classic repertory company STUDY GUIDE
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by William Shakespeare
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administrative office 200 dexter avenue watertown, ma 02472 the professional theatre company artistic director jim petosa managing director harriet sheets in residence at the arsenal center for the arts Contents ‘‘ If we shadows have offended, 2 Biography of William Shakespeare 6 Scansion in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Think but this, and all is mended: 3 A Timeline of Shakespeare’s Life That you have but slumbered here, 7 Why Do We Still Stage While these visions did appear; 3 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and Study Shakespeare? And this weak and idle theme, Summary 7 Other Plays by William Shakespeare No more yielding but a dream, 4 The Influence of Gentles, do not reprehend. Greek and Roman Mythology 8 Pre-Show and Post-Show Questions If you pardon, we will mend. 5 Shakespearean Insults 8 Works Cited – Puck
Act 5, scene 1 6 About Pyramus and Thisbe: the “Play within a Play”
Biography of William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
William Shakespeare is widely lease. This loss prompted Shakespeare accepted as one of literature’s most and a few of his peers to construct the influential writers. Much of the ‘‘Globe Theatre, a home specifically for biographical knowledge of his life, their troupe. It opened in 1599, burned however, is taken from records and in 1613 due to sparks from a cannon speculation. Although no birth records fired on stage, and was quickly rebuilt. exist, church records indicate that he When King James VI ascended to the was born around April 23, 1564, in throne in 1603, The Lord Chamberlain’s Stratford-upon-Avon, and was the third Men became known as The King’s Men. child of heiress Mary Arden and leather Shortly thereafter, Shakespeare retired merchant John Shakespeare. He most from acting but continued to write. likely attended the local elementary During his lifetime, he is thought to school, the King’s New Grammar have written thirty-seven plays. School, but never continued on to a Shakespeare died on his birthday, university. April 23 in 1616, but his plays have lived We know little about his teenage on and thrived all over the world. He is years until he married Anne Hathaway easily the most produced playwright of at the age of 18. She was 26 at the time, all time, inspired countless others, and ‘‘ and pregnant. Their first child, Susanna the portrait of shakespeare that appears revolutionized the English language on the cover of the first folio Shakespeare, was born seven months and literature. His plays are staged later. Two years later, Anne gave birth were tradesmen’s sons or provincial all over the world with unmistakable to twins Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet, men. relevancy to a wide variety of issues sadly, only lived to be eleven years old, During his first few years in London, and human psychology. dying of the Black Plague in 1586. Shakespeare developed a reputation The Shakespeares moved to for his poetry. His first published poem London in 1585, the year the twins were “Venus and Adonis” was immensely born. Shakespeare began working as popular. In 1594, Shakespeare joined Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare an actor and writer for touring theatre the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, and To digg the dust encloased heare troupes, including Strange’s Men, began writing many of the more Blessed by y man y spares hes stones Pembroke’s Men, and Sussex’s Men. famous plays we have today. They And curst be he y moves my bones These troupes were in constant need performed for Queen Elizabeth – Inscribed on of new material and often one of their in many local theaters and toured Shakespeare’s tombstone actors would write their own material. the surrounding towns. The Lord Shakespeare was not the only writer Chamberlain’s Men often performed of his time to lack of formal training; at “The Theatre.” However, in 1597 it several other established playwrights was forced to close due to an expired A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Study Guide ‘‘ 2 A Timeline of Shakespeare’s Life
1564 Born in Stratford-upon-Avon 1582 Marries Anne Hathaway 1585 Moves to London to pursue theatre career 1589 Writes his first play Henry VI, Part I 1592 London closes theatres due to plague 1593 Starts to write sonnets 1594 Publishes first works of poetry 1594 Starts managing, as well as writing for, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men 1600 Writes Hamlet, one of his greatest plays 1603 The Lord Chamberlain’s Men is renamed the King’s Men in honor of the new King James’ patronage 1604 Retires from acting 1605 Writes Macbeth to pay homage to the King’s heritage 1613 The Globe theatre burns down 1614 The Globe is rebuilt 1616 Shakespeare dies and is buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-Upon-Avon theatre adapted from http://absoluteshakespeare.com/trivia/timeline.htm of the globe the inside sketch of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Summary Theseus, duke of Athens, prepares of characters. The first are craftsmen both because she thinks that they are for his marriage to Hippolyta. He tells rehearsing a play that they hope to tricking her. Hermia is so jealous that his Master of the Revels, Philostrate, to perform for the duke and his bride. she tries to fight Helena. Demetrius find entertainment for the celebration. The second are fairies. Oberon, the and Lysander almost fight over Helena, Egeus marches into Theseus’s court fairy king, and Titania, the fairy queen, but Puck leads them apart until they with his daughter, Hermia, and two are arguing over a young Indian prince are lost separately in the forest. young men, Demetrius and Lysander. given to Titania by the prince’s mother; When Titania wakes, the first creature Egeus wants Hermia to marry Oberon wishes to make him a knight, she sees is Bottom, a craftsmen, whose Demetrius (who loves Hermia), but but Titania refuses. Seeking revenge, head Puck transformed into that of an Hermia is in love with Lysander and Oberon sends his servant, Puck, to donkey. Titania falls in love with him. won’t marry Demetrius. Egeus asks acquire a magical flower, the juice of Meanwhile, Oberon obtains the Indian Hermia to be punished because she which can be spread over a sleeping boy, Puck spreads the love potion on won’t do what he says. Theseus gives person’s eyelids to make that person Lysander’s eyelids, and by morning all Hermia until his wedding to decide fall in love with the first thing he or she is well. Theseus and Hippolyta discover if she will marry Demetrius or not, sees upon waking. Oberon tells him to the sleeping lovers in the forest and warning her that she will be punished spread its juice on the sleeping Titania’s take them back to Athens to be if she does not. Hermia and Lysander eyelids. Having seen Demetrius reject married—Demetrius now loves Helena, plan to escape the following night Helena’s love, Oberon also orders Puck and Lysander now loves Hermia. After and marry in the house of Lysander’s to spread the juice on the eyelids of the group wedding, the lovers watch aunt. They tell Helena, who used to be Demetrius. Puck finds Lysander and Bottom and his fellow craftsmen engaged to Demetrius and still loves Hermia. He thinks that Lysander is perform their play, Pyramus and him even though he left her for Hermia. Demetrius and uses the love potion on Thisbe. When the play is completed, Hoping to regain his love, Helena tells him. Lysander happens to see Helena Puck asks the audience for its Demetrius that Hermia and Lysander when he wakes up and falls deeply in forgiveness and approval and to urge it are eloping. That night, Demetrius love with her. As the night progresses to remember the play as though it had follows Hermia and Lysander into the and Puck attempts to undo his mistake, all been a dream. woods; Helena follows too. both Lysander and Demetrius end up In the woods are two other groups in love with Helena. Helena is angry at
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Study Guide 3 The Influence of Greek and Roman Mythology
Because A Midsummer Night’s Dream takes place in Athens, Greece, Shakespeare includes many references to Greek and Roman myth. Most of the references actually correspond to ancient Roman belief. The following is a glossary of some of the main mythological names and terms that occur in the play, and where they are mentioned.
Theseus: National hero of Athens. He Neptune: (II.i.131) Roman name for Hercules: (IV.i.98) The Greek hero, was known for many heroic adventures the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon. son of Jupiter and Alcmene, a mortal including slaying the Minotaur, a woman, who was famous for his creature who is half man, half bull. Apollo: (II.i.239) Pursuer of Daphne in strength. He performed twelve labors Although he is a major character in the Roman myth Apollo and Daphne. to free himself from the bondage
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, under Eurystheus. Once he died, he Shakespeare actually borrowed this became immortal. character from Greek mythology. Cadmus: (IV.i.98) Brother of Europa. Hippolyta: Queen of the Amazons, a He planted dragon seeds from which group of female warriors. Shakespeare the first Thebans came. also borrowed this character from Greek mythology. Helen: (V.i.12) The daughter of Zeus and Leda and wife of Menelaus. She Pyramus and Thisbe: Ancient was kidnapped and taken to Troy, Roman myth written by Ovid. (See which caused the Trojan war. section “About Pyramus and Thisbe: ‘‘ the Play within a Play”) Jove: (V.i.181) Roman name for the theseus Greek god Zeus, the leader of the Diana: (I.i.94) Roman name of Artemis, gods and god of sky and thunder. who is the goddess of the moon and Daphne: (II.i.239) While she was being Hecate: (V.i.374) Greek goddess of hunt. Also known as Phoebe. chased by Apollo, she prayed to the sorcery and witchcraft gods for help and was turned into a Cupid: (I.i.175) Roman name for the laurel tree. Greek god of love, Eros, who shoots Muses: (V.i.55) The goddesses of arts arrows at humans to make them fall in and sciences. love. He is also the son of Venus.
Venus: (I.i.177) Roman name for the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite.
Dido: (I.i.179) Founder and queen of Carthage, who stabbed herself when deserted by Aeneas in The Aeneid. Ay me! for aught that ever I could read, Aeneas: (I.i.180) Trojan son of Could ever hear by tale or history, Anchises and Aphrodite. After the fall The course of true love never did run smooth. of Troy, he led his followers to Italy. The – Lysander Aeneid tells the tales of his journey. Act 1, scene 1 Adriadne: (II.i.84) Daughter of King Minos who fell in love with Theseus and helped him kill the minotaur. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Study Guide‘‘ 4 Shakespearean Insults ‘‘
Shakespeare was famous for not only the Fine, i’faith! invention of new words, but also the invention Have you no modesty, no maiden shame, of specific, often crude insults, particularly in No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear his comedies. Impatient answers from my gentle tongue? Fie, fie! you counterfeit, you puppet, you! Here are some noted examples: –Act 3, sceneHelena 2
“You juggler! You canker-blossom!” (III.ii.290)
“You hard-hearted adamant!” (II.i.180)
Out, loathed medicine! O“Out, hated tawny potion, Tartar, hence!” out! ‘‘(III.ii.269-70)
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 artless base-court apple-john beslubbering beef-witted barnacle churlish boil-brained boar-pig cockered clapper-clawed bugbear dankish dismal-dreaming canker-blossom dissembling dizzy-eyed coxcomb fawning earth-vexing dewberry gleeking flap-mouthed foot-licker goatish fly-bitten fustilarian gorbellied folly-fallen giglet loggerheaded half-faced hedge-pig Try making your mammering hedge-born hugger-mugger own Shakespearian mewling idle-headed lewdster insult by picking pribbling ill-nurtured maggot-pie a word from each qualling motley-minded measle column, combining rank onion-eyed minnow it in one phrase, roguish pottle-deep moldwarp and prefacing with ruttish pox-marked mumble-news the word “you!” spleeny rough-hewn pigeon-egg spongy rude-growing pignut venomed swag-bellied skainsmate
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Study Guide 5 About Pyramus and Thisbe: the “Play Within a Play” ‘‘
The mechanicals, the acting troupe bloody. When Pyramus arrives, he sees of Peter Quince, Nick Bottom, Francis the destroyed veil and assumes the Lord, what fools these mortals be! Flute, Robin Starveling, Tom Snout, and lion killed Thisbe, and overcome with Act– 3, scenePuck 2 Snug, make up a portion of the plot of emotion he stabs himself to death. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. The His blood erupts all over the white players gather together in the forest mulberry leaves and fruit, turning them to produce Pyramus and Thisbe as a dark. Thisbe returns to find Pyramus While Shakespeare mainly spoofs staged play for the Duke and Duchess. dead and after mourning, she stabs the story in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S The story of Pyramus and Thisbe is herself with the same sword. From then DREAM, the works are highly a Roman myth originally written in Latin on, the mulberry fruits were stained connected through the themes of by Ovid in his collection of stories, The forever in honor of the forbidden love. dreams, fantasies, and forbidden love. Metamorphoses. The story surrounds Shakespeare reproduces the plot of two young lovers living in Babylon Pyramus and Thisbe twice in his works. forbidden to marry each other due The most obvious is the plot ‘‘of Romeo to their families’ rivalry. Pyramus and and Juliet, which is very much based Thisbe live in their separate houses on Ovid’s story. The second appears connected by a wall and converse here in A Midsummer Night’s through a tiny crack. The two decide Dream, where, as you may see from to bring their love beyond the wall and this production, the mechanicals arrange to meet in person near Ninus’ produce a rather crude and funny tomb under a mulberry tree to confess portrayal of Pyramus and Thisbe. The their love face to face. cast list is as follows: At the time of the meeting, Thisbe arrives first and is greeted by a blood- Directed by Peter Quince thirsty lion whose mouth is bloody from Pyramus...... Nick Bottom a recent kill. Afraid for her life, she runs Thisbe...... Francis Flute Lion...... Snug away, leaving her veil behind. The lion The Wall...... Tom Snout destroys her veil, leaving it torn up and Moonshine...... Robin Starveling Scansion in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Shakespeare used a type of meter called iambic pentameter when writing his plays in verse. Each line has five pairs of alternating stressed and unstressed syllables. These pairs of syllables are often called “feet.” The rhythm in each john william waterhouse portrait of thisbe at the wall in pyramus and thisbe line would sound like galloping:
da-DUM / da-DUM / da-DUM / da-DUM / da-DUM For instance, here is how we would scan a line in Midsummer: Shakespeare wrote in this way to make sure the actors stressed certain syllables. For instance, a line in A / __ / __ / __ / __ / __ Midsummer Night’s Dream might sound like this: How ha | ppy some | o’er o | ther some | can be! (I.i.231)
to-MO | rrow TRU | ly WILL | i MEET | with THEE. (I.1.184) Now, you try! Grab a pencil and scan the lines below:
Often when studying Shakespeare, actors and scholars Four days will quickly steep themselves in night; may decide to scan Shakespeare lines to help decide what words and phrases should be stressed. This method, called Four nights will quickly dream away the time; scansion, is a way to mark the metrical patterns in poetry. This especially helps when actors are performing a Shakespeare piece. We usually mark the stressed, or long, syllable with a And then the moon, like to a silver bow ( __ ) and the unstressed, or short, syllable with a ( / ) to make it easier to read. We then divide each pair of syllables, or feet, New-bent in heaven, shall behold the night (I.i.7-10) by a ( | ). A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Study Guide 6 Why Do We Still Stage and Study Shakespeare?
Shakespeare’s works are over 400 of and contributions to the English Other Plays by years old. Since then, so many other language. William Shakespeare books and plays have been written. In watching or reading his plays, So why do we still care to read and challenge yourself and try to find perform his works? something that applies to you and The Histories There are many ways we can your life. It could be a character, it King John answer this question, depending on could be a specific line, it could be one Richard II what we look at. First, let’s consider of the main themes, or it could even Henry IV, part I what they’re about. People often refer be a relationship that reminds you of Henry IV, part II to Shakespeare’s work as “timeless” your own life. Anyone can connect to Henry V and “universal” because the deep and identify with these plays in some Henry VI, part I issues and themes prevalent in his capacity, so find the reason or multiple Henry VI, part II works apply to humans of all ages reasons his plays apply to you. and backgrounds; the themes of Henry VI, part III love, self-discovery, relationships, Richard III and political strife are relevant in any Henry VIII society, whether in 1600, 1850, or 2013. Through watching or reading The Tragedies Shakespeare, we can easily draw Romeo and Juliet parallels to contemporary and other Coriolanus historical issues. Titus Andronicus His plays are also very much driven Timon of Athens by human psychology. His characters are so well developed that we cannot Julius Caesar only view the wide range of human Macbeth emotions and the changes that each Hamlet character experiences, but we also Troilus and Cressida identify with these characters and their King Lear personal struggles throughout each Othello, The Moor of Venice play. Antony and Cleopatra Aside from the deep meanings Cymbeline present in his works, Shakespeare also made many contributions to the English language. He invented The Comedies thousands of new words and phrases All’s Well That Ends Well that we still use today. For instance, the As You Like It common phrase “all’s well that ends The Comedy of Errors well” actually comes from the title of Love’s Labour’s Lost one of Shakespeare’s comedies! One Measure for Measure might even say that Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice plays were part of the birth of modern English due to his creative words, The Merry Wives of Windsor clever imagery, and fascinating yet A Midsummer Night’s Dream sometimes crude analogies. Much Ado About Nothing So, why do we still want to read and Pericles, Prince of Tyre watch Shakespeare today? Because The Taming of the Shrew we can solve the riddles of our lives The Tempest and societies just by reading his plays. Twelfth Night, or What You Will We learn so much about society at The Two Gentlemen of Verona that time and issues that are still The Two Noble Kinsmen around today, and we can enhance our vocabulary greatly through his use
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Study Guide 7 Questions
Pre-Show Questions Post-Show Questions
1) What is the significance of the “play within a 6) After watching the play, think about scansion play” that we see in A Midsummer Night’s and iambic pentameter. Did you notice any Dream? Think about why Shakespeare chose this instances where the actor used the scansion of particular play for the Mechanicals to produce. iambic pentameter to deliver a line? How did it How does it tie in with the rest of the play? help the character and the context of the scene? 2) Put yourself in the position of the scenic designer in the 7) Although Shakespeare did include some literal play. Often times, designers choose to set the play in examples of Greek and Roman mythology in A different locations. How would you design the woods? Midsummer Night’s Dream, can you make any How would that setting differ from the Athens setting? other connections between the play and Greek and Roman myth? Think about the characters. Are there any 3) Think about the many contrasts we see in the characters that resemble those in Greek mythology? play. What are some of them that you noticed? Where can you find opposites, and why do you 8) Shakespeare’s language is specific, complex, and often think Shakespeare presented these opposites? difficult to understand. Did you struggle to understand the text when you read the play? Was it any easier to 4) Think about the imagery in A Midsummer comprehend when you heard it spoken by the actors? Night’s Dream. What kind of specific dream- Why do you think one way made more sense to you than like images did Shakespeare include? What the other? Do you think your experience of seeing the kind of mood does this set for the audience? play would have been different if you hadn’t read it first? 5) A Midsummer Night’s Dream is written almost 9) A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of completely in couplets, where the ends of every two Shakespeare’s most famous comedies. In lines rhyme. Why do you think Shakespeare writes in seeing the play, what made you laugh? Did this way? What does this say about the play as a whole, you feel the same way in reading the play? and how does it contribute to the mood of the play? 10) Look through your local newspapers or online for theatre reviews. Read a few, then write your own review of Classic Repertory Company’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, based on the form and content of those reviews. Think about what parts of the show you enjoyed, what parts you didn’t understand, how the performers embodied the characters, and whether any production elements hindered or enhanced the Works Cited telling of the story. Feel free to send the review over to us when you’re done!
Bellinger, Martha Fletcher. “William Shakespeare: 1564-1616.” A Short History of the Drama. New York: Henry Holt & Company, 1927. 224-6, 234. “Greek and Roman Mythology.” Information Please. Pearson Education, 2012. Web. 15 Mar. 2013.
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