Friday, April 20, 2007

Permissions & Invites

Those who have had trouble accessing the blog over the last few days should try again at their convenience. According to the site's database, no one's permission has been dropped.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Character Analysis for A Midsummer Night's Dream

If anybodys doing Character Analysis from this movie,http://www.bookrags.com/s/ is a very useful website.
Thanks.

Midsummer Night's Dream

I'm trying to write an essay comparing the love courtship in the 21st centurty to the love courtship during Shakespeare's era. However, I'm having a hard time finding articles about the love courtship during that era. If anyone come across with an article or a link, please send me an email.
It is funny how people do you "crazy" things for love. It seems that during Shakespeare's era it was a crazy thing to do if you marry someone for love, especially if it the parents were against it. Today, it is crazy to marry someone just for love, without considering the other major factors (education/ background/ social status) that plays a role when deciding to or not to marry or fall in love.
It is hard to find true or eternal love... because wouldn't true love still be present between two people if they had nothing else but each other? Isn't love unconditional?
I think each person has an ideal of what love supposed to be or feel like, and often times the "ideal scenario" don't quite fit the "real life scenario".
How is it to love someone completely opposite of you and has nothing to offer you but his/her love? Is that even possible?

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Synopsis Midsummer Night's Dream

In case someone finds it of use, here is a very bare outline of events in A Midsummer Night's Dream:

I. Opening crises.
A. Duke Theseus will marry Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons in four days.
B. Egeus complains that his daughter Hermia refuses to marry Demetrius
C. Hermia loves Lysander, whom Egeus dislikes
D. Theseus says Hermia must marry Demetrius, die, or join a nunnery.
II. Plans -- best laid and otherwise.
A. Lysander tells Hermia to flee with him
B. Helena decides to inform Demetrius
C. Quince, Bottom, Flute, Starveling, Snug, and Snout decide to rehearse a play performed at Theseus' wedding.

III. In the forest
A. Oberon and Titania spat jealously.
B. Oberon has Puck get a love-flower.
C. Oberon has Puck to anoint Demetrius with flower-joice it so he'll love Helena.
D. Oberon anoints Titania with the flower, then sneaks off.
E. Puck takes Lysander for Demetrius and anoints him with the flower, so he falls for Helena.
F. Puck makes an ass of Bottom.
G. Titania falls for Bottom and orders her fairy servants to attend to him.
H. The confused couples fight and love in various combinations, depending, of course, on who's gotten the flower juice when.
I. Oberon and Puck straighten out the flowers and lovers, but leave Demetrius with Helena.
J. Oberon awakes Titania and transforms Bottom back to a human.
K. The lovers are caught in the meadow, but since Demetrius no longer wants Hermia, Theseus lets all the lovers have their will, and invites them to join in his wedding.

IV. The play inside the play.
A. Quince's "tedious, brief, tragical" play consists of ten words, badly performed.
B. Thisby and Pyramus kill themselves for love; the Duke approves.

V. The fairies return, as always.

Puck gives his Adios:

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumb'red here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend.
If you pardon, we will mend.
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call.
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

Dramatis Personae (ie characters)

Characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream are as follows:

Theseus – Duke of Athens, fiance to Hippolyta. Played by David Strathairn.
Egeus – Father of Hermia, wants her to marry Demetrius. Played by Bernard Hill.
Lysander – Hermia’s love. Played by Dominic West.
Demetrius – Egeus’ Favorite. Played by Christian Bale.
Philostrate – Master of revels to Theseus. Played by John Sessions.

Players/Workmen

Quince, a carpenter -- reads the Prologue to Pyramus and Thisbe. Played by Roger Rees.
Bottom, a weaver -- plays Pyramus. Played by Kevin kline
Flute, a bellows-tender -- plays Thisbe. Played by Sam Rockwell
Snout, a tinker -- plays Wall. Played by Bill Irwin
Snug, ajoiner -- plays Lion. Played by Gregory Jbara
Starveling, a tailor - plays Moonshine. Played by Max Wright.

The Ladies

Hippolyta - Queen of the Amazons, no less. Fianceé to Theseus. Played by Sophie Marceau.
Hermia - Egeus daughter, loves Lysander, scheduled to wed Demetrius. Played by Anna Friel
Helena - Loves Demetrius despite his rejection. Played by Calista Flockhart.

Ye Olde Fairies & Sprites:

Oberon - King of Fairies. Played by Rupert Everett
Titania - Queen of Fairies. Played by Michell Pfeiffer
Puck - Robin Goodfellow. Played by Stanley Tucci.

Peaseblossom
Cobweb
Mustard seed

question

can someone tell me what do we have to write about in the essay. im lost!