Questions for Act 2

In short paragraph form, please answer the following questions about Midsummer1.1

1. In the pending marriage between Theseus and Hippolyta what factor might complicate their feelings for each other? What event in the opening scene might Hippolyta believe would predict how Theseus would treat her?

2. How does Theseus soften Egeus’s “either-or” demand to his daughter Hermia?

3. What are some of the barriers to true love which Lysander and Hermia list?

4. What are the arguments Lysander uses to convince Hermia to elope with him?

5. How does Hermia express her doubts about Lysander’s possible fidelity?

6. Why does Helena tell Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander’s elopement?

7. Which character can you relate to best and perhaps better understand the situation they’re in?

8. What do you envision as the setting of the first scene?

Questions for Act 2

1. What is the extent of Puck’s “evil”? What function does he perform for Oberon? What dramatic function does he perform in the play as a whole?

2. What is the extent of Oberon and Titania’s powers, and how are those powers shown in this scene?

3. Why is Titania unlikely to back down in her opposition to her husband?

4. How does Helena violate the rules of conduct for proper young Elizabethan gentlewomen? What is the cause of her impropriety, according to Helena?

5. Why does Oberon decide to help Helena straighten out her relationship?

6. What arguments does Lysander use to convince Hermia they should sleep side-by- side? What argument does she use to deny his request? What is the most important outcome of Hermia’s insistence that they sleep physically separated?

7. How does Lysander explain his sudden change of heart about Hermia and Helena?

8. What is Hermia dreaming about when Lysander dumps her, and why is that significant?