WEEK 16 文導筆記

1. Information

a. The elope of Hermia and Lysander

Hermia loves Lysander, but her father, Egeus, wants her to marry Demetrius. Hermia's refusal of her father's command would result in her death sentence or residence at a nunnery by Athenian law. Lysander and Hermia flee into the forest; on the way meeting Demetrius' former fiance and Hermia's best friend Helena, whom Demetrius abandoned to woo Hermia. Helena still hopelessly in love, but Hermia tells her not to worry, as Lysander and she will elope and Demetrius will no longer see her face. Helena confides Demetrius, in hope that he will realize her love for him if she tells him the truth, but Demetrius pursues Hermia and Lysander into the forest with Helena in pursuit.

b. Act V, Scene 1

Robin

If we shadows have offended,

Think but this, and all is mended—

That you have but slumbered 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 unearnèd 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.

c. Act 4, Scene 1

Bottom

I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream past the wit of man to say what dream it was. Man is but an ass if he go about expound this dream. Methought I was—there is no man can tell what. Methought I was, and methought I had—but man is but a patched fool if he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man’s hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report what my dream was. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of this dream. It shall be called ‘Bottom’s Dream’, because it hath no bottom. (雙關→ 沒有底線)

c. Act 3, Scene 2

Puck (also known as Robin)

Captain of our fairy band,
Helena is here at hand,
And the youth, mistook by me,
Pleading for a lover's fee.
Shall we their fond pageant see?
Lord, what fools these mortals be!

→ Puck makes this declaration in his amazement at the ludicrous behavior of the young Athenians (III.ii.115). This line is one of the most famous in A Midsummer Night’s Dream for its pithy humor, but it is also thematically important: first, because it captures the exaggerated silliness of the lovers’ behavior; second, because it marks the contrast between the human lovers, completely absorbed in their emotions, and the magical fairies, impish and never too serious. (Sparknotes)

d. Act 1, Scene 1

Helena

Love can transpose to form and dignity.

Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind.

And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.

Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgment taste—

Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste.

And therefore is Love said to be a child,

Because in choice he is so oft beguiled.

2. extra information

a. Prince charming

 
Prince Charming is a stock character who appears in some fairy tales. He is the prince who comes to the rescue of the damsel in distress, and stereotypically, must engage in a quest to liberate her from an evil spell. This classification suits most heroes of a number of traditional folk tales, including "Snow White", "Sleeping Beauty" and "Cinderella", even if in the original story they were given another name, or no name at all.
These characters are often handsome and romantic, a foil to the heroine, and are seldom deeply characterized, or even distinguishable from other such men who marry the heroine. In many variants, they can be viewed more as rewards for the heroine rather than characters. The prominence of the character type makes him an obvious target for revisionist fairy tales. "Prince Charming" is also used as a term to refer to the idealized man some people dream of as a future spouse.

b. Shakespearean dating tips

Shakespeare's romantic language in Romeo and Juliet
 

" She doth teach the torches to burn bright."

" So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows."

" For thou art as glorious to this night, being o'er my head, as is a winged messenger of heaven."

" This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: My lips, ready to stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."