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.
