1. Look closely at the Prologue to Pyramus and Thisby as well as the characters’ reaction to it (Act V, lines 108-150). The first part of the prologue is nonsense, while the second part of the prologue gives away the entire plot of the play. How, specifically, does the prologue defy the other characters’ expectations? What, then, by implication, would a successful prologue do? What we’re trying to get at here is how Shakespeare views the contract between author and viewer that drama relies on to function. You might also think about other aspects of the Rude Mechanicals’ production and how it violates viewers’ expectations.
2. Now look at the conversation between Hippolyta and Theseus at the beginning of Act V (lines 1-27). In his speech Theseus equates “the lunatic, the lover, and the poet,” and basically condemns them all as makers of nonsense. I have two questions about this exchange:
a. Is Theseus’s attitude hypocritical? Within the play’s main plot he functions as a kind of director (albeit a failed one) who tries to pull social order out of chaos. How do you think Theseus would make an argument that his work as a political leader is different than what “the lunatic, the lover, and the poet” do? Also, you might want to look at Theseus’s comments after the Rude Mechanicals have completed their production (Act V, 355-70).
b. Immediately after Theseus’s powerful argument, Hippolyta contradicts him directly. How does she understand the work of the poet (and perhaps the lover as well)? Why do you think that Shakespeare had Hippolyta voice this idea rather than any of the other characters?
3. The play ends with a speech from Puck in which he downplays the importance of the play, insisting that it is just a play, and is of no more consequence than a dream. What do you make of this speech? Do you think that Shakespeare wanted us to take his play seriously or not? If you think that we should understand Puck’s speech ironically, gather evidence to support this idea. If you think that the speech is in earnest, why do you think Shakespeare would put so much time and effort into composing a piece of fluff? If you think this is the case, try to find evidence from the text to support your conclusion.
4. According to the text, what does theatre have to teach us about the nature of love? Find specific passages to support your argument.
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