Summary of a Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

Play: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
General Settings: midsummer in Athens, Ancient Greece (Classical Greece) and enchanted forest outside of Athens.  
Midsummer= holiday of the summer solstice; longest day of the year and first day of summer; known to cause people to act strangely.
Characters-
  * Theseus: duke of Athens; relation to Greek mythology, in which Theseus is related to Hercules and hinting that the play takes place during Ancient Greek times
  * Hippolyta: queen of the Amazons; engaged to Theseus.
  * Egeus: respected nobleman who wants his daughter, Hermia, to marry Demetrius; asks Theseus for the death penalty if she refuses
  * Hermia: beautiful lady of Athens of two men love: Demetrius and Lysander; loves Lysander
  * Demetrius: in love with Hermia;   is liked by Egeus
  * Lysander: loves Hermia; is young and immature; plans to elope with Hermia
  * Helena: friend of Hermia’s; loves Demetrius but he loves Hermia
  * (Robin) Puck: mischievous fairy
  * Oberon: king of the fairies
  * Titania: queen of the fairies
  * Mechanicals: Quince, Bottom, Flute, Snug, Snout, and Starveling
  * Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mote, and Mustardseed: fairy servants
Plot Summary- ACT 1
  * Theseus and Hippolyta discuss their wedding; for Theseus time is going slow;
  * Theseus defeated her in battle and had made her fall in love, but says now he is going to treat her with love
  * Vexation- anger
  * Extenuate- to lessen
  * Egeus is angered with Hermia’s disobedience; she doesn’t listen to marry Demetrius; he blames Lysander of making Hermia fall in love with him
  * Theseus tells Hermia she has 3 choices: die, obey her father, join a convent (become a nun)
  * Lysander tries to prove himself better than Demetrius; tells Egeus of Demetrius’ past fling with Helena, yet has left her for Hermia.
*Mood changes due to Egeus: beginning mood is excitement and happiness for the wedding then the mood becomes anger....