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Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 70 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.
Special Topics
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Midsummer Night's Dream
May Day. Shakespeare refers to Midsummer's Night as the eve of May Day. Ordinarily, Midsummer's Night is held to be June 23, while May Day is held on May 1. Some critics point out that May Day may not necessarily refer to May 1, as people went maying at different times.
"I know not why Shakespeare calls this play a Midsummer-Night's Dream, when he so carefully informs us that it happened on the night preceding May day" (Johnson 1908:71).
From Samuel Johnson's note to VI i 103 (the line number is adjusted to correctpond with the Arden edition).
Peter Quince. The Duke's Oak was the wood where the play was to be rehearsed.
| What was the name given by some historians, instead of Hippolyta, to the Amazonian Queen conquered by Theseus? | A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Antiopa. Perigenia and Aegles were two of Theseus' several mistresses. Ariadne was the daughter of Minos of Crete who helped Theseus thread the labyrinth to kill the Minotaur and was abandoned by him on an island when he returned to Athens.
Helena. Helena doted on and chased Demetrius through the wood. Demetrius had once loved Helena, but was inconstant and pursued Hermia instead. Hermia, in turn, loved Lysander, but her father, Egeus, did not approve of their love.
Robin Goodfellow. Robin Goodfellow was the Hobgoblin who served the King of the Fairies.
Francis Flute. Francis Flute, the bellows mender, played Thisbe (bear in mind that spelling may differ in alternate translations). Snug played the lion and Starveling played Moonshine.
Puck. The last line is, 'Give me your hands if we be friends, and Robin shall restore amends'.
Nedar. Nedar is never seen in the play but they do say, 'Helena, Old Nedar's daughter'
She thought Hermia was playing a joke on her. Helena thought Hermia told Lysander and Demetrius to pretend to be in love with her as a joke, but really it was a result of the magic flower.
He found Thisbe's bloody mantle.
| Who said, 'What though I be not so in grace as you, so hung upon with love, but miserable most, to love unloved'? | A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Helena. Of course it's Helena! She's whining about how Demetrius doesn't love her throughout the whole play!
Snout. Robin Starveling was a {tailor;} Snug was a {joiner;} Francis Flute was a bellows-mender.
Puck. '...I am sent with broom before, to sweep the dust behind the door'. V, i, 385.
Tailor. This is again spoken by Puck, II, i, 54.
Hermia. This is said by Helena when the two guys are in love with the wrong girl (well, one of them is) and Helena thinks they're all playing a mean joke on her.
Snug. Snug, playing the lion, asks for his part early (I, ii, 59) because he's 'slow of study'. Quince assures him that he doesn't need his part, because it's all roaring.
Nedar. This is mentioned by Lysander (I, i, 109).
A Bergomask. Since 'Pyramus and Thisbe' doesn't take the entire evening to perform, Theseus selects a Bergomask dance to follow, instead of the 'epilogue' that Bottom would have been delighted to perform.
Oberon. Puck: 'Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook.' Act three, scene two, line 353. Puck has just made a big boo-boo: he put the juice of love on the wrong guy's eyes! Now Lysander's in love with the wrong girl and everything's screwed up.
Puck. This famous character delights in playing tricks on them.
Bottom. Titania falls madly in love with him.
Carpenter. Bottom is the {weaver;} Snout is the {tinker;} Starveling is the tailor.
Athens. Theseus is the Duke of Athens.
| Who speaks this line: 'O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent to set against me for your merriment!'? | A Midsummer Night's Quiz
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Helena. When a love-spell causes both Lysander and Demetrius to love her, she thinks they are playing a cruel joke on her.
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