A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Act III, scene i
Synopsis
The _______________ meet in the woods at the appointed time to ___________ their
play. Since they will be performing in front of a large group of __________ (and since
they have an exaggerated sense of the delicacy of noble ladies), _____________
declares that certain elements of the play must be changed. He fears that Pyramus’s
suicide and the ___________ roaring will frighten the ladies and lead to the actors’
executions. The other men share Bottom’s concern, and they decide to write a
_____________ explaining that the lion is not really a lion nor the __________ really a
sword and assuring the ladies that no one will really______. They decide also that, to
clarify the fact that the story takes place at night and that ____________and Thisbe
are separated by a wall, one man must play the wall and another the moonlight by
carrying a bush and a lantern.
As the craftsmen rehearse, _________ enters and marvels at the scene of the
“hempen homespuns” trying to act. When Bottom steps aside, temporarily out of view
of the other craftsmen, Puck transforms Bottom’s head into that of an ________.
When the ass-headed Bottom re-enters the scene, the other men become terrified and
run for their lives. Delighting in the ___________, Puck chases after them. Bottom,
perplexed, remains behind.
In the same grove, the sleeping __________ wakes. When she sees Bottom, the
flower _______ on her eyelids works its magic, and she falls deeply and instantly in
love with the ass-headed _________. She insists that he remain with her, embraces
him, and appoints a group of ________—Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mote, and
Mustardseed—to see to his every wish. Bottom takes these events in stride, having no
notion that his ________ has been replaced with that of an ass. He comments that his
friends have acted like asses in ____________ him, and he introduces himself to the
fairies. Titania looks on him with undisguised _________ as he follows her to her
forest bower.
craftsmen
nobles
rehearse
head
die
lion’s
love
Bottom
Puck
Pyramus
mischief
sword
juice
prologue
leaving
weaver
fairies
Titania
ass