Question
Shakespeare uses parallel plots throughout A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and those plots frequently intersect. Focus on what happens when Oberon tells Robin to help Helena.
How does Robin’s effort to help Helena create surprise or increased tension for the audience?
Responses
Robin enchants Helena to fall in love with Oberon. This action surprises the audience and builds tension because Titania gets angry with Robin and with Helena.
Robin enchants Helena to fall in love with Oberon. This action surprises the audience and builds tension because Titania gets angry with Robin and with Helena.
Robin leads Helena to Demetrius, but she refuses to speak to him because he’s been so mean to her. This action surprises the audience because Helena has been pursuing Demetrius throughout the whole play.
Robin leads Helena to Demetrius, but she refuses to speak to him because he’s been so mean to her. This action surprises the audience because Helena has been pursuing Demetrius throughout the whole play.
Robin puts juice in Lysander's eyes, causing him to fall in love with Helena. This action surprises the audience and also builds tension because there will be conflict between Lysander and Demetrius.
Robin puts juice in Lysander's eyes, causing him to fall in love with Helena. This action surprises the audience and also builds tension because there will be conflict between Lysander and Demetrius.
Robin puts juice in Demetrius’s eyes, but he accidentally falls in love with Titania. This action causes tension because Oberon gets upset with Robin and Demetrius.
How does Robin’s effort to help Helena create surprise or increased tension for the audience?
Responses
Robin enchants Helena to fall in love with Oberon. This action surprises the audience and builds tension because Titania gets angry with Robin and with Helena.
Robin enchants Helena to fall in love with Oberon. This action surprises the audience and builds tension because Titania gets angry with Robin and with Helena.
Robin leads Helena to Demetrius, but she refuses to speak to him because he’s been so mean to her. This action surprises the audience because Helena has been pursuing Demetrius throughout the whole play.
Robin leads Helena to Demetrius, but she refuses to speak to him because he’s been so mean to her. This action surprises the audience because Helena has been pursuing Demetrius throughout the whole play.
Robin puts juice in Lysander's eyes, causing him to fall in love with Helena. This action surprises the audience and also builds tension because there will be conflict between Lysander and Demetrius.
Robin puts juice in Lysander's eyes, causing him to fall in love with Helena. This action surprises the audience and also builds tension because there will be conflict between Lysander and Demetrius.
Robin puts juice in Demetrius’s eyes, but he accidentally falls in love with Titania. This action causes tension because Oberon gets upset with Robin and Demetrius.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In "A Midsummer Night's Dream," when Oberon instructs Robin (Puck) to help Helena, the resulting actions create both surprise and tension for the audience in several pivotal ways.
1. **Robin puts juice in Lysander's eyes, causing him to fall in love with Helena**: This action is surprising because it alters the romantic dynamics established earlier in the play, where Lysander is in love with Hermia. The audience is taken aback as Lysander's affections shift unexpectedly to Helena. This creates tension as it sets the stage for a love triangle involving Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius. The confusion and frustration of the characters intensify, leading to comedic misunderstandings and conflict.
2. **Robin leads Helena to Demetrius, but she refuses to speak to him because he's been so mean to her**: This moment surprises the audience because, throughout the play, Helena has fervently pursued Demetrius despite his harsh treatment. Her refusal to engage with him when given the opportunity raises questions about her character and agency. The audience feels the tension of the situation, as it becomes evident that Helena’s feelings might chase him away, complicating the love dynamics further and eliciting a sense of sympathy for her plight.
3. **Robin’s enchanting actions don’t go as planned**: When Demetrius is enchanted instead of Lysander, and subsequently falls in love with Titania, this creates substantial tension. Oberon’s displeasure with Robin signifies that the chaos spreading through the love interests is more than just comedic mishaps; it poses potential ramifications for Oberon’s own desires. The audience is engaged as they anticipate how these intertwining plots will resolve and what consequences will unfold from Robin's meddling.
4. **Titania gets angry with Robin and Helena**: As tensions escalate due to Robin’s actions, Titania’s fury at both Robin and the love-struck mortals adds another layer of complexity. The audience experiences surprise at the depth of conflict generated by seemingly simple attempts to resolve romantic entanglements.
Overall, Robin's interventions not only surface unexpected developments in character relationships but also heighten the comedic tension, creating a rich tapestry of romantic entanglements that both amuse and engage the audience throughout the play.
1. **Robin puts juice in Lysander's eyes, causing him to fall in love with Helena**: This action is surprising because it alters the romantic dynamics established earlier in the play, where Lysander is in love with Hermia. The audience is taken aback as Lysander's affections shift unexpectedly to Helena. This creates tension as it sets the stage for a love triangle involving Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius. The confusion and frustration of the characters intensify, leading to comedic misunderstandings and conflict.
2. **Robin leads Helena to Demetrius, but she refuses to speak to him because he's been so mean to her**: This moment surprises the audience because, throughout the play, Helena has fervently pursued Demetrius despite his harsh treatment. Her refusal to engage with him when given the opportunity raises questions about her character and agency. The audience feels the tension of the situation, as it becomes evident that Helena’s feelings might chase him away, complicating the love dynamics further and eliciting a sense of sympathy for her plight.
3. **Robin’s enchanting actions don’t go as planned**: When Demetrius is enchanted instead of Lysander, and subsequently falls in love with Titania, this creates substantial tension. Oberon’s displeasure with Robin signifies that the chaos spreading through the love interests is more than just comedic mishaps; it poses potential ramifications for Oberon’s own desires. The audience is engaged as they anticipate how these intertwining plots will resolve and what consequences will unfold from Robin's meddling.
4. **Titania gets angry with Robin and Helena**: As tensions escalate due to Robin’s actions, Titania’s fury at both Robin and the love-struck mortals adds another layer of complexity. The audience experiences surprise at the depth of conflict generated by seemingly simple attempts to resolve romantic entanglements.
Overall, Robin's interventions not only surface unexpected developments in character relationships but also heighten the comedic tension, creating a rich tapestry of romantic entanglements that both amuse and engage the audience throughout the play.