Shakespeare's Life & A Midsummer Night's Dream

Question 1

In what city was Shakespeare born?

Answer 1

Stratford upon Avon

Question 2

What was the name of Shakespeare’s theater?

Answer 2

The Globe

Question 3

What common subjects did Shakespeare write his sonnets about?

Answer 3

The dark lady, the fair youth, and rival poets

Question 4

What is the rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet?

Answer 4

ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

Question 5

How many lines are in a sonnet?

Answer 5

14

Question 6

What does iambic pentameter consist of?

Answer 6

Five iambs (two syllables, one is stressed)

Question 7

What is the name of the sudden change in subject or point of view near the end of a sonnet?

Answer 7

Turn

Question 8

What language did Shakespeare use to write his works? (What specific form of English)

Answer 8

Early Modern English

Question 9

What are Shakespeare’s children named?

Answer 9

Susanna, Judith & Hamnet

Question 10

At the start of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, who is in love with whom?

Answer 10

Helena → Demetrius → Hermia ← → Lysander

Question 11

What second name is used to refer to Robin Goodfellow?

Answer 11

Puck

Question 12

Why are Oberon and Titania fighting at the beginning of the play?

Answer 12

Oberon wants Titania to give him the slave child

Question 13

Why might Helena be jealous of Hermia?

Answer 13

Hermia has Demetrius’ love, and Helena does not

Question 14

What three options given by Theseus must Hermia decide between?

Answer 14

Become a nun, marry Demetrius, or die

Question 15

Who does Puck anoint with magic love juice? Why does he anoint Lysander?

Answer 15

Lysander and Demetrius, he mistakes Lysander for Demetrius

Question 16

Which characters are part of the Mechanicals?

Answer 16

Quince, Snug, Bottom, Flute, Snout, Starveling

Question 17

How would you describe Nick Bottom?

Answer 17

Proud, narcissistic, egotistical

Question 18

How is the lovers’ conflict resolved?

Answer 18

The love potion is reversed for Lysander so he falls back in love with Hermia, Demetrius stays in love with Helena

Question 19

Why does Oberon reverse the love spell on Titania?

Answer 19

He has gotten what he wanted

Question 20

What conflicts occur in the play?

Answer 20

Titania vs. Oberon, Hermia vs. Theseus, Lysander vs. Demetrius, Hermia vs. Helena

Question 21

What are some of the transformations that occur in the play? Consider both literal and figurative transformations.

Answer 21

Bottom: Nick → Donkey
Helena: insecure → happy
Demetrius to Helena: frustrated → in love

Question 22

Why is setting important to deeper themes of the play? Pay close attention to the contrast between the city and the forest. What does moving between two settings achieve?

Answer 22

The forest represents magic and transformation under the darkness. The city represents the conflict within the lovers’ lives. Moving between the two settings indicates resolution.

Question 23

Why is A Midsummer Night’s Dream considered a comedy?

Answer 23

It starts in conflict and ends in resolution

Question 24

What are the four plot lines in A Midsummer Night’s Dream? What do these plots have in common? In what ways do they differ?

Answer 24

Titania & Oberon, the four lovers, the Mechanicals, Theseus & Hippolyta. Each plot involves a problem that needs to be solved, and each problem is solved using magic.

Question 25

What is Shakespeare saying about love in A Midsummer Night’s Dream?

Answer 25

Love can cause people to do crazy and ridiculous things