A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Character Profile
Create a detailed information sheet for each of the characters below:
1. Theseus
2. Oberon
3. Titania
4. Hermia
5. Lysander
6. Helena
7. Demetrius
8. Bottom
In a table format, include the following pieces of information for each character:
i) Name
ii) Gender
iii) Occupation
iv) Likes
v) Dislikes
vi) Positive traits
vii) Negative traits
Remember to substantiate your claims with evidence from the play. Please quote in the following format:
(Act __ Scene__, lines__ to ___, pg ___)
This is a graded assignment Total marks: 24 marks
01 bonus mark for neatness of presentation
(use of visuals etc)
= 25 marks
PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE CHANGE IN DUE DATES FOR SUBMISSION
Hard copy due: Friday 18 July (2.15pm)
OR
Email due: Sun 20 Jul (6pm)
(meela_useen@yahoo.com.sg)
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
JUNE HOLIDAYS WEEK 3 (ASSIGNMENT)
Hi all :)
For this week's assignment, please answer the following question and email your answers to: meela_useen@yahoo.com.sg
This assignment carries a total of 20 marks. Deadline is by 5pm on Monday 16 June 2008.
The question is as follows:
Who and Where?
Take each of the following lines and explain them, noting who the speaker is, what is being referred to, and how the line fits into the general context of the play.
1. I would my father looked but with my eyes. (Act 1, Scene i, line 56)
2. The course of true love never did run smooth. (1,i,34)
3. But with thy brawls thou hast disturbed our sport. (2,i,87)
4. Ere he do leave this grove,
Thou shalt fly him, and he shall seek thy love (2,i, 245-6)
5. And then end life when I end loyalty (2,ii,69)
6. Never did mockers waste more idle breath. (3,ii,168)
7. As this their jangling I esteem a sport. (3,ii,360)
8. The female ivy so
Enrings the barky fingers of the elm. (4,i,43-4)
9. Man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream (4,i,206-7)
10. Beshrew my heart but I do pity the man. (4,i,284)
To allow all of us some time to rest during the last week of holidays, this will be the last holiday assignment :)
Do expect a test or quiz or written assignment in Term 3. Please come prepared.
Enjoy what's left of the holidays! :)
For this week's assignment, please answer the following question and email your answers to: meela_useen@yahoo.com.sg
This assignment carries a total of 20 marks. Deadline is by 5pm on Monday 16 June 2008.
The question is as follows:
Who and Where?
Take each of the following lines and explain them, noting who the speaker is, what is being referred to, and how the line fits into the general context of the play.
1. I would my father looked but with my eyes. (Act 1, Scene i, line 56)
2. The course of true love never did run smooth. (1,i,34)
3. But with thy brawls thou hast disturbed our sport. (2,i,87)
4. Ere he do leave this grove,
Thou shalt fly him, and he shall seek thy love (2,i, 245-6)
5. And then end life when I end loyalty (2,ii,69)
6. Never did mockers waste more idle breath. (3,ii,168)
7. As this their jangling I esteem a sport. (3,ii,360)
8. The female ivy so
Enrings the barky fingers of the elm. (4,i,43-4)
9. Man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream (4,i,206-7)
10. Beshrew my heart but I do pity the man. (4,i,284)
To allow all of us some time to rest during the last week of holidays, this will be the last holiday assignment :)
Do expect a test or quiz or written assignment in Term 3. Please come prepared.
Enjoy what's left of the holidays! :)
Monday, June 2, 2008
JUNE HOLIDAYS WEEK 2 (ASSIGNMENT)
Hi again everyone...
Thank you to the following people and groups, for handing in the Powerpoint presentations for Acts 4 and 5!
They are:
- Jia Jing
- The Bumblebees
- Yanyan, Sheryl and Rachael from 3BN andMaryann, Charles and XueYi from 3GR
- Jacqueline Sim
- Shubin (Group E)
What about the rest of you? Where are your presentations?!
Submission still pending. Please submit individually or as a group. Thank you!
For this week:
Please use the comments feature to discuss the following.
1. In modern times, how would Helena's speech in Act 1 Scene 1, lines 181-192, be perceived? What are some of the stereotypes inherent in her speech here?
2. What prejudices and values of that time (as evidenced in Helena's speech) are still relevant today?
Please feel free to contribute your ideas even if it seems to run contrary to "popular" (read: other people's) opinion. Your responses will be evaluated for relevance to topic, originality of thought and ideas and quality of contribution.
Please also feel free to agree or disagree with what your friends have commented, but remember to elaborate and make each argument your own.
The breakdown of marks for this online assignment are as follows:
10 marks in total for a coherent and logical comment / contribution /discussion.
1 bonus mark for the first person to contribute.
1 bonus mark for those who contribute fresh ideas to the discussion
As before, please contribute and discuss the above questions by MONDAY, 9 JUNE .
A new assignment for Week 3 will be uploaded next week.
Have a great time working on this assignment, everyone! :)
Monday, May 26, 2008
JUNE HOLIDAYS WEEK 1 (ASSIGNMENT)
Hi everyone...I trust that you had a good weekend passed :)
As promised, here is the first piece of work to be done for the long holidays (wouldn't want you guys to be bored at home! lol)
Presentation slides for Act 4 and 5
Please include a breakdown of:
1. Characters
2. Themes
3. Summary of important events
4. Setting
As promised, here is the first piece of work to be done for the long holidays (wouldn't want you guys to be bored at home! lol)
Presentation slides for Act 4 and 5
Please include a breakdown of:
1. Characters
2. Themes
3. Summary of important events
4. Setting
Please email completed presentations by
Monday 2 June (my birthday! :))
by 1pm.
Email to: meela_useen@yahoo.com.sg
Any queries please use the comments function to clarify so that everyone may learn from your questions.
Please disseminate information to all Elite Elit students in BN, GR, MD & RP (plus Geraldine from 3CR, if you can)
Next assignment will be up on Monday- keep an eye out for it :)
Cheers
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
MYE DEBRIEF (SUGGESTED ANSWERS)
Section 2: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Answer both questions that follow. Support your answers with evidence from THIS extract and from other relevant parts of the novel that have been covered in class.
How happy some o’er other some can be!
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;
He will not know what all but he do know.
And as he errs, doting on Hermia’s eyes,
So I, admiring of his qualities.
Things base and vile, hold no quantity,
Love can transpose to form and dignity.
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.
Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgment taste;
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste;
And therefore is Love said to be a child
Because in choice he is so oft beguiled.
As waggish boys in game themselves forswear,
So the boy Love is perjured everywhere;
For ere Demetrius looked on Hermia’s eyne
He hailed down oaths that he was only mine,
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,
So he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt.
I will go tell him of fair Hermia’s flight.
Then to the wood will he to-morrow night
Pursue her; and for this intelligence
If I have thanks, it is a dear expense.
But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
To have his sight thither and back again. [Exit]
Answer both questions that follow. Support your answers with evidence from THIS extract and from other relevant parts of the novel that have been covered in class.
How happy some o’er other some can be!
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;
He will not know what all but he do know.
And as he errs, doting on Hermia’s eyes,
So I, admiring of his qualities.
Things base and vile, hold no quantity,
Love can transpose to form and dignity.
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.
Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgment taste;
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste;
And therefore is Love said to be a child
Because in choice he is so oft beguiled.
As waggish boys in game themselves forswear,
So the boy Love is perjured everywhere;
For ere Demetrius looked on Hermia’s eyne
He hailed down oaths that he was only mine,
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,
So he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt.
I will go tell him of fair Hermia’s flight.
Then to the wood will he to-morrow night
Pursue her; and for this intelligence
If I have thanks, it is a dear expense.
But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
To have his sight thither and back again. [Exit]
QUESTIONS
(1) With close reference to the extract above, justify the character’s descriptions of Love.
Descriptions of Love:
Love distorts our view so that ‘things base and vile’ appear desirable /valuable.
It is a lover’s imagination /mind that is responsible for deceiving his/her senses.
People in love cannot judge reasonably.
Those in love are often rash and impulsive and make foolish choices.
They also tend to break their promises / are inconstant
People in love also tend to behave rather childishly
Cupid as a symbol of Love:
Cupid is a child ( by extension, lovers tend to be childish / immature / inconstant / fickle in their choice / easily deceived)
Cupid is blind ( in love, people often lack judgment and reason and are sometimes unable to tell the difference between what is ‘worthy’ and what is not.)
Cupid is winged (together with his blindness, this makes him ‘hasty’ in his decisions- he is impulsive / rash)
Love distorts our view so that ‘things base and vile’ appear desirable /valuable.
It is a lover’s imagination /mind that is responsible for deceiving his/her senses.
People in love cannot judge reasonably.
Those in love are often rash and impulsive and make foolish choices.
They also tend to break their promises / are inconstant
People in love also tend to behave rather childishly
Cupid as a symbol of Love:
Cupid is a child ( by extension, lovers tend to be childish / immature / inconstant / fickle in their choice / easily deceived)
Cupid is blind ( in love, people often lack judgment and reason and are sometimes unable to tell the difference between what is ‘worthy’ and what is not.)
Cupid is winged (together with his blindness, this makes him ‘hasty’ in his decisions- he is impulsive / rash)
(2) “If I have thanks, it is a dear expense.” (line 24) What does this character expect gratitude for and at what expense is the gratitude acquired?
What does Helena expect gratitude for?
Gratitude from Demetrius for revealing Hermia and Lysander’s plans to elope.
At what expense is the gratitude acquired?
- Her friendship with Hermia (and Lysander). She is willing to sacrifice her close bond with Hermia in order to regain Demetrius’ affections. Despite Hermia being her closest friend, Helena willingly betrays Hermia’s trust because she is enamored of Demetrius.
- Her chance at potentially regaining Demetrius’ favor in the long run / her chance at happiness in the long run. Helena seems to conveniently forget that although Demetrius may be grateful to her, his gratitude may not last. In fact, Helena forgets that should Demetrius be successful in tracking Hermia in the dark Athenian forest, Hermia may be forced by Athenian law to marry Demetrius.
Gratitude from Demetrius for revealing Hermia and Lysander’s plans to elope.
At what expense is the gratitude acquired?
- Her friendship with Hermia (and Lysander). She is willing to sacrifice her close bond with Hermia in order to regain Demetrius’ affections. Despite Hermia being her closest friend, Helena willingly betrays Hermia’s trust because she is enamored of Demetrius.
- Her chance at potentially regaining Demetrius’ favor in the long run / her chance at happiness in the long run. Helena seems to conveniently forget that although Demetrius may be grateful to her, his gratitude may not last. In fact, Helena forgets that should Demetrius be successful in tracking Hermia in the dark Athenian forest, Hermia may be forced by Athenian law to marry Demetrius.
(3) What theme does Shakespeare allude to in this soliloquy? Describe three other instances in the play that can be used to illustrate the same theme.
Theme(s):
Love makes people do foolish things.
@ Love makes people irrational.
@ Love makes people impulsive and causes a lack of judgment.
@ Love makes fools out of otherwise rational people.
@ Love can cloud one’s judgment.
Love can change a person’s character drastically.
@ Love can alter one’s point of view.
Love is impermanent / transient.
@ Love can change to hate in an instant.
Love can be deceiving
@ People in love are easily fooled
@ At times, Love can be manipulated
Three other instances in the play:
Different themes will require different examples. What is important is HOW you relate the three instances to the points that you want to make with regards to the theme you have chosen.
Instances that can be used as possible examples include:
Love makes people do foolish things.
@ Love makes people irrational.
@ Love makes people impulsive and causes a lack of judgment.
@ Love makes fools out of otherwise rational people.
@ Love can cloud one’s judgment.
Love can change a person’s character drastically.
@ Love can alter one’s point of view.
Love is impermanent / transient.
@ Love can change to hate in an instant.
Love can be deceiving
@ People in love are easily fooled
@ At times, Love can be manipulated
Three other instances in the play:
Different themes will require different examples. What is important is HOW you relate the three instances to the points that you want to make with regards to the theme you have chosen.
Instances that can be used as possible examples include:
Theme 1: Love makes people do foolish things
(In the extract, Helena talks about how she will reveal Hermia and Lysander’s secret to Demetrius)
- Titania’s sense of duty and love for the changeling boy’s dead mother causes her to defy Oberon who is her ‘master’. Her stubbornness and defiance lead to further complications in the play (Elaborate)
- Hermia and Lysander’s decision to elope stem from the fact that they are in love and are willing to take such a huge risk to escape Athenian law.
- Hermia and Helena stake their reputations (and virginity) when they follow the men they love into the dark forest.
- Helena is willing to be ill-treated by Demetrius and willingly courts his affections even though she is a woman and should not woo a man.
- Titania is totally enamored of Bottom and bids her fairies treat Bottom well, despite the fact that Bottom is a grotesque part human, part ass creature.
Theme 2: Love can change / alter a person’s character drastically, even for a short period of time.
(In the extract, Helena changes from a loyal to Hermia, to one who betrays her friend for the sake of a lover)
- Theseus has changed into a loving man who is about to marry Hippolyta. He desires a harmonious union with his beloved, a marked change from when he warred against Hippolyta.
- Hermia braves herself to defy Athenian law and her father by refusing to marry Demetrius because she was in love with Lysander.
- Hermia reveals herself to be a less than meek maiden when she confronts Demetrius, thinking that he had murdered her beloved Lysander.
Theme 3: Love is impermanent / transient
(In the extract, Helena describes how loyal and loving Demetrius was until he saw Hermia and fell in love with her.)
- Lysander’s love for Hermia dissipates when he is under the influence of the ‘love-in-idleness’ flower juice. All his oaths to love Hermia forever, are forgotten.
- Demetrius forgets how he viciously spurned Helena and is instead, deeply enamored of her when he is under the love-spell. All previous hatred for Helena has changed to affection and adulation.
- Titania’s adulation (or love) for Bottom comes about from Oberon’s ministrations- he manipulates the ‘love-in-idleness’ juice in order to obtain the changeling from Titania. Later, once the spell is lifted, Titania stops loving Bottom.
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