What makes “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” a comedy?
A “fool character"
During play rehearsal, Bottom's head is transformed by Puck into that of a donkey, making him the play's biggest joke. Clueless that he's been transformed, Puck declares that his friends have run away from him in fear because they're trying to "make an ass" out of him -(3.1.16) which is a use of dramatic irony.
Light, humorous tone
The play features fairy magic, silly pranks, and the disastrous performance of a play-within-the-play by a bunch of wannabe actors.
Clever dialogue and witty banter
Shakespeare reserves some of the best dialogue for his warring lovers, especially Oberon and Titania, and even the "rude mechanicals" show clever banter.
Deception and disguise
Hermia and Lysander try to sneak away from Athens to run away together, behind Egeus's back. Also, Titania and the young lovers have no idea they've been drugged by Oberon and his magic love juice.
Mistaken identity
In most of Shakespeare's other comedies, someone usually runs around in a disguise to mask his or her identity. This isn't necessarily the case in A Midsummer Night's Dream, unless we count the fact that the love juice causes Titania to fall head over heels in love with an "ass." In other words, Titania mistakes Bottom for a creature who is worthy of her love and affection. The same can be said of the other lovers who are dosed with Oberon's magic love potion.
Multiple plots with twists and turns
There are several lines of action in A Midsummer Night's Dream; the first plot involves Theseus and Hippolyta's upcoming wedding. The second plot line involves the young Athenian lovers who run around the wood in confusion. The third plot follows Oberon's tiff with his wife, Titania. As a fourth plot line, Shakespeare works in a bunch of craftsmens (the Mechanicals), who plan to perform a play at Theseus's big fancy wedding.
Love overcomes obstacles
The only reason Theseus is even engaged to Hippolyta is because he conquered her people and
During play rehearsal, Bottom's head is transformed by Puck into that of a donkey, making him the play's biggest joke. Clueless that he's been transformed, Puck declares that his friends have run away from him in fear because they're trying to "make an ass" out of him -(3.1.16) which is a use of dramatic irony.
Light, humorous tone
The play features fairy magic, silly pranks, and the disastrous performance of a play-within-the-play by a bunch of wannabe actors.
Clever dialogue and witty banter
Shakespeare reserves some of the best dialogue for his warring lovers, especially Oberon and Titania, and even the "rude mechanicals" show clever banter.
Deception and disguise
Hermia and Lysander try to sneak away from Athens to run away together, behind Egeus's back. Also, Titania and the young lovers have no idea they've been drugged by Oberon and his magic love juice.
Mistaken identity
In most of Shakespeare's other comedies, someone usually runs around in a disguise to mask his or her identity. This isn't necessarily the case in A Midsummer Night's Dream, unless we count the fact that the love juice causes Titania to fall head over heels in love with an "ass." In other words, Titania mistakes Bottom for a creature who is worthy of her love and affection. The same can be said of the other lovers who are dosed with Oberon's magic love potion.
Multiple plots with twists and turns
There are several lines of action in A Midsummer Night's Dream; the first plot involves Theseus and Hippolyta's upcoming wedding. The second plot line involves the young Athenian lovers who run around the wood in confusion. The third plot follows Oberon's tiff with his wife, Titania. As a fourth plot line, Shakespeare works in a bunch of craftsmens (the Mechanicals), who plan to perform a play at Theseus's big fancy wedding.
Love overcomes obstacles
The only reason Theseus is even engaged to Hippolyta is because he conquered her people and