POINTS 1. Robin Goodfellow and the traditions about him. 2. Fairies and changelings. 3. The stories of Theseus's loves. 4. Explanation of allusions to nine men's morris, old Hiems, etc. 5. Account of theories as to meaning of references to _the imperiall votresse, a little westerne flower, a mearemaide on a dolphins backe_, etc. Warburton says the mermaid was meant for Mary Queen of Scots. N.H. Halpin thinks that by Cynthia is meant Queen Elizabeth; by Tellus, Lady Douglas; by the little 'western flower,' Lettice, wife of Walter, Earl of Essex, while Cupid is Leicester. (See "First Folio Edition" for particulars). 6. Explain use of 'Lob,' II. i. 15; 'wodde,' 200. 7. 'The starres shot madly from their Spheares,' i. 159. Look up Ptolemaic system of astronomy for explanation of the idea. Compare "Merchant of Venice," V. i. 71-75, and notes on same in "First Folio Edition" of that play. 8. What is "Love in idleness"? (See Introduction to "First Folio Edition" of "A Midsommer Nights Dreame" for references to this flower in Chaucer's poem of "The Flower and the Leaf.") Compare "The Taming of the Shrew," I. i. 156. 9. What are "Cankers" in the musk rosebuds? II. ii. 4. QUERIES FOR DISCUSSION Is it probable that the various passages in this act said to allude to current incidents were so intended? In that case what effect do they have upon the beauty of a Play set in Athens? Is the interest of this Act a divided one? ACT III CROSS-EFFECTS OF OBERON'S SPELL Analyze the scenes constituting this Act. Observe that scene i. takes up Bottom and his fellows, the group not as yet brought into relation with the fairy group, and initiates them in the magic of fairy land by means of the new but appropriate head Puck bestows upon Bottom. Why is Bottom picked out for this favor? The 'ass-head' as a symbolic piece of stage furniture. Show how this transformation makes the mismating of Titania with Bottom more gross and obvious to the audience; also how this is the next direct effect of Oberon's revenge. Notice that scene ii. takes up the cross-effect already worked upon Lysander by Puck's mistake, instead of on Demetrius, as Oberon intended, and sets forth its further effects upon Helena and Hermia. The dialogues between the two pairs of lovers now overheard by Oberon makes the error clear, and so enables him to take the first step in clearing up the tangle. Meantime, the poet and his audience agree with Puck that they are so far 'glad it so did sort, As this their jangling' is esteemed 'a sport.'