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A Midsummer Night’s Dream –William Shakespeare
Act I Reading Questions
ACT I, SCENE I
1. How is Hippolyta’s reasoning concerning how quickly the next four days will pass
different from that of Theseus? Note how Shakespeare portrays the patience and
calmness of Hippolyta in contrast to the impatience and need for action of Theseus.
Theseus is impatient and thinks time will pass slowly, so he orders
Philostrate to plan entertainment that will distract him. Hippolyta responds
the time will pass quickly
2. Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus
expect him to do?
His daughter Hermia refuses to marry Demetrius, the man her father has
chosen for her. Egeus demands that Theseus invoke the old Athenian law
that requires a daughter to obey her father or die
3. What was the proper role for women/daughters in Athenian society according to Egeus
and Theseus?
Obedience to male parents
4. What is Theseus’s ruling concerning Hermia?
She must marry Demetrius, or she will have to become a nun or be put to
death
5. How does Lysander’s comment about Demetrius’s previous love affair with Helena
complicate things?
Lysander accuses Demetrius of being fickle and capricious in matters of
love, suggesting that he can’t be trusted
6. What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about this seemingly impossible situation?
They plan to meet in the forest, and then run away to Lysander’s
sympathetic aunt’s home, where they can be married
7. Why do they tell Helena what they plan to do?
They want to encourage her feelings for Demetrius—she is Hermia’s best
friend
8. Even though Helena loves Demetrius and is Hermia’s best friend, why does she decide
to tell Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander’s plans?
She thinks that Demetrius will follow Lysander and Hermia into the forest
and see them together—then she may have a chance to win Demetrius back
Important Quotes (Who is the speaker? What does it mean? Why is it significant?):
I, i ll. 134-137
ACT I, SCENE II
1. Why does Nick Bottom want to play all the parts?
He brags about his ability to speak in a woman’s voice and roar like a lion in
addition to his skill as an actor
2. How do you suppose the threat of being hanged if they scare the ladies will affect the
artisans’ Interpretation of the tragedy of Pyramus and Thisby?
3. In what way is this scene funny? Why do you suppose Shakespeare included this
scene?
The “mechanicals’” behavior contrasts with the seriousness of the four
lovers. Bottom’s overacting and big ego make him a humorous character
4. Where are the actors to meet the following night? Who else is meeting in these same
woods at the same time?
In the forest. Lysander and Hermia will also be there
Important Quotes (Explain meaning, significance)::
“Have you the lion’s part written? Pray you, if it be, give it me, for I am
slow of study.” --Snug
The lion has no lines—he only has to roar. It shows the simple-mindedness
of the mechanicals
Terms to know:
oxymoron
soliloquy
repetition