A Midsummer Night’s Dream by: William Shakespeare

Midsummer Festival Pagan festivities for the summer solstice, June 21, merged with the Christian holiday St. John’s Day, June 24 and the Midsummer Night and Day celebrations were born Customs—light large bonfires to ward off evil spirits. This was called “setting the watch” Most young people stay up the whole night Deck the house—decorate with plants that were thought to have special magical properties on this night

Setting Midsummer Night was when fairies were especially powerful Flowers gathered on Midsummer Night could work magic Shakespeare combines aspects of Ancient Athens and Renaissance England The first act takes place in Athens and then moves to the woods outside of Athens

Fairy Lore Belief in fairies during Shakespeare’s time was common People used charms to protect themselves from harm (objects of iron) but in general people liked them Mischievous pranksters

Pay attention to Shakespeare’s use of : Moon—its connection to lunacy presides over the escapades in the woods Dreams—explain bizarre events in which the characters are involved Plants/Herbs—Elizabethans were knowledgeable of their use as flavorful seasonings and also their medicinal use

Marriage A woman had very little choice in who her husband might be Female disobedience was seen as a crime Marriages were arranged so that both families would benefit by bringing prestige or wealth to the family Many couples would meet for the very first time on their wedding day

Main Characters Theseus, Duke of Athens Hippolyta, engaged to Theseus Egeus, father to Hermia Hermia, in love with Lysander Lysander, in love with Hermia Demetrius, in love with Hermia, Helena, in love with Demetrius Quince, Bottom, Snug, Snout, Flute, Starveling – Actors Oberon and Titania, King and Queen of the Faries Puck, Oberon’s main servant

4 Plots The Marriage of Duke Theseus to Queen of the Amazons Hippolyta 2. The Mixed up affairs of lovers (Lysander & Hermia/Demitrius & Helena) 3. A Play (Pyramus & Thisby) and its preparation by the mechanics (tradesmen) 4. A Quarrel between King Oberon & Queen Titania (the fairies)

“The course of true love never did run smooth” Themes Difficulties of Love Friendship Illusion vs. Reality (Dreams) “The course of true love never did run smooth”

Pyramus and Thisbe (the play within the play) Two young lovers that wanted to marry but were forbidden by their parents They plan a secret meeting at night Thisbe is waiting at the destination when approached by a lion who had just killed an animal. She is afraid, runs to hide, and drops her veil which the lion bites with his bloody mouth Pyramus comes, sees the lion’s footprint and the bloody veil, thinks Thisbe is dead, and kills himself Thisbe returns, sees Pyramus dead, and kills herself