titania? (l.139).
6. What is ironic and humorous about Titania's speech (ll. 139-143)? Refer to
specific phrases.
7. In what way is Bottom truly "wise" when he speaks line 146? Refer to other
incidents in the play, as well as to this one.
Scene 2:
1. Which character is used by Shakespeare to connect the two plots? We see this
working in the first 2 pages of this act. Explain your choice.
2. What does Hermia believe Demetrius has done?
3. Why is Robin delighted with Oberon's use of the flower on Demetrius? (ll. 120124)
4. To what does Demetrius compare his heart (ll. 172-176)? Explain the
comparison.
5. How has Hermia located Lysander in the dark wood?
6. What does Helena make of Lysander's love for her and Hermia's lack of
understanding of what is going on?
7. How does Shakespeare use the difference in "size" of the two women to make
their fight more dramatic and interesting?
8. In what ways have the mortals been made fools by Robin?
9. What specific line tells us that Hermia still loves Lysander, even after all of his
language of hate?
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Midsummer Night's Dream Study Guide
Act IV, Scene 1:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Describe the tone of Titania's speech which opens the scene.
Why does Titania feel this way? (review)
In what ways does Bottom's speech (ll. 24-27) illustrate dramatic irony?
Explain Oberon's pun on "dotage", line 48.
What is Theseus's explanation for the lovers' presence in the wood? (ll.
137-142)
6. How does Demetrius explain his "dream" and his lack of interest in
marrying Hermia? (ll. 167-183)
7. What do you make of Bottom's assessment of his dream?
Scene 2:
What is the irony in Quince's lines, 11-12?
Act V, Scene 1:
1.
2.
3.
4.
To what does "it" refer in lines 20 and 21?
Do your best to summarize in 4 sentences what Theseus says in lines 2-23.
Why does Theseus want to "wear away three hours"?
What interests Theseus in the play of the Mechanicals? (ll. 60-64 and
following lines)
5. What do you make of the silence of Hermia and Helena in this scene?