Midsummer Night s Dream

Transcription

1 Midsummer Night s Dream

2 Romantic Comedy Comedy begins in adversity and ends in prosperity. It is funny, but centers on the romantic interests of the four lovers and the fairies.

3 Setting: Begins in the Athens, Greece at Theseus palace. This is also where it ends. Everything else occurs in the forest outside Athens. Athens The adult world Everything orderly and sensible Forest Lovers and Fairies There is no sense of order, things are confused and out of place

4 Four Plots Theseus and Hippolyta The Lovers (Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius) The Tradesmen, craftsmen and their play The Fairies (Oberon and Titania s quarrel)

5 Plot Titania & Oberon Helena & Demetrius Hermia & Lysander Puck The Craftsmen Helena, Lysander & Demetrius Hermia alone Bottom and Titania Craftsmen Flee- play ruined

6 Characters Helena Pitiful, desperate, conniving, immature; a weak individual. She cannot rationally except that Demetrius does not love her. Hermia Appears to be a stronger individual when faced with a problem. She seems to tackle it rather than just whine about it. Interestingly, once in the forest, the girls appear to switch places and it is difficult to tell one from the other.

7 Lysander Constant, and loyal. His feelings do not change without the help of magic. Demetrius Flippant, inconsistent, ungentlemanly, cruel, immature and has little respect for women. Theseus Highly respected ruler of Athens. He does not get involved completely, by offering time and options. Hippolyta Queen of the Amazons, fierce women warriors, captured by the Athenians. She is to wed Theseus.

8 Characters Puck He is the catalyst for the action in the play. He creates the problems, encourages the problems, finds humour in them and eventually fixes them. He is like the fairies with his magical abilities, yet he has all the roughness of the tradesmen. He is good but also bad. Oberon King of the fairies. Sees a problems and is more than willing to involve himself in solving it the way he sees fit.

9 Characters Bottom Would like to think he is grand, intelligent and a superb actor, however he is truly an ass. He is gullible, arrogant and somewhat of an idiot which creates much of the humour in the play. Titania Queen of the Fairies. Beautiful, graceful, married to Oberon. Tries to exert herself but is easily manipulated by him.

10 Symbols Play within a Play Common technique used in Shakespeare s plays. Used to show the difference between nature and reality. Pyramus and Thisbe Tragedy. This is what could have happened had things not worked out as they did in the end. Comic Relief This play is a tragedy, yet to see the players do it, it is hilarious. Has the complete opposite affect.

11 Symbols Dreams (Common Motif) Hermia s dream parallels what has happened in real life. Lysander did leave her and gave his heart to another. The lovers believing they shared the one dream. Bottom s dream seems horrible because he was an ass, yet it was good because of the attentions of the fairy queen. Ironic as he sees himself for what he is. Titania s dream shows love s ability to blind people. Puck s ending says that the whole play has been nothing more than a dream. It was not real, but a figment of our imaginations. Creates a sense of illusion and also allows for the passage of time. Transition.

12 Symbols Love Potion Used by the fairies to manipulate/humiliate others. In some sense it is very much like the effect love has on some people; irrational, fickle and excessive behaviour. It speaks to the uncontrollable nature of love.

13 Contrast Titania Beautiful & graceful Bottom Gross & base

14 Contrasts Helena Tall, fair,weak Hermia Short, dark complexion, strong

15 Contrasts Puck Plays pranks Bottom Butt of the pranks

16 Contrasts Fairies Graceful & Magical Craftsmen Clumsy & Rough

17 Thematic Subjects Relationships Jealousy/betrayal Misunderstandings Illusion versus reality Blindness Dreams Love

18 Relationships Parent and Child Egeus and Hermia Boyfriend and Girlfriend Hermia and Lysander Helena and Demetrius Husband and Wife Titania and Oberon Theseus and Hippolyta Lords and Commoners Theseus and Bottom s Men

19 Possible Thematic Statements Love and reason do not keep company. Love can cause a person to act irrationally. The course of true love never did run smooth. Love makes fools of us all. Jealousy can lead to destructive behaviour. Jealousy can turn people against each other.