For the Love of Shakespeare A look at A Midsummer Night’s Dream

1. For the Love of ShakespeareA look at A Midsummer Night’s Dream Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind. --Helena, Act 1, Scene I Colleen O’Neill

2. The Connection

3. How • Greek Mythology- Theseus is loosely based on the Greek hero of the same name. • English Country Fairy lore- The character of Puck was a popular figure in 16th century stories. • Theatrical Practices-parodies many conventions of English Renaissance theater, such as men playing the roles of women

4. Puck • The most important character in the play. • Plays delilibrate pranks on humans that set the play in motion. • He turns Bottom’s head into an ass. • He smears love potion over Lysander’s eyelids. • He contrast against the conventions of English Renaissance theater. • His character creates humor in a different way then the human’s. Ex: Puck is prankster whereas Bottom’s the brunt of the joke.

5. Nick Bottom • He’s overconfident in his ability to act. • The humor that surrounds his character stems from his inability to see his ridiculousness. • His speeches are often over dramatized and he believes everyone takes him as seriously as he does himself. • He never realizes that his head had been magically altered to that of an ass.

6. Helena • She’s in love with Demetrius who in turn is in love with Hermia. She’s not included in the love triangle— Demetrius + Lysander= Hermia She’s one of the most personable Characters in the play because shes Involved in the invents that occur. She’s the character that thinks About the nature of love in the play.

8. Loves Difficulty • “The course of true love never did run smooth” -- Lysander • The play pokes fun at the tortures one suffers from being in love. It has a number of romantic elements in it, but its not only a romantic comedy; it distances itself from the emotions of the characters.

9. Dreams • The Dreams the characters have lead to the magical mishaps that occur in the play. • Dreams often occur when a character tries to rationalize bizarre events. • Shakespeare was interested in workings of dreams; how events occur with no explanation, time loses its normal sense, and how the impossible can occur. • He creates this dream-like environment in the play through the use of fairies and a magical forest.

10. Magic • The fairies magic help create the bizarre events that occur in the play • Shakespeare uses magic to embody the supernatural aspect of love. • The use of accidental magic help move along the events in the play.

11. Motifs • The contrast between character’s was the motif of this play. • Ex: Helena was tall. Hermia was short. Puck plays pranks. Bottom is the victim of those pranks. Titania is beautiful. Bottom is rather ugly. • The differences between the characters and the setting help create the surreal atmosphere that the reader experiences while reading the play.

13. The Love Potion • It was made from the juice of the flower that had been struck by one of Cupids misfired arrows. • Puck had used the potion on Titania under the request of Oberon. She in turn fell in love with Bottom who had the head of an ass.

14. The Craftsmen Play • A play-within – a play. • Shakespeare uses this to satirize the melodramatic Athenian lovers. • This adds to the humor of the play.

15. Presenting… • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i8unA3hBdU