What is the dramatic role of the four young lovers in the play "A Midsummer Nights Dream" and what advice would you as a director give to your actors on the playing of these parts?
What is the dramatic role of the four young lovers in the play and what advice would you as a director give to your actors on the playing of these parts? In the play, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', the role of the four young lovers is very important, as the story revolves around them. The four young lovers are as follows; Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius and Helena. Hermia is in love with Lysander, her father wants her to marry Demitrius but she does not love him so her and Lysander plan to run away together. Helena is in love with Demitrius. In act 1, Egeus (Hermia's father) is telling Hermia that she must marry Demitrius. However, Hermia does not want this as she is in love with Lysander. If I was directing Hermia I would tell her to stand proud as I would want to show that she knows what she wants. As Hermia, she would know that she wants to be with Lysander, not Demitrius. However she would appear shocked when her father says that unless she was to marry Demitrius she will either be killed or have to leave society for a nunnery. When Hermia speaks to Egeus she would look him in the eyes. When Hermia is with Lysander in scene one, I would direct her to come across as love struck, clinging onto Lysander. Lysander would look lovingly into her eyes as he tells her of his aunt that they could elope to. I would direct Helena to be played as a fragile woman. She is in love with
A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 120-345
A Midsummer Night's Dream - Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 120-345 A director, what is the role of a director? Most people would probably say someone who works in theatre, television or film and tells the actors what to do. I have been asked to give my thoughts on directing a scene from 'A Midsummer Nights Dream'. The scene I have chosen is Act Three, Scene Two, lines 120-345. (Sometimes referred to as the lovers quarrel) Turning to my previous thoughts I decided that a director needs to get inside the minds of the characters, feel their emotions yet remain focused on the fact that the play is still a piece of drama, it is there to entertain and enlighten the audience. Without an audience to perform to a play is futile. A Midsummer Nights Dream is a romantic comedy that tells the story of four young lovers trying to evade reality and the fate that beckons them by going into a magical wood. This is a rough outline of the play. Theseus tells Hermia she must do as her father says and marry Demetrius. Helena tells Demetrius that Hermia intends to elope with Lysander. The tradesmen agree to rehearse their play in the wood next night. Oberon and Titania quarrel. Oberon sees Demetrius spurn Helena and sends Puck to treat him with magic herbs. Oberon also treats Titania with the herbs. Puck accidentally treats Lysander, Lysander wakes and falls in love with Helena. Puck gives Bottom an
What qualities would you look for in casting the actors playing Helena and Hermia and how would you direct the opening scene of the play to convey their differences to an audience? A Midsummer Night's Dream
What qualities would you look for in casting the actors playing Helena and Hermia and how would you direct the opening scene of the play to convey their differences to an audience? A Midsummer Night's Dream examines the theme of love in all its aspects. When Act one scene One opens we are at the court of Duke Theseus and he is swearing his undying love for Hippolyta so at the very start we are introduced to love and its deep emotional impact. The declaration of love between the Ducal pair is shortened by the arrival of Egeus with his disobedient daughter Hermia. The mood immediately changes and we discover that Hermia rather than being filled with filial love is determined to marry Lysander rather than her father's choice for her. And so the love theme is made more complex as we have the wrathful love of her father confronted by the love of her daughter for the man who is not her fathers' choice. The love theme is further complicated by the arrival of Helena. Here we see the platonic love of two friends. Undermined by sexual attraction when we discover that Helena is in love with Demetrius, the suitor that Egeus has chosen for his daughter Hermia to marry. All these complexities of the love theme I will have to reveal both as a director and in the performance of the two young women, Hermia and Helena. In casting Hermia I would look for someone strong -willed who
How does the play satisfy the Elizabethan conventions for comedy?
How does the play satisfy the Elizabethan conventions for comedy? During the Elizabethan times, comedies were very popular. Shakespeare wrote quite a few comedies such as A Midsummer Night's Dream. They all contained five elements that the Elizabethans saw essential to make a play a comedy. These were wit, verbal jokes, mistaken identity, music and poetry and finally a dark note. Wit was generally seen as a silly argument, which followed debating. During the argument, each person would make his or her statement seem more ridiculous than what the previous person had said. Wit is presented many times throughout the play, as the lovers have many arguments between them. The first time we see wit is in Act 1 scene 1 when the two men fight for the right to marry Hermia. For example, Lysander describes Demitrius as a "spotted and inconstant man". Another time during which wit is shown is when Helena and Hermia are arguing, as both feel that the other is mocking them. Comments such as "fie, fie, you counterfeit, you puppet, you! Are followed by " How low am I, thou painted maypole?" Verbal jokes wee seen as puns and mispronunciations, and slapstick knockabout comedy, which were generally seen with the scenes with the workers in it, both practising and performing the play. Overall, Bottom is the main character when it comes to verbal jokes in the play. For example in Act 1
With close reference to the text, explain how Shakespeare’s use of language helps the audience to identify the differences between the three types of characters (the Lovers, the Mechanicals and the Fairies) and the world in which they live.
With close reference to the text, explain how Shakespeare's use of language helps the audience to identify the differences between the three types of characters (the Lovers, the Mechanicals and the Fairies) and the world in which they live. 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' is one of Shakespeare's most famous comedies. In this play, Shakespeare portrays 3 types of character. These are the Mechanicals, the working class people of the play. The Lovers, the aristocracy of the play and finally the Fairies who are the ethereal, immortal, more fantasy part of the play. We are first of all introduced to the Lovers; these are the upper class aristocracy of the play. We can tell they are upper class because of the way they talk, which is in iambic pentameter. Which shows their level of education. There are four lovers; Lysander, Hermia, Helena and Demetrius. Lysander loves Hermia, Hermia Loves Lysander. Helena's love for Demetrius is unrequited, as he loves Hermia. The book doesn't make any direct references to the clothes they wear, but there are vague references to them. 'Athenian garments'. The Lovers' use of simile and metaphor is interesting. 'I am your spaniel' this is how Helena portrays her love for Demetrius. This is a metaphor because whatever you do to a dog it is still loyal and still pleasant towards you. When the fairies put a spell on the lovers to make Demetrius love Helena
A Midsummer Night's Dream It's awfully high up here on the gallery. I do hope I'll be able to hear the play still. I got here extra early so I'd get a good seat, as
Charlie Abbott Shakespeare Essay- A Midsummer Night's Dream It's awfully high up here on the gallery. I do hope I'll be able to hear the play still. I got here extra early so I'd get a good seat, as everyone's been talking about it, the play that is. It's supposed to be highly romantic and magical. Oh, I am excited. My father hasn't stopped raving on about it. Luckily today the weather is wonderful so the theatre is lit superbly, the sun bouncing of every corner, which is perfect because my father, just yesterday, came back from London with a gift for me, a lovely yellow sunhat, which I am delighted to be wearing now. The theatre is really filling up now; I can even see the mayor. At last an actor has come on stage. And what a brilliant actor he is. "Now fair Hippolyta...this old moon wanes; she lingers my desire's" says Theseus. Oh how romantic, if only I had a man such as him. All the good men in my town seem to be taken, oh well; I'll carry on dreaming. I wonder where they're from, their names sound so exotic and grand, maybe Greece or somewhere abroad, how lovely it would be to visit such a far away place. "Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword, and won thy love, doing three injuries; But I will wed thee in another key" says Theseus. Oh, look how much he loves her, how adoring, I believe she wants to marry him, I hope they do, they make such a lovely couple. I
What is the relevance of the title of the play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’? You must make close reference to the play and include at least two quotations
352 English - Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream - Literary Essay "What is the relevance of the title of the play 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'? You must make close reference to the play and include at least two quotations" Dreams, aspirations, and illusions are the main focus of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The play revolves around many diverse characters, and, at some point during the play, many of them make reference to the word dream. The word dream can be interpreted by many different means, and using different methods. For example, the word can mean "a series of pictures or events in the mind of a sleeping person" (Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary, 1997). However, Shakespeare is able to take a deeper meaning from the word; that is, a dream is someone's wish, hope, fantasy, or even aspiration. This is shown throughout "A Midsummer Night's Dream", thus confirming the relevance of the title. Many of the characters express their feelings and thoughts using the word dream. However, they use the word only in it's literal meaning, but there are scenes in which an individual's wish is defined without the use of the word dream. This is clearly shown in the first hundred lines of the play. Egeus has asked Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to impose the harsh Athenian law upon his daughter Hermia. It is Egeus' wish, his dream, that Hermia wed Demetrius.
Tension in Drama.
Tension is the force that drives the drama. However it is the most difficult element to comprehend because you cannot see or touch it. It is the most important element because drama can't exist without it. It is essential that it is created, but it is easily lost. The use of violence often makes the creation of tension easier, but violence or conflict is not necessary to create tension. There are 4 ways of creating dramatic tension. Tension of the: . Task 2. Relationship 3. Surprise 4. Mystery Before a problem in a drama can be resolved, the characters must say and do many things. These tasks make up the action. To make the dramatic action tense, we must: * Make the task hard - if it is not, the play will be over straight away * Make the task important - resolving the problem must matter to those in the drama. There must be reasons. * Make the task fun. Human Relationships are a central component to the dramatic tension. Thus one of the common sources of tension can be found in the relationships found in the characters. Misunderstanding Dramatic tension often arises from misunderstandings and the consequences that follow. Misunderstandings can be accidental or deliberate. The resolution of the misunderstanding and its result in confusion can be either funny (comedy) or disastrous (tragedy). Intimacy Sometimes when people confide in you, you often feel a degree
A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
A Midsummer Night's Dream Act Three, Scene Two of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' begins with Oberon, the king of fairies and Puck the servant talking to each other about the previous incidents which had just occurred. Puck was ordered to put a certain love juice in Demetrius' eyes so that he fell in love with Helena which would leave Lysander and Hermia to their undying love for one another. But seeing as Puck is shown to be a character that plays practical jokes on others, he plants the juice into the wrong man's eyes, Lysander. This causes Demetrius and Lysander to both love Helena and leave Hermia mystified and in a state of total confusion. The setting I would choose to direct 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' would probably be somewhere quite detached from the outside world, somewhere like the woods. The surroundings would be very misty and I would make the atmosphere eerie by putting in occasional wolf cries or sudden movements in the bushes. This would all add to help build the new scenario in this play to display some subsequent changes in the moods of the actors. By beginning this scene I would show Oberon in the woods, looking forward to the effects of the love juice, I would make a close up view on his glowing face for a few seconds which would show him as being quite excited. I would dress Oberon in white robes and he would have glowing skin, which would be a typical
Symbolism of the moon in MSND
Symbolism of the Moon in A Midsummer Night's Dream The moon has many associations. In classical mythology, the moon is connected to the Triple Hecate, the pagan trinity that had power over the sky, earth, and Underworld. The moon is also associated with the irrational and the supernatural because of enduring superstitions that the full moon transmogrified people into werewolves or induced erratic behavior known as lunacy. Moreover, the moon represents harmony, growth and renewal as well as disorder, fickleness, and inconstancy because of its changing nature. The moon is a dominant symbol in A Midsummer Night's Dream and presides over much of the action within the play. Because the moon waxes and wanes as it passes through the monthly cycle, it is the embodiment of the idea of change. The symbolism of the moon also encapsulates many of the play's themes and, including dreams, magic, irrationality, love, marriage, and chastity. By drawing upon the various allusions and associations that are connected with the moon, Shakespeare transforms the moon into a rich symbol unifies the play's characters, themes, and ideas together. Near the end of Act 5, scene 1, Puck describes the night: Now is a time of night That the graves, all gaping wide, Every one lets forth his sprite, In churchway paths to glide. And we fairies, that do run By triple Hecate's team, From the presence of