Act 4, Scene 1 (Oberon)

Question 1

1.

Enter TITANIA and BOTTOM; PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARDSEED, and other Fairies attending; OBERON behind unseen

TITANIA

Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed,
While I thy amiable cheeks do coy,
And stick musk-roses in thy sleek smooth head,
And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.

BOTTOM

Where’s Peaseblossom?

PEASEBLOSSOM

Ready.

…

BOTTOM

I had rather have a handful or two of dried peas.
But, I pray you, let none of your people stir me: I
have an exposition of sleep come upon me.

TITANIA

Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.
Fairies, begone, and be all ways away.

Exeunt fairies

So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle
Gently entwist; the female ivy so
Enrings the barky fingers of the elm.
O, how I love thee! how I dote on thee!

• They sleep*
• Enter PUCK*

Answer 1

(Enter from up stage right, walk past looking at bottom, then Titania to down left)

Welcome, good Robin.
See’st thou this sweet sight?
Her dotage now I do begin to pity:
For, meeting her of late behind the wood,
Seeking sweetfavours for this hateful fool,
I did upbraid her and fall out with her;
Forshe his hairy temples then had rounded
With a coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers.
(beat, deep breath)
I will undo this hateful imperfection of her eyes:
And, gentle Puck, take this transformed scalp
From off the head of this Athenian swain;
That, he awaking when the other do,
May all to Athens back again repair
And think no more of this night’s accidents
But as the fierce vexation of a dream.

• (walk around behind her)*
• *But first I will release the fairy queen.**

incantation
Be as thou wast wont to be;
See as thou wast wont to see:
Dian’s budo’er Cupid’s flower
Hath such force and blessed power.
Now, my Titania; wake you, my sweet queen.

(walk back around to front, help her out of bower)

Question 2

2.

TITANIA

My Oberon! what visions have I seen!
Methought I was enamour’d of an ass.

Answer 2

There lies your love.​

Question 3

3.

TITANIA

How came these things to pass?
O, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now!

Answer 3

Silence awhile.

(gently, putting hand on Titania’s shoulder)

Robin, take off this head.

Question 4

4.

(removing ass head from Bottom)

Now, when thou wakest, with thine
own fool’s eyes peep.

Answer 4

Sound, music! Come, my queen, take hands with me,
And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be.

(walk down center, turn, face here and grab both hands)

Now thou and I are new in amity,
And will to-morrow midnight solemnly
Dance in Duke Theseus’ house triumphantly,
And bless it to all fair prosperity:

Question 5

5.

PUCK

Fairy king, attend, and mark:
I do hear the morning lark.

Answer 5

Then, my queen, in silence sad,
Trip we after the night’s shade:
We the globe can compass soon,
Swifter than the wandering moon.

(walk to edge of upper right)

TITANIA

Come, my lord, and in our flight
Tell me how it came this night
That I sleeping here was found
With these mortals on the ground.

All three exit