Unit 2 Reflection

                                                                        

Better late than never 

Unit 2 Reflection 

Oral	Reading	Writing	Media
Strengths: How did rehearsing the reading of your story help you to make a better recording of it?  I think what helped me the most to comprehend Shakespeare’s language is listening to the audio book as I followed with the book in hand. This allowed me to hear how all the words are properly pronounced and tonal expressions helped to establish the mood and subtext.	Strengths: How did reading the content of the lesson first allow you to analyze the stories in the activities?   How did graphic organizers assist you in some of the activities? I found that reading the content gave me a very good idea of what I was looking for in the reading that proceeded. Therefore, I could read with a goal, theme or idea in mind to direct my reading. Graphic organizers like the plot synopsis diagram really helped me to narrow down the act into important details and key points	Strengths: How did the discussions assist you in revising your work?  Where do you think your writing improved the most in this unit? The discussions we did as a class helped me because peer evaluation is very valuable. I think my writing improved most by expanding my vocabulary with new words that I learned from Shakespeare’s language and literature style.	Strengths: Different media really helped me to understand this play. I listened to an audio book as I read, researched graphic organizers like characters maps to see relationships and watched multiple different performances of specific acts. This made me comprehend the themes, messages and stage business for the play.
Areas for Improvement What aspects of the oral reading/recording process did you find challenging? Why?  What steps can you take to improve? I think to improve on oral reading I can read Shakespeare out loud as well because that slows my reading down so I can gather more from the text. Sometimes when I read in my head without an audio book just silently, I read too quickly and miss important details.	Areas for Improvement What stories were particularly difficult for you?  Why?  How can you improve this? Some stories in the content were a little more difficult to understand like the Great Chain of Being and Allegory of the Cave. The stories themselves weren’t too hard but linking it to A Midsummer Night’s Dream was more challenging. To improve I can try reading the subtext to make connections.	Areas for Improvement What did you find the most challenging about the writing process in this unit? What steps can you take to improve? What I found most challenging in the writing process in this unit was the iambic pentameter poem. This was very challenging to think of long syllables and short syllables because it is something that I had never done before. Exposing myself and exploring different styles of poetry will improve my overall understanding of distinct poetic styles.	Areas for Improvement I think I can improve my overall media literacy by visualizing how I would interpret and organize an Act because there are many different ways this play can be shown. By Completing the “Director’s Cut”, I realized how little details make a big difference for a performance.

            The blog post that I am most proud of is Puck's Speech. At first, I was very confused with the iambic pentameter format but once I got going and rhyming it was actually fun. For any poem I have to write for school I always like to rhyme them because I like the sounds of it when read aloud. Also, I was pretty happy once I had finished editing so that every line had exactly 10 syllables! That took a while. In all, the Puck's speech assignment was my most successful   assignment for A Midsummer's Night Dream. 

Activity 1 Assignment 2, Description of Setting

A church in a slum neighborhood.

St. Anne’s church is the pride and joy of our neighborhood. The big oak doors are handcrafted beautifully with intricate designs and the windows are stained glass. The windows show the Roman Catholic’s symbols and let the morning light shine in just the right way to light up the interior with a Sunday morning glow. The pews are lined up in two sections with a pathway between covered with plush green carpet that leads all the way up to the altar. There are flowers that decorate the front  of the altar and around the church that give the interior a fresh smell distracting churchgoers from the century old wood. This church is one of the most famous buildings here and is by far the cleanest, sturdiest and most expensive. Next to the run-down townhomes and old abandoned store fronts, it is a diamond in the ruff. Front anywhere in this dumpy town you can see the tall point of the nape roof topped with a cross reflecting light from every direction. St. Anne’s church is the building of which we are very proud and it is the gem of our poor town we cherish, respect and take care of it in every way we can.

Any natural setting which you feel should be cherished.

The Rocky Mountains near the west cost of Canada are natural wonders that are not common in many other countries. Specifically at Lake Louse or Lake Moraine in Alberta, two of the most pictured lakes in the Rocky Mountains. The aqua glacier water is clam and peaceful like a silk blanket lying flat on the ground. The colour of this water is like no other; as far away or as close you go, the water is as turquoise and pure as if you were in the Caribbean. Evergreen trees line the mountains that ascend up above the clouds with snow caps at the very top which are only visible on clear days. On a beautiful summer day, the snow is still visible at the very top meanwhile the aquamarine lake is open for canoers. The Rocky Mountains are magnificent in size and natural beauty which makes them a popular tourist destination. They are imperfectly perfect with some that have postcard-worthy peaks and others that are more rounded. The mountain range surrounds the lake and leaves visitors awe-struck The Rocky Mountains paired with hundreds of beautiful lakes offer a fabulous and natural view making all the visitors want to return. 

Act 5 Assignment 3: Entertainment of A Midsummer Night's Dream from the P.O.V. of Puck

You are Puck.  What have been the most enjoyable moments in A Midsummer Night’s Dream from your unique perspective?  Why?

I do love messing with mortals. They are so oblivious, stupid and funny to tease. These past few days have been a whirlwind of opportunities for me. First of all, in my defense, I did not get proper directions from Theseus about the Athenian men and that is the reason for the little mix-up. Boy! Was that ever fun! The lady, Helena was flaunting over him at first then he couldn’t get enough of her after I put that magical flower juice on him. The other one too! Oh man; was that ever a show. The two men obsessing over Helena due to the enchantment was entertaining to watch and she thought it was all a joke! The girls started to bicker back and forth about stealing each other’s lovers and Lysander and Demetrius wanted to fight. I think the best part was after that when I had quite some fun making the two men lost in the woods. I would call their name and make noises in the bush; you should have seen their faces. The brave Athenian’s were frightened and horribly confused. Ah, mortals…. So easily manipulated. I cannot forget about Bottom the ass as well! That was pretty genius on my part; he was obnoxious, rude and arrogant so the animal characteristics fit him perfectly. I absolutely loved watching Titania fall in love with him. Her reaction upon awakening was priceless as well. In the end, the hempen homespuns did a terrible job. Once again, those mortals made me double over with laughter while I watched from afar. This whole kerfuffle has been quite amusing and fun for me. I can’t wait to mess with more of the mortal’s minds soon. 

Image Cluster: Sight Act 3, Scene 2

Image Cluster Chosen: Sight

	Lines in 3.2.	Picture	Appeals to Senses	Creates Emotional Response
1	My mistress with a monster is in love. .. So, at his sight, away his fellows fly”… Titania waked and straightway loved an ass”	Donkey creature that Titania has fallen in love with	Sight	Audience is scared of the monster and for Titania; this shows the cruelty of Oberon and Puck’s plan
2	So should the murder’d look, and so should I,/ Pierced through the heart with your stern cruelty:/ Yet you, the murderer, look as bright, as clear,/ As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere.	Hermia does not look upset or distraught very Lysander’s death. She looks happy.	Sight	Audience wonders if Hermia really believes Lysander is dead because if she did, she would be struck with grief. Maybe she is just taking her frustration out on Demetrius.
3	O brave touch!            / Could not a worm, an adder, do so much?/ An adder did it; for with doubler tongue/Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung.	Poisonous snake then bit Lysander and killed him	Sight/Touch	Shows how mad Hermia is; the doubler tongue meaning Demetrius may be saying two things at the same time and perhaps lying.
4	And Helena of Athens look thou find:/All fancy-sick she is and pale of cheer,/With sighs of love, that costs the fresh blood dear: 3. 2. 97-8	Helena is pale and unhappy	Sight/Touch	Helena’s broken heart has taken her over so now she looks sick, lonely and pale. The colour has drained from her face due to sadness
5	Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show/Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!/That pure congealed white, high Taurus snow / Fann'd with the eastern wind, turns to a crow/When thou hold'st up thy hand: O, let me kiss/This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss! 3. 2. 140-4	Eyes are clearer than crystals, lips as red as cherries, fair, white porcelain skin.	Sight/Touch	Demetrius tells Helena how beautiful she is; shows how the magical flower juice is really working. Before, Demetrius hated her; his transformation has been completely turned around
6	We, Hermia, like two artificial gods,/ Have with our needles created both one flower,/Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,/Both warbling of one song, both in one key,/As if our hands, our sides, voices and minds,/Had been incorporate. So we grow together,/Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,/But yet an union in partition;/Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;/So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart;/Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,/Due but to one and crowned with one crest 3. 2. 205-14	Hermia and Helena are like two peas in a pod. Create one friendship together, side by side, singing together, bound together like a double cherry, two bodies one heart.	Sight/Touch	Audience understands the strong friendship between Helena and Hermia. They are sister; as if they were attached to one another and now that bond is being torn apart.
7	Ay, do, persever, counterfeit sad looks,/             Make mouths upon me when I turn my back;/Wink each at other; hold the sweet jest up:/ This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled 3. 2. 240-242	Lysander, Demetrius, and Hermia all doing things behind Helena’s back, like laughing at her.	Sight	Helena continues to think the three of them are in on this joke together. Audience knows that they aren’t but the accusation of being traitors is intense
8	Hang off, thou cat, thou burr! vile thing, let loose,/ Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent! 3. 2. 265-6	Hermia is latching onto Lysander like a thorn, he wants to shake her off like snake	Sight/Touch	Lysander tells Hermia she is like a thorn, which is painful and annoying, he wants her gone completely and doesn’t hesitate to call her a snake. This shows more of Lysander’s transformation due to the flower juice. The audience wonders how this situation will be resolved.
9	Puppet? why so? ay, that way goes the game./Now I perceive that she hath made compare/Between our statures; she hath urged her height;/And with her personage, her tall personage,/Her height, forsooth, she hath prevail'd with him./And are you grown so high in his esteem;/  Because I am so dwarfish and so low? 3. 2. 298-304	Hermia is apparently quite short while Helena is talll	Sight	The jealousy of Hermia toward Helena is obvious here, she thinks that Helena made Lysander love her because she’s tall. Hermia is livid

The overall effect of these repeated images in this scene on the audience is:

The audience is able to visualize the scene through their descriptions. The anger, murder, jealousy, and emotions are all described well and by using metaphors, we can make connections. Once the reader visualizes the scene, it is easier to understand and the director can arrange stage business.

 

Helena's dream- End of Act 3, Scene 2

I can imagine that Helena would be dreaming about all the things that happened to her that day. The rollercoaster of emotions and events are all represented in this photo cluster. I made all the photos black and white because I wanted to portray a solemn mood and it is uncommon that I ever dream in colour; not sure if everyone else experiences coloured dreams or not. First of all, she went through confusion and anger because she thought Lysander, Demetrius and Hermia were all teamed up against her in this practical joke. Pictured, I have Helena at Demetrius’s feet as she does love him dearly then him chasing after her and then the four of them talking as the transformation of their relationships unravelled. I also have a few pictures representing unrequited love because that was what Helena was dealing with before, and now Lysander and Demetrius have fallen into this enchantment. Anger, frustration, heartbreak and sadness are all pictured as well because she doesn’t understand the situation. She is angry at the three others and depressed that her friendship with Hermia has been shattered. Once Helena rests, I think this would be more of a nightmare because all the events of the day would be replayed.

Act 3, Scene 1: Bottom's soliloquy- post transformation

I came back to the group to continue discussing our play and everyone immediately ran away! They seemed to be making a fool of me; they are obviously just jealous of my acting skills. Snout and Quince came back after to tell me that I had been transformed but I had no idea what they were talking about. Their practical joke had gone far enough. I would stay there without them and sing which will show those amateur actors that I am not so easily fooled. Soon after, I came upon a beautiful lady in the woods. She seemed to really like my singing and wanted to hear more from me with a burning passion. Finally, someone appreciates my talents. She complimented me on my wisdom and obvious good looks. Finally, a woman who recognizes my extraordinary attributes! She wanted me to stay with her and summoned a few other little girls. I met Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth and Mustardseed who all treated me as a King like they should. Later on, I was lead to a beautiful feast with the finest of fruits and delicacies then to a flowery bed to relax. All the while I was treated royally. This was the opportunity for which I had been waiting forever, it seems a little odd it happened today with all the heap about the Duke and Duchesses’ but I’m not complaining. Someone like me deserves the finest treatment like that every day.

My Favourite Things

Instead of posting another journal entry or reflection of Shakespeare right now, I will break up the monotonous flow of assignments with some more personalisation.

Here is a list of my favourite things (just cause)

Colour: blue
Movie: wall-e, the imitation game
Place I have traveled: Lucerne, Switzerland
TV show: MasterChef, shadowhunters
Book: mortal instruments series and infernal devices series
Food: watermelon, peanut butter and chicken (not all together)
Drink: Green tea
Candy: is gum a candy?
Vegetable: carrots
Pastime: sports, reading or cooking
Clothing Store: blue notes
Thing to cook: stuffed peppers
Thing to bake: banana bread
Season: winter
Animal:peacock
Restaurant: would it be biased if I said Bobby C's ;)
Fruit: apples, mangoes, and pomegranate
Sports team: Blue Jays
Number: 22
Song: "she's my kind of crazy" Emerson drive

Act 3, Scene 1 Journal Entry

1.       This is a scene of transformations – although you've probably noticed they've been occurring throughout the play.  For instance, Lysander's affection for Hermia is transformed to Helena in the previous scene.  What references – in terms of language used or events themselves - take place in 3.1.?

          The transformation in this scene includes Bottom with his asshead and Titania's love for him. First of all, while the Mechanicals are rehearsing their play, Bottom seems to think that their problems can be resolved by explaining to the audience what is real and not real. While Bottom is away from the group, Puck comes along and turns Bottom's head into an ass. The other men run of fear of this monster but Nick has no idea what's wrong and believes, "I see their knavery; this is to make an ass of me/ to fight me, if they could" 1. 2. 112-13 He thinks the others are making a fool of him; which is ironic because he actually has an asshead and has always been, an ass. Once Titania awakes, the potion makes her fall in love with Bottom and professes her love to him which was Oberon and Puck's plan all along, this dramatic unit is quite comical because Bottom loves the attention, and doesn't find it abnormal that the Queen miraculously loves him. She offers him many riches, his own fairy servants and compliments such as "Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful" 1. 2. 139. This line adds to the comedy because he is obviously not good-looking with a donkey head but the magic flower is doing its job.

2.    

             Look closely at the "hempen homespuns" (3.1.69) who open this scene.  They mention several concerns regarding the play Peter Quince has found for them to perform.  What are they? According to Bottom, how will the prologue solve these problems?

         The "Hemen Homespuns" or the Mechanicals, are debating about the play. First of all, they are concerned that the intensity of the lion's roar and the violence of Pyramus committing suicide will be too overwhelming for the Ladies. Therefore, Bottom suggests they add a couple of prologues to clarify to the audience their true identities. "Write me a prologue; and let the prologue seem to/ say, we will do no harm with our swords, and that/ Pyramus is not killed indeed; and, for the more/ better assurance, tell them that I, Pyramus, am not/ Pyramus, but Bottom the weaver" 1. 2. 15-19 This won't make any sense to the audience because they will obviously know Bottom is not Pyramus; it's a play! The other complication is that they don't have a wall for Pyramus and Thisbe to speak through so Bottom's solution is that a person will play the wall and act as the barrier between the two lovers. They're also hoping for natural moonlight but otherwise, have a person to play "moonshine" with a lantern and bushes. All these "solutions" add to the comedy of their production as they are obviously amateur actors and clearly unprepared.

3.       

      "Some man or other must present Wall," says Bottom. (3.1.60)   Bottom and the others feel the need to have a character represent the wall and hold his fingers together to create a chink.  Why don't they simply assume the audience can imagine this?  What does this tell you about their powers of imagination?

         This suggestion further proves the Mechanical's poor preparation and theater skills. I think that this stage business shows their limited imagination and creativity because they are not picturing the scene as it should be; they are only seeing what is on paper. The Mechanicals should change their stage placement of Pyramus and Thisbe to create the illusion of a wall, a person standing in the middle of the two will look completely ridiculous. Furthermore, the men seem to think that their audience needs explanation and clarification for everything. They don't have very good inferencing or imaginative skills so they don't believe their audience does either. The clarification that they need is definitely not what the audience needs.

4.   

            Suddenly fairyland and the tradesmen collide with each other when Puck enters the scene and Bottom is transformed into a donkey.  Why is his transformation appropriate?

         This transformation into a donkey is appropriate to Bottom's character. Puck and Oberon thought it would be quite funny that Titania falls in love with a horrid creature because of the magical juice. The asshead represents Bottom's personality because he is regularly obnoxious, rude, conceited and in other words, an ass. He thinks that his friends are making as "ass" of him (more irony) he means that they are making fun, or a fool of him, which they are, but they are more fearful of his transformation. All the while, Bottom has no idea and once again his vanity comes out as he doesn't see anything abnormal with the Queen of Fairies suddenly professing her love for him. He just goes along with all of it as if he deserved or expected it in the first place.

5.     

            Why does Bottom have no fear during his transformation?  What language shows that Titania remains regal and queenly after her transformation?  What effect does this continued use of regal language have on our perception of her after she declares her love for the changed Bottom?

       Bottom has no fear during his transformation because he does not know what has happened to him and is embracing the special treatment. The whole time that Titania is enchanted by the magical flower, she remains regal as shown throughout the scene, "Out of this wood do not desire to go: / Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or no./ I am a spirit of no common rate;/ The summer still doth tend upon my state;" 1. 2. 142-145. She still bestows her royal authority to him as she tells him to stay with her. "Feed him with apricoks and dewberries, / With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries;" 1. 2. 160-161. The queen is offering her riches to Bottom with the finest food and luxuries she can offer him. This continuation of regal language reinforces the reader's perception that she is still Titania, the Queen of Fairyland but has been enchanted so we still know who she really is without the potion.

Act 2, Scene 2 Journal Entry, A Midsummer Night's Dream

How do you think Oberon is able to sneak by the “sentinel” referred to in   1.32?  Can you suggest some stage business that makes this possible?

Stress	Subtext
If “thou” is stressed…	What thou seest when thou dost wake  what you’ll see is what no one else will see
If “thy” is stressed	Do it for thy  true-love take, Do it for him but really it’s for me, to get the boy
If “his” is stressed	Love and languish for his  sake Again for him, but this whole show is so I get the boy, he will believe you too probably but it’s all fake
If “Be it” is stressed…	Be it ounce, or cat, or bear, It doesn’t matter how ridiculous it is
If “bristled” is stressed…	Pard, or boar with bristled hair  He might going to be ugly and disgusting
If “appear” is stressed…	In thy eye that shall appear It will all be fake but seem real to you
If “dear” is stressed…	When thou wakest, it is thy dear fake lover, might even be a deer
If “vile” is stressed…	Wake when some vile thing is near It’s going to be horrible but you’ll “love” it

As Oberon did in Act 2, Scene 1, he made himself invisible to Demetrius and Helena, maybe he can do that again. Make it seems like he puts on a cape to camouflage into the bushes while he puts the flower juice on Titania’s eyes or perhaps tip toes while the “Sentinel” is looking the other way. The other option to show this on stage would be to have the Fairy fall asleep next to Titania so Oberon has a way to sneak by quietly.

You are Oberon and see Titania sleeping.  Are you angry?  Do you want to revenge yourself on her with this magic juice?  Or, do you see this as simply a light-hearted prank to play on her, similar to what we would call a practical joke today? 
       “Ah finally, Titania is asleep. Now is my time to sneak in and apply this magical flower juice. She has been so terrible lately, I am so mad at her. There is no reason that she gets to keep the beautiful orphan boy all for herself! It’s selfish of her to act this way and she deserves to be tricked, I need my revenge. She has made me look like a fool in front of the Fairy Kingdom and now everything has been in turmoil because of her nastiness. This will serve her right; she will give me the boy without realizing. Then I’ll reverse the curse and she will know nothing of it. “

Now take a look at the last lines of the scene.  Describe Puck’s “merry mix-up” (2.70-75) and its effect on:

          Puck has accidentally put the magical potion on Lysander’s eyes as he was only instructed to give it to the young Athenian man. He does not know the difference between Demetrius and Helena, he assumes that the couple sleeping is the same couple that Oberon saw earlier. He has completely messed things up for the four people. Lysander now loves Helena who loves Demetrius and Demetrius is out looking for Hermia who is now confused as to where her lover, Lysander went.

Lysander: Is in a reverie that he loves Helena, does not know what happened or why; he is completely obsessed with her now and won’t let her go, he doesn’t care at all over Hermia and is saying things that are not true

Helena: Helena thinks that Lysander is making fun of her. She thinks that he is purposely complimenting her to make her feel worse about herself because Demetrius just recently offended her. His behavior is so absurd that she wants to get away from him, his compliments are darts to her self-esteem

Hermia. Hermia wakes up completely confused because she just had a nightmare and Lysander is gone.She is worried as well that she will either find him dead or alive and runs off to find her lover.

Lysander keeps arguing that he has fallen in love with Helena because of his “reason” (2.121-6). How true is this?  

         Lysander talks of this "reason" of loving Helena as if he is finally realizing that Helena is the better girl but this is not all true. He may think that he has woken up to the truth and had not previously seen Helena as a perfect wife, but that is only due to Puck's mix up with the magical flower potion. The “reason” of which he speaks is that potion; the magic is the reason he is in love with Helena.

Reflect upon the following biblical passages and their meaning:

Matthew 12: 33-37 about how words reveal our true heart

      I think that this biblical passage is trying to tell us is through verbal communication we share what we truly feel inside. We can twist our words and manipulate others but eventually what is truly in our heart, whether good or bad will come out. We are also responsible for what we say, so if we tell a lie or speak without value, it will come back to us in a negative way. Words are  powerful, they can make the situation better or worse and we have to be careful with our speech because that is how our heart and our true feelings are communicated.

James 3: 1-12 about the power of positive words.

       I think this quote links nicely with the first passage. James focuses on the power of our words here and how we can completely change situations with them. This can be a good or bad  thing, therefore, we must watch what we say and think before we speak. We have every power to create problems like when is it said that, “a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” But we can also spread good news with positive words. “Out of the same mouth come praise” It is up to us if we want to rejoice and be glad or wallow in negative vibes. The verse it also mentions how we are in control of what we say, other people might persuade or manipulate us but at the end of the day, we are responsible for what comes out of our mouth. So however we use our gift of communication, just make sure that you mean what you say.

Act 1, Scene 1 Journal A Midsummer's Night Dream

Act 1, Scene 1 Journal

Answer the following questions in your journal: 

1. As you have seen, there are many kinds of relationships involving “love” in this scene:  romantic, friendship, unrequited love, child/parent love.  Make a list of these and the individuals involved in them. 
1. Make a list of who controls - or attempts to control – whom in each of these relationships. 

Theseus and Hippolyta: love- they are set to be married in four days. I think in this case Theseus controls their relationship as in that time the man was of higher power and of course because he is the Duke of Athens.

Hermia and Egeus: child/parent love: You can’t really call this one love because it seems that Hermia has no respect or obedience for her father, therefore, Egeus wishes her to be exiled if she doesn’t do what he says. Each person is guilty of not seeing the situation from the other’s point of view which makes for even more trouble for the arranged marriage. Egeus attempts to control their relationship by enforcing the law to make Hermia obey him.

Demetrius and Hermia: unrequited love. Demetrius seems to really like Hermia but she has no interest in him. Egeus wants Hermia to marry him instead of Lysander but she refuses, she would apparently rather be a nun or dead before marrying him. Demetrius tries to control Hermia here siding with Egeus but Hermia is stubborn and doesn’t love him.

Hermia and Lysander: True love- As shown in their conversation in Act 1 Scene one lines 130-180, they profess their love for each other by planning to escape together and leave their lives behind in Athens without a glance back so they can live happily ever after. I think that the control in their relationship is pretty even, but more control rests on Hermia because she has to make the decision in her love triangle.

Demetrius and Helena: Unrequited love- From Helena`s long speech at the end, she says that Demetrius once took an interest in her but soon later had feelings for Hermia because of her beauty. Helena still has feelings for Demetrius but know there’s no hope for her so she wants to do whatever she can to ruin Hermia’s plans.

2. How does each of the above compare or contrast with your understanding of a loving relationship as a Christian?  To help you, please refer to the following biblical passages:

Mark 12:29-31 about the theme of sacrifice
1 John 4:16-20 about the inseparable love of God and the love of human beings
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 about making the choice to love.

From theses passages I can conclude that loving yourself, other and God equally is the most important for a happy life. I think that the love between Lysander and Hermia related to this because they have a very strong bond. The disjointed parent/child love between Egeus and Hermia is mangled because each person is stuck in their ways and they are not following this statement, “Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[c]There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31 the unrequited love between Demetrius and Hermia as well and Helena and Demetrius is unfortunate but they are still trying and this relates to the last statement in the first Corinthians, as the Bible says, “But do not have love, I gain nothing.” To repair, mend and resolve the relationship issues as explained above, they must take a step back and communicate their feelings and opinion to one another; I think that's the first step to a healthy, loving, relationship. 

2. Lysander and Hermia spend a great deal of time discussing the challenges of love in this scene as they sigh that “the course of true love never did run smooth” (1.1.134). Look closely at the ‘duet’ that follows this line until line 150 and list all of the trials and tribulations faced by young lovers.  How serious are these obstacles?  How seriously are we meant to take this language?

This conversation between the two lovers explains problems that other young loves face such as classism, or falling for someone that is of a lower class, a gap in ages like being too old for a lover who is so young and finally what they face, love being arranged by other people. Lysander follows to explain if none of these problems arise, there is always sickness, war or death that inevitably breaks the two apart. Nevertheless, they both have hope to run away and live happily ever after.