A Midsummer Nights Dream: Comparing and Contrasting of Language

Justin Curley, Phillip Leung, Alan Lu, Ryan Moucharrafie, & Rahul Setty English 8HP, Period 3 Mrs. Galvan 14 May 2012

Introduction
A. To detect what a character is feeling or how strong that feeling is, one must focus on the language a character uses. However, the type of language that characters use could change as a result from an alteration in the setting or situation. Comparing these variations in language can help a reader define a characters personality. B. In A Midsummer Nights Dream, William Shakespeare uses language in order to distinguish each group of characters traits. The Lovers language, when theyre in the presence of the Court or in the forest share similarities, but still have some significant differences at the same time.

Synopsis
Lovers in the Court Lovers in the Forest

While theyre in the midst of the Court, the Lovers lean toward a more formal type of language that has a calmer tone and consists mostly of verse.

When the Lovers are in the forest, they become more expressive in language and tend to be less careful in their choice of words and their arrangement.

Similarity One (Blank Verse)

Regardless of their location, the Both quotes give the reader a Lovers most often speak in blank verse, rhythmic effect since they are non-rhyming lines in iambic both spoken in blank verse pentameter. When Hermia and Lysander plan to run to the forest, they The languages purpose is to still speak in blank verse in their show that the Lovers formal class concerned tone, since theyre going, is the reason they speak this way [into] the wood where [Lysander] and [Hermia] upon [white] primrose beds These passages reveal that blank [theyve] lie[d](I. i. 222-227). On the verse is a trait of formal Athenian other hand, Demetrius still speaks in language, as the Court has also blank verse while chasing Lysander into been observed to speak in this the forest. Although he is utterly confused and somewhat angered when fashion too [Lysander] [doesnt] stand nor look [at him] in the face, his language grammatically remains the same(III. ii. 452-454).

Similarity Two (Lack of Volume)

Though it is possible to determine The ending emotional effect on the reader is small, since how passionate a Lovers feeling is, the the lack of consistent volume Lovers lack of a constant volume at doesnt give the reader much times makes the depth of feelings more depth on the characters difficult to process. When Demetrius emotions and Lysander supposedly make fun of Helena, she feels as if [they] hate [her] Shakespeare uses this language for the purpose of with [their] hearts(III. Ii. 149-158). She making the Lovers externally is angry and loud for a moment, but reserved in their feelings after a short time, her voice seems to This quiet language reveals falter. Hermia on the other hand, how civilized formal remains calm and quiet, when [she] Athenians are, since it is refuses to wed Demetrius(I. i. 62-68) naturally not polite to vent

the magnitude of ones thoughts towards others.

Difference One (Emotion)

The Lovers of course have feelings, but the issue is whether or not they express those feelings. In the civilized city of Athens, the Lovers seem to articulate themselves in a somewhat reserved manner. For example, Hermia vents herself in the midst of the Court that [Demetrius] turned [her] heaven unto a hell, but her word choice is carefully chosen creating a softer tone with feelings harder to analyze (I. i. 62-68). However in the forest, the Lovers dont hold back and constantly talk without concern of proper language use and with repetition to get their emotions through. During their fight in the forest, Helena insults Hermia when claiming she has no [sense] of bashfulness whatsoever (III. Ii. 301-304). Both her feelings and the size of those feelings can be easily seen in this passage.

The first quote only shows Hermias specific emotion without a level of expression or depth, but it is relatively easy to detect Helenas annoyance in the second quote. This shows that the Lovers feelings must be somehow prompted in order for the emotions to be truly displayed. This reveals the true feelings of the Lovers in the forest.

Difference Two (Ending Couplets)

Whether or not the Lovers speak in ending couplets depends on their location. In the Court, where it is safer and civilized, the Lovers can select their words in a relaxed way that results in ending couplets. Lysander tells Helena in ending couplets that [his and Hermias] minds will unfold to Helena, telling her that he and Hermia will hide in the forest. (I. i. 210-215). In the forest however, where there is no human population present, the Lovers are much more concerned on whats happening around them rather than the way they organize their words. When Helena responds to Hermias threat, she pray[s] [Lysander and Demetrius] to let [Hermia] not hurt her in a concerned tone, lacking rhyming couplets(III. ii. 315-319).

The lack of ending couplets (i.e. informal prose) effects the readers perspective of the Lovers The purpose is to reveal the Lovers are not as formal as the Court, showing that the Lovers choice of words can be easily disregarded This reveals the Lovers are not truly bound to their class, since it is so easy for them to disregard their Athenian language

Conclusion
In William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream, his use of language conveys the characters attitude towards each other, which is represented by the Lovers language varying while in the presence of the Court or while hiding in the Forest. How we Proved our Argument: By using different quotes used in different locations, the Lovers language differs while in the Forest, spoken in prose, and in the Court, spoken in couplets. In separating specific techniques and comparing how the lovers speak in Act I and Act III shows that their language varied, but still retained some similarities.