Final thoughts

I enjoyed the play. I thought it was good. I liked how there was love, things that are and aren't apart of this world, like magic, the faires, the four lovers, and how there was a play with in a play. It was interesting to read, at some part reading about the love with the potion it was a little confusing and I had to read it a few times to understand it. It help having the notes on the left of the pages throughout the play, it helped me understand it more. I also liked how we got to watch the movie of the play while reading, it helped me even more to understand the book. I thought in act 5 scene 1 was very interesting. Basically when everyone and all the different stories are intertwined. The lovers are all having a three couple wedding, the actors are performing their play for Theseus and Hippolyta. And when the play started, later when Starveling, as the Moon, tries to explain his role, I thought that was funny. And at the end of the play within a play when Bottom as Pyramus continues to say Now die, die, die ,die... then he dies, I thought it was funny how he keps on saying it. I also liked the part when Bottom turns into an ass, I thought it was funny and clever how Shakespeare connected Bottom and the animal together. I thought it was a good play and book to read. I didn't dislike anything about this. But at first it was hard to understand things, like the charter  who is who, some of their names were some what confusing, and the language, the way it was written was hard to understand. But reading throughout the book it was easier to understand everything. A question I have for the book is what happened to the Indian boy, it isn't that important but it would have been nice to see what happened with him. One other thing I liked about the book was how and why Shakespeare wrote the play. I think it is because "The cours of true love never did run smooth;" act 1 scene 1 (line134) He is saying that in true love it can never run perfect or smoothly with out something happening to destroy it or make it hard. 

Viewing Activity: Act V

Viewing Activity: Act V

Shakespeare uses a number of different techniques to create humor in the play-within-a-play. Some techniques include:

•          Breaking the play's illusion of reality

•          Using the wrong word or name

-devoured 

•          Repeating a word excessively.

-die

--adieu 

--oh night

Make note of examples of these as you watch the play-within-a-play in Act V. 

Act 4 Dream Chart

Titania- disgust and disbelief at having loved Bottom
Lysander- He didn't know what was going on but told Theseus about his plan with Hermia.
Hermia- Egeus wants Theseus to punish Lysander for attempting to marry with Hermia.
Demetrius- He explains his new love Helena
Helena- Loves Demetrius
Bottom- wonders about his 'dream' and wants to make a poem and call is 'Bottom's Dream', and sing it at the end of the play for the Duke.

Portfolio: Act 4

Act IV Scene i:

1. Review your notes on the Act IV Active Reading Chart. How do most of the dreamers respond to the dream experience upon waking? Which dreamer is permanently changed by the dream experience?

Not knowing what is going on, or how everything happened. 

2. How does Theseus' current decision regarding Hermia and Lysander contradict his earlier statement?

He accepts it now, and wanting a massive wedding with Helena/Demetrius, Hermia/Lysander, Theseus/Hippolyta

Act IV Scene ii:

1. What opinion do the other artisans now have of Bottom since they think he is lost?
They were happy but someone said that they couldn't go on with the play without Bottom because he plays his part like no one else can.

2. What do they most regret losing by not being able to perform the play?
Money.

3. Why must the actors hurry to the Duke’s palace?

Because their play has been chosen. 

Bottom the Weaver worksheet

3. Some critics see Bottom as a fool. Others think he is wiser than he appears. Based on your findings in the above activities and reading the play, what is your opinion of Bottom? (How would you describe him to someone?) Use quotes from the play to support your opinion.

I think Bottom is "full of himself" or he thinks highly of himself. Bottom thinks he is from the high class group, but really all he is doing is making a 'fool' of himself. Like when he tries to speak, he tries to talk with more 'proper' words but really he is using the words in a wrong context or not the right word in that place. I think Shakespeare meant Bottom to be like this because to make his audience laugh, make the play of a comedy. He wants to play many different parts in the play that the armature actors are trying to prepare for the Duke and Duchess, "Let me play the lion too. I will roar that I will do any man's..." (act.1 sc. 2 lines 57-59). He is already playing Pyramus but wants to play more characters. "... let me play Thisbe too...." (act. 1 sc. 2 lines 42-44) He is then late in act 3 Bottom is changed into an 'ass'. I think he was changed into an ass and not another animal because an ass is a 'stupid', 'silly', 'dumb' animal. And Bottom is similar in a way to an ass, how he acts with things. 

4. Puck can transform Bottom into anything he pleases. Why did Puck choose a donkey?

Portfolio: Act 3

Act III Scene I Questions:

Choose one of the following questions to answer (in paragraph form) on your blog:

1. Like Helena in the previous scene, Bottom discovers that he is the object of someone's affection. How does his reaction to the discovery compare with Helena's? What does his reaction reveal (or confirm) about his character?

         Bottom is all like, 'of course you are in love with me'. He just thinks he is better than everyone so he accepts that she loves him. But unlike Bottom, Helena is shocked that Lysander is in love with her, and thinking he is making fun of her. His reaction doesn't compare with Helena's because they think complete opposite of each other's situations. But both tried to run away from their situation. Bottom from the fairies and Helena from Lysander to find Demetrius. This confirms that he is what he has turned into, an ass, and it reveals that he is just a 'cocky' person, who think highly of himself. 

2. When Titania falls in "love" with Bottom in Act III Sc. I, he says: "Reason and love keep little company together." What does this mean and how is it an appropriate statement for the play?
like some people don't know the reason why they love the person that they have fallen for. Like what Titania has now done, she all of a sudden fell in love with Bottom, someone she hasn't see ever and she knows nothing about him. Because she was under the spell she had fallen for Bottom without finding out who he is, she needed to fall for someone because of the potion. 

Portfolio: Act 2

Act II Scene I:

1. What does the reader find out about the current relationship between Oberon, King of the Fairies, and Titania, Queen of the Fairies, from Puck and the first fairy?

The king and queen aren't in a great marriage, fighting over an indian boy. 

Puck is a trickster fairy. 

2. How have Oberon and Titania been involved in the past with Theseus and Hippolyta, and why have they come to Athens?

Because Theseus and Hippolyta are going to get married and they don't want to make a big problem.

3. What effect has their quarrel had on nature, on the seasons, on humans?

rivers flood, farmers crops wilt... 

4. Why won’t Titania give up the changeling to Oberon?

because Oberon wants the boy for his own use but she doesn't want him to do that and wants to keep the boy.

5. What does Oberon send Puck to find?

A magic potion, place it on the eyelid of them sleeping then when you wake up the first person you see you'll fall in love with them. (appearance and reality)

6. What are Oberon’s plans for Titania?

To use the magic potion when she is sleeping, to make her in love with a someone.

7. How does Helena react to Demetrius’s verbal abuse?

She still loves him and she doesn't care if he treats her like that.

8. What is her response to his threats of physical abuse?

She doesn't care either

9. In what way is Helena’s behavior inappropriate for Athenian women?

because the man is supposed to woo the women and not the women woo the men

10. What does Oberon tell Puck to do about Demetrius and Helena?

put the potion on Demetrius but make sure the next thing he sees is Helena.

Act II Scene II Questions:

1. In Act II, Helena must experience a range of emotions. Demetrius, whom she loves, wants nothing to do with her (Act II Sc I lines 188-244) and Lysander, under the "love-in-idleness" spell, is fawning over her (Act II Sc II lines 94-150)! Pretend that you are Helena. Write a diary entry to in response to one these two events. What must she be thinking? How is she feeling? Review the lines carefully and take note of what both she and Lysander or Demetrius say. How does she react? 

*Helena's P.O.V.*

Tonight after following Demetrius trying to get his love, but on a chase to find Lysander and Hermia, I had to stop from the mad chase. As stopping I had seen Lysander and Hermia. At first I thought Lysander was either sleeping or dead. As I checked for a heartbeat he was not dead. As waking he had said, "Who will not change a raven for a dove?" I think he was speaking of mockery.  I do not think he loves me, only trying to make me feel even worse than I already do. I am already hurt that Demetrius doesn't love me, but loves my best friend Hermia, who Lysander should love because she loves him dearly. But no Lysander has either started to love me the way I want Demetrius to or he is playing a trick against me. If he is trying to love me, I don't love him back, I have decided to run from him, not love him, until I know for sure that he loves me. But this still does not feel right that he loves me and not Hermia, I can't hurt Hermia. But she has taken the love that Demetrius should have with me and yet she doesn't love him back. 

2. Dramatic irony is when a character says something, but the audience knows more than the character does about other characters or events, so the statement comes across with a double meaning that the audience "gets" and the character doesn't. Find one example of dramatic irony in Act II Scene II.

An example of dramatic irony in Act II Scene II is how the love potion was put on Titania and Lysander. And another is how it was Lysander not Demetrius who has the potion on his eyes.  

3. When Hermia awakes at the end of Act II Scene II, she describes a dream that she had: "Lysander, look how I do quake with fear-/ Methought a serpent ate my heart away,/ And you sat smiling at his cruel pray" (Act II Sc. II lines 154-156). Is this only a dream? Explain.

 No, the dream was of Lysander and Demetrius. Demetrius is the serpent, and Lysander is "in love" with Helena that he doesn't love Hermia anymore, smiling at what Demetrius is doing.

Act 2 scene 2 prediction

When Oberon tells Puck to do another task of putting the potion on Demetrius eyes so he falls in love with Helena because of what he had seen happen in the wood with them. I think that Puck will think Lysander is the man that wears the traditional clothing because Oberon said that Demetrius was the only one to be wearing the traditional clothing. But I think that Puck will be confused and put the potion on Lysander. I think Lysander will see Helena and want to be with her but then they will get all in a big fight because Hermia loves Lysander, but because Lysander has the potion he will fall for Helena, but Helena loves Demetrius, but Demetrius loves Helena. It's a love circle.
I think his other plan of Titania will work. But I feel that they plan that she will not, not pay attention of what Oberon wants to do, take the boy from her for his own use.

Portfolio: Act 1

Act 1 Scene 1:

1. Why has Egeus brought his daughter, Hermia, and her two suitors, Demetrius and Lysander, to Theseus? 
To talk about the marriage with Hermia and Demetrius. About how Hermia and Lysander love each other but can't be together.  

2. What was the proper role for women and daughters in Athenian society according to Egeus and Theseus?
To obey what their father says.

3. According to Theseus, what three options does Hermia have?
Marry Demetrius, become a nun, or death

4. What evidence does Lysander give against Demetrius' character? 
Had an affair with Helena

5. What does Lysander mean when he says "The course of true love never did run smooth" ? Do you agree? Why or why not?
How true love can never happen without something bad or tough happening. 

6. What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about their situation?
Run into the forest and get married

7. How does Helena feel towards Hermia? Why?
Helena envies Hermia because Demetrius is so in love with Helena but she doesn't love him back, but still through everything Demetrius still loves her and not Helena. And Helena wants to Hermia to show her thing that she does so Demerits will love her back.

8. Even though Helena loves Demetrius and is Hermia's best friend, why does she decide to tell Demetrius of Hermia and Lysanders' plans?
I think she thinks that this will make her more worthy and make her noticed by Demetrius and so he would fall for her and not Hermia. 

9. We meet several characters in this act. Fill in the empty boxes in the table below with information about the characters we've met so far.

Character	Current Situation	Relationship to other characters	Views on love (How do you know?)
Theseus	King talking about the marriage law	-The king -Getting married to Hippolyta	The women should follow the law and that the fathers chose what to do
Hippolyta	The queen of the Amazons	-Getting married to Theseus
Egeus	Wanting Hermia to marry Demetrius	-father of Hermia -wants Hermia to marry Demetrius	Things should go his way, for Hermia to obey what he says and marry Demetrius
Hermia	About to run away with Lysander to get married	-daughter of Egeus -loves Lysander -Demetrius loves her -best friends with Helena	-wants to follow her own path and marry the one she loves
Lysander	About to run away with Hermia to get married	-loves Hermia	-loves Hermia and wants to break the marriage law to marry her, he will do anything to be with her
Demetrius	Wanting to marry Hermia	-loves Hermia -had an affair with Helena -Egeus wants Demetrius and Hermia to marry	Loves Hermia and wants to marry her. But also had an affair with Helena but doesn't love her back
Helena	She is going to rat out Lysander and Hermia thinking she will get Demetrius to love her	-best friends with Hermia -love Demetrius but he does not love her	Loves Demetrius but he doesn't love her and it seems like she will do anything to get his love, ratting out Hermia and Lysander and wanting to be more like Hermia to get Demetrius to love her.

Act 1 Scene 2:

1. Of what social class/status are the characters introduced in this scene? How do you know? Think about the markers of class that we discussed in Social Studies.
working class, they weren't unemployed, but they weren't rich . amature actors 

2. This group of amateur actors are called "The Mechanicals." What are your first impressions of them?
They are interesting, but I don't know much about them yet. But it seems like Bottom wants to be in most parts of the play

3. What are the men planning?
To practice their play before the showing for the Dutch and Dutchess' wedding

4. In what way is this scene funny? Why do you suppose Shakespeare included this scene?
When calling their names and telling what part they have, some of them don't want to play the part and ask for a different one they would like but get shot down and stick to their parts.

How Bottom uses bad proper language

5. Where are the actors to meet the following night? Who else is meeting in these same woods at the same time?
meet in the palace wood, by the moonlight. Hermia and Lysander. 

Motif Chart

A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream Motif Chart

Motifs	Nature	The Moon	Sleep and Dreams	Eyes	Plays, rehearsals, roles/parts	Magic
Act 1 Scene 1	-Hermia and Lysander are going to run away into the forest to get married	-Moon makign the passage of time Act 1 Sc. 1 lines 1-15		"Your eyes are lodestars" (your eyes are guiding stars) -Helena lines 180-185
Act 1 Scene 2	-the men are meeting in the same place as Hermia and Lysander are running away to	-The moon 80-85			-the play with Quince the Carpenter, Snug the Joiner, Bottom the Weaver, Flute the Bellows-mender, Snout the Tinker and Starveling the Tailor
Act 2 Scene 1	-everyone is going to the forest					-love potion
Act 2 Scene 2	-singing to Titania to make her sleep, about nature		-fairies singing a lullaby to Titania -Lysander and Hermia sleep			-Oberon puts the potion on Titania
Act 3 Scene 1
Act 3 Scene 2
Act 4 Scene 1
Act 4 Scene 2
Act 5 Scene 1

Theme Chart

Themes	Love and Marriage	Order and Disorder	Appearance and Reality	Creative Imagination
Act I Scene 1	"And won thy love doing thee injuries; But I will wed thee in another key" -Theseus "With feigning voice verses of feigning love" -Egeus (untrue) "The sealing-day betwixt my love and me" (wedding day) -Theseus	Lysander and Hermia are going against Athenian law and marrying each other. This is against Egeus' orders.
Act 1 Scene 2
Act 2 Scene 2	-Oberon and Titania are royal fairies married -Demetrius and Helena are fighting -Oberon tells Puck to find a love potion scene2 -oberon puts the potion on Titania's eyes	-love potion	-what the love potion does to a person sleeping and when they wake up
Act 3 Scene 1	Because of the potion Titania falls in love with Bottom
Act 3 Scene 2	-Oberon wants to know who Titania now loves -Oberon is happy that Titania has fallen in love so he can take the Indian boy -Oberon tells Puck to fix his mistake -Oberon puts the potion on Demetrius' eyes, and Lysander tries to convince Helena that he loves her -Helena thinks that he is lying -Demetrius wakes, loves Helena, Helena loves him, Lysander loves Helena too, and Hermia loves Lysander but no one loves Hermia. -both Lysander and Demetrius fights for the love of Helena and Lysander hates Hermia
Act 4 Scene 1	-Oberon feels pity for Titania and removes the spell on her -Theseus, Hippolyta and the others find the four lovers sleeping -Lysander loves Hermia and Helena and Demetrius love each other -They are going to have a three couple wedding
Act 4 Scene 2	-Theseus wants to have a big three couple wedding
Act 5 Scene 1	-the play within a play; PYRAMUS and THISBY the lovers die in the play for each other. -everyone was happy and everyone was with another person that they loved.