A Midsummer Night’s Dream

by William Shakespeare

I. Write the correct response in each blank.

____ 1. Theseus A. Robin Goodfellow; spirit that creates mischief

____ 2. Hippolyta B. Loves Hermia in Act I; not favored by Egeus
____ 3. Egeus C. Actors in the play Pyramus and Thisbe
____ 4. Hermia D. A weaver; plays Pyramus in the play Pyramus and Thisbe
____ 5. Lysander E. Queen of the Fairies
____ 6. Demetrius F. Loves Demetrius
____ 7. Helena G. Father of Hermia
____ 8. Nick Bottom H. Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus
____ 9. Peter Quince I. Loves Hermia in Act I; favored by Egeus
____ 10. Snout, Snug, Starveling J. Duke of Athens
____ 11. Puck K. Person that Oberon and Titania are fighting over
____ 12. Fairy L. King of the Fairies
____ 13. Oberon M. A carpenter; the director of the play Pyramus and Thisbe
____ 14. Titania N. Daughter of Egeus; loves Lysander
____ 15. Indian Boy O. One of Titania’s spirits that admires Puck

II. Write the letter of the SPEAKER in each blank. SOME MAY BE USED MORE THAN ONCE.

A. Theseus B. Hippolyta C. Egeus D. Hermia E. Demetrius

F. Lysander G. Helena H. Quince I. Bottom J. Flute

K. Oberon L. Titania M. Fairy N. Puck

16. _____ “Full of vexation come I, with complaint

Against my child, my daughter Hermia.”

17. _____ “By all the vows that ever men have broke,
In number more than ever women spoke,
In that same place thou hast appointed me
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee.”

18. _____ “Either to die the death, or to abjure

For ever the society of men.”

19. _____ “Ay me! For aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth;
But either it was different in blood --”

20. _____ “The more I love, the more he hateth me.”

21. _____ “Here is the scroll of every man’s name which
is thought fit, through all Athens, to play in our
interlude before the Duke and the Duchess on
his wedding day at night.

22. _____ “Let me play the lion too. I will roar that I will
do any man’s heart good to hear me. I will
roar that I will make the Duke say, ‘Let him roar
again, let him roar again.’”

23. _____ “Four days will quickly steep themselves in night;

Four nights will quickly dream away the time;”

24. _____ “Relent, sweet Hermia, and Lysander, yield

Thy crazed title to my certain right.”

25. _____ “Nay, faith, let not me play a woman; I have a beard
coming.”

26. ______ “Thou speakest aright;

I am that merry wanderer of the night.
I jest to Oberon and make him smile
When I a fat and bean-fed horse beguile,”

27. ______ “Be it ounce, or cat, or bear,

Pard, or boar with bristled hair,
In thy eye that shall appear
When thou wakest, it is thy dear.
Wake when some vile thing is near.”

28. ______ “Sing me now asleep;

Then to your offices, and let me rest.”

29. ______ “Either I mistake your shape and making quite,

Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite
Call’d Robin Goodfellow.”

30. ______ “Lysander, look how I do quake with fear.

Methought a serpent ate my heart away,
And you sat smiling at his cruel prey.”

31. ______ “I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius,

The more you beat me, I will fawn on you.
Use me but as your spaniel, spurn me, strike me,
Neglect me, lose me; only give me leave,
Unworthy as I am, to follow you.”
32. ______ “O me! You juggler! You cankerblossom!
You thief of love! What, have you come by night
And stol’n my love’s heart from him?”

33. _____ “Pat, pat; and here’s a marvellous convenient place

for our rehearsal. This green plot shall be our stage, this
hawthorn-brake our tiring-house; and we will do it in
action, as we will do if before the Duke.”

34. _____ “O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent

To set against me for your merriment.
If you were civil and knew courtesy,
You would not do me thus much injury.”

35. _____ “What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite
And laid the love juice on some true love’s sight.
Of thy misprision must perforce ensue
Some true love turned, and not a false turned true.”

36. ____ “I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again.

Mine ear is much enamored of thy note;
So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape;
And thy fair virtue’s force perforce doth move me,
On the first view to say, to swear, I love thee.”

37. ____ “Most radiant Pyramus, most lily-white of hue,

Of color like the red rose on triumphant brier,
Most brisky juvenal, and eke most lovely Jew,
As true as truest horse, that would never tire,
I’ll meet thee, Pyramus, at Ninny’s tomb.”

38. ____ “Shall we their fond pageant see?

Lord, what fools these mortals be!”

39. ____ “Methinks, mistress, you should have little

reason for that. And yet, to say the truth, reason
and love keep little company together nowadays. “

III. Answer the following questions completely.

40. What are the three “choices” that Hermia has regarding marriage and her father’s wishes?

a.

b.

c.
41. What is the decision made by Hermia and Lysander regarding their future?

42. What is the name of the play to be performed by the “Rude Mechanicals”? What type of play is it?

43. What is the reason that Helena decides to tell Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander’s plans?

44. Why are Titania and Oberon fighting with each other? How does Oberon plan to “get even”?

45. What errand does Puck do for Oberon? What “mistake” does Puck commit?

46. At the end of Act ll, the following people love...?

Helena loves ____________________________

Hermia loves ____________________________

Lysander loves ____________________________

Demetrius loves ____________________________

47. Why is Helena so upset now that Demetrius loves and adores her?

48. According to Hermia, what is the worst thing that Lysander could do to her?

49. What physical trait(s) of Hermia’s do Helena and Lysander focus on in their insults?

50. List three of the “problems” the Rude Mechanicals discuss before they begin rehearsing the play
Pyramus and Thisbe.

a.
b.
c.
BONUS QUESTIONS: WORTH ½ POINT EACH!

1. Shakespeare wrote _____________ plays and _____________ sonnets.

2. His plays fall into three categories: ___________________, __________________, and

_____________________.

3. The two rulers of England during Shakespeare’s life were _______________________ and

_________________________.

4. The name of the theatre started by Shakespeare’s acting company was

______________________________.