Please email me your individual responses to the three questions below by next MONDAY, 15th DECEMBER, 6pm.
Please email responses to: meela_useen@yahoo.com.sg
1. “The kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing.
Our sport shall be to take what they mistake;
And what poor duty cannot do, noble respect
Takes it in might, not merit.”
Does Theseus practice what he preaches where the craftsmens are concerned or does he, in Philostrate’s words, ‘find sport in their intents’? Is there any difference between the way in which Theseus responds to the play and the way in which the others react? (5marks)
2. What is the dramatic function of the craftsmen’s ‘play within a play’? How are the content and nature of the performance appropriate to the play as a whole? (5 marks)
3. The lovers find the antics of the craftsmen and content of their play absurdly amusing. What is ironic about this fact given their own behavior in Acts 2 and 3? (5 marks)
There is no word length for the task above. Please write as much as you feel is necessary.
Responses that show a sound understanding of the play as well as an independent train of thought and analysis will fare better than those that simply regurgitate what might have been mentioned in class.
I look forward to reading your responses. Good Luck! :)
-Ms. Nsa-
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1 comment:
1. Yes, he does. He thinks that the craftsmen do not realise their play is exaggerated by creating prologues to show about their play not being scary and will not scare the audience.
There is no difference in how Theseus and the rest respond to how the craftsmen plan their 'perfect' play. The craftsmen give prologues to the audience to ensure that their play will scare the audience especially when they think that the lion will scare the ladies and they will be hanged.
2. The craftsmen's "play within a play" shows the tragedy of a love story. In the play, Thisbe is eaten by the lion which is killed by Pyramus in a fit of rage and then he kills himself as he finds no purpose in living when his only love is dead.
Just like the four lovers, the relationship between Hermia and Lysander is rejected by Egeus and they have to escape the Athenian laws by eloping. For Helena, she cannot get the love of Demetrius as he is infatuated to Hermia, so she is neglected by him. These four lovers have to overcome these obstacles as 'the course of true love never did run smooth'.
3. From the craftmsen's amusing play, hte four lovers also encounted some obstacles in love whereby both Lysander and Demetrius are under the love spell and fight for Helena's love while Hermia and Helena fight and quarell because Hermia thinks Lysander is bewitched by Helena.Therefore, it is ironic about the fact given their own behaviour in Acts 2 and 3.
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