St. Peter’s College of Toril Inc.

Toril, Davao City HUMS 102- MRS. EVA

College Department
A.Y. 2021-2022

Course Activity Worksheet # 5

Course Code HUMS 102
Course Title GREAT BOOKS
Time Frame Week 5
Topic MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by William Shakespeare
Intended Learning At the end of the lesson, the students must have:
Outcome 1. explained why the story was entitled “Midsummer Night’s Dream”;
(ILO) 2. differentiated tragedy from a comedy;
3. described the role of the main character in the story.
Teaching and  Self- Testing
Learning Activities  Independent reading
Assessment  Activity worksheet completion
Tasks  Writing answers on the module
Assessment
Rubric
Value Integration Core Value: Competence
Courage , faithfulness
Introductcion
This Course activity worksheet The story Midsummer Night’s Dream by William
PUCK
Shakespeare. A presentation is provided to discuss the important contents of the topic.
Activities must be completed to check on students’ progress.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

OBERON
William Shakespeare, Shakespeare also spelled Shakspere, byname Bard of Avon or
Swan of Avon, (baptized April 26, 1564, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England—died
April 23, 1616, Stratford-upon-Avon), English poet, dramatist, and actor often called the
TITANIA English national poet and considered by many to be the greatest dramatist of all time.

Shakespeare occupies a position unique in world literature. Other poets, such as Homer and
Dante, and novelists, such as Leo Tolstoy and Charles Dickens, have transcended national
LYSANDER barriers, but no writer’s living reputation can compare to that of Shakespeare, whose plays,
written in the late 16th and early 17th centuries for a small repertory theatre, are now
performed and read more often and in more countries than ever before. The prophecy of his
great contemporary, the poet and dramatist Ben Jonson, that Shakespeare “was not of an
DEMETRIUS age, but for all time,” has been fulfilled.

INTRODUCTION
HERMANIA A Midsummer Night’s Dreamis especially appropriate for teen students because its major
theme is love—a subject ton the minds of most teenagers much of the time. There is plenty
of comedy to entice those who are not interested inlove, and although there are fairies, they
are not like Tinker Bell in Peter Pan
HELENA
Another theme is friendship. Friends and what they think and say are extremely important to
adolescents. Most will havehad some experience of two friends liking the same person of the
opposite sex and the difficulties that situation bringsabout. Is friendship stronger than
love? Certainly that question is one explored in this play an done that is worthy
EGEUS
ofdiscussing as is what it means to be loyal to friends.

Illusion versus reality is another theme students should enjoy looking into. Teenagers are
well aware things are not alwaysas they seem, and this is especially true in A Midsummer
THESEUS

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Night’s Dreamwhere almost nothing is what it seems to be. Then too there is the parent-child conflict over who
NICK BOTTOM
the child can be in love with—not at all an uncommon situation for manyyoung people.

BEFORE READING MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, read/review the story of Theseaus and the myth of
Pyramus and Thisby as discussed in your Mythology and Folklore subject. This is to help you
understand the reference when they get to the play within the play.

CHARACTER LIST

Puck- Also known as Robin Goodfellow, Puck is Oberon’s jester, a mischievous fairy who delights in playing
pranks on mortals. Though A Midsummer Night’s Dream divides its action between several groups of
characters, Puck is the closest thing the play has to a protagonist.

Oberon - The king of the fairies, Oberon is initially at odds with his wife, Titania.

Titania- The beautiful queen of the fairies, Titania resists the attempts of her husband, Oberon, to make a
knight of the young Indian prince that she has been given.

Lysander - A young man of Athens, in love with Hermia.

Demetrius - A young man of Athens, initially in love with Hermia and ultimately in love with Helena.

Hermia - Egeus’s daughter, a young woman of Athens.

Helena - A young woman of Athens, in love with Demetrius.

Egeus - Hermia’s father, who brings a complaint against his daughter to Theseus

Theseus - The heroic duke of Athens, engaged to Hippolyta. Theseus represents power and order throughout
the play.

Hippolyta - The legendary queen of the Amazons, engaged to Theseus. Like Theseus, she symbolizes order.

Nick Bottom - The overconfident weaver chosen to play Pyramus in the craftsmen’s play for Theseus’s
marriage celebration.

Peter Quince - A carpenter and the nominal leader of the craftsmen’s attempt to put on a play for Theseus’s
marriage celebration.

Francis Flute - The bellows-mender chosen to play Thisbe in the craftsmen’s play for Theseus’s marriage
celebration.

Robin Starveling - The tailor chosen to play Thisbe’s mother in the craftsmen’s play for Theseus’s marriage
celebration. He ends up playing the part of Moonshine.

Tom Snout - The tinker chosen to play Pyramus’s father in the craftsmen’s play for Theseus’s marriage
celebration. He ends up playing the part of Wall, dividing the two lovers.

Snug - The joiner chosen to play the lion in the craftsmen’s play for Theseus’s marriage celebration. Snug
worries that his roaring will frighten the ladies in the audience.

Philostrate- Theseus’s Master of the Revels, responsible for organizing the entertainment for the duke’s
marriage celebration.

Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mote, and Mustardseed - The fairies ordered by Titania to attend to Bottom after
she falls in love with him.
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 PLEASE READ THE BOOK IN PDF: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by William Shakespeare

PLOT SUMMARY

ACT I, SCENE I

Theseus and Hippolyta discuss their wedding which is to take place in four days. Theseus sends Philostrate to
round upentertainers to while away the time. Egeus brings his daughter Hermia and her two suitors, Lysander
and Demetrius, toTheseus to settle an argument. Hermia wants to marry Lysander. Eegus wants her
to marry Demetrius. Theseus givesHermia three choices—marry Demetrius, enter a nunnery, or be put to
death for disobedience. Hermia has until the dayof Theseus’s wedding to come to a decision. Lysander and
Hermia plan to meet in the woods the next night and elope.Helena, who loves Demetrius and is the lovers’
friend, decides she will tell Demetrius of their plans so she can be withhim while he looks for Hermia and
Lysander.

ACT I, SCENE II

Six artisans meet to discuss what sort of entertainment they will prepare for Theseus’s wedding. They decide
to do a playabout Pyramus and Thisby. Parts are assigned.

ACT II, SCENE I

A fairy meets Puck in the woods, and they discuss the quarrel between Titania (Queen of the Fairies) and
Oberon (Kingof the Fairies) over a human child they both want. Oberon and Titania meet and talk about the
upcoming wedding ofTheseus and Hippolyta. Titania says the bad weather can be blamed on their quarrels.
The human child is the son of oneof her devoted followers who died at childbirth. She refuses to turn him over
to Oberon. Oberon sends Puck to find aspecial flower whose juice, when placed on the eyelids, causes that
individual to fall in love with the next living creatureseen. He plans to put it on Titania’s eyelids to shame her
into giving up the boy. Helena and Demetrius come hunting forHermia. Despite Demetrius’s insults and threats,
Helena says she will follow him wherever he goes. Oberon tells Puck toput some of the juice on Demetrius’s
eyes so he will fall in love with Helena when he awakens.

ACT II, SCENE II

Titania tells the fairies to sing her to sleep. Oberon places some of the juice on her eyelids and hopes she sees
somethingvile when she wakes up. Lysander and Hermia are tired and lost and decide to sleep awhile. Puck
mistakenly puts the juiceon Lysander’s eyes. When Helena finds Lysander she awakens him. He, of course,
falls in love with her instantly. Helenathinks he is making fun of her and runs away. He follows. Hermia
awakens, can’t find Lysander, and goes looking for him.

references:
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Shakespeare, W. Midsummer Night’s Dream https://uacmwillshakespeare.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/a-midsummer-
nights-dream.pdf
Shakespeare, W. Midsummer Night’s Dream Character List https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare /msnd/characters/
Gillespie, I. Why should you read "A Midsummer Night's Dream?" https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-should-you-read-a-
midsummer-night-s-dream-iseult-gillespie#discuss

HUMS 102– WORKSHEET 5

Learning Activities
Name: ___________________________________________ Course and Level:______________________
Instructor:________________________________________ Date:________________________________

ACTIVITY 1.A: BEFORE READING

Pre-Reading: Themes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Do Now: The following are provocative statements; they are designed to start discussion. For the purposes of the
exercise, you must pick Agree (A) or Disagree (D) (even if you really think “it depends” )

Statement Agree/Disagree Reason Why

1. People in love act like
idiots.
2.Teenagers should listen to
their parents when it comes
to relationships
3. .A couple that can’t get
along makes everyone’s life
hell.
Agree According to singmund Freud people in love are the most vulnerable
being. I have seen in reality too. Being inlove truly relates and reflects
back unto yourself. You may act like an idiots because of your love to
that person.
Agree Definitely yes, because our parents knows best we should follow
them and listen to their advices its our own sake. To avoid hurtful
feelings or teenage pregnancy that’s why it is very essential to listen
to our parents.
Agree
Yes because if both of you can’t get along theres no peace in your
relationship it is very important to understand both side in order to
build a better living and happiness.

4. Sexual attraction (lust) is

not a good basis for Male sexual jealousy is the foremost cause of wife battering in
marriage cultures worldwide. Lust and attraction do not always go hand in
Agree hand in people. Relationship experts agree lust can turn into
love  but warn that feeling lust does not guarantee an eventual
loving relationship. "Sometimes lust can lead to love and is
often experienced within a loving relationship.

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 5. It’s healthy to
occasionally lose your
inhibitions and act crazy.
Disagree It’s a big no, because releasing your inhibitions means letting
go of the things that hold you back from saying and doing what
you would naturally do if you weren't thinking about the
repercussions of it but don’t act crazy it’s not good.

6. Love comes after

marriage
Well, I think ‘ after marriage’ is the best place for love.
Marriage is also a beautiful gift as dating/falling for
Agree someone/living together in a relationship. It's the best source of
joy and mutual support. You'll discover a new chapter of you
life together in marriage even if you married your love partner.
Love should come before marriage, if you want your marriage
to be a loving one. Hoping that it may come after marriage is a
risk. It may or may not happen.

7. For a peaceful
relationship, wives should
let husbands win arguments
Disagree Don’t let that your husband will win arguments it should be
unfair in a relationship both of you will have patience and
understand in order to heve a better relationship and have
peace everyday.

AFTER reading the whole play, choose ONE of the statements and write a journal entry about this theme. Why do you
agree or disagree? Also, how do you think this theme will appear in the play?

The dominant theme in A Midsummer Night's Dream is love, a subject to which Shakespeare returns
constantly in his comedies. Shakespeare explores how people tend to fall in love with those who
appear beautiful to them. Shakespeare explores how people tend to fall in love with those who
appear beautiful to them. People we think we love at one time in our lives can later seem not only
unattractive but even repellent. For a time, this attraction to beauty might appear to be love at its most
intense, but one of the ideas of the play is that real love is much more than mere physical attraction.
At one level, the story of the four young Athenians asserts that although "The course of true love
never did run smooth," true love triumphs in the end, bringing happiness and harmony. At another
level, however, the audience is forced to consider what an apparently irrational and whimsical thing
love is, at least when experienced between youngsters. If you love someone it should not be because
of their appearance but because of their personality. If you do not do this you will have a lot of fights.
Just because someone looks good on the outside does not mean they act good on the inside. I agree
to this because if you truly love that person whatever she/he is you will accept him/her and love him
purely with out any doubt.

ACT 1 SCENE 1 – ANALYZING LITERATURE

1. How is Hippolyta’s reasoning concerning how quickly the next four days will pass different from that of
Theseus? Note how Shakespeare portrays the patience and calmness of Hippolyta in contrast to the
impatience and need for action of Theseus.
Answer:

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Hippolyta thinks the next four days will pass quickly since she is calm and not concerned about their marriage.
Thesues thinks the days will pass slowly because he is anxious about getting married to her as fast as
possible. This possible foreshadows that they may not get married. Hippolyta is much calmer than Theseus.
Theseus wants the days the days to go faster, so he decides to party for 4 days. Hippolyta thinks the next 4
days will pass like a dream.

2.Why has Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus? What does Egeus expect him to do?
Answer:
Egeus brought his daughter and her two suitors to Theseus because he wants to ask for him to law of Athens
and allow him to do what he wants with his daughter. Egeus expects Theseus to force Hermia to marry
Demetrius. Egeus is angry because his daughter Hermia won't marry Demetrius. Egeus has come to see
Theseus so that he could tell Hermia to listen to her father.

3. What was the proper role for women/daughters in Athenian society according to Egeus and Theseus?
Answer:
The proper role for women/daughters in Athenian society according to Egeus and Theseus is for women and
daughter to be obedient to men and listen to their fathers.

4. What is Theseus’s ruling concerning Hermia?

Answer:
Theseus's ruling decision concerning Hermia is that she will be executed or she will have to choose to
become a nun and never seen another man again. The Duke tells Hermia he cannot change the ancient
law that gives Egeus control over his daughter's marriage. So Hermia has three choices such as marry
Demetrius, become a nun, and never marry, be put to death for violation of the ancient law of Athens.

ACT I SCENE II : ILLUSTRATION

Which scene do you find hilarious? In what way is this scene funny? Why do you suppose Shakespeare included this
scene?
Draw that scene then give a brief answer to the question posted above.

act 1 scene 2:

In the play, a lion surprises Thisbe one night and tatters her mantle before she escapes. When
Pyramus finds the shredded garment, he assumes that the lion has killed Thisbe; stricken with grief,
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he commits suicide. When Thisbe finds Pyramus's bloody corpse, she too commits suicide. According
to William Shakespeare elsewhere in Athens, a group of "Mechanicals" or craftsmen meet up to
practice a play they plan to perform at Theseus and Hippolyta's upcoming wedding . It's one of the
major literary sources for Romeo and Juliet, which Shakespeare wrote around the same time as A
Midsummer Night's Dream. As Quince doles out the parts, Bottom often interrupts, announcing that
he should be the one to play the assigned part. He says that his ability to speak in a woman’s voice
would make him a wonderful Thisbe and that his ability to roar would make him a wonderful lion.
Quince eventually convinces him that Pyramus is the part for him, by virtue of the fact that Pyramus is
supposed to be very handsome. Snug worries that he will be unable to learn the lion’s part, but
Quince reassures him that it will be very easy to learn, since the lion speaks no words and only
growls and roars. This worries the craftsmen, who reason that if the lion frightens any of the noble
ladies in the audience, they will all be executed; since they are only common laborers, they do not
want to risk upsetting powerful people. Bottom says that he could roar as sweetly as a nightingale so
as not to frighten anyone, but Quince again convinces him that he can only play Pyramus. The group
disperses, agreeing to meet in the woods the following night to rehearse their play.

ACT II SCENE 1: ANALYZING LITERATURE

1. What does the reader find out about the current relationship between Oberon, King of the Fairies, and Titania, Queen
of the Fairies, from Puck and the first fairy?
Answer:
Oberon, the king of the fairies, quarrels with his queen, Titania, and bids his mischievous servant Puck to drop
magic juice into her eyes as she sleeps; his intent is to punish her for her disobedience by causing her to fall
hopelessly in love with whatever person or creature she happens to see when she awakes. The reader finds
out that they're having an altercation.

2. How have Oberon and Titania been involved in the past with Theseus and Hippolyta, and why have they come to
Athens?
Answer:
Titania loves Theseus and Oberon loves Hippolyta. They've both come to Athens to bless the wedding.They
have been involved with each other in the past because Oberon had an affair with Hippolyta, and Titania had
an affair with Theseus. They came to Athens for Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding.

3. What effect has their quarrel had on nature, on the seasons, on humans?
Answer:
Their quarrel has been causing nature to go off balance. They caused all of the seasons to switch places. For
example, Titania says that "Cold frosts spread over the red roses,". And now, the humans are confused. Their
argument is causing the seasons to switch places, so there will be cold, winterlike weather in the spring.

ACT II SCENE II: ANALYZING LITERATURE

1. Why does Oberon want Titania to wake and fall in love with some vile thing?
Answer:
Because she got possession of the boy that he wanted, so he wants to get revenge. He believes that
by giving her the potion, she will fall in love with an ugly beast, and he wil get time to trick her into giving
up the boy.

2. Why does Hermia insist Lysander sleep a little ways from her?
Answer:
Because Hermia is a lady and believes that it isn't ladylike to sleep in the same "bed" before marriage.
Lysander wishes to sleep close to Hermia, but she insists that they sleep apart, to respect custom and
propriety. At some distance from each other, they fall asleep.

3. Why does Puck anoint Lysander’s eyes?

Answer:
Puck repairs the blunder by anointing Lysander's eyes, in order to dispel the illusion caused by the
love-juice. Thus, when they awake, all will be in order: Lysander will love Hermia, and Demetrius will

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 love Helena. Titania woos Bottom until Oberon, whose anger has abated, removes the spell from her
eyes.

Assessment #1

1. Why is the story entitled “Midsummer Night Dream”?

Answer:
Right away, the title A Midsummer Night's Dream makes us think that this play by William
Shakespeare will embody an ethereal or a fantasy-like quality. The title also tells us that the story is
likely to take place on a summer night that may or may not be the product of a character's dream.

Assessment #2

1. What is the difference between tragedy and comedy?

Answer:
In simple terms, the main difference between comedy and tragedy is that the comedy is a humorous
story with a happy ending while a tragedy is a serious story with a sad ending. The main difference
between Shakespearean Comedy and Tragedy is that Shakespearean comedies end in marriages or
reunion whereas Shakespearean tragedies usually end in the death of the tragic hero.

Assessment #3

1. What is the role of the main character in the story?

Answer:
Puck also known as Robin Goodfellow, Puck is Oberon's jester, a mischievous fairy who delights in
playing pranks on mortals. Though there is little character development in A Midsummer Night's Dream
and no true protagonist, critics generally point to Puck as the most important character in the play. Puck is a
mischievous fairy, sprite, or jester. He is the first of the main fairy characters to appear, and he
significantly influences events in the play. He delights in pranks such as replacing Bottom's head with
that of an ass.

PERSONAL REFLECTION
Upon reading the first 4 scenes of Midsummer Night’s Dreams, what scene so far made an
impression on you? What made that scene memorable? In what aspect of your life can you relate to
it?

In act 1 scene 1, Theseus, who is a Duke of Athens, is excited to be marrying Hippolyta in just four
days. Egeus approaches Theseus with his daughter Hermia to ask for the duke's advice. Egeus has
agreed to let Demetrius marry Hermia. However, Hermia is in love with Lysander, who is also
interested in marrying her. Theseus is eager for the wedding day to come but Hippolyta reassures
him that 'Four days will quickly steep themselves in nights'. They are interrupted by Egeus who says
he is 'full of vexation' because his daughter Hermia refuses to marry Demetrius, the suitor he has
chosen for her. I can relate it when it comes to do a decision sometimes we can’t deny the fact that
we failed our goals in life because we focused to our dreams and we didn’t ask help to our almighty
God. That’s why in making a goals and achieving it we must pray and offer it to God because we are
nothing without Him. Our daily life decisions give us opportunities to become better at what we do. Most of
our decisions are made out of habit. However, by bringing our choices in the conscious domain, we can

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evaluate them, assess their impact and indulge in self-reflection. Such steps eventually lead to better decisions
and outcomes.

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MULTIPLE CHOICE: ENCIRCLE THE LETTER OF YOUR CHOICE.

1. As the play opens, whom is Theseus about to marry?

a. Hermia
b. Titania
c. Hippolyta
d. Helena

2. What complaint does Egeus bring to Theseus?

a. He loves a woman who doesn't love him.
b. His daughter, Hermia, wants to marry a different guy than he wants.
c. He is angry the fairies have interfered in his life.

3. What is NOT one of the possible punishments for young women who don't agree to arranged marriages?
a. death
b. becoming a nun
c. joining a harem

4. Theseus is duke of what city?

a. Rome
b. Athens
c. Paris
d. Florence

5. What is Hermia and Lysander's plan?

a. Forget about each other
b. Meet in the woods and get married
c. Ask Helena to help Demetrius forget Hermia, and leave them alone.
d. Get Theseus to overryle Hermia's father.

6. What's Helena's reason for telling Demetrius what Hermia and Lysander plan?
a. She will have a reason to see him.
b. He'll stop loving Hermia.
c. She wants Hermia to get in trouble with Theseus
d. She's a gossip.

7. Theseus' marriage is how many days away?

a.1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4

8. Demetrius used to love Helena

True
False

9. Who is the mischievous spirit that works for the king of the fairies
Puck
Nick
Oberon
Titania

10. Puck purposely misapplies the potion to Lysander's eyes.

True
False

11. Oberon wants Puck to apply potion to Titania so that he can take her boy away.
True

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False

12. Demetrius threatens to hurt Helena if she continues to follow him.

True
False

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