My students and I are watching a recorded performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and giving presentations on “AMND” topics.
I signed up for the topic that’s listed first on the lengthy list of topics about this Shakespeare play: “Explain what’s happening with the eight characters in a room in the palace of Theseus.”
Appearing in the opening scene are Duke Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostrate, Egeus, Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius and Helena. Theseus is to be wed to Hippolyta in four days. The duke has ordered Philostrate (the Master of the Revels) “to stir up the Athenian youth to merriments.”
After Theseus and Hippolyta discuss their wedding, a disgruntled father enters with his daughter and a young man and asks the duke to force her to marry him, but she is in love with another young man.
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1. The father is
A. Egeus.
B. Lysander.
C. Demetrius.
D. Philostrate.
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2. Where does the story take place?
A. Rome
B. Athens
C. Corinth
D. London
No. 1 is A. If a father gives advice as to who he thinks his daughter should marry, he is an “Egeus” [EE-gee-us” or “ee-GEE-us.”].
No. 2 is B.
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3. Which two appear in “AMND’s” first line?
A. step-dame
B. dowager
C. ubiquitous birds
D. moonlight
E. wuthering hair
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4. Theseus is griping because it’s so long until
A. breakfast.
B. his wedding night.
C. he’s to hear the decision from Egeus’ daughter as to whether or not she will marry the man her father wants her to marry.
D. midsummer, his favorite time of year.
No. 3 is A and B. A step-dame is a term for stepmother. A dowager is a widow who holds some title or property from her late husband. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream Gender Quotes” points out that when Theseus gripes about having to wait so long for his wedding night with Hippolyta, he compares the moon to a greedy step-dame or dowager who’s spending her son’s inheritance. No. 4 is B.
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5. iambic pentameter (eye-AM-bik-pen-TAM-uh-tur)
A. a technique for understanding Shakespeare
B. a line 10 syllables long that is accented on every second syllable
C. the venue in which a classic play is performed
D. the day on the calendar that marks midsummer
An example of iambic pentameter is from Theseus’ line: “Hipp-OLyTA, i WOOD thee WITH my SWORD, and WON thy LOVE, doING thee INjurIES.” No. 5 is B.
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Editor’s Note: Dr. Don Rodney Vaughan is the pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church near Eupora and is on the faculty of East Mississippi Community College, Golden Triangle Campus. Contact him at
dvaughan@eastms.edu.
