A Midsummer Night’s Dream Movie Questions
Watch each scene from the film and answer the corresponding
questions in complete sentences. Do this on your own sheet of
paper
Scene 4 Actors are introduced
1. Why do you think the film adds extra scenes that include
Bottom? What purpose could these extra scenes have?
2. Do these scenes damage Shakespeare’s Bottom? (no pun
intended) Why or Why not?
Scene 11 Puck’s Mistake with Lysander
Scene 13 Bottom is turned into a donkey/ Bottom’s Dream
Satire: The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's
stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical
issues.
3. Notice that Shakespeare uses puns (a play on words) several
times when referring to Bottom. Several characters refer to
Bottom as an “ass.” Clearly this word has two different meanings.
Readers could look at this literally and figuratively. Not only is
Bottom’s name “Bottom,” but he also refers to himself as an “ass”
on several occasions, not to mention that Puck also contributes to
these puns after he turns Bottom into an actual “ass” (donkey).
Question: Explain how Shakespeare uses these puns in order to
create satire within the play.
Scene 16-17 Demetrius falls in love with Helena and all four
lovers meet
4. One theme found within the play is Illusion versus Reality.
Explain how the chaos, confusion, and disorder between the
lovers are connected to the theme of Illusion versus Reality.
Scene 20-21 Bottom’s Return and The Play
5.
Monologue: A long speech by one actor in a play or movie.
Aside: A remark by a character in a play intended to be heard by the audience
but not by the other characters
Soliloquy: An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or
regardless of any hearers, esp. by a character in a play
Give an example of a monologue, aside, and soliloquy as you
watch the play of Pryamus and Thisbe.