Study Questions For A Midsummer Night
Study Questions for A Midsummer Night’s Dream Name: Daniel M. Tayts
Please answer the following questions in complete sentences on your own paper.
ACT I, SCENE I
1. How is Hippolyta’s reasoning concerning how quickly the next four days will pass different from that of Theseus? Note how Shakespeare portrays the patience and calmness of Hippolyta in contrast to the impatience and need for action of Theseus.
Hippolyta believe that the next four days will pass very quickly. Theseus, on the other hand, is very impatient, and believes that the next four days will move by very slowly. He is extremely impatient, and wants to take action, without having to wait for so long.
2. Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do?
Egeus brought his daughter Hermia, along with the two men, Lysander and Demetrius. Unfortunately, Hermia refuses to marry Demetrius, because she is in love with Lysander. Egeus probably expects Theseus to execute Hermia for even thinking of defying her father’s and his own authority.
3. What was the proper role for women/daughters in Athenian society according to Egeus and Theseus?
Egeus and Theseus seem to believe that all women should be obedient to men no matter what, and that they should be inferior caregivers or something along the lines of that. I can infer this from their actions; they both go along with a forced, arranged, and unwanted marriage.
4. What is Theseus’s ruling concerning Hermia?
Theseus directly tells Hermia to expect to be sent to a “nunnery,” or to be put to death, if she failed to comply with both his and Egeus’ demands.
5. How does Lysander’s comment about Demetrius’s previous love affair with Helena complicate things?
It creates a lot more tension and drama. This causes Theseus to step out of the room with Egeus, Demetrius, and Hippolyta.
6. What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about this seemingly impossible situation?
They plan on running away to Lysander’s Aunt’s
Please answer the following questions in complete sentences on your own paper.
ACT I, SCENE I
1. How is Hippolyta’s reasoning concerning how quickly the next four days will pass different from that of Theseus? Note how Shakespeare portrays the patience and calmness of Hippolyta in contrast to the impatience and need for action of Theseus.
Hippolyta believe that the next four days will pass very quickly. Theseus, on the other hand, is very impatient, and believes that the next four days will move by very slowly. He is extremely impatient, and wants to take action, without having to wait for so long.
2. Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do?
Egeus brought his daughter Hermia, along with the two men, Lysander and Demetrius. Unfortunately, Hermia refuses to marry Demetrius, because she is in love with Lysander. Egeus probably expects Theseus to execute Hermia for even thinking of defying her father’s and his own authority.
3. What was the proper role for women/daughters in Athenian society according to Egeus and Theseus?
Egeus and Theseus seem to believe that all women should be obedient to men no matter what, and that they should be inferior caregivers or something along the lines of that. I can infer this from their actions; they both go along with a forced, arranged, and unwanted marriage.
4. What is Theseus’s ruling concerning Hermia?
Theseus directly tells Hermia to expect to be sent to a “nunnery,” or to be put to death, if she failed to comply with both his and Egeus’ demands.
5. How does Lysander’s comment about Demetrius’s previous love affair with Helena complicate things?
It creates a lot more tension and drama. This causes Theseus to step out of the room with Egeus, Demetrius, and Hippolyta.
6. What do Lysander and Hermia plan to do about this seemingly impossible situation?
They plan on running away to Lysander’s Aunt’s