3.10 Quiz: A Midsummer Night's Dream

In Act V of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Quince presents the prologue for "Pyramus and Thisbe." When he finishes, Hippolyta comments: Indeed he hath played on his prologue like a childon a recorder—a sound, but not in government. Which tone does the simile "played on his prologue like a child on a recorder" create? A) It creates a relaxed tone by comparing Quince's performance to lovely recorder music. B) It creates a humorous tone by comparing Quince's performance to a child playing an instrument badly. C) It creates a surprised tone by comparing Quince's performance to an eloquent speech by a government official. D) It creates a sad, wistful tone by comparing Quince's performance to a beautiful tune.

In A Midsummer Night's Dream, how does Shakespeare use a character's name to create humor? A) Robin's nickname Puck, which means an "impish spirit" and "to strike," is a joke because of all the trouble Puck causes. B) Hermia's and Helena's names sound alike, which is meant to be funny so that Lysander and Demetrius will get mixed up about which one they love. C) Quince's name is the same as a fruit, which is humorous because a quince is a funny-tasting fruit. D) Bottom's name has multiple meanings, which are comedic because he acts foolishly and actually has the head of an ass through part of the play.

Each plotline in A Midsummer Night's Dream follows the same narrative arc structure. How does the climax of the Oberon-Titania plotline affect the tone of the play? A) Oberon sends Robin to get the flower, which is an act of revenge that creates an angry tone. B) Titania gives the Indian boy to Oberon, which is tragic and adds a sorrowful dimension to the play. C) Oberon puts juice in Titania's eyes, which is a kind and loving thing to do, and creates a romantic tone. D) Titania falls in love with Bottom after he is transformed, which is silly and adds to the humor of the play.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a comedy with a romantic theme. Which statement best expresses one of the play's themes about love? A) Love is magical. B) True love is worth overcoming obstacles to attain. C) Loving the wrong person is dangerous. D) Love is difficult to hold onto when parents don't approve.

Shakespeare explores the idea of societal order in A Midsummer Night's Dream. How does he emphasize the importance of societal order in Act IV? A) Hermia's father still wants to force her to marry Demetrius, no matter what happened in the woods. B) The lovers are in love with the right person because of magic, but they still need Theseus to approve of their plans to marry. C) Theseus and Hippolyta are participating in the required ritual preparations for their wedding when they find the lovers. D) Bottom's friends are worried that Bottom will be arrested if he misses their performance.

A Midsummer Night's Dream has many themes. One of them is that the perception of reality versus dreams may vary for each person. How does the scene where Theseus and Hippolyta find the lovers asleep in the woods develop this theme? A) The lovers wonder if the flower potion caused them to think their experiences weren't real. B) Hippolyta and Theseus feel that they have entered an imaginary world when they find the lovers. C) Hippolyta and Theseus sensed they would find the lovers in the woods. D) The lovers find it hard to determine whether they are asleep or awake.

Shakespeare often gives the audience information that some characters do not have. How does Shakespeare increase the tension in the plot line of Bottom and his friends by giving the audience information that one or more of the characters does not have? A) The audience knows Titania, under the spell, is sleeping near where Bottom and his friends rehearse. This knowledge builds tension because the audience wonders what will happen if they will accidentally wake Titania up. B) The audience knows that Bottom has been freed from the spell, but his friends do not. This knowledge builds tension because the audience wonders if Bottom will still want to talk to his friends after his amazing experience. C) The audience knows that Robin is observing their rehearsal, but Bottom and his friends do not. This knowledge builds tension because Robin is angry at them for being in the woods and threatens to hurt them. D) The audience knows Bottom is under a spell, but his friends do not. This knowledge builds tension because his friends think Bottom is a wizard and they decide to attack him.

Read the passage. excerpt from Act III, Scene 1, in A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare TitaniaThe summer still doth tend upon my state,And I do love thee. Therefore go with me.I'll give thee fairies to attend on thee,And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deepAnd sing while thou on pressèd flowers dost sleep. How does the language in this excerpt create a sense of place? A) The word summer and the phrase "from the deep" create a beach setting. B) The word sing and the phrase "dost sleep" create a bedtime setting. C) The word fairies and the phrase "fetch thee jewels" create an enchanted setting. D) The phrases "tend upon my state" and "attend on thee" create a royal setting.

Read the passage. excerpt from Act II, Scene 2, in A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare OberonI know a bank where the wild thyme blows,Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,Quite overcanopied with luscious woodbine,With sweet muskroses, and with eglantine. How does this passage create a sense of place? A) Oberon describes the plants growing in Hippolyta's garden. B) It provides a detailed description of a lovely, natural setting. C) It gives a detailed description of how flowers react to the sunrise each morning. D) Oberon describes what it's like to watch the sunset in the woods.

Read the passage. excerpt from Act III, Scene 1, in A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare TitaniaI pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again.Mine ear is much enamored of thy note,So is mine eye enthrallèd to thy shape,And thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move meOn the first view to say, to swear, I love thee. What is the tone in this excerpt and how does the language create it? A) Formal tone: It uses iambic pentameter. B) Informal: It uses words like thee, which would only be used in an informal situation. C) Formal tone: It has a formal sentence structure and uses thee and thy instead of you. D) Informal tone: It has no rhyming lines.