A Midsummer Night’s Dream Characters, plots, Shakespeare’s techniques and inspiration A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Characters There are three subplots going on simultaneously within this play. Each subplot has its own set of characters and conflicts; however, they all collide and intertwine at different points within the play.

The Nobles Lysander – In love with Hermia Hermia – In love with Lysander Helena – In love with Demetrius, who used to be in love with her Demetrius – Has permission to marry Hermia and may be in love with her, or not Egeus – Hermia’s father who has promised her hand to Demetrius despite the fact that she is in love with another man Theseus – Duke of Athens, about to marry Hippolyta, a beautiful Amazonian.

The Rude Mechanicals These are a group of laborers who all aspire to be actors in the nuptial celebration of Theseus and Hippolyta Peter Quince – a carpenter Bottom – a weaver Flute – a bellows mender Snug - a joiner ( specific carpentry work) Tom Snout – a tinker (repairs household items) Robin Starveling – a tailor

The Fairies The king and queen of Fairyland are having an argument. The fight is so violent that it is affecting the weather in the mortal world. The fight is over a semi-human child. Both want him for their own Oberon – King Titania – Queen Puck – a devilish trickster employed by the king

Types of Comedy Character: the actual characters/their personalities are amusing Ex. The main character in ELF makes us laugh because of his quirky behavior and thoughts Language: the dialogue is funny Ex. A stand-up comedian’s speech Situation: The events that occur are humorous Ex. The episode of Friends when Rachel and Chandler are so hooked on cheesecake that they eat it off the floor after dropping it during a scuffle

Types of Irony Situational Dramatic Verbal Occurs when a character or audience expects one thing to happen but something entirely different happens Dramatic Refers to the contrast between what a character knows and what the reader or audience knows Verbal When someone says one thing but means another

Shakespeare’s Inspiration Publius Ovidius Naso or Ovid was born in 43 B.C. in Italy. He was born into a wealthy family and was sent to Rome to study so that he could become a public speaker and politician. Ovid used his education to further his writing and did not become the man his father had hoped. Ovid wrote Metamorphosis. It tells stories about the transformations of mostly humans and nymphs into animals, plants, etc. Metamorphosis is a storehouse for Greek and Roman mythology. The story of Pyramus and Thisbe is from this body of literature. Shakespeare and his contemporaries were all familiar with, and frequently plagiarized from, Metamorphosis