Literature Analysis #1

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

1.      This story is set in Athens, Greece as Theseus, the Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta are preparing for their wedding. The character Hermia is loved by both Lysander and Demetrius but loves Lysander, while Helena loves Demetrius. Lysander and Hermia want to be married but Hermia’s father, Egeus, forces her to marry and love Demetrius instead. Despite the consequences Lysander and Hermia run away together. In hopes of Demetrius loving her back, Helena informs Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander running away. However, he doesn’t like Helena and he follows Hermia. While Lysander and Hermia run away into a forest the fairy queen, Titania, and king, Oberon fued over a boy who Titania took from Oberon. Seeking revenge Oberon orders Puck (another fairy) to squeeze a love potion into Titanias eyes which will cause her to fall in love with whatever she sees first when she wakes up. He also orders Puck to put the potion into Demetrius’s eyes when he witnesses him treating Helena badly. Unfortunately, Puck makes the mistake of putting the potion into Lysanders eyes instead of Demetrius’s. Lysander wakes up seeing Helna and falls in love with her. Helena runs tries to run from Lysander thinking that he is mocking her. The climax of this story is when Puck realizes his mistake and then later puts the potion into Demetrius eyes, causing him to fall in love with Helena. Helena believes that Lysander and Demetrius are only mocking her. When Hermia sees this, she blames Helena for stealing Lysander from her. Hermia threatens Helena but both me come to Helena’s protection, which only makes them argue between themselves. As Hermia, Helena, Demetrius, and Lysander fall asleep in the woods, Puck puts the love potion into Lysander’s eyes, declaring that in the morning everything will return to normal.

2.      I think the theme of the novel is how difficult love is and that it is far from easy. Lysander even says “The course of true love never did run smooth.” I don’t think this story is a true love story, it shows romantic elements but it shows the torments and afflictions that loved ones suffer. I see it more as a comedy where everyone loves the wrong person. Hermia loves Lysander, Helena loves Demetrius, Demetrius loves Hermia, the two men end up loving Helena and leaver Hermia alone. Also Egeus (Hermias father) wanted to force her to marry Demetrius even though she loved Lysander. It wasn’t easy for Lysander and Hermia to be together and that is why they ran away. They knew the consequences and difficulty of being together but decided to go through with anyway out of love.

3.      I chose this book because my AVID teacher recommended it to me when I asked him about which book I should read when I had my final choices. This book caught my attention because it was written by Shakesoeare. I really enjoy reading his plays/writings so I decided to take upon this one. What made me want to keep reading is just the whole love story I knew was behind it. It was funny yet loving at the same time I guess you could say.

4.      In my opinion this book can be realistic, in the sense of people falling in love with the wrong people. I honestly think it happens a lot at school with people my age, especially girls. I think a lot of girls can relate to Helena where they like someone but they have to watch him like another girl. I just don’t think many get and ending like the one in this story. It’s never personally happen to me but I see it all the time on social media and to a few friends.

5.      Shakespeare’s tone in the beginning of the story is kind of serious because Egeus doesn’t let his daughter marry Lysander. However, I think he becomes more humerous throughout the story having Puck put the potion in Lysander’s eyes to make him fall in love with Helena who think she is being mocked. Also Shakespeare writes that Titania falls in love with a donkey, which I think shows he is trying to be funny with this play.

6.      –“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” This helped me find the theme a little bit more because it is describing how love can blind you.

-“The raging rocks and shivering shocks shall break the locks of prison gates” This is an example of imagery, I think it paints a picture inside readers head how powerful a storm can be

-“And then the moon, like a silver bow New bent in heaven, shall behold the night of our solemnities” This is an example of a simile because it compares the moon to a silver bow and it also makes up a different picture of the moon in readers heads.

-“How now, my love! Why is your cheek so pale? How chance the roses there do fade so fast?” I think this is a great metaphor comparing the color of roses to her cheek because it helps the readers picture Hermia’s look.

-“Therefore the moon, the governess of floods, pale in her anger, washes away all the air.” This shows anger differently by comparing it to floods and the moon.

-“Belike for want of rain, which I could well between them from the tempest of my eyes” I think this is a great way to show readers how much Hermia wanted to cry. It shows her emotions and tears.

-“I’ll speakin a monstrous little voice” I chose this because it was simply anexample of a hyperbole, exaggerating the tone of voice

-“But earthlier happy is the rose distilled” I chose this as a metaphor describing how happy is a rose distilled meaning happiness is purifying.

-“O that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill!” this is an example of personification giving frowns the power to “teach”

-“Than that which withering on the virgin thorn grows, lives and dies in single blessedness” I think that Theseus is comparing being a virgin to a flower blossom, it eventually withers and dies on a rosebush.

 

Characterization

1.      Indirect Characterization:

-“Be advised, fair maid. To you your father should be as a god, one that composed 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” Theseus talks about Demetrius and Egeus to Hermia.

-“The villain is much lighter heeled than I. I followed fast but faster he did fly” Lysander describes Demetrius

Direct Characterization:

-“I am, my lord, as well derived as he, as well possessed; my love is more than his; My fortunes every way as fairly ranked (If not with vantage) as Demetrius” Lysander describes himself to Egeus.

-“Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour Draws on apace; four happy days bring in Another moon: but, O, methinks, how slow This old moon wanes! she lingers my desires” Theseus describes himself by showing how happy his is about his marriage

 

2.      Yes Shakespeare’s syntax and diction changes between characters. For example when Theseus or Egeus is speaking he has more of a serious tone and words he uses. And when Puck is speaking the tone is funny and loose.

3.      The protagonist, Puck is both static and flat. He doesn’t really change throughout the play and he only deals with one thing, which is putting the potion into Lysander and Titania’s eyes.

4.      After reading this I feel as if I had only read a character or characters I should say. I didn’t really feel like I met any one of them because I barely got any descriptions about each one and they were kind of vague. I didn’t know much about them just who they were in love with. I do however, think that it has much to do with the fact it is a play so I felt I was pretty much just reading the script and not a book or story.

 

Enduring Memory: I think something I would remember out of this play the most is the quote ““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” because I think it describes love perfectly plus it goes with the theme. I think love blinds people sometimes from whats really important. I changes people and they do things like running away to be with whomever they love. They don’t always realize what is in front of them, people (in my opinion) sometimes just like the thought of feeling they are in love.