Characters
Why does Egeus bring Hermia, Lysander, and Demetrius to Theseus, and what ultimatum does he give Hermia regarding her choice of husband?
Egeus wants Hermia to marry Demetrius. Her options are death or become a nun.
"What say you, Hermia? 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."
Who is Theseus?
What is being said in this line:
"I give him curses, yet he gives me love." "His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine."
Hermia points out she hasn't done much to inspire Demetrius. The more she frowns, curses, and hates him, the more he loves her.
Importance of Act 1 Scene 1 in A Midsummer Night's Dream (What would happen if Hermia had obeyed her father's orders?)
Hermia would have been unhappy and celibate for the duration of her life
How did Theseus and Hippolyta meet?
Theseus won Hippolyta’s hand in marriage after he beat her Army in a war.
"The course of true love never did run smooth."
Who is Lysander?
What is being said by Egeus in his opening monologue:
"Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung with feigning voice verses of feigning love" and "Turned her obedience (which is due to me) to stubborn harshness."
Egeus, Hermia's father, is accusing Lysander of deceitfully wooing his daughter by singing love songs under her window at night, essentially "faking" his affections, and thereby turning Hermia's obedience towards her father into stubborn defiance against him; "feigning" means pretending or faking.
Where does the scene take place? Be specific.
Palace of Theseus, Athens
This Shakespearian character is stubborn, strong-willed. She is stuck in a love triangle between two lovers.
Who is Hermia?
What plan do Hermia and Lysander make? Where? Why? Be specific.
"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind."
Who is Helena?
What was the conversation between Helena and Hermia at the end of the scene?
Helena is jealous that Demetrius loves Hermia and not her. She wishes she could be as fair and perfect as Hermia and blames her for taking Demetrius away from her.
Who is Philostrate?
Theseus's servant
This powerful and contradictory character must follow his duty. Hint: He is the Duke of Athens.
Who is Theseus?
What does Egeus's belief that Lysander has "bewitched" Hermia into defying her father's wishes suggest about the nature of love?
Love is a kind of supernatural force that makes people act irrationally.
"Four days will quickly steep themselves in night"
Who is Hippolyta?
What is Lysander saying in these lines?
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’;
And (which is more than all these boasts can be)
I am beloved of beauteous Hermia.
Why should not I then prosecute my right?
Lysander defends his right to marry Hermia: he's equal to Demetrius in pedigree, better off financially, and besides, Hermia actually loves him.
How does this scene set the stage for the rest of the play? What is being forshadowed? Must address the concepts of love, authority, and chaos.
A character says this famous line. "The course of true love never did run smooth."
Who is Lysander?
What is being said by Hermia in this line?
"O hell, to choose love by another’s eyes!"
In this quote, Hermia expresses her discontent with arranged marriages and the selection of love by parents
What two ways can we interpret Hippolyta's feelings after Theseus said,"
Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword,
And won thy love doing thee injuries."
There are psychologically two realistic ways to interpret this: perhaps Hippolyta really did fall in love with Theseus and so her abduction was consensual. Or perhaps she is making the best of a horrible situation by allowing Theseus to believe that she loves him. But we can’t expect the text of the play to help us out.