Learning Goal:
Students will read & understand Act 1, Scene 2, and Act 2, Scene 1.
In Act 1, Scene 2, we are introduced to the workmen in all their foolishness. Quince, while technically the leader of the workmen, is overshadowed by Bottom with all of his boastfulness and pomposity. Bottom believes he is the best actor and could play all of the roles in their production of "Pyramus & Thisbe."
Bottom believes he is the best to play Pyramus, the male lead in this play within a play, but he also claims he could speak as "little" to play the role of Thisbe, the female lead. (Remember that in Elizabethan times, it wasn't considered proper for women to be actors. Therefore, the roles of women were played by young men whose voices hadn't yet changed). Quince becomes very annoyed with Bottom throughout the scene as he, Bottom, overacts, interrupts, and disturbs Quince's distributing of the roles.
In Act 2, Scene 1, we are introduced to the fairies and their role within the play. Fairies traditionally are in charge of nature and the natural happenings in the world. At the beginning of the scene, Puck and the nameless fairy discuss where she has been throughout the night. Her task has been to place dewdrops on Cowslips throughout the countryside.
Students will read & understand Act 1, Scene 2, and Act 2, Scene 1.
In Act 1, Scene 2, we are introduced to the workmen in all their foolishness. Quince, while technically the leader of the workmen, is overshadowed by Bottom with all of his boastfulness and pomposity. Bottom believes he is the best actor and could play all of the roles in their production of "Pyramus & Thisbe."
Bottom believes he is the best to play Pyramus, the male lead in this play within a play, but he also claims he could speak as "little" to play the role of Thisbe, the female lead. (Remember that in Elizabethan times, it wasn't considered proper for women to be actors. Therefore, the roles of women were played by young men whose voices hadn't yet changed). Quince becomes very annoyed with Bottom throughout the scene as he, Bottom, overacts, interrupts, and disturbs Quince's distributing of the roles.
In Act 2, Scene 1, we are introduced to the fairies and their role within the play. Fairies traditionally are in charge of nature and the natural happenings in the world. At the beginning of the scene, Puck and the nameless fairy discuss where she has been throughout the night. Her task has been to place dewdrops on Cowslips throughout the countryside.
This picture shows perfectly what the fairy describes when she says, "the cowslips tall her pensioners* be:/In their gold coats spots you see;/Those be rubies, fairy favours*,/In those freckles live their savours."
* pensioners = gentleman-at-arms
* favours = act of goodwill
* savours = distinctive quality or flavour
The cowslips are tall and stately, just like the gentlemen-at-arms and their "gold coats" or petals show the spots, which are the favour left behind by the fairy who deposits dew on their petals.
More importantly, this scene reveals the growing strife between Oberon and Titania. They are fighting over the Indian boy who is a changeling. Read more information about changelings here:
* pensioners = gentleman-at-arms
* favours = act of goodwill
* savours = distinctive quality or flavour
The cowslips are tall and stately, just like the gentlemen-at-arms and their "gold coats" or petals show the spots, which are the favour left behind by the fairy who deposits dew on their petals.
More importantly, this scene reveals the growing strife between Oberon and Titania. They are fighting over the Indian boy who is a changeling. Read more information about changelings here:
Their constant bickering over the child has left nature in turmoil. Titania describes some of the chaos:
By the middle of the scene, Oberon has sent Puck off to find the "Little Western Flower." This flower was hit by Cupid's arrow. When the juice of it is placed on someone's eyes while they are sleeping, it will cause them to fall in love with the first thing they see upon waking. He plans on placing it on Titania's eyes so that she will fall in love with a beast and he can take the Indian boy for his own.
Ta
- The world is windy and filled with "contagious fogs"
- Rivers are overflowing
- Farm animals & crops are dying
- Crow are feasting on the dead animals
- Rheumatic diseases abound
- The seasons are out of whack - it's winter when it should be spring and vice versa
By the middle of the scene, Oberon has sent Puck off to find the "Little Western Flower." This flower was hit by Cupid's arrow. When the juice of it is placed on someone's eyes while they are sleeping, it will cause them to fall in love with the first thing they see upon waking. He plans on placing it on Titania's eyes so that she will fall in love with a beast and he can take the Indian boy for his own.
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