A Midsummer Night’s Dream – William Shakespeare Comedy

What is a comedy? Scornful vs. Romantic

What is a tragedy?

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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).

Example of Scornful Comedy

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Romantic Comedy

Emphasizes the sympathetic character rather than the ridiculous character.

Main characters are sensible and goodRomantic Comedies do not test the

limits of human possibility.Lesser characters are made fun of

through ridicule and satire.

Examples of Romantic Comedy

As You Like ItTwelfth NightMuch Ado About Nothing

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

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.

Examples of Tragedy Plays

Oedipus RexHamletMacbethOthello

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 conflict2. 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

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.

What to expect from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Mistaken identities: A character disguises himself, people fall in love with the wrong person or animal.

Intertwining plots involving both humans and fairies.

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.

Marriage- the play culminates in three marriages which provide occasion for celebration and entertainment.

Language: Misuse of words or meanings, clever insults, complex imagery

Plot Overview

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

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

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

Love Web

Hermia and Lysander are in loveHermia’s father, however, insists that

she marry Demetrius.Hermia’s friend Helena loves Demetrius

• 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 disastrous—and hilarious!

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?

What to watch for:

Look for how all three groups of characters intertwine in the story.

How are they all getting their heart’s 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?