Midsummer night themes

Question 1

What is the main theme of the play -

Answer 1

The play is about love but overall it is a comedy since the audience is encouraged to laugh at the lovers’ trials and tribulations

Question 2

How does love affect the characters in the play -

Answer 2

Power and passion of love can make people blind and foolish throw nature into turmoil destroy friendships etc

Question 3

What does the ending suggest about love -

Answer 3

The ending reaffirms love’s importance relevance and beauty

Question 4

What quote relates to the theme of love -

Answer 4

“The course of true love never did run smoothly.” (I.I) - Lysander

Question 5

What does the word ‘dream’ symbolize in the play -

Answer 5

The word ‘dream’ is used to describe everyone’s experience in the forest

Question 6

Why is the word ‘dream’ used in the play -

Answer 6

It is used because otherwise they wouldn’t be able to comprehend the bizarre and irrational things they experienced

Question 7

How do the characters respond to their dreamlike experiences -

Answer 7

Bottom and the lovers allow the experiences to exist as they are without clarification

Question 8

What does the play suggest about dreams and imagination -

Answer 8

The play seems to suggest that dreams and imagination are useful as reason and could create truths that go past the limits of reasoning

Question 9

What fantastical elements are present in the characters’ dreams -

Answer 9

A fantastical world was in their ‘dreams’ with fairies and magic

Question 10

What quote relates to the theme of dreams -

Answer 10

“I have had a dream past the wit of man to say what dream it was. Man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream.” (IV.I) - Bottom

Question 11

How does the play address the relationship between men and women -

Answer 11

Echoes across both fairy and mortal worlds as both show attempts to control women

Question 12

How does Theseus win Hippolyta’s love -

Answer 12

Theseus won Hippolyta’s love by defeating her in battle

Question 13

How does the play portray women’s roles in relationships -

Answer 13

All displays of love show the women accepting a subservient role to their husbands

Question 14

How might modern audiences view the gender dynamics in the play -

Answer 14

Not accepted by modern-day audiences but was generally accepted by an Elizabethan audience

Question 15

What quote relates to the power dynamics between men and women -

Answer 15

“But earthlier happy is the rose distilled - Than that which withering on the virgin thorn - Grow lives and dies in single blessedness.” (I.I) - Theseus