Well he does a good job of it by putting the piece in of when puck was serious about getting the flower and following through despite him being very tricky. I would say that a funny moment would be when Helena insists on being treated like Demetrius's dog (even though she was completely serious). -Hannah Blankenship
I think he does it to confuse and entertain the person reading or watching the play. He wants them to laugh but also think and that's what it does. one time he does this is when he has bottom beg to play all of the other parts in the play and makes a big funny speech, but he was being fully serious. -haley
He uses serious and comedic elements in MSND to keep the play interesting and to keep the audience entertained. Like when Lysander was begging for Thesus's approval to marry Hermia, it created a sense of seriousness and hopelessness. But when we switched worlds to the actors, it was Nick Bottom's annoying portrayal of each part of the play (Pryamus and Thisbe) that was so funny. There two different moods throughout MSND. In my opinion Shakespeare does this to make sure all audiences are entertained. It sort of flips back & fourth which can get pretty tricky. Contrast in his characters and their seriousness makes the play interesting. -Aissa
I think Shakespeare uses seriousness and then comedy to (like Aissa said) keep the reader interested. However the play is also written to be a romantic comedy, meaning there is the seriousness of the lovers and then the comedy with the townspeople and the faries. Act 1, scene 1 is very serious because Hermia is trying to get Thesus to allow her to marry Lysander. And Act 1, scene 2, the townspeople (especially Bottom) cause the audience some laughs. Also the seriousness of the scene where Lysander has to magic flower potion on him and he falls in love with Helena. This is very serious because it throws out a major plot twist. Shakespeare was a very talented writer so I'm sure he had a very important purpose for this play, but I see these juxtaposes as a way to entertain the audience and to show major plot changes. -ashlyn
Shakespeare flip flops from being serious to being humorous throughout MSND. He does this because he wants the mood and the tone to match how he wants the play to run. For example, if he wanted the play to be more serious, tense and tragic, the play would have ended up more like Romeo and Juliet. But instead he wanted it to be light hearted, humorous, and theatrical. This is why we have characters like Nick Bottom (who wants to play all the roles in the play) and Helena (who will become a dog to the one she loves). However, sometimes he has to get serious in order to explain and not have the play go all the place. For instance, when Lysander and Hermia are confronted by her dad when he wants her to marry Demetrius. The differences between the mood and the tone causes the play to capture the entire audience's attention. -Grace
I think that Shakespeare uses the contrast of comedy and seriousness to give the reader a challenge of figuring out the plot, which as highlighted from other people, makes the play more interesting. The thing about movies, plays, and books today is that you are always able to predict the plot. For example, in any movie you always know the good guys are going to win, or the guy gets the girl. But in Shakespeare he uses this style of seriousness and comedic writing to make the character really think. Examples of this was when how serious Demetriuos was about Helena leaving him alone, but at the same time they were exchanging comedic lines that make you laugh.
Shakespeare juxtaposes comedy and tragedy to keep it real to the time- men choose women and the daughter is the father's "property", which is rather serious- but also to remind the audience, "Hey, the play as a whole is still a comedy!" He keeps it lighthearted by, as far as I've noticed, following a serious scene, like Hermia fighting Egeus and Theseus over marriage, with a comical one, like Nick Bottom and the troupe of actors putting on a "lamentable comedy."
Comedy that is funny because it is ridiculous has to be compelling. Shakespeare does an excellent job of this because he weaves the ridiculousness into the plot so it actually makes sense. Nick Bottom is turned into an "ass head" by Puck and if it had happened for no reason it wouldn't be funny, but because it's used as part of the plot it makes sense and its humorous. For a story to be interesting it has to be dramatic or funny, but William Shakespeare makes a perfect balance between the two. Dramatic scenes have an edge of humour to them, such as the irony of the four lovers situation due to a misunderstanding, and humorous scenes add to the plot, such as Titania falling in love with the "ass headed" Nick Bottom. He creates this balance that works because it's not over the top funny or over the top dramatic.
Shakespear juxtaposes serious and comedic elements to tell a serious story but still have it be random and funny. In act 1 scene 1 when Egeus is forcing Hermia to marry Demetrius the play is serious but in act 3 scene 1 when Bottom is planning to tell ths audience that they aren't actually the characters in the play they will perform at Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding the play is comedic.
Well he does a good job of it by putting the piece in of when puck was serious about getting the flower and following through despite him being very tricky. I would say that a funny moment would be when Helena insists on being treated like Demetrius's dog (even though she was completely serious).
ReplyDelete-Hannah Blankenship
I think he does it to confuse and entertain the person reading or watching the play. He wants them to laugh but also think and that's what it does. one time he does this is when he has bottom beg to play all of the other parts in the play and makes a big funny speech, but he was being fully serious.
ReplyDelete-haley
He uses serious and comedic elements in MSND to keep the play interesting and to keep the audience entertained. Like when Lysander was begging for Thesus's approval to marry Hermia, it created a sense of seriousness and hopelessness. But when we switched worlds to the actors, it was Nick Bottom's annoying portrayal of each part of the play (Pryamus and Thisbe) that was so funny. There two different moods throughout MSND. In my opinion Shakespeare does this to make sure all audiences are entertained. It sort of flips back & fourth which can get pretty tricky. Contrast in his characters and their seriousness makes the play interesting.
ReplyDelete-Aissa
I think Shakespeare uses seriousness and then comedy to (like Aissa said) keep the reader interested. However the play is also written to be a romantic comedy, meaning there is the seriousness of the lovers and then the comedy with the townspeople and the faries. Act 1, scene 1 is very serious because Hermia is trying to get Thesus to allow her to marry Lysander. And Act 1, scene 2, the townspeople (especially Bottom) cause the audience some laughs. Also the seriousness of the scene where Lysander has to magic flower potion on him and he falls in love with Helena. This is very serious because it throws out a major plot twist. Shakespeare was a very talented writer so I'm sure he had a very important purpose for this play, but I see these juxtaposes as a way to entertain the audience and to show major plot changes.
ReplyDelete-ashlyn
Shakespeare flip flops from being serious to being humorous throughout MSND. He does this because he wants the mood and the tone to match how he wants the play to run. For example, if he wanted the play to be more serious, tense and tragic, the play would have ended up more like Romeo and Juliet. But instead he wanted it to be light hearted, humorous, and theatrical. This is why we have characters like Nick Bottom (who wants to play all the roles in the play) and Helena (who will become a dog to the one she loves). However, sometimes he has to get serious in order to explain and not have the play go all the place. For instance, when Lysander and Hermia are confronted by her dad when he wants her to marry Demetrius. The differences between the mood and the tone causes the play to capture the entire audience's attention.
ReplyDelete-Grace
I think that Shakespeare uses the contrast of comedy and seriousness to give the reader a challenge of figuring out the plot, which as highlighted from other people, makes the play more interesting. The thing about movies, plays, and books today is that you are always able to predict the plot. For example, in any movie you always know the good guys are going to win, or the guy gets the girl. But in Shakespeare he uses this style of seriousness and comedic writing to make the character really think. Examples of this was when how serious Demetriuos was about Helena leaving him alone, but at the same time they were exchanging comedic lines that make you laugh.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare juxtaposes comedy and tragedy to keep it real to the time- men choose women and the daughter is the father's "property", which is rather serious- but also to remind the audience, "Hey, the play as a whole is still a comedy!" He keeps it lighthearted by, as far as I've noticed, following a serious scene, like Hermia fighting Egeus and Theseus over marriage, with a comical one, like Nick Bottom and the troupe of actors putting on a "lamentable comedy."
ReplyDeleteComedy that is funny because it is ridiculous has to be compelling. Shakespeare does an excellent job of this because he weaves the ridiculousness into the plot so it actually makes sense. Nick Bottom is turned into an "ass head" by Puck and if it had happened for no reason it wouldn't be funny, but because it's used as part of the plot it makes sense and its humorous. For a story to be interesting it has to be dramatic or funny, but William Shakespeare makes a perfect balance between the two. Dramatic scenes have an edge of humour to them, such as the irony of the four lovers situation due to a misunderstanding, and humorous scenes add to the plot, such as Titania falling in love with the "ass headed" Nick Bottom. He creates this balance that works because it's not over the top funny or over the top dramatic.
ReplyDeleteShakespear juxtaposes serious and comedic elements to tell a serious story but still have it be random and funny. In act 1 scene 1 when Egeus is forcing Hermia to marry Demetrius the play is serious but in act 3 scene 1 when Bottom is planning to tell ths audience that they aren't actually the characters in the play they will perform at Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding the play is comedic.
ReplyDelete