Structure Flashcards
How has the structure of the play so far emphasized comedy?
The play so far has been full of under-educated, amateur, disorganized actors with inflated egos. In contrast to this, the opening scene is dark and frightening. This structure has emphasized comedy because of the distinction between the two settings.
What’s one way that Act 1 Scene 2 displays comedy and why? (Bottom)
Nick Bottom:
-Full of himself, finds himself funny
-Likes to be the center of attention
-Exaggerates, dramatic (overzealous, clumsy & lacks self-awareness)
-seems less educated (intellectually more simple)
What’s one way that Act 1 Scene 2 displays comedy and why? (Play)
Tragic love story “Pyramus and Thisbe”
-It’s opposite the occasion (wedding)
-Disorganized, last minute
highlighting once again that they are amateur actors, who lack experience, as they have chosen an unsuitable play for a wedding
What context about Shakespeare’s own life/ trade/ business helps us better understand why he is creating comedy out of the characters in Act 1 Scene 2?
-Shakespeare was a very well-educated, impressive actor in comparison to the characters
-Shakespeare is attempting to ridicule amateur actors for their lack of education
-emphasize the difficulty and competitiveness of the acting industry. He might be warning aspiring actors
What idea will my thesis statement consist of?
-Shakespeare captures comedy through his characters in A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream
The Mechanicals, Nick Bottom, and the play they choose to put on for a wedding all emphasize the humor Shakespeare found in amateur actors entering the acting industry
(written by William Shakespeare, in 1595)
How does “Comedy” differ in the Elizabethan Era v.s. Contemporary Era
Elizabethan Era: Genre that followed a specific layout. The average comedy would have consisted of a set of obstacles that threaten to thwart true love and romance, and eventually end happily.
Contemporary view of comedy: whatever is amusing.
What will my first “what” be?
Nick Bottom is displayed as a humorous character in Act 1 Scene 2 because of his overinflated sense of self.
What will my first “how” be?
He is egocentric, and Shakespeare shows this through the language Bottom uses
“Yet my chief humor is for a tyrant”
-He thinks he’s funny, overrating himself
“What beard were I best to play it in?”
This is ridiculous, Bottom is too closely concerned with going out of his way to secure the small details that will make him the center of attention.
What will be my first “why” be?
The way Bottom acts and uses language is all in contrast to Shakespeare and how he was brought up as an educated actor.
The Audience may find this funny because the way Nick Bottom acts was way below the standard of maturity during the Elizabethan Era.
What will my second “what” be?
The group of characters called the “Mechanicals” are shown to be comedic in the play because of their lighthearted view of acting
What will my second “how” be?
Snug: he misunderstands the lion’s part- he thinks it is a big ‘lion-sized’ part when in reality it’s just a lion roaring. He is very self-aware: “Give it to me, for I am slow of study”
He is a child-like addition to the mechanicals.
What will my second “why” be?
Shakespeare’s purpose here might have been to draw attention to Snug recognizing his own inabilities.
maybe he was hinting that aspiring actors should do this before jumping straight into the acting industry
What will my final “what” be?
Comedy is portrayed through Shakespeare’s characters attempt to put on the play “Pyramus and Thisbe” at a wedding
What will my final “how” be?
Mechanicals’ decision to put on a tragic love story at a wedding. This is very unsuitable for the context, highlighting their lack of experience. The choices they are making on their own are disorganized and last minute.-laughable
What will my final “why” be?
-Shakespeare looked down on the inability of beginning actors to make reasonable choices
-Using the mechanical’s choice of Pyramus and Thisbe is mocking Amateur actors and their lack of awareness and maturity.
