Study Guide by Arpita Karwa

Midsummer by William Shakespeare

argument. Oberon is disgusted by Titania’s

stubbornness. He orders a fairy named Puck to sprinkle
a love potion on Titania. The love potion, when
sprinkled on anybody, makes him/her fall in love with
the first human they see after they wake up.

Demetrius is running through the forest to find Hermia

and interrupts Oberon on his way. This annoys Oberon,

m
who commands Puck to apply the love potion on
Demetrius’s eyes.

Lysander and Hermia are sleeping. Puck mistakes

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Midsummer Night’s Dream was written by William Lysander for Demetrius and applies the love potion on
Shakespeare in 1595-96. The ideation and his eyes. Helena arrives and wakes up Lysander, who
conceptualisation of the storyline are entirely because of the potion, instantly falls in love with her and
Shakespeare’s and have not been adapted from any starts following her.
previously written work. The central themes of this play

deeper and beyond physical attraction remains the

underlying message of the play.
a.
are love, magic and power. The notion that real love is The actors are rehearsing for the play. Puck decides to
play a prank on an actor named Nick Bottom by giving
him a donkey head. Nick gets scared and starts singing a
w
song to give himself the strength to confront this strange
Theseus, the Duke of Athens, officially announces change in his appearance. His singing wakes up Titania
Hippolyta as his future wife. He is desirous of a lavish and she immediately falls in love with him.
wedding with multi-varied cuisines and drinks, a play
r

performed by local thespians and more. Hermia wakes up and searches for Lysander. On seeing
Demetrius in the forest, she thinks that Lysander is
ka

Egeus, an Athenian nobleman arrives to meet Theseus. He missing because Demetrius murdered him. Hermia runs
condemns his daughter, Hermia for not marrying away from him. Demetrius is tired and falls asleep. Puck
Demetrius because she loves Lysander. Egeus, however, applies his love potion on him.
believes that Demetrius will be the perfect husband for his
daughter. As per Athenian law, daughters who don’t marry Lysander and Helena are arguing and their voices wake
ta

as per their father’s wish get punished. As Theseus is up Demetrius and the first person he sees after waking
occupied with wedding preparations, he tells Egeus that up is Helena. He instantly falls in love with her. Now,
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the judgement will be delayed. both Demetrius and Lysander are in love with Helena.
This infuriates Hermia and she starts chasing Helena.
pi

Meanwhile, Hermia elopes with Lysander. They run into Demetrius and Lysander fight for Helena’s love.
the forest where the actors are rehearsing for the play.
Interestingly, Hermia’s close friend, Helena loves On seeing a lot of commotion in the forest, Oberon
Demetrius. When Hermia tells Helena that she has run orders Puck to make all the people fall asleep and place
ar

away with Lysander, Helena takes the opportunity to the potion on Lysander’s eyelids so he falls in love with
come closer to Demetrius. She hurriedly goes to him and Hermia again when he wakes up. He sees Titania still
tells him about Hermia’s elopement. On listening to the yearning for Nick Bottom’s love and decided to release
news, Demetrius runs into the forest to look for Hermia. her from the magical charm. Puck removes Nick’s
Helena follows him. donkey head and starts looking like before.

A group of fairies travel from India to grace the wedding

of Theseus and bless the couple. Titania is the fairy queen
and King Oberon is her husband. Both have a heated

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Hippolyta and Theseus arrive in the forest for

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hunting. They see everyone asleep and blow

horns to wake them up. Demetrius and Helena
are a happy couple and so are Hermia and
Lysander. Theseus is delighted to see both the
couples happy and invite them to get married at
the time of his own wedding.

The actors perform the play which ends with

m
Puck’s final line. He says anyone who has been
offended by the play should pretend that they
were dreaming and the ones who liked it shall
applaud. Oberon and Titania along with other
fairies have a gala where they celebrate love and

co
praise the couples before leaving.

a.
r w
ka
ta
pi
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Mind Map

m
co
Nick Bottom
Buffoonish weaver

a.
Helena
Unloved Athenian woman
Titania w Enchants

Fairy queen

Loves under
spell
r
Spouses
ka

Enchants

Servant
Puck
Lysander
Mischievous fairy
ta

Unfavored Athenian man

The Good Angel

pi

Oberon Truly
loves
Fairy king
ar

Truly
loves

Enchants
Demetrius
Hermia
Favored Athenian man
Adored Athenian woman
Loves under
spell

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