A Midsummer Night

1
A Midsummer Nights Dream William Shakespeare
Comedy
2

• What is a comedy? Scornful vs. Romantic
• What is a tragedy?

3
Scornful Comedy

• Exposes or makes fun of human weakness
• Displays human limitations (humans are not
  all-powerful) Lord, what fools these mortals
  be!
• Function To be critical and corrective
• Humorous and full of satire
• Ridiculous characters
• Comedies place their protagonists in the midst of
  a group to emphasize their commonness.
• Many comedies end with marriages ( fun, exciting,
  and celebratory).

4
Example of Scornful Comedy

• A Midsummer Nights Dream

5
Romantic Comedy

• Emphasizes the sympathetic character rather than
  the ridiculous character.
• Main characters are sensible and good
• Romantic Comedies do not test the limits of human
  possibility.
• Lesser characters are made fun of through
  ridicule and satire.

6
Examples of Romantic Comedy

• As You Like It
• Twelfth Night
• Much Ado About Nothing

7
Tragedy Plays

• Emphasizes human greatness
• Tragic hero man of noble stature (usually
  prince or king)
• Tragic hero is good (not perfect)
• Tragic hero has a downfall (usually of his own
  fault)
• However, his misfortune is not altogether deserved

8
Tragedy Plays Cont.

• Outcome of the downfall is not a waste. Even
  though the hero may die, he usually learns
  something about mankind or has some gain in
  self-knowledge before he dies.
• Tragedy celebrates human freedom
• Challenges us with a vision of human possibility.
  
• Tragedies tend to isolate their protagonists to
  emphasize their uniqueness.

9
Examples of Tragedy Plays

• Oedipus Rex
• Hamlet
• Macbeth
• Othello

10
Tragedy v. Comedy Plot Structure

• The structure is basically the same except for a
  few differences.
• 1. Comedies- During the falling action (Act IV),
  something else goes wrong even though all the
  major decisions have been made.
• This is called the second conflict
• 2. Tragedy- In the falling action, something else
  looks like it will turn the events even though
  the major mistakes have been made. ( You think it
  will be alright).
• This is called the second hope

11

• This is done to keep the action going through the
  end of Act V.
• In plays, the climax is not necessarily the most
  exciting part, it is simply THE TURNING POINT or
  point of no return.

12
What to expect from A Midsummer Nights Dream

• Mistaken identities A character disguises
  himself, people fall in love with the wrong
  person or animal.
• Intertwining plots involving both humans and
  fairies.

13

• Suspension of natural laws magic as a real force
  in the forest.
• Disorder (Irony)- Role reversal, bestiality,
  living in the wilderness, uneducated people
  attempt to perform a play that requires a certain
  amount of knowledge.

14

• Marriage- the play culminates in three marriages
  which provide occasion for celebration and
  entertainment.
• Language Misuse of words or meanings, clever
  insults, complex imagery

15
Plot Overview

• The setting of this play is a mythical version of
  ancient Athens.

16

• Magical fairies roam the woods, ready to make
  mischief on humans.

17

• One summer night, two pairs of young lovers and a
  group of amateur actors wander into the fairies
  mad world.

18
Love Web

• Hermia and Lysander are in love
• Hermias father, however, insists that she marry
  Demetrius.
• Hermias friend Helena loves Demetrius

19

• When Hermia and Lysander sneak off to the forest
  to elope, Demetrius and Helena follow.
• Meanwhile, Oberon and Titania, the king and queen
  of the fairies, are having a quarrel. (
  anthropomorphic beings)
• The results for innocent human bystanders are
  disastrousand hilarious!

20

• How will the fairies affect the situation of
  Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius?
• Can love triumph over magical mischief as well as
  more ordinary obstacles?

21
What to watch for

• Look for how all three groups of characters
  intertwine in the story.
• How are they all getting their hearts desires.
• How does magic help the lovers?
• How are the fairies portrayed?
• How is the audience asked to use their
  imagination to create the world of this play?
• Look for moments that you recognize in modern
  life Are the characters acting like people would
  today? Why or why not?