Question Answers Class 11 Chapter 4.3 (A) Yuvakbharati English Maharashtra Board

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Brainstorming – Solutions

Characters

(1) Choose the odd one out :

(i) Bottom, Moth, Mustardseed, Cobweb

Odd one:  Bottom – others are fairies; Bottom is a human (weaver).

(ii) Flute, Snug, Quince, Cobweb

Odd one: Cobweb – others are human workmen; Cobweb is a fairy.

(2) Match the columns :

Answer:-

(3) Draw a character sketch of Oberon as an enemy of his wife but a friend of the lovers.

Answer:- Character Sketch of Oberon:

Oberon, the King of Fairies, is a powerful and witty character. He quarrels with his wife Titania over the Indian boy, showing a jealous and cunning side. However, as a friend to the young lovers, he intervenes to correct the confusion caused by Puck. He ultimately restores harmony, showing he is just and kind at heart.

(4) Comment on the loving pair of Lysander and Helena from the point of view of developing their character sketch.

Answer :- Character Sketch: Lysander and Helena

Lysander is a passionate lover who elopes with Hermia but mistakenly falls in love with Helena due to the love potion. Helena is sincere, emotional, and loyal, though insecure. Their pairing, full of confusion and conflict, highlights the complexity of love and emotions in young lovers.

Setting

(1) Correct the given sentences with justification.

(i) The play is restricted to only a part of the woods

Incorrect. The play is not restricted to only a part of the woods.Justification: It takes place in multiple settings – the palace, the woods, and fairyland.

(ii) Since there is a reference to the Indian boy, there are some scenes from India too.

Incorrect. There are no scenes from India in the play.Justification: The Indian boy is only mentioned; all scenes occur in or near Athens.

(2) The characters are a part of the stage setting. How does this reflect when the characters of the play range from the Duke and the Indian boy to the faeries?

Answer :

1. The play A Midsummer Night’s Dream includes a wide range of characters, such as Dukes, lovers, fairies, and even an Indian boy.

2. These characters belong to different worlds-some to the real world, some to the magical or imaginary world.

3. Theseus, the Duke of Athens, represents power and order in the human world.

4. The Indian boy is part of the quarrel between Oberon and Titania, showing the importance of even unseen characters.

5. The fairies like Oberon, Titania, Puck, and others belong to the enchanted forest.

6. Their actions and magic affect the human characters and the plot of the play.

7. All characters come together in the setting of the woods, which acts like a dreamland.

8. This mixture of real and magical characters makes the stage setting imaginative and versatile.

9. Thus, the stage becomes more than just a background-it becomes alive through these varied characters.

10. Their presence turns the setting into a space where magic, love, comedy, and confusion happen together.

(3) What changes in the stage setting would you suggest?

Answer :

1. I would suggest adding more dynamic lighting effects to distinguish between the scenes in the woods and the palace.

2. The woods should have a magical and mysterious atmosphere using fog machines, dim lighting, and green-blue filters.

3. Use of movable trees and props will allow quick scene changes and enhance the illusion of a fairyland.

4. For the fairy world, glowing costumes and glittery makeup can bring out the fantastical nature of characters like Oberon, Titania, and Puck.

5. Background music with soft, enchanted tunes during magical moments will create an immersive experience.

6. A trapdoor or a hidden entry could be used for sudden appearances of fairies or Puck to add surprise and excitement.

7. The palace scenes should be bright and grand with a royal backdrop to contrast with the forest scenes.

8. Projectors or animated backdrops could be used to show the transitions from day to night or dreams to reality.

4. Comment on the versatility and the aptness of the stage settings, as per the requirement of the play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.

Answer:

1. The stage setting of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is remarkably versatile, switching between the royal palace, commoners’ homes, and the magical woods.

2. Each location represents a different social and emotional world-courtly duty, common man’s humour, and fantasy, respectively.

3. The woods, in particular, serve as a dreamlike space, where time, logic, and identity are fluid, enhancing the play’s central themes of love, confusion, and transformation.

4. The setting allows smooth entry and exit of fantastical characters like Puck, Oberon, Titania, and fairies, making the play vibrant and magical.

5. The forest acts as a neutral ground where misunderstandings flourish but also resolve, contributing to both conflict and comedy.

6. The stage demands flexibility-quick scene changes and symbolic use of light and sound-to convey shifts between reality and illusion.

7. Shakespeare makes full use of minimal props and relies on rich dialogues and actions to paint the changing scenes in the audience’s imagination.

8. Thus, the play’s settings are not only apt for its themes but also offer theatrical freedom that enhances its dramatic and comic effects.

Plot

(1) State whether the following statements are True or False:

(i) Lysander and Demetrius fall in love with Helena as a result of the love potion.

True

(ii) Oberon transforms Bottom’s head into that of an ass.

False

(It is Puck who transforms Bottom’s head into that of an ass, on Oberon’s instruction.)

(iii) Titania falls in love with an ass.

True

(iv) Both Demetrius and Lysander fight for Hermia.

False

(They fight for Helena, under the influence of the love potion.)

(2) Give reasons:

Oberon and Titania fight for the custody of the Indian boy because –

(i) Oberon wants the Indian boy to be his knight (attendant) and part of his royal train.

He desires the boy to serve him and be a follower in his fairy court.

(ii) Titania wants to keep the Indian boy out of love and loyalty to his dead mother.

The boy’s mother was a close companion of Titania, and she promised to care for the child after her death.

(3) The consequences of Oberon’s jealousy for Titania are comic rather than tragic. Comment.

Answer: Yes, the consequences of Oberon’s jealousy are comic rather than tragic.

1. Oberon, jealous that Titania refuses to give him the Indian boy, uses a magical love potion to punish and mock her.

2. Under the influence of the potion, Titania falls in love with Bottom, whose head has been transformed into that of an ass by Puck.

3. This strange and ridiculous pairing between the Fairy Queen and a donkey-headed weaver creates a highly humorous situation.

4. Instead of causing emotional pain or sorrow, the scene is filled with laughter, absurdity, and enchantment.

5. Eventually, Oberon feels pity and removes the spell, restoring normalcy and resolving the conflict.

6. Thus, Shakespeare turns Oberon’s jealousy into a source of light-hearted comedy, not tragedy, in keeping with the spirit of the play.

(4) There were some reasons why Theseus was initially against but later gave consent to the marriage of Hermia with Lysander. Explain.

Answer:

1. At first, Theseus was against Hermia marrying Lysander, because Egeus, Hermia’s father, wanted her to marry Demetrius.

2. According to Athenian law, a daughter had to obey her father, or else face severe punishment, including death or becoming a nun.

3. Theseus supported Egeus and gave Hermia time until his own wedding day to make her final decision.

4. However, after discovering in the forest that Demetrius now truly loved Helena, and Lysander still loved Hermia,

5. Theseus saw that love had sorted itself naturally, without force or rebellion.

6. Moved by this realization, Theseus overruled Egeus’s demand and happily gave his consent for Hermia to marry Lysander.

Form

1) Select the correct options :

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a ——————-

(a) poetic drama

(b) comedy of errors

(c) comedy based on fantasy

(d) a character play

(e) a revenge tragedy

(f) a play that belongs to realm of dreams

Answer:-

correct option

(a) poetic drama

(b) comedy of errors

(c) comedy based on fantasy

(f) a play that belongs to the realm of dreams

incorrect option (d) a character play – (Though it has interesting characters, it’s not primarily focused on character development.)

incorrect option (e) a revenge tragedy – (It is not a tragedy nor driven by revenge, so this is incorrect.)

(2) Find 2/4 expressions of humour from the extract.

Answer:-

1. “Lord, what fools these mortals be!” – Puck mocks the confused lovers, showing the absurdity of human love.(Line: Act III, Scene ii)

2. “Titania wak’d, and straightway loved an ass.” – Oberon finds humour in the fact that Titania, under the spell, falls in love with Bottom, who has an ass’s head.(Line: Act III, Scene ii)

3. “Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful.” – Titania praises Bottom, not knowing he has a donkey’s head. This is ironic and funny.(Line: Act III, Scene i – outside the given extract but referred in the summary.)

4. “You minimus, of hind’ring knot-grass made; you bead, you acorn.” – Lysander uses a series of silly insults to describe Hermia’s small size.(Line: Act III, Scene ii)

(3) ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is one of the best examples of Shakespeare’s comedy of errors. Comment.

Answer:

1. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a classic comedy of errors because the entire plot revolves around confusion, mistaken identity, and magical misunderstandings.

2. The love potion causes Lysander and Demetrius to fall in love with the wrong person, leading to a humorous love triangle involving Hermia and Helena.

3. Puck, the mischievous fairy, wrongly applies the magic juice to Lysander’s eyes instead of Demetrius, creating chaos.

4. Titania, the Fairy Queen, falls in love with Bottom, whose head has been magically turned into that of a donkey-a hilarious and absurd situation.

5. The rude mechanicals, a group of common workers preparing a play, add to the comic confusion with their poor acting and exaggerated seriousness.

6. All the mistaken affections and mix-ups are eventually resolved, but the series of errors, illusions, and reversals makes the play a perfect example of Shakespearean comedy.

Theme

(1) Shakespeare is acknowledged as the greatest writer because he understood human nature better than anyone else. Explain the statement in context of the play.

Answer:

1. Shakespeare’s deep understanding of human nature is clearly seen in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

2. He shows how people fall in and out of love, not always for logical reasons, but often due to appearance, emotion, and confusion.

3. Characters like Hermia, Helena, Lysander, and Demetrius behave in ways that reflect real human feelings-jealousy, desire, insecurity, and pride.

4. Even magical characters like Oberon and Puck reflect human traits such as revenge, mischief, and sympathy.

5. Shakespeare presents love not as perfect, but as irrational, playful, and sometimes foolish-a very honest reflection of real-life relationships.

6. His ability to combine humour with insight into emotions makes him a writer who understands the complexity of the human heart better than anyone else.

(2) Prove with the theme of the play / extract that the deeper human emotion which profoundly interested Shakespeare was jealousy.

Answer:

1. The play A Midsummer Night’s Dream clearly shows that jealousy is a deep and powerful human emotion.

2. Oberon is jealous of Titania’s affection for the Indian boy, which leads him to use the love potion and create confusion.

3. Helena feels jealous of Hermia, thinking she is more loved and admired by men.

4. Hermia becomes jealous when Lysander, under the influence of magic, starts loving Helena instead.

5. This jealousy causes fights, insults, and heartbreak among the characters, showing how easily love can turn into hate.

6. Shakespeare uses jealousy to drive the plot forward and to explore how it damages trust and relationships.

7. Through comic situations, Shakespeare reveals that jealousy is not only natural but also deeply rooted in insecurity and desire for love.

Language

(1) Interpret the following lines in simple English.

Puck : I’ll follow you.

Simple English Interpretation: Puck is saying he will go after or chase the person he is speaking to.

Bottom : The Finch, the sparrow.

Simple English Interpretation: Bottom is mentioning two types of birds, the finch and the sparrow, possibly in a confused or playful way, as he

is under a spell with an ass’s head and may not be thinking clearly.

(2) Comment on the literary device used in the following lines:

Titania: Be kind and courteous to this gentleman.

Titania: Come wait upon him: lead him to my bower.

Answer: The literary device used in these lines is irony, specifically dramatic irony. Titania, under the influence of a magic love potion, is enchanted to fall in love with Bottom, who has been transformed into a creature with an ass’s head. She refers to him as a “gentleman” and asks her fairies to treat him with kindness and respect, which is ironic because Bottom’s appearance is far from gentlemanly. The audience knows Bottom is not a refined person but a comical character with an animal’s head, creating humor through the contrast between Titania’s perception and reality.

(3) Shakespeare’s poetry has come to be valued for its own sake on the stage. Comment with reference to the play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’

Answer:  Shakespeare’s poetry in A Midsummer Night’s Dream is highly valued for its beauty, rhythm, and ability to bring characters and emotions to life on stage. The play is filled with poetic language, such as rhyming couplets, vivid imagery, and lyrical speeches, which make it engaging and memorable. For example, Puck’s playful and rhythmic lines, like “Up and down, up and down, / I will lead them up and down,” add a musical quality that enhances the magical and whimsical atmosphere of the fairy world. Similarly, Oberon’s speeches, such as his description of the love potion, use rich imagery like “Flower of this purple dye, / Hit with Cupid’s archery,” which paints a vivid picture and captivates the audience. This poetic language not only drives the plot but also makes the play a work of art, appreciated for its literary beauty on stage, as it brings out the themes of love, confusion, and fantasy in a way that resonates with viewers.